Hotel Review: Alexandra Barcelona Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Barcelona is a great tourist destination, especially for architects. This Catalonian city dates back more than two thousand years ago - back to the times of the Roman Empire - and you can still experience and see a combination of Roman-era and medieval buildings in the city. While that is certainly noteworthy, Barcelona is home to Antoni Gaudi’s marvelous architectural achievements. Gaudi is considered the father of Catalan modernism, and his immense architectural influences have been recognized by UNESCO. Since 1985 seven of his works have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, of which are all located in Barcelona. On my very special trip to Barcelona, the location was important because I wanted to see as many works of Gaudi as possible. I came across Alexandra Barcelona Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. The Alexandra Barcelona Hotel was located one corner away from the Passeig de Gràcia for our shopping needs and just two blocks away from Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. On top of that, Gaudi’s Basilica La Sagrada Familia was only a little over a mile from the hotel. The hotel’s prime location won me over, and my experience at the Alexandra Barcelona Hotel was mostly pleasant, coupled with an amazing breakfast buffet and terrace access. Here is my review of Alexandra Barcelona Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton:
The Alexandra Barcelona Hotel is located at C/ de Mallorca, 251, 08008 Barcelona, Spain.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
American Express Hilton Honors Aspire
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is currently offering a signup bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 in 3 months. Be aware that since this is an American Express (AMEX) card, you’re only allowed to receive the signup bonus once per lifetime. With a valuation of 0.6 cents per point, the signup bonus is worth about $900. The annual fee is $450, but cardmembers get a weekend night certificate (redeemable on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at non-premium hotels), $250 incidental credit towards your airline of choice, $250 Hilton resort credit at select Hilton resorts, and Hilton Diamond status, the highest in Hilton’s member ecosystem.
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is one of my favorite credit cards for its benefits and perks. Photo by AMEX.
The Aspire Card earns 14X per dollar spent on Hilton hotels and resorts when booked directly through Hilton and 7X on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly with select companies, and U.S. restaurants. All other purchases will earn 3X per dollar spent. As a Hilton Honors Diamond member, you’ll get a 100% points bonus and 10 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. Therefore, the Aspire card earns a total of 24X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a grand return of 14.4%. With Hilton’s frequent points promotions, you can rake in a serious amount of Hilton Honors points in no time. Even if you don’t stay at Hilton properties too often, this card is definitely worth the annual fee due to its amazing perks and benefits, and I strongly believe it’s the best hotel credit card available on the market right now.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Hilton Aspire Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSLgWl?XLINK=MYCP
American Express Hilton Honors Business
Alternatively, I could’ve used my American Express Hilton Honors Business card to book my stay. The AMEX Hilton Honors Business card is currently offering a signup bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in 3 months, which is also worth about $780. Like other AMEX cards, the card is subject to the once-per-lifetime signup bonus rule. The annual fee is $95, and unlike the Aspire, it doesn’t come with airline or resort credits. However, it can be a great workhorse card as it offers generous everyday and business multipliers. It earns 12X Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on hotel and resort purchases booked directly with Hilton and 6X at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. wireless telephone services, U.S. purchases for shipping, and flights booked directly with airlines or with AMEX Travel. All other purchases earn 3X points per dollar spent. Because cardmembers receive automatic Honors Gold status, you’ll get an 80% points bonus and 8 extra points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. In addition, you’d receive 10 complimentary Priority Pass visits and have an opportunity to earn a free weekend night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. As a result, the Surpass earns a total of 20X per dollar spent on Hilton properties when booked directly with Hilton, yielding a return of 12%.
The American Express Hilton Honors Business card can cover a wide range of daily expenses and still comes with a great multiplier for Hilton stays. Photo by AMEX.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Hilton Honors Business card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/EDWARS067p?xl=cp15
Lobby & Check-In Review
In late November, I visited the Alexandra Barcelona Hotel, so I was greeted by a uniquely decorated Christmas tree upon arrival.
It was whimsical to see storybooks as ornaments.
As with most European hotels, the lobby was small, and in this case, a huge sectional covered most of the space.
I loved the look of the sectional, and it reminded me of a cozy living room.
Because the sectional had a low back, it didn’t block anything visually, and the lobby still felt somewhat open without feeling too occupied. To the left of the check-in desk, the hotel’s in-house tapas restaurant, Charcuteria, was tucked in the corner.
All bar seats were taken by late dinner time with guests grabbing delicious Spanish tapas.
It opens from 6 PM till 12 AM, but I noticed that it became quite crowded during peak hours.
