TOC Hostel Barcelona

Location is A1. You're basically in the heart of Barcelona's gayborhood, and I never felt unsafe - even when walking home from the clubs in the wee hours of the morning. Anything you need is within a 10 minute walk - groceries, restaurants, shopping, transit... everything. Rooms were modern and cleaned regularly. I stayed here for like 3 weeks across different shared rooms - one had an en suite bathroom, and the other two did not, and so you used the shared one on the floor. There are 6 individual bathrooms per floor - 3 on each side. I never had to wait for a free toilet, BUT - idk if it's what they're eating or what, but you were pretty much guaranteed to walk into a "painted" toilet bowl once a day. They were, however, cleaned regularly - by the next day at the latest. There are 2 shower rooms per floor - one for women and one for men. Be aware that the men were not very observant of the signage - a picture of women on the women's shower door, and men on the men's, and several times they would barrel into the room. So - maybe don't ever be naked in the main area of the shower room. The shower rooms have 3 stalls, with locking doors and a light switch. There's soap on the wall, a small shelf, and a hook outside the door, as well as more hooks on the wall outside the stalls. Two sinks, and a hairdryer, but the one on the second floor wasn't working when I was there in September. The room will smell of sewage if the door isn't left open to air out, which the cleaning staff would do after cleaning, and I would if I was just int here doing my hair or something. I think it's something about the water traps not staying full to block the scent wafting up through the pipes. It wasn't overbearing - not necessarily pleasant though... like the level of aroma in a room if someone farted. I preferred the shared showers to the en suite, because you have to walk through the en suite to get to the beds, and when in a mixed gender dorm, was concerned I would be walked in on by someone returning to the room. Shower stall in the en suite was larger though, and no hairdryer. Was nice to have an ensuite toilet, and it's a separate room from the shower. Two sinks. All sinks are time release knobs - have to press a few times to let water heat up, but showers are free rein. Beds were comfortable, and you can ask for a duvet/comforter at the front desk, which frees you to use the provided sheet as a curtain, as there aren't any on the beds. Locker in the room is plenty big - it fit my carryon, backpack, and lots of shopping. Bring your own lock, or you can buy on either from the front desk or at a convenience store. Kitchen in the basement has cooking utensils, a fridge (not much room, but you can fit something), a stove, sink, seating... and shelves for dry goods. Pool was a nice touch, but was too cold for me to use in September, but others did. I had no issue having them store my luggage when I arrived, or temporarily while I checked out/back into a new room. Free wifi, and a few areas to relax, including a bar, rooftop, and outside smoking area. Overall, I really liked my stay there - it felt more like hotel than a hostel, and would stay here again!