Vincci Maritimo, Barcelona

I am a university student, and stayed at the Vincci Maritimo in Barcelona for a week in August of 2005.

HOTEL:

The hotel was easy to find, being prominent and having a wonderful exterior. Throughout my stay the staff were polite, helpful, and spoke perfect English. They were kind enough to let me practice my Spanish with them when asking about the best ways to get around town.

The hotel overall is very stylish, with sharp, modern interior design. The rooms are well lit, spacious, and comfortable, with functional and good looking fittings. TV, shower, clean towels, safe deposit box, and welcome pack were all provided.

The breakfast was lovely, with continental and more English cereals available. However, the price was a little beyond that of a student budget; I only ate there on the first morning.

The hotel is also in a perfect location. It's a stone's throw from an underground station, a lovely park, a good strip of beach, and a large shopping centre. Although not in the middle of the city, the Metro ride in is so cheap and quick ,that I was happy to be living in a quieter area. However, you have to bear in mind the times of the last trains on the Metro. If you want to stay out beyond midnight or 1am, you'll have to get a taxi, which can be scarce in some parts of the city.

Some of the nearby area is well developed, but some of it is not so attractive. It is clearly an area which is changing, with large new hotels positioned next to scruffy buildings or flats. However, the new and interesting park next to the hotel puts it in a good context.

There are a good range of restaurants within a few Metro stops of the hotel, with menus to suit any budget.

I would recommend the Vincci Maritimo to any visitor who wants to visit Barcelona without breaking the bank. If you're happy to use the Metro, you'll have no problems with travel. If you want to spend time on the beach too, it'll be perfect for you.

CITY:

Barcelona is a wonderful city, with plenty to do for any traveller. If you want to shop, although there is not a distinct shopping district, there are many lovely boutiques and fancy shops in the centre of town.

If you like culture, Barcelona should certainly be on your top 10 list of world cities to visit. With the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Picasso, Miro, and Catalunya National art galleries in the city, you will be spoilt for choice.

If food is a top priority, you will find yourself well taken care of. Some of the better restaurants require a little walking to find, but the results are worthwhile. Happily for my student budget, I was able to find some absolutely delicious food at cheap prices.

Barcelona is a rare city, in that it actually has a passable beach. If you go to the sandy beaches on the north-east edge of the town, you will find them to be fine for an afternoon's sunbathing in Summer. They're not wonderfully clean (the cigarette ends can't be ignored), but bearable nonetheless. With a limited budget I bought sandwiches from the supermarket near the hotel, and spent a couple of afternoons working on my suntan. It was lovely!

All in all, a top European destination, a lovely hotel of nice small/medium size, and a great holiday.