anybody have recent experience at Axel BCN ?  Heard about if for years, but never stayed.  

 I like four star hotels w pool in BCN, prefer Eixample.  Open to other suggestions.

I considered staying there for an upcoming trip. Reviews seem a bit mixed but I think that's the case with pretty much every hotel. The Nomadic Boys have this relatively recent posting about BCN hotels. https://nomadicboys.com/gay-hotels-in-barcelona/

I ended up choosing to stay at the Kimpton on points and the Indigo using some free award night certificates. But my trip isn't until autumn.

Obviously there are about a billion hotels in Barcelona so it can be difficult to choose. Rooms seem to be almost uniformly on the small side. I see lots of general complaints about thin walls and noise issues. 

15 hours ago, fedssocr said:

Obviously there are about a billion hotels in Barcelona so it can be difficult to choose.

I have a feeling Axel is a dump based on reviews. I don’t want to be in a bathhouse after I’ve left the bathhouse   gonna try other options 

10 hours ago, Slvkguy said:

I have a feeling Axel is a dump based on reviews. I don’t want to be in a bathhouse after I’ve left the bathhouse   gonna try other options 

I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental last time and went to the Axel for drinks. From just a cursory trip up in the elevator to the top floor bar and talking to one local resident who "knew" the hotel, it seems dark and more like student housing. So if you are looking to for comfort or to impress, I'm not sure if that is the best choice. However, it is a short walk to Sauna Thermas, but from what I read about recent experiences, the sauna has slim pickings...

2 hours ago, Cany10011 said:

I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental last time and went to the Axel for drinks

in comparison to Mandarin, Axel is definitely a dump.  I’ve stayed Villa Emilia & it’s fine, although no pool & pretty basic - food is good & great location relative to Termas.  The deal killer is no pool for summer - not an issue in winter.  Alternately - I like The One Hotel, but it’s pricy and much further from Termas.  I like walkable in 10 minutes or so.  Lots of options, but nothing stands out yet.  

Hoping Termas is not as bad as reported - although the sourcing here is extremely trustworthy IMO.  I have contacts there & will investigate.  

 

 

 

On 5/26/2022 at 9:29 PM, Slvkguy said:

I like four star hotels w pool in BCN, prefer Eixample.

In various threads on BCN, when asked about the Axel, I’ve stated that I regard it as 2* star, possibly 3* if I’m being generous. The location is the best thing about it, but it has a pool and a largely gay clientele. 
 

l recommend this Catalan hotel-chain which has various good quality hotels at reasonable price-points (I’ve no personal interest in them)

https://www.derbyhotels.com/en/hotels/hotels-in-barcelona/

My recommendation is based on having stayed many times at various of their 4* and 5* places (before I bought an apartment) and they were always excellent value. 
 

For those who don’t know about the official Spanish rating system, a hotel can only be rated 5* if it has (among other standards) car parking onsite (or very nearby) and employ porters to carry clients’ bags. Those things don’t matter to me so, like you @Slvkguy, a 4* hotel is great. The rating system is complex and Spain even introduced some years ago the grade of 4.5*

I've stayed at Axel twice and if the price was right, I'd stay again. The Axel in Berlin on the other hand, was a one time stay for sure. 

On 5/26/2022 at 1:29 PM, Slvkguy said:

anybody have recent experience at Axel BCN ?  Heard about if for years, but never stayed.  

 I like four star hotels w pool in BCN, prefer Eixample.  Open to other suggestions.

I stayed at Two Axel Hotel in December. Not as upscale as the Axel Hotel I guess, but the room was nice and comfortable. The front desk staff, mostly Colombian, were great. Great location, close to Thermas and lots of restaurants nearby.

On 5/30/2022 at 4:56 PM, floridarob said:

I've stayed at Axel twice and if the price was right

It’s 200 euro nightly for my dates - I think I can do better. 

Only stayed at Axel Two which is a couple blocks from Thermas. Uninviting and inconvenient neighborhood. Two is too trendy with glass wall between bathroom toilet and bed. Should be called Thermas Two.

Axel is in gayborhood/hip area so I'd stick with the best hotel in that gay area.

For upgrades nothing's better than the Intercontinental with amazing gigantic suites Intercontinental Ambassadors get. But it's Uber everywhere. 

9 hours ago, tassojunior said:

with glass wall between bathroom toilet and bed.

I literally despise hotels that do this.

1 hour ago, JackR said:

I literally despise hotels that do this.

omg, there's others

does anyone know B Hotel ?  Location is great & has decent reviews. 

https://www.b-hotel.com/en/

Sure enough, a B hotel review comes up mentioning subway rumbling when I just looked entering related key words. I checked because I had a large 4th floor apartment also on the same line. I sleep on my side and those periodic vibrations kept me awake in the master bedroom overlooking the street directly a few feet away from the tracks deep below. About 15 steps distal from the front balcony,  the second small bedroom did not feature those vibrations through the pillow. If that kind of thing bothers you, a higher floor room northwards away from the main drag would be essential. Metro runs 05:00-00:00 but later at night on weekends. 

