EL MÔDERNE HOTEL GIJÓN

The hotel is very well located, close to the city centre, the beach and the port. It has a modern design and a cosy atmosphere. However, the room I was given did not meet my expectations at all. The window was very small and there was hardly any natural light, so it was dark at all times. There are no photos of this DOUBLE URBAN room on the website, and all the ones that are shown have large windows and plenty of light. In addition, I was travelling alone and was given a room with twin beds instead of a double bed. In regard to the amenities, they do not match the standard of this hotel as the soaps are in dispensers, there are no bathrobes and only one small bottle of water is provided. The breakfast buffet was disappointing, with a rather limited selection of pastries and no hot dishes. The staff indicated which table you should sit at and in my case, I was placed on a sofa with a very low table, which was very uncomfortable for eating. There are many aspects that need improvement, and I felt that I was treated differently because I was young, with my overall experience not being considered a priority.

Be warned: the lower floors have no soundproofing, and street noise from nearby bars makes it impossible to sleep. Even with earplugs, we were awake all night. We asked to switch rooms but were told none were available. Only after we decided to leave and booked another hotel did the staff suddenly offer to move us. In addition, the HVAC system was not functioning properly. The vents were covered in visible dust, and the air felt unfiltered. The rooms are so dimly lit that you don’t notice how dirty they are at first. The air conditioning wasn't working and it was summertime. This was the only bad part of our birthday trip, but it nearly ruined our vacation. We are still disputing the charge with the hotel.

El Moderne Gijón is a very good all-rounder — a typical city hotel, but on the better side. The location is excellent and makes exploring the city easy. The staff were great throughout, especially the lady in the bar in the evening who really stood out for her friendliness. Rooms are comfortable and nicely done. The only point to improve would be the breakfast: there’s little variation, and with so many great cafés around the hotel, it’s almost better to step outside for a morning bite. A solid choice for a city stay in Gijón.