Help Me Decide Between Two Hotels in Barcelona

One can buy a lot of snacks at the grocery store for $200. Going to the local store could save some money. One plus is you can buy what you want rather than whatever the hotel offers. If your hotel room has a small refrigerator you can even buy meats, cheeses, yogurt, or whatever.

However, if breakfast is free at the Continental and not the other, as TripAdvisor indicates, then that offsets much of the additional cost; most of the cost if the difference is for two people. Breakfast alone would probably cost €20 per person. If you enjoy breakfast, then go with the breakfast and 24/7 snacks included.

There’s a grocery store on the lower level of El Corte Inglés at Plaça de Catalunya, a five minutes walk from Hotel Montblanc and a Mercadona a 6 minutes walk from Hotel Montblanc. A couple smaller grocery stores are a few doors down from the hotel. El Corte Inglés is a four minutes walk from Hotel Continental Barcelona.

I'd go for the cheaper hotel and buy my own snacks. I'm sure you wouldn't spend $200 on snacks for 4 days at a supermarket.

Both are in excellent locations, but I think Hotel Continental’s location is a bit better. Look in the reviews to see what people say about the snacks. If the snack reviews are very good, I would stay in Hotel Continental.

I also would go for the less expensive and enjoy the opportunities to purchase snacks throughout the day-lots of places to do so. The hotels are 3 blocks apart, so area is pretty much the same. Las Ramblas is BUSY! Not sure the Montblanc would be quieter as it’s on a large street, but Las Ramblas can be noisy late into the night and it is tourist central.

24/7 snacks-nice idea, but what kind of snacks? Do they fit into the particular diet you follow for your diabetes? And, would you have to go back a couple of times a day to restock wasting time you could be out sightseeing?

Hi Marco

Some of the reviews of the snacks are very good or good while other reviews are just so so and a few not too good. Everyone is different and has different tastes just like hotels and hotel rooms.

Hi SJS

Some people rave about the snacks while others are less enthusiastic. Although diabetic, I cheat when it comes to diet.

From what I have read guests have a refrigerator in their rooms and you can fill your refrigerator with the. snacks. I would just take a doggie bag with snacks when I sightsee and I am usually back at my hotel relatively early. I am not a night owl.

I love coffee and drink way too much every day. Just buying two or three cups a day can add up fast.

Hi Jaimee

You can get breakfast with your room at Hotel Montblanc but for extra money and breakfast is reviewed as very good.

There is a mini bar in Hotel Montblanc but there would probably be some space for personal items.

On booking, Hotel Montblanc gets higher ratings than the other. It is 8.4 while Hotel Continental Barcelona is 8.0.

It does not say anything about free coiffe or a coffee machine at Hotel Montblanc and as I have said, I drink a lot of coffee every day. Way too miuch. I love coffee and a good cup of coffee is expensive.

I believe that the room I booked at Hotel Montblanc included the breakfast.

Hi Mary,

Thank you for your input. Food is expensive. The snacks include wine, beer, yogurt, fruit, coffee and tea, sandwich fixings, soft ice cream etc. it is more than just snacks. it seems to be a lite meal. As I have said, I love coffee and drink several cups a day.

I might not spend $200 in four days but it might come close.

The reviews about the 24/7 buffet is mostly good but there are some negatives.

I am hoping that some persons who stayed at the Hotel Continental Barcelona might jump in.

Searched forum and found this review about Hotel Continental Barcelona's sister hotel. This was written February 2020, just before Covid. Have no idea what it might be now.

"There was a wide variety of choices (meats, cheeses, salads, fruit, vegetables, breads, cookies, cakes, ice cream, juices, coffee, tea, milk, wine, beer, and more) available on the 24-hour buffet throughout the day and night, with additional hot egg and other breakfast dishes after 8 am. We ate breakfast from the buffet and returned at lunch and sometimes for dinner or an evening snack, "

bostonphil7, Hotel Continental was just reviewed in this trip report, including the 24 hour buffet. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-barcelona

Mary SE USA

Thank you.

I went to trip report and asked some questions about the 24/7 buffet but also so glad for report about hotel, location and sightseeing..

I stayed at the Hotel Continental and highly recommend it. Go for the room with the balcony on the Ramblas for fantastic atmosphere.

Do they both have an elevator? Do they both have air conditioning? Which has a location that is most convenient to public transportation? If they are equal in all those respects, then start thinking about snacks……..

PS. I hope you will try the main dining room at least once on your cruise. You can choose to share with others or to eat individually. No reason to rush your meals there.

darrenblois

thanks for the input.

I booked my room months ago and have one of the smaller rooms.. A balcony room may not be in my budget.

Looking forward to my trip.

Carol Now Retired

From what I can tell, both hotels are very good and equal.

And yes, I think that I am going to go with Hotel Continental Barcelona, snacker that I am.

Ok, I will eat in the main dining room one meal when on my cruise and then I will report back to you.

The planning of this cruise seems so much easier than the previous one. I seem to be getting the hang of it.