Rafaelhoteles Badalona

Rafaelhoteles Badalona is a 14-story stand-alone building that was constructed in 2008. It’s a modern property that tries -- albeit a little half-heartedly -- to incorporate modern design touches. The overall aesthetic is clean and simple. During our visit, we noted signs in the lobby and restaurant reminding guests not to leave their luggage unattended -- conscientious, but not particularly reassuring. The vibe borders on businesslike, given the hotel is located in a business area and has its own meeting rooms, but it sees plenty of tourist couples, too, especially in peak summer season. Keep in mind that Badalona's town center is a decent walk from the hotel, meaning trips into Barcelona from the local train station will require the additional expense of using cabs. Many guests find that it's the same story to reach the beach as well.

Rafaelhoteles Badalona is situated in a business district within the small coastal city of Badalona, which lies to the northeast of Barcelona. Local attractions include the Parc de Can Solei i Ca l’Arnus, just a three-minute walk from the hotel, and the Badalona Museum -- where visitors can see the remains of the Roman city of Baetulo -- which is a seven-minute walk away. It’s a 15-minute walk from the hotel to the beach (which is clean and far less crowded than Barceloneta in the city) and the restaurants and bars of Santa Madrona Street. Many travelers still find they need to rely on cabs to get to Badalona's central areas. The hotel sits close to the C31 highway, though the busy roads all around don't make this the most attractive part of town. Badalona Pompeu Fabra Metro station is also around a 15-minute walk from the hotel. From there it's a 25-minute trip on L2 Sagrada Familia. It’s a 20-minute walk to Badalona train station, which reaches central Barcelona in around 20 minutes. All in, you'll need about 40 minutes to reach the center of Barcelona, keeping in mind that trains don't run around the clock. Rail services also connect Badalona with other beach towns along the coast. It takes 30 minutes by car or taxi (or 75 minutes on public transportation) to get to Barcelona’s El Prat Airport.

Rooms at Rafaelhoteles Badalona have simple and modern decor, with tiled floors, grape hues, and large windows letting in plenty of light. All rooms come with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars. An interesting feature to note is the extra-long bed in every room, which are ideal for taller guests. Standard Rooms have an unusual bathroom layout; they're partially open-plan, with separate walk-in shower and toilet cubicles. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided. Room sizes start at a small 183 square feet (17 square meters) in the Individual Rooms, rising to 237 square feet (20 square meters) in the Standard Rooms, and 430 square feet (40 square meters) in the Junior Suites, which can also sleep two children on a sofa bed. We noted that the soundproofing was impressive, given the proximity to the highway.

Rafaelhoteles Badalona has a couple of quality features, but lacks a pool, which may be a dealbreaker since it's not the closest hotel to the beach. The below-ground restaurant, El Badiu, opens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The buffet breakfast spread has a selection of hot, cold, and pastry options, but previous guests note that there’s not much variety (and it costs extra). The wine cellar is a nice touch, although on our visit it wasn’t particularly well stocked. The lobby bar is a small and cozy, and there’s also a roof terrace. A small fitness center has a couple cardio options and free weights plus a sauna. Secure underground parking (with elevator access straight to reception) is available, but it's expensive relative to other parking lots in the area. The hotel also runs an electric bike service, where guests can exchange their room key for bike rental to explore the city (this service costs extra). On the first floor there are seven meeting rooms, all of which get natural light. Basic Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel; premium access comes at an additional cost.