Barcelona Weekend Break

Hotel classifications in Spain

In Spain you can stay in anything from a small family run guest house to an international hotel. In Barcelona alone there is a broad spectrum of holiday accommodation covering everything from self catering apartments to lavish hotel suites. However, when it comes to hotels the Spanish government classifies them using a unique system that takes account of their overall quality and the services that they offer. The result is a classification “by type” that uses names rather than star ratings (although many websites will give international star ratings anyway).

In order to give you the option of assessing what a hotel or guest house in Barcelona has to offer, based on the Spanish system, here are the definitions that they use.

Spanish hotel classification system

In Spain a hotel is not simply a hotel, it is classified as a refugios, a fondas, a pensiones, a hotel, or a paradores and each name means something very different.

If you want to book your own hotel room in Spain it pays to know what each of these terms stand for and what you can expect to get for your money.

Refugios

The refugios is probably the most basic of hotel-like accommodation in Spain. They are the Spanish version of hostels and they are used by hikers and back packers. Most refugios are very communal with large dormitory style sleeping areas and they are frequently located in more isolated or rural zones, often along treks or paths. They have basic cooking facilities and in some cases guests may have to prepare their own meals.

Fondas

The fonda is close to what the British would describe as a basic guest house. In the USA they would be called rooming houses or lodging houses. They are cheap and simple and the standard of accommodation varies from one to another. The fonda has its own denoting symbol which is a blue letter “F” on a white background. Fondas usually have a small number of bedrooms and some may have a bar and dinning facilities. Very few offer en-suite rooms.

Fondas are cheep and very variable in quality, some can be good, whilst other can be very basic.

Pensiones

The pensiones are a level up from the Fondas and, whilst they are not hotels they are closer to what we would recognise as a hotel. Pensiones have their own star rating system, but this is not to be compared with the star rating system used by hotels (which is much more demanding).

Pensiones can vary significantly in quality and facilities. This means that a poor pensiones can be very basic, whilst a good one can be nothing short of excellent with quality rooms fittings and ambience. If you want to stay in one of these check it out carefully first, a good one will enhance your holiday or weekend break.

Hotels

Hotels have a star rating that, like everywhere else, reflects the quality and facilities of the establishment. This star rating is comparable with the atar rating that you would find in other European states or North America.

Hotels provide en-suite bedrooms, bars and dinning rooms and all but the most limited will offer facilities ranging from swimming pools, Spas, conference rooms and sports facilities. The hotel star rating goes from one to five. You can use it in the same way that you would use it in any other country to evaluate a hotel.

Paradores

Paradors are often the finest hotels in Spain and as a result of this, and their state run and state owned status, they have their own special classification.

The parador is regarded as the elite of Spanish hotel accommodation. Many are housed in castles, former stately homes and buildings of distinction or historical significance. They were actually born out of a practical need to protect the countries built heritage and so they were refurbished as up-market hotels. This allows them to be maintained to the highest of standards whilst making a financial contribution and providing a perfect hotel setting. Most people are surprised that paradores are not excessively expensive, despite their opulence and surroundings.

For help finding hotels please see the following pages
Finding hotels in Barcelona
Hotels in Barcelona