Front Maritim

I have just returned from a 4 night stay at the Front Maritim. The trip was a post GCSE treat for my 16 year old daughter (and me) and I have only positive things to say about this hotel. The staff are friendly and helpful, the rooms modern, clean and air conditioned (which was lovely to come back to when temperatures outside were touching 30 degrees). My teen was made up with the free internet access in the lobby which meant she could keep in touch with mates back home and the complementary water is a nice touch - there are no in room kettles. We found the location just right as it was a good class residential area and we felt totally safe going out in the evening and after dark. The restaurants and cafes in the area cater for the locals rather than tourists so prices were more reasonable than I had expected. The Diagonal Mar Centre has lots of choice for shopping and eating and is open till late. The nearest metro station is a 10 minute stroll away and will get you to all the main sights in 15 - 20 minutes. The beach is a few minutes walk but take your own beach towel as there aren't any loungers to hire. We made use of the hotels safe deposit box facility which saves the worry of carrying passports and all your cash / cards around all the time. It's free but you do need to leave a 30 euro deposit (refundable) for the key to your box. I would recommend making full use of the city's excellent public transport - airport train and metro in particular and the T10 ticket is great value and can be used on both. There is so much to see in Barcelona that 5 days just wasn't long enough and when we go back we will certainly be booking the Front Maritim.

sylvia howard, southport, uk
Family with teenagers 12+

I recently stayed in this hotel with three friends on a mini 'hen' weekend. We had 2 twin rooms booked via Alpharooms and I must say all the bookings including hotel, airport transfers worked like clockwork. Its a good location if you like being away from the huhstle and bustle of the city, but close to the beach, the metro and a shopping centre. The hotel itself is clean and the staff are friendly. This hotel stands out from others by offering free bottled water on all the floors and free internet access from the hotel lobby. We did have a bad experience with one of my friends having her money and passport pinched whilst on a sight seeing tour of the city, which did put a damper on an otherwise great weekend. The city is beautiful in terms of sight seeing and architecture and I would like to go back here. If I do, I'd be more than happy to stay at this hotel which was clean with friendly staff.

Andria Williams, South Wales
Group of Mature Friends/Couples

Really impressed with this hotel, from the setting very close to the beach, to the swish interior and good staff. Breakfast really good and great to have water readily available. Rooms are smallish but really clean and comfortable and quiet. Able to leave bags securely outside check in/out times which both useful and reassuring. Would definitely stay here again.

sonia barker, warrington
Mature Couple (36+)

First time that I have used alpharooms but was very impressed with how easy it was and with how much information was available. The hotel was very clean and modern. An excellent shower in the bathroom and plenty of wardrobe space. The bed was extremely comfortable. Only down sides to the room was no lock on the toilet door (part of the design) and no iron in the room. However the room service was good, the location is perfect for a holiday, right on the beach and a seaside walk into the town centre. The metro was easy to use and if you get the ten pass ticket it is extremely cheap. Definitely recommend the hotel for the price!!!

Thomas Brazier, Maidstone, England
Young Couple (18-35)

The hotel was much bigger than I had imagined - but far more sylish and elegant. Beautiful wood and art works set the scene .The rooms are smallish, but the marble and glass ensuite - great. The hotel is opposite the beach which is white sand and good for swimming; but it is an urban setting. We had lots of grey and rain over 3 days but still had a great time. A taxi ride can vary a lot in price to the Olympic Port or the Older parts of the city ranging from 7 - 20 euros, so bonning up on some Spanish could be very useful. We had a great time clubbing, the drinks are expensive but huge, remember one short is more like 5 english shots. . so it can be easy to drink too much. Booking with Alpha was a very interactive and a good internet experience. Although Front Maritim is well out of town along the coast it's a great place to return to for some chill out time, especially with such great access to the beach. The Sauna, Gymn and Steam room are small but well put together. We felt very well catered for and could not believe the level of the accommodation we were buying for our euros.

Amanda Oliver, Norwich
Other

A top class hotel, more like a 5 star hotel than a 4 star hotel.

Martin Guy, Benalmadena Costa, Spain
Young Couple (18-35)

clean, comfortable and very helpful staff

Irene Owen, London, England
Other

Lovely modern hotel, very clean, the bed linen and towels were changed daily. Friendly, helpfull staff. The hotel is close to the beach and Diagonal Mar shopping complex, a 10e taxi ride to the centre of town or you can get the bus just around the corner. The hotel provides free mineral water with fridges on each floor. Would not hesitate to return.

