Hotel El Cid

Sitges draws a mix of families, young partiers, and gay travelers all looking to unwind in the region's abundant sunshine and along its famous beach. As such, there's really no need for a fancy place to crash, and the Hotel El Cid nicely fits the bill for those who need little more than a pleasantly cheerful place to recharge at night. The style throughout is humble, but a pleasant upgrade from so many hotel's in this category across Catalunya. The lobby features colorful art on the walls, a shelf of vases and artsy knick-knacks, and solid wood furnishings. Guests are welcomed with a free drink at check-in, setting the relaxed tone (which is continued with features like a multi-room lounge with soft sofas, a piano, well-read books, and a large flat-screen TV). Guests -- when they're not out exploring -- also gather around the outdoor pool. The hotel attracts international budget travelers to its pool, free breakfast, affordably priced rooms, and location within a five-minute walk of both the beach and train station. 

Hotel El Cid is at the northern edge of Sitges, on a pedestrian street off of the busy Passeig de Villanova. A bus stop is about a one-minute walk away. Numerous shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars are in the surrounding area. Ribera Beach is the big central beach in Sitges -- it's a five-minute walk from the hotel, while the Passeig Maritim promenade and Bassa Rodona Beach (the city's main gay beach) is just a little over five minutes away on foot. The hotel is a five-minute drive or 10-minute walk from the area with Sant Sebastia Beach, the Cau Ferrat Museum, Maricel Museum, and Maricel Palace. Also in this area is the famous Church of Bartomeu and Santa Tecla, a 17th-century Baroque church. The Sitges train station is a two-minute drive or five-minute walk from the hotel for connections to Barcelona and elsewhere. The center of Barcelona is about 35 minutes away by car or 45 minutes by train from the hotel, while Barcelona-El Prat Airport is a 25-minute drive or 50-minute train ride away. 

Rooms at Hotel El Cid are simply decorated, but have an attractive look for a budget property, with dark-wood trim and furnishings, colorful printed curtains, and red accent walls hung with colorful art. Some have pink-and-white striped bedspreads. Rooms can be a bit snug, but certainly not by budget hotel standards. Windows are soundproofed to filter out street noise, though walls aren't terribly thick, so those sensitive to noise may hear their neighbors. Some double beds are two singles pushed together and we did spot some furniture that was looking a bit worn during our visit. Standard features include air-conditioning, ceiling fans, free Wi-Fi, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs. Rooms do not have mini-fridges or coffeemakers, and using safes incurs a fee and refundable deposit. Some rooms have private balconies with tables and chairs, and some balconies also have sun loungers. Bathrooms can be compact and there's generally limited counter space around the sink. All include showers and toiletries, but no hairdryers.

Hotel El Cid features a small outdoor swimming pool and deck with sun loungers. The deck and pool have the potential to get crowded when the hotel is full/ A good free breakfast buffet is served until late and features a good spread of hot and cold dishes. The hotel also has a lobby computer, lobby lounge with flat-screen TV, 24-hour front desk, and bicycle rentals (for a fee). There is no parking on-site, but nearby parking is available for a fee.