Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime

The Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime is a large corporate hotel that’s popular for conferences and large events. It’s an attractive enough property -- the low-rise building is surrounded by pockets of pretty gardens -- but it’s clear that the hotel has seen a couple of expansions in its 30-year history. Older areas -- like the traditional restaurant with its terra-cotta floor and dark wood ceiling; cozy lounge complete with fireplace; and outdoor pool where a stone bridge leads to a medieval watchtower -- have quirk and charm, though can sometimes look old-fashioned. Newer areas, which include the lobby and some rooms, have more of an international city-hotel vibe. Most guests are here on business, and the massive convention center occupies its own building and can get very busy. Downsides center mostly on service, which is hit and miss. The hotel would also benefit from an additional restaurant given the volume of business guests wanting to stay on-site after a day’s conference. The Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime is one of the better options in Castelldefels for sure, but tourists will likely be better off staying closer to town or the beach instead.

The hotel is situated in a residential area of Castelldefels, a coastal town that’s about a 35-minute drive southwest of Barcelona. While the secluded hilltop setting affords wonderful views, travelers won’t find much in walking distance of the hotel, and having a car is recommended. Castelldefels is known for its long stretch of sandy beach, which is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The town center’s bars, restaurants, and shops are also about a five-minute drive away. Other attractions in the area include the Parc del Garraf, a 15-minute drive away, and the Sant Boi de Llobregat Museum, which is 20 minutes away by car. The nearest train station, Platja de Castelldefels, is around a 10-minute drive from the hotel (it's only a 15-minute walk, but travelers should note that it’s a steep climb back to the hotel). Barcelona's El Prat Airport is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, or about 40 minutes to an hour by public transportation.

Rooms at the Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime are divided into two styles. The older rooms are rustic and traditional, with tiled terra-cotta floors, ornate dark wood furniture, and a mix of red and floral fabrics. While they have their charms, the look will appear old-fashioned to some. Other rooms feature more modern cream-and-wood decor, plus long desks that are a solid addition for business guests (rustic rooms have smaller antique desks). All rooms feature air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars. Bathrooms vary in decor (cream marble in the modern rooms; white and peach accents plus terra cotta in the rustic rooms), but all have shower/tub combos and wall-mounted hairdryers. Basic toiletries are provided. Entry-level Rustic Standard Rooms look spacious, but are quite compact at 215 square feet (20 square meters). The most elegant decor can be found in the 430-square-foot (40-square-meter) Rustic Suites, which have more of an English country house vibe. The bathrooms in these suites are huge and have twin sinks, separate whirlpool tubs, and walk-in showers. During our visit, we noted that the rooms were well soundproofed.

The crowning glory at the Gran Hotel Rey Don Jaime is its large and modern convention center, which has 20 simple and light conference rooms including an auditorium that can seat 350 guests. At the hotel itself, Torre Barona is the traditional restaurant with open-air terrace that has far-reaching views of the sea. There’s also a poolside bar and cafe, but it’s perhaps surprising for a hotel of this size that there aren’t more dining areas. Breakfast is offered, but not included in rates. The cozy lounge area with fireplace is the ideal spot for reading or catching up on work emails in peace. Leisure spaces include an outdoor pool on a vast terrace, where garden tables and rattan sofas provide plenty of spots to relax. Indoors, a large and light fitness center has a good range of cardio equipment and weights plus two squash courts, and there's a heated indoor pool that's wheelchair accessible, plus a steam room. Other features include a game room, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. The hotel has plenty of free on-site parking, both outside and underground. There’s also an electric car charging station.