Barcelona, Hotel Continental

[nonna5]

We were scheduled to stay at the hotel continental for our arrival night and departure night.

When we arrived we found out the hotel was overbooked, and after travelling through the night and being very tired, we weren't impressed. They were going to put us up at the sister hotel, Hotel Continental Palacete.

In the end we couldn't be happier about our experience, because of this overbooking, we were able to experience both hotels.

First off they paid for a cab to drive us the 10 minute walk to the Hotel Continental Palacete. They gave us a suite with a massive sitting room and a bottle of champagne in our room for the inconvenience of having to change.

The room was marvelous. at first we were sad not to have our own balcony, but there was a balcony in the public room which we used for hours as there was no one else there. Lovely little snack bar and we thoroughly enjoyed the wine and beer on tap!

On our return after the cruise we had a lovely room on the thrid floor of the Hotel Continental Barcelona. A cute very quirky little hotel. It suited us just fine. We were exhausted after our port intensive cruise and spent most of the day relaxing in either the rear terrance or our own private balcony.

I will post a couple room pics after we get settled, I took over 1000 pictures during our cruise and we haven't had time to look at them since our return.

 

I would highly recommend either of these hotels. Very good value. and both had great locations.

 

The info i received answers for in my original post was spot on. Very easy walking distance from the airport shuttle, and several stores nearby that sold nice wine to take onboard our cruise.

Thanks

Lambo

 

Thanks so much for posting. I am staying at the HC Barcelona hotel for my Nov 2013 TA cruise. I am looking forward to your pictures.

[Lambo62]

 

 

[FreezingInMichigan]

For those that have stayed here, what type of safe was available in the room? Combination? Key swipe?

 

We're staying three nights pre-cruise and want a safe place to leave our valuables locked up while we sight see. I can only hide so much in a money belt or neck pouch before I resemble one of the street statues... lol

[CrusingJoe]

For those that have stayed here, what type of safe was available in the room? Combination? Key swipe?

 

We're staying three nights pre-cruise and want a safe place to leave our valuables locked up while we sight see. I can only hide so much in a money belt or neck pouch before I resemble one of the street statues... lol

 

I'll hold on to all your valuables for you, they will be safe, ya right! :rolleyes:

[as19111]

For those that have stayed here, what type of safe was available in the room? Combination? Key swipe?

 

We're staying three nights pre-cruise and want a safe place to leave our valuables locked up while we sight see. I can only hide so much in a money belt or neck pouch before I resemble one of the street statues... lol

 

If my memory is correct, it was a combination/code safe (no card) just like on the ship. It also doubled as a night table in our room, i.e. it was hung from the wall at bed level and not in a closet.

[Clarea]

OP, if you are interested in sampling some wine while in Barcelona, there is a wine bar just around the corner from Hotel Continental Palacete. It's called Monvinic, located at 249 Diputacio. It is highly rated on TripAdvisor, and I read an article about it from WSJ which called it "the best wine bar in the world," LOL. I don't know if it is THAT good, but I'm planning to try it when we stay at the Continental next month...

We were in Barcelona last October and went to Monvinic and I would say it was a very interesting wine bar with an incredible selection of wines. There are so many wines that they don't have a written list, they just give you an iPad type device and you select filters to search thru all the wines. We had a fun time there.

 

Just next door to Monvinic is a sandwich type place called Fastvinic where they have automated wine dispensers. We enjoyed the freshly made sandwiches and wine there also.

 

Bob

[FreezingInMichigan]

I'll hold on to all your valuables for you, they will be safe, ya right! :rolleyes:

 

Thanks for being there for me, CruisingJoe. I'll send everything and include my social security number so you can property identify me later... lol :p

[FreezingInMichigan]

If my memory is correct, it was a combination/code safe (no card) just like on the ship. It also doubled as a night table in our room, i.e. it was hung from the wall at bed level and not in a closet.

