Castell-Platja d'Aro Vacations from $863

Friendly and helpful staff, great restaurant for dinner!

The property is a lovely converted convent blending old and new; the location is midway between old town (uphill) and the beach (downhill), so plan on getting a good number of steps in, since parking is challenging in both locations. The gym is less than I would like by US hotel standards, but adequate. The breakfast offerings are modest but again adequate. Power options in the room are European standard; there are no USB or USB-C ports in the walls, so bring your converters.

Lots of space to move around.

Room nice but bathroom not practical. No hangers at all and not enough space to put your stuff by the sink

This is a 3 to 3½-star hotel, not a 4-star by any stretch. The rooms are a mishmash—some are clean and well-maintained, while others are rundown, particularly noticeable in the bathrooms, furniture, and carpets. There is no room service, bar, or other amenities typically found in a four-star hotel. The staff are not particularly customer-oriented, especially when comparing the service and overall experience to well-known four-star hotels like the Hilton Barcelona or Renaissance Barcelona. However, it is a fair hotel for what you are paying. Clearly needs capital investment to bring it to a proper four star level.