Good value for money - Siren Torsvik. Date of travel: Nov 2006
Nice apartment at the Calabria. Clean. The kitchenet has no wineglasses or other glasses. You can buy glasses in the huge supermaket next door. No furnitures on the balcony. Nice breakfast - ham and cheese,scambled eggs and bacon, serials,fruit, youghurts,tomatoes, diff. types of bread and cakes. Very near Plaza Espana - 10 min. 20-25 min walk to Plaza Catalunia. Not many restaurants nearby - but if you walk from the hotel down to Gran Via and turn right there is a beautiful restaurant a few min. away. Nearly impossible to see - very anonymous - but beautiful inside - good food - average prices. If you arrive late and just want a light meal - take to the left outside the hotel - cross one street - next corner - a small spanish bar with restaurant on the 1 floor. They dont speak english, menue only in spanish - cheap - very nice food - helpful persons - this is where the locals come to have dinner around 10 p.m. A good advice; send an e-mail to the hotel and tell when you are arriving. Ask for an apt. on the top floor ( 7th) - on the back side - not against the street. Sun on the terrace from 10 o'clock in the morning - no traffic noise - not a very nice sight - but who cares - it is quiet and sunny . The stove was OK - a small wardrobe to put in the suitcases and with a safe ... beds comfortable but maybe a bit short for tall nordic men. Take a walk to Plaza espana... turn to the right arriving the bull ring - this is the main shopping street for people living in this area. Much better than city center which is very expensive. Lots of taxies - cheap - drivers not very friendly - maybe shy - speaks only spanish. When you are out in the city - write down the name and the address of the hotel on a note - just give the note to the taxidriver - than you dont have to worry if he has understood.... HAVE A NICE TIME IN HECTIC BARCELONA