C/ Tellinaires 33 - 35, Gava, Barcelona, Spain | (618) 248-8274
Quiet suburban location, with direct access to Gava Mar Beach
Contemporary rooms with sleek bathrooms, many with sea views
Large gardens with outdoor pool and enclosed bar
Cafe serves food all day and has a nice garden terrace
Seven event rooms
Free Wi-Fi in common areas and meeting rooms
Parking on-site for a fee
No gym or business center, despite lots of meeting rooms
Fee for Wi-Fi in the rooms (unless booking directly)
Rooms lack electric kettles and balconies
No airport shuttle, a let down given proximity to Barcelona-El Prat Airport
The three-and-a-half-pearl AC Hotel Gava Mar is a modern, purpose-built hotel with a contemporary, minimalist style. It backs onto sandy Gava Mar Beach and is only 10 minutes by car to the airport, but Barcelona is a 30-minute drive away. The hotel's large gardens include a pool, and there's a restaurant serving a relaxed menu of local dishes throughout the day. Rooms are smart, and have slick bathrooms -- though electric kettles and balconies are missing. The best have sea views. There are seven meeting rooms, but common features are lacking slightly, with no gym or business center -- plus fees for in-room Wi-Fi. Travelers wanting a beach closer to Barcelona's buzz might check out Hotel Front Maritim instead, though rates will be higher and rooms are often smaller.
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Scene
Laid-back, modern hotel on the beach, with large, peaceful gardens
The AC Hotel Gava Mar is a modern hotel set just back from sandy Gava Mar Beach. It's a low-rise, blocky building when viewed from the outside -- in fact, it looks every bit the part of its Marriott-owned chain status. Inside, though, things are refreshingly sharp. The style is contemporary and minimalist throughout the lobby and cafe lounge, with natural brown and cream tones alongside organic sculptures. Large, open gardens are a great place to chill out, with terraced seating and palm trees dotted around a central pool and bar. Lawns stretch away to the beach behind the hotel, and the sounds of the sea provide a nice soundtrack. Space here is plentiful, so it's popular with families and tourists seeking a quiet retreat from busy Barcelona. The proximity to the airport is also a pull for business travelers and those passing through the city.
Location
Quiet location next to the beach and a 30-minute drive into Barcelona
The AC Hotel Gava Mar is located away from the center of Barcelona, overlooking Gava Mar Beach. The hotel has direct access to the sand from behind the property. There's a small parade of shops a five-minute walk away, and a bus stop is also a five-minute walk away. It's around 25-minutes on the bus to Gava town for shopping and attractions such as the Gava Museum and Garden, or 15-minutes by car. Gaudi's Park Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and top shopping spots like Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona's city center are around an hour away by bus, or a 30-minute drive. Buses connect to the airport in about 45-minutes, though it's a ten-minute trip by car. Keep in mind that despite that relative airport proximity, there is no airport shuttle.
Rooms
Contemporary rooms and suites with sleek bathrooms, many with sea views
Rooms at the AC Hotel Gava Mar are contemporary with the minimalist style that runs throughout the hotel. Pale walls contrast with the dark wood flooring and furniture, and many rooms overlook the gardens and the sea. There's little in the way of art, though the woven headboards are a nice decorative touch. Standard features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and music players. The large windows let in plenty of light and open to sea breezes, though there are no actual balconies. Superior Rooms add robes and slippers plus larger desk areas, and suites have separate living rooms with sofas. The lack of tea/coffee facilities or safes in the rooms is disappointing. It's also worth noting that Wi-Fi is only free with direct bookings or in public areas. Bathrooms have a sleek finish, with glass basins and a modern brown tiling. All feature shower/tub combos, plus toiletries and hairdryers.
Features
Large outdoor area includes a pool and bar, with the beach just beyond
The chief draw at the AC Hotel Gava Mar is the large garden, which offers enough space to chill out without feeling crowded, and leads to the beach beyond. However, the hotel doesn't offer any on-the-sand services. Back on the grounds, there's a central pool with loungers and cabanas, and an enclosed pool bar that serves drinks and light meals during the day. AC Lounge restaurant has a garden terrace, plus a bar area, and serves a buffet breakfast (fee) and a menu full of local specialties throughout the day. Room service is available until late, with a small selection of cold dishes available 24/7. There are seven event rooms with audio-visual equipment, and Wi-Fi is free in common areas. There's no gym on-site, but the hotel has an agreement for reduced rates at a fitness club across the road, which has tennis courts, weights, and cardio machines. While this hotel is close to the airport, it doesn't run a shuttle there or to the center of Barcelona.