2 hours ago, Riobard said:

Sure enough, a B hotel review comes up mentioning subway rumbling

good information -  probably lower floors only as you suggest, similar to NYC and stations lines there.  Although the Estacio d’Espana station below the hotel might be busier/noisier than other stations with 3 subway lines & multiple heavy gauge rail connections.  It’s one of those things that doesn’t seem like it would be a problem - but if turns out to be an issue, then very annoying. 

it would be convenient to the train station if you go to Stiges, but not much else down there. 

I’ve no knowledge of the hotel, but the location is good. It’s also very handy for the Airport express bus. The square has the first/last stop from/to the Airport.
 

Also, there is a good gym in the modernised bullring development. The area has decent cafes and in the side streets, there are a couple of good restaurants that are patronized by locals. A few years back, we ate dinner at one place while Juan Carlos, then King of Spain, was at the next table.

3 hours ago, msclelovr said:

but the location is good

I like the neighborhood too and have stayed several times although not B Hotel - the area is not flooded with tourists and much more local.  Lots of good food options & excellent subway/train connections.  I’ve seen all the BCN tourist sites many times.  Playa Marbella nudist beach and a couple museums are the only things that would lure me back into tourist zones.  
For me, Passeig de Gracia area is only doable in a 5 star hotel and remaining separate from the tourist hordes. Haven’t been to BCN since before Covid, but at that time one of the most over touristed cities in the world.  Was really unbearable at times.

On 6/4/2022 at 5:43 PM, tassojunior said:

it would be convenient to the train station if you go to Stiges, but not much else down there. 

Plaza Espanya is one of the hubs of Barcelona, with a shopping mall, fountains, parks, and lots of restaurants. It's a few blocks from Thermas sauna and a 10-minute walk to the culinary wonders of Sant Antoni and Carrer de Blai. If you've already done the medieval and Gaudi tourist things, I'd consider Pl. Espanya to be the center of the action. 

decided to try something totally different near Playa Del Mar Bella -  given Monkeypox & new Covid variants - very unlikely to get to Termas ;(

the hotels are insanely expensive.  tourists are back at pre-Covid levels 

On 7/10/2022 at 3:33 PM, Slvkguy said:

decided to try something totally different near Playa Del Mar Bella -  given Monkeypox & new Covid variants - very unlikely to get to Termas ;(

the hotels are insanely expensive.  tourists are back at pre-Covid levels 

I recently traveled to Berlin for some gay parties.  On the first day I got home in the U.S., I developed fever and sore throat, and was tested positive for Covid.  Although I recovered in less than 7 days (but I still feel my lunges are heavier when I breath now than before getting Covid). This experience made me think twice about future traveling.

I flew business class but the cabin was full. On the plane, they give you full meal services, hot towels, drinks. At the airport, there were big crowds, long queues, most people were unmasked, at the lounges, there were open buffets and self service drinks, again most people were unmasked.  Any of these contact points can spread Covid.

I am lucky I recovered this time.  But I don't know if I want to risk getting new Covid variants(spreading like common flu and easily break through previous vaccines or prior infection immunity) and monkey pox(via casual sex with strangers).

 

On 7/11/2022 at 12:33 AM, Slvkguy said:

very unlikely to get to Termas ;(

I’m retracting that statement- very likely to go Termas.  

It’s open 24/7 weekends and going when not busy and calling my favorites to be there totally works in terms or risk/reward ratio

I’ve concluded it may be manageable.  Yet, a science experiment nonetheless.  I shall report 

went to Axel rooftop recently for drinks.  No, I would not stay there.  It was mainly Americans 22-30 & obnoxious. The rooftop felt like their pitstop before other bars/clubs.   Some people doing drugs (not weed) openly if that’s your thing. 

Didn’t see rooms, but had the vibe of an NYC boutique hotel from the early 90s.  In general, the public spaces looked worn & dated.  

As for the clientele - anyone over 40 would likely feel uncomfortable in that crowd.  Keep in mind my observation is based on one night in high-season which may draw a different clientele than other times - it’s just what I saw.  I noticed several guys around 45 come in and check the crowd - left immediately.  I would have left too except agreed to meet friends for a drink just to check it out.  

If trying to choose a hotel w easy access to Termas - there are way better options for similar price.

Intriguing report @Slvkguy Are you talking about the bar at the (first) Axel hotel on Aribau? Or was this what you found in the bar at TWO Hotel by Axel?

On 7/21/2022 at 6:40 AM, Slvkguy said:

went to Axel rooftop recently for drinks.  No, I would not stay there.  It was mainly Americans 22-30 & obnoxious. The rooftop felt like their pitstop before other bars/clubs.   Some people doing drugs (not weed) openly if that’s your thing. 

Didn’t see rooms, but had the vibe of an NYC boutique hotel from the early 90s.  In general, the public spaces looked worn & dated.  

As for the clientele - anyone over 40 would likely feel uncomfortable in that crowd.  Keep in mind my observation is based on one night in high-season which may draw a different clientele than other times - it’s just what I saw.  I noticed several guys around 45 come in and check the crowd - left immediately.  I would have left too except agreed to meet friends for a drink just to check it out.  

If trying to choose a hotel w easy access to Termas - there are way better options for similar price.

Don't expect Axel's TWO down by Thermas to be a relief from that. 

I like the area around Axel best, just not Axel. Cafes, shops, bars much better there than anywhere around Thermas.