When in Barcelona, eat as much jamón as possible.
A few more seats were available next to Charcuteria and a Mac workstation.
The wooden accent walls added an extra layer of warmth to the lobby.
My check-in experience was smooth, and my room was ready since I arrived later than my scheduled check-in time. Then, I came across my biggest gripe of the stay — the elevators. The hotel had two elevators, and through trial and error, I learned one was exclusive for suites, and the other was for regular rooms. However, the gym was only accessible when using the elevator for regular rooms, and the outdoor pool and terrace could be accessed by both elevators. I wish the front desk had explained the intricacy of the elevator system earlier.
All seating options in the lobby stayed consistent throughout the floor.
I originally booked a junior suite with a terrace, and I took the suite-exclusive elevator that took me up to the seventh floor, where my suite was located.
Bedroom Review
Even though the Alexandra Barcelona Hotel was a Curio Collection brand, the bedroom felt quite plain and unembellished. The king bed in my room felt unfinished, and the mattress was very firm and uncomfortable.
It felt as if I was sleeping on a box spring, and the mattress needs to be upgraded.
Above the headboard, there were two chrome lights, which appeared too big for reading lights but too unsophisticated to be mood lights. I appreciated that the floor was hardwood, but the bed's carpet was in generic gray color, and the walls surrounding the bed lacked identity. On each side of the bed, there was a simple metal nightstand.
Electrical outlets were very difficult to reach, and I ended up charing my cell phone by the work desk.
However, it didn’t have USB ports or electrical outlets embedded, which forced me to scatter out my charging needed for multiple electronics. I was excited to find a smart TV on the wall, but it didn’t function accordingly because no apps were installed.
If you need to charge your laptop or cell phone when working at the desk, you will have to unplug in-room devices to make room for your electronics.
The work desk was decently sized and had two complimentary water bottles and a Bluetooth Marshall speaker.
It was nice to receive complimentary bottles of water, especially when those bottles are sizable.
A loveseat was positioned below a collage of meaningless art on the wall directly across from the bed. I wish the hotel used that wall space as a chance to tell hotel guests more about Barcelona and the hotel itself.
The artwork above the couch didn’t resonate with me as they were stock photos unrelated to Barcelona.
Next to the loveseat, a Nespresso coffee station sat on a simple mini-fridge stocked with soda and candies.
Anytime there is a Nespresso machine, I am a happy camper.
I found two more petite bottles of water that were great for on the go. The mini-fridge was sitting below the Nespresso machine, and it was moderately stocked with sodas and petite alcoholic beverages.
The mini-fridge was not tall enough to store complimentary water bottles upright.
I was slightly disappointed with the room due to outdated tech and lack of branding. Nevertheless, I booked this suite for the terrace, and it surely prevailed me over the minor letdown of the room.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom also felt industrial and unpolished, but it worked well and made it more modern. The vanity featured a single, over-the-counter sink even though the counter was long enough to fit another sink. The bathroom sink faucet was built into the wall, and with under-cabinet lighting gently illuminating the vanity countertop, the bathroom felt more contemporary.
The remaining vanity space was utilized as a makeup stand.
Because there was a bathtub on the Terrace, the bathroom only featured a walk-in shower Which featured a stainless steel shower seat. I’ve never seen one like it before anywhere, so it was certainly new.
The walk-in shower had a sleek, industrial look that felt different from the bedroom.
The water pressure was great, and the shower offered both rainfall and handheld shower options.
The rainfall-styled shower was energizing, but the odor from the drain was repugnant.
However, the shower had a foul odor originating from the drain, and It wasn’t pleasant to encounter the smell of sewage every morning. I couldn’t capture the toiletry brand, but the toiletries used natural and organic ingredients.
The toiletries used all organic ingredients and had calming herbal notes.
The water closet was home to bath towels and bathrobes, and I don’t know how others feel about it, but I wish the hotel hung them somewhere else where it was more hygienic.
I didn’t feel comfortable using the bathrobes that
The bathroom came with a traditional bidet. I enjoyed the modern aesthetics of the bathroom, but the foul odor from the shower booth was a huge letdown, and the placement of bath towels and bathrobes left me confusing.
Terrace Review
The terrace was the highlight of the suite. Blooming with greenery, the terrace was equipped with a patio table set, a sunbed, and a bathtub.
If I visited the Alexandra Barcelona Hotel in the summer, I would spend many hours on the terrace, enjoying drinks at night or taking a bath.
