Description
This two star hostel has been in the hands of the Berlanga family for two generations, and a sense of familiarity, hospitality and intimacy pervades every corner of this beautiful, modernist apartment turned hostel. The building is located in the so-called "Manzana de Oro" (the golden block), famous for its incomparable wealth in modernist architecture. The entire hostel features beautifully restored furniture, original tile floors and modernist details, such as the wrought-iron balconies of the exterior rooms. In most Barcelona hostels, interior rooms are dark, dank and uninviting. Not so in the Girona, where several of the interior rooms feature little, quaint, covered terraces furnished with armchairs and small tables - the perfect spot for a glass of wine in the evening or a good book in the afternoon. The exterior rooms receive lots of sunlight, whereas the hallways and sitting areas are lit in a low but warm and pleasing way that emphasises the hostel's old-fashioned elegance. The bathrooms (guests have the option of requesting a room with or without a private bath) are modern but have been seamlessly integrated into the classic style that characterizes this hostel. All of the rooms have air-conditioning, central heating and international TV channels. The building has an elevator and an impressive lobby with a sweeping staircase flanking either side of the interior patio. The hostel is run by three siblings of the Berlanga family, all of whom are attentive, friendly, cheerful and eager to make their guests feel at home. The Hostal Girona is a rare find, a hostel that features reasonable prices, a lovely décor and a sense of intimacy and tranquillity.