Comment
We arrived hot and tired after a drive from Timariu about 1pm and were given a small, tired-looking,claustrophobic depressing dark room facing a blank wall, with large white stains on the carpet. It looked more like a one star.The booking agent had requested a nice room with a view because it was a special occasion but the hotel said they had no record of that.We went back to reception and after some negotiation and being told the Regente is the last in the chain to be refurbished, we were shown another room, much larger with a terrace to sit out on and a view. The only problem was it wasn't ready. We had a few minutes in the original room to wash our faces, but in no way to do anything else as it had been cleaned, then leave our bags and come back when room no.2 was ready.While there we had a call from reception to tell us there was one room left with a terrace in a better hotel in the chain, which HAD been refurbished.It would be an upgrade and the room was ready, so we accepted as we really needed to shower and change.We had to drag our bags through the heat to the St.Moritz where our room was smaller than the 2nd one at the Regente and had no terrace, roof terrace or pool. The reception area was full of workmen hammering and the bar not in use which meant the welcome drink that evening had to be taken in a characterless reception area or an empty dining room half curtained with plastic.We actually asked to go back to the second room at the Regente rather than stay in such an anonymous corporate place which could have been in any city anywhere.Of course it had gone. So we made the best of it in the second room we looked at.[so much for there only being one room left]. There were no tea/coffee making facilities in the room and the receptionist could not supply an adaptor plug as they had all been given out to other rooms but she didn't know which.Pluses? the shower and the location of the St. Moritz. We had wanted the Regente because it had the roof terrace and pool, plus a bit of Barcelona as the frontage is original art nouveau. It was advertised as being traditional on the outside and refurbished and modernised on the inside. Maybe one day.

Top Tip
Check before you go that if a hotel says it is refurbished, the work is finished.

Top Tip
Watch out for the 20% surcharge on terraces and outside eating areas - try walking down Passeig de Gracia instead of Ramblas to get to Placa Catalunya - make the effor to get to Montserrat and Figueres (Dali) you won't be disappointed