There was minimal shading from the top, and each side of the terrace had tall barriers to ensure privacy.
Soak up the summer sun using a sunbed in the middle of Barcelona.
The bathtub was big enough to fit two people at once, but it took us a few tries to understand how the faucet controlled the temperature of the water.
A barrier next to the tub ensured privacy of guests, and the tub was the best part of the suite.
Even though our stay was in November, the outdoor bath was still magical and romantic. If the weather was warmer, I could totally see myself lounging and taking a bath on the terrace all the time.
You could enjoy a beautiful sunset from your terrace over wine.
Gym & Pool Review
The gym was located on the hotel's first floor, and it was open from 7 AM to 11 PM every day. It was only accessible by taking the regular elevator, so if you book a suite, you may need to come down to the lobby and then go up to reach the gym. As expected for a European hotel gym, the fitness center was very compact.
The gym equipment was quite outdated, and one of the three cardio machines was down for maintenance.
Out of the three cardio machines at the gym, only two pieces of equipment—a treadmill and a stationary bike—were functional. Then, a standard set of chrome dumbbells were lined next to a gym ball, and the weights didn’t go as high as American dumbbells.
The gym won’t satisfy your lifting needs, as the dumbbells didn’t go higher than 20 lbs.
Even though the gym was tiny, it featured a large sauna for two people to sit and relax.
The sauna was a nice touch to supplement the small gym.
Next to the sauna, there was a walk-in shower, but if you want to use it, make sure to bring your toiletries as the shower booth only had shampoo available.
You may need to bring your own toiletries, but you could take a shower right after your exercise.
The pool was located on the hotel's second floor, which doubled as an outdoor terrace for the hotel’s main restaurant, Solomillo.
Because Barcelona city blocks are square-shaped, the pool wasn’t as private as I’d have desired.
The pool was small in size, but the water wasn’t heated. It was surrounded by other neighboring residential buildings, making it less private than desired. The outdoor dining space was largely shaded and was full of greenery.
The outdoor dining space had comfortable lounge seats and came with ceiling fans to cool you off during the day.
Although I didn’t get a chance to dine outside, it would be a perfect spot to grab late-night snacks and drinks with friends on hot summer nights.
The outdoor dining space was closed in the winter, but make sure to check it out in the spring.
Breakfast Review—Solomillo
Because of my Diamond Hilton Honors status, breakfast was complimentary for both of us. It was served on the A floor of the hotel at the hotel’s main restaurant, Solomillo, from 7 AM to 10:30 AM on weekdays and 8 AM to 11 AM on weekends.
The breakfast was one of the highlights of the stay.
The breakfast was a buffet-style breakfast, and it was absolutely delicious.
I consumed so much Spanish chorizo and jamón ibérico every chance I had.
The selection was fabulous; there were traditional breakfast options such as scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, and roasted vegetables.
Thanks to cast pots and pans, the food stayed warm throughout the dining experience.
However, the highlight was the meat and cheese section, where jamón and various cheese cuts were beautifully laid out for us to feast on.
Everything was fresh and delicious, and you needed to use a latex glove before using tongs.
On top of that, the buffet had a fruit station as well as a dessert station.
The fruits were ripened and sweet and replaced desserts for me.
I was surprised by how ripe each fruit was, and the hygiene of the buffet was top-notch. Most guests complied with the hotel’s safety measures against COVID-19, where guests had to use a latex glove to use tongs or wear a mask when not dining at their table.
Pastries and simple cereal options were at the center of the restaurant, displayed on a beautiful black marble table.
Lastly, the service was on point. The waitstaff promptly cleaned our table as soon as we got up for another round and remained attentive throughout the dining experience.
You could enjoy unlimited espresso using a Nespresso machine.
As a foodie, I truly enjoyed the breakfast at the Alexandra Barcelona Hotel, and I highly recommend it.
Summary
The Alexandra Barcelona Hotel was strategically located close to many architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi. Although the junior suite I booked felt somewhat bare, and the bed was largely uncomfortable, it came with a terrace. It was refreshing to see an outdoor bathtub on the terrace, making my lodging experience infinitely more exciting. The breakfast buffet blew my mind away, and all food stations were kept hygienic amid COVID-19. That doesn’t mean the hotel doesn’t have room for improvement; Removing the unpleasant odor of the walk-in shower and helpful directional guidance on the layout of the hotel and its confusing elevator system could improve future lodging experiences. I hope these minor impediments are ameliorated soon so that the hotel can unleash its full potential.
