Aparthotel Bertran

This quiet, residence-style hotel is especially geared to groups and families on extended stays. The hotel has a modest, uncovered entrance framed by pink marble. Beige marble highlights the floors, staircase, and front desk. A mirrored column and stainless-steel ceiling tiles reflect light, which, along with the vibrant yellow walls, brighten up a somewhat dim, one-story space. Black-leather sofas on opposite walls provide sitting areas to peruse newspapers or the many tourist brochures that are available in the lobby. The fourth-floor sundeck, with a rooftop pool, covered seating, and lovely views of the surrounding neighborhood, provides a nice spot for guests to gather.

The Aparthotel Bertran is situated in Sant Gervasi, a bit removed from Barcelona's major tourist attractions. It’s on a relatively quiet but narrow city street, about a one-minute walk to a grocery store and pharmacy. There's a cafe across the street, and more shops and restaurants are within a two- or three-minute walk of the hotel. A bus stop is about two minutes by foot, and Vallcarca metro station and the Tibidabo FGC station are both within a five-minute walk of the hotel. Park Guell, with its famous Gaudi works, is an 11-minute drive or 25-minute trip by public transportation, and the iconic Sagrada Familia is around a 15-minute drive or a 25-minute trip via public transportation. It’s about 20 minutes driving (30 minutes by public transit) northwest of the Gothic Quarter and Picasso Museum. The Cathedral Barcelona de la Seu and Port Vell are a 25-minute drive. The Barcelona-El Prat Airport is around one hour by public transportation or a 20-minute drive. 

Guest rooms in this studio apartment-style hotel are clean and spacious but rather spartan and sparsely decorated. Floors in the standard rooms are dormitory-style beige tile, and light yellow walls are mounted by a few small pieces of framed artwork. The budget-quality furniture including headboards is a matching oak color, and wood-framed tables have frosted glass tops. Matching, solid crimson-colored bedspreads, sofas, armchairs, and drapes give the rooms a darker feel. Each room has a small kitchenette with granite counters, a cook top, microwave, coffeemaker, mini-fridge, sink and utensils. And every unit includes a small glass dining table for four. Standard amenities include TVs (some flat-screen, some older tube models), phones, radio alarm clocks, and free Wi-Fi. The amply-sized bathrooms are somewhat nicer, with spacious white marble vanities and beige tile on the floors and framing the shower/tub combos with hand-held showerheads. Frosted half-walls separate vanities from tubs. Toilets and bidets sit side by side. 

Standard units range from 374 to 538 square feet, with double or two twin beds and sleeper sofas. Some rooms have a third bed. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom units encompass 753 square feet and have a more modern decor with hardwood floors, walk-in showers, and separate rooms for the kitchens which  include washers/dryers, dishwashers, and ovens. They also include narrow balconies (some standard rooms do as well) with views of the surrounding buildings. Some guests have reported hearing ambient noise from the street and adjacent rooms. 

Like many apartment-style hotels catering to long-term visitors, the Aparthotel Bertran has limited features, but it does offer some appealing extras. The hotel has a rooftop pool and sundeck with nice views of the surrounding area. While the pool is small, the sundeck is spacious and includes lounge chairs and a covered area with tables and chairs for alfresco dining. There's no on-site restaurant, but the hotel will deliver a continental breakfast to rooms for a fee. Staff can also help obtain tickets to area attractions and performances. There's a meeting room with a boardroom-style table, along with a 24-hour business center with a computer station with Internet access and a printer. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The on-site fitness center is a bit of a disappointment, with older exercise equipment including bicycles, a rowing machine, and some weight-training equipment and free weights. An on-site, secure parking garage is a big plus for drivers, although parking does come with an additional fee. Valet dry cleaning and laundry services are offered, and free newspapers are available in the lobby.