 

The ship safes we've used in the past have had a swipe card (supplied by the user), so I didn't worry about anyone else being able to get into them. When I thought about it, common sense would rule that someone on the ship's staff should be able to access the safes because cruisers must lose their cards every once in awhile. *a bit of a DUH moment for me...lol*

 

So if given the choice between leaving our passports, jewelry, etc. in the room hotel safe that the staff probably knows the combination to... or wearing an oh so chic lumpy neck bag thingie... which would be safer? The husband is telling me any hotel that has staff who steal will quickly get bad reviews and go out of business. He has a point. But don't tell him I admitted it... :D

[as19111]

The ship safes we've used in the past have had a swipe card (supplied by the user), so I didn't worry about anyone else being able to get into them. When I thought about it, common sense would rule that someone on the ship's staff should be able to access the safes because cruisers must lose their cards every once in awhile. *a bit of a DUH moment for me...lol*

 

So if given the choice between leaving our passports, jewelry, etc. in the room hotel safe that the staff probably knows the combination to... or wearing an oh so chic lumpy neck bag thingie... which would be safer? The husband is telling me any hotel that has staff who steal will quickly get bad reviews and go out of business. He has a point. But don't tell him I admitted it... :D

 

This is the type of safe that Princess has on their ships. You enter a four digit code and close the safe. You can only reopen it using that code. You are correct that someone in maintenance can reopen the safe, but it is what it is...someone can open your car, your front door...and we've had called for assistance in opening the safe. We also found a tennis bracelet left in a safe and turned it into the purser. So make sure you run your hand all around the edge of the safe and look under the little felt pad.

 

We used the hotel safe and felt it was as secure as any hotel room safe we've had. Personally, I've never had a room safe in a hotel or on the ship that required you to swipe a card.

[FreezingInMichigan]

This is the type of safe that Princess has on their ships. You enter a four digit code and close the safe. You can only reopen it using that code. You are correct that someone in maintenance can reopen the safe, but it is what it is...someone can open your car, your front door...and we've had called for assistance in opening the safe. We also found a tennis bracelet left in a safe and turned it into the purser. So make sure you run your hand all around the edge of the safe and look under the little felt pad.

 

We used the hotel safe and felt it was as secure as any hotel room safe we've had. Personally, I've never had a room safe in a hotel or on the ship that required you to swipe a card.

 

Thank you for the additional safe information. We'll be sure to follow your advice. Is the four digit code one you select yourself?

 

The only cruise line we've been on so far is Carnival. Their safes require a magnetic card supplied by the cruiser. We often used an old gift card, loyalty card (gas, pharmacy, etc).

[CrusingJoe]

Thanks for being there for me, CruisingJoe. I'll send everything and include my social security number so you can property identify me later... lol :p

 

Anytime FreezingInMichigan. I don't need your social security number, all I have to do is look for a blond with blue eyes.;)

[CrusingJoe]

The ship safes we've used in the past have had a swipe card (supplied by the user), so I didn't worry about anyone else being able to get into them. When I thought about it, common sense would rule that someone on the ship's staff should be able to access the safes because cruisers must lose their cards every once in awhile. *a bit of a DUH moment for me...lol*

 

So if given the choice between leaving our passports, jewelry, etc. in the room hotel safe that the staff probably knows the combination to... or wearing an oh so chic lumpy neck bag thingie... which would be safer? The husband is telling me any hotel that has staff who steal will quickly get bad reviews and go out of business. He has a point. But don't tell him I admitted it... :D

 

You could have the hotel staff put your jewelry in their safe. Also if you have to call the to have your safe open on a ship, they will open it unless your in the room at the same time.

[as19111]

Anytime FreezingInMichigan. I don't need your social security number, all I have to do is look for a blond with blue eyes.;)

 

Hey, I resemble that remark!

 

Yes, you choose the code.

[FreezingInMichigan]

Hey, I resemble that remark!

 

Yes, you choose the code.

 

I've got green eyes, so he'll be able to tell us apart... LOL

[sasue]

My husband and I have stayed at the Continental Palacete Hotel twice, the second time about 4 years ago. We'd like to stay at the Continental Hotel on Las Ramblas this time. We really liked the Continental Palacete both times, but the beds were SO UNCOMFORTABLE, very hard like boards.

Has any one stayed at the Continental Hotel in the past year or two and can tell me how comfortable the beds are? Thanks so much in advance!