Pam & Michelle, England
Other

good looking hotel but a bit impersonal seemed like you were wandering around an airport lounge breakfast was good and varied and finished quite late.Location altough opposite the beach was a minimum 7-10 euro taxi ride into central Barcelona,also reception was very vague on saturday evening on arrival when asked if there were any restaurants nearby, walking distance,said no and had to get another cab at 21.45 back into the city!!on exploring the next day there were at least six places within a two minute walk!perhaps she thought we couldn't manage local establishments how wrong!they were great!

danielle tallon, essex england
Mature Couple (36+)

Hotel Maritim was an excellent hotel, staff were friendly and spoke english and the food was good, drinks were very reasonable. The hotel's  position was good, just overlooking the sea.  The hotel rooms were very nice but very small, although the power shower was fabulous.  Overall an excellent minimilistic hotel and would stay again!

Mrs D Renton, Darlington. England
Group of Young Friends/Couples

Visited Front Maritim on business during November 2006.
The hotel staff were pleasant and efficient on checking in and remained so throughout the week. You will be asked for a card imprint and a copy of your passport will be taken.

Peak times for breakfast were a little stressed as tables were not cleared quickly enough and a queue quickly formed - avoid the 8 o'clock rush would be my advice - also not helped by only having a two slice domestic toaster... good selection of cold/continental items for breakfast, the hot selection being restricted to bacon, sausage and scrambled egg (and toast if you could wait that long).

Free wired internet in the rooms with wireless available in the lobby/business area (and any rooms it strayed into). Again peak times were a problem and connection was lost several times - having said this, the hotel was full of techno-geeks there for ITForum, so probably an unrealistic view of the system.

Rooms were modern, neat and clean - although noise from the nearby main roads was clearly audible, especially the sirens... 4 large fluffy pillows and a comfy bed made for a good nights sleep however.

Bottles of water freely available from a fridge on each floor were a nice touch along with a full complimentary kit of soap, shampoo, shower gel, razor, toothbrush etc.

15 minutes walk from The Forum so ideal for the conference, about 10 minutes from the metro so the centre of Barca was very easy to reach.

I would definitely use this hotel again for conferences in that area.

Ian Pearshouse, Halesowen / England
Other

Nice hotel - close to the beach.
Really good breakfast - lots to choose from.
About a 10 minute walk to the metro station, then about another 10 minutes into the centre of town.
Room size was ok for one - walls were a bit thin, and not all the advertised tv channels were working.
There isn't a minibar in each room - just a communal fridge on each floor with unlimited bottled water.
More a 3 1/2 star hotel than 4.
Would recommend it and would stay there again.

O, dublin
Solo Traveller

The rooms are quite clean although notunlike most rooms I´ve stayed in the customary bathroom hair was present.  Its something that hotels of all stars seem to have a problem with; however onthis occasion this was most likelyto be the cleaners.

My tip for getting to this hotel is take the bus into the centre of town and then hail a taxi the rest of the way.  The bus costs around 3 euros and the taxi 10.  Its easyto do and if indoubt just ask the driver when you get on the bus to tell you when to get off; I went on instinct and was fine.

The rooms are small by anyones standards lol.. You could swing the proverbial cat in it but it may get a bloody nose.  The shower is good and the comp water is ideal.  The staff on first impressions are great and very helpful.

As others have said the tourist bus stop is close by juct come out the main entrance and turn left and then left again to the side street and its a few yards along from there.

Richi , Berkshire
Solo Traveller

I gave this hotel 5/5 because they made my nerve wrecking weekend go without a 'hitch' (excuse the pun, but read on). The reason I took my girlfriend away to Barcelona was to ‘pop the question’ and ask her to marry me.

After looking at various hotels which offered a romantic sea view I chose the Hotel Front Maritim because of its location near the beach. I booked a room through Alpha Rooms, because they produced the most competitive price and no other company could beat them. This also meant I was able to spend more on the engagement ring!

Our stay was made memorable because the room had an excellent sea view (I had requested this through Alpha Rooms on the day of booking), the staff were very friendly and the breakfast was entirely fulfilling catering for all tastes and preferences. There is also complimentary water and we received a box of chocolates on the day of our arrival. There are also a wide variety of complimentary toiletries including soap, shower gel, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste and even a ‘ladies kit’ with a sanitary towel and make up removers!

All in all our stay was perfect, and by the way she said YES.

Mandeep Singh Bajwa, Bristol, England
Young Couple (18-35)

excellent hotel although rooms are on the small side.beds very comfortable,pillows best ever had in hotel. free chilled water much appreciated. breakfast buffet very good although hot water for tea could have been hotter.would stay here again.

ian rogers, liverpool/england
Mature Couple (36+)