H10 Universitat

"We stayed at H10 Universitat Barcelona from 18–21 May and purchased the breakfast package at €18 per day. After one breakfast that fell well below standard, we cancelled the remaining two days. The reception staff was dismissive, stated refunds were “complicated,” and made a condescending remark about guests needing to be sure before purchasing. I was then told the breakfast we had that morning would be charged at €22 instead of €18, and that my refund for the remaining two days would be €64 (ie €32 p/p). I accepted this and was assured the refund would be processed within seven days. It has now been over two weeks with no refund issued. Customer Services has not responded to either of my emails. While the hotel stay itself was satisfactory, withholding a €64 refund and ignoring customer communication is unacceptable. Based on this experience, I would be reluctant to book an H10 property again."

"As a bit of background, I had a difficult time deciding among the H10 hotels around the Playa Catalunya. What tipped the scale was that the H10 Universitat had balcony rooms and ceiling fans. While I could have done without the former (it was too hot to open the balcony door, and I did not want to upset the temperamental air conditioning system), I could not have done without the latter. Five essential things to know about the H10 Universitat: 1. It’s on a busy street, but the noise was much less than expected from my 7th-floor room. Barcelona may be the most vibrant city I have ever seen at 6:00 am (as many people wound down their festivities). Despite the city’s prevalent buzz, I heard only faint sounds here and there. I still recommend earplugs to combat any intervening sounds, but I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of outside noise. 2. The location is central to everything in Barcelona. The hotel is surrounded by metro stops, and the Barcelona subway is one of the better ones I’ve encountered. A brilliant running clock tells you when the next train will arrive. Amazing! A bus stop is immediately in front of the hotel, so your taxi or Uber will drop off / pick up about 30 yards before the hotel entrance. 3. I reserved a deluxe room with an aesthetic balcony (it’s only a step into the great outdoors). The room had two double beds pushed together, plenty of closet space, a micro desk, and an oversized chair. The room lighting was exceptional, and two reading lamps provided a nighttime option. The balcony windows also welcomed in plenty of ambient light. The rain shower temperature adjusted quickly, and the water pressure was unusually strong for a hotel. The bathroom lighting had two settings – bright and brighter. I wish there was a dim light in the bathroom for those early morning breaks. 4. The air conditioning is a bit temperamental. I tried to adjust it one evening, somehow turned it off, and the room temperature climbed to feel like an indoor sauna. The hotel added a QR code to help guests navigate the system. If you need a QR code with instructions, that should be a tell-tale sign that it’s way too complicated. It also appeared that the hotel set a temperature floor. My room temperature never descended below 21 Celsius even though I commanded a few degrees cooler. The savior was the ceiling fan. If a cool room is important to you, make sure you reserve a room with a ceiling fan. I don’t think the basic rooms have them. 5. The hotel does not have a gym. But if you are a walker, jogger, or runner, I strongly recommend descending to Playa Barceloneta and enjoying the lengthy running paths. If you are looking to escape the heat with a dip in the pool, the hotel offers passes to its partner hotel down the street. Overall, the H10 delivered a surprisingly quiet experience in the heart of Barcelona."

"Finned €100 euro for no reason"