Standard Room
from $158
Hotel Carlton
5.0 out of 5.0
81% based on 884 reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
Recent guest reviews
We spent three nights in this once grand but still very nice hotel in the center of Bilbao. Rooms seem to have been recently renovated in a style more modern than I suspect the hotel originally had, but it was very well done. Huge room, excellent bathroom, comfortable king bed, very good housekeeping, robust wifi, and very quiet. The hotel's location was particularly good for us -- we were there as tourists and liked being able to walk throughout the center of this very beautiful and elegant city. We were not able to get much help from the reception desk when we asked about restaurants or sightseeing; it really was just a check-in/check-out desk and not a concierge. I also got the impression that this hotel is more oriented toward being a local facility than one for tourists; for example, there were a couple of weddings going on when we were staying there and these seemed to pull most of the hotel's attention. But we are independent travelers and so we were not really disadvantaged by it and it certainly wouldn't stop us from staying there again. Finally, we did not have breakfast at the hotel. It appeared to be a very generous and nice buffet but it was costly and so we instead ate at a nearby cafe.
This is my second visit the last three years in Bilbao. Both times in the same hotel. Very convenient location, smiling staff and reasonable price in relation to services provided. Amazing lobby roof.
There is no doubt the Carlton is one of the top hotels in Bilbao. While not so imposing on the outside, the elegant interiors would not fail to impress anyone, especially the exquisite Art Noveau glass ceiling of the finely decorated sitting room. It gives the impression of a grand old dame who once-upon-a-time was the belle of the ball. I am not sure that is till true nowadays. While the lobby and the sitting rooms are all very charming and elegant, the rooms are not quite what we were expecting. The size was adequate enough though a little tight for two and we got a room with a separate sitting room and a foyer which was separated from the rest of the room by a big door. However, the floors are creaky and the walls are thin. We could hear the noise from the room above us, the sound of people talking in the hallway, the noise of water running through the pipes, and of course the noise from the streets. We had to close the separating door to minimize some of the noise. The room is not very well designed, as the closets do not have shelves or drawers. There are only fake ones. There are a handful of floral arrangements in the room, but they are all of fake flowers. Also, given the location of the hotel, which is in a busy plaza with very busy and noisy streets from both vehicular and human traffic, the windows could have been better designed and constructed to screen out the outside noise. The hotel is in the middle of two busy streets. It would have helped if a sign was evident to indicate which way to enter their driveway. It is probably easy to figure this out if you live in the city and are familiar with its location and the direction of traffic, but if you have come from a different country and have driven from a different part of Spain, the GPS simply brings you there; it does not tell you from which direction to enter. And of course, there was no doorman there to help you out. We had to unload our luggage by the side door, and then the car was driven around to get to the other side. It doesn't help that both streets are packed with and blocked by pedestrians most of the time. But after you have settled, then yes, the hotel is in an excellent location - walking distance to the Guggenheim, to the the Museum of Fine Arts, to the Old Town and other areas of interest. The breakfast was served in another very elegant room. The selections were of different types and of a good number; however, the hot dishes like the fried eggs on toast, the scrambled eggs and bacon and sausages, etc. are not hot at all, in fact, they were cold. They have been sitting in their serving dishes for quite some time and did not look inviting or appetizing at all. The only thing they will prepare fresh are churros and hot chocolate; though I am not really sure about the churros. Maybe they have been pre-made as well. It may not be fair for me to mention this, but we left a handful of stamped postcards at the front desk; they were never received. All the others that we mailed from the other places we visited all reached their destinations; but for whatever reason, not the ones from Bilbao.
This is a very professional and polished hotel as one would expect. We arrived early and were able to check-in as a room had become available...at 10.30am no less. That was an excellent introduction to the hotel. Our room was large, well appointed and even though it faced one of the streets below was very quiet. Staff were all very helpful and friendly in a polite way. As is usual in large hotels, you don't get a personalized orientation but maps and other information is available in the lobby. We can't comment on breakfast as we ate out in one of the coffee shops around. The location is very good close to the Guggenheim which was the main reason for going to Bilbao.
With the charm and elegant setting of an established traditional hotel, you get large rooms, good service, an excellent location and all in all more benefits for your money than in most other places. We stayed here for the second time and were very satisfied.
Traveling with 2 adults and stayed for 2 nights. Reserved a superior-double room. Requested a room with two beds, higher floor facing to the Plaza. We got what we wanted and the room even had a balcony. The hotel wasn't fully booked so we were lucky to have exactly what we wanted. The room was renovated room and noise from outside the hallway was louder than the noise from the streets. The view from the room was great. The room number was 512. The hotel breakfast was nothing special for 20 euros. This is the hotel which might had been 5 starts and wants to be that way. However, they are struggling. This is the hotel for the travelers who want to feel the history.
I stayed here on business. The staff are =very welcoming and helpful and the hotel is spotlessly clean. I had a room on the 5th floor and it was again spotlessly clean. The beds are two large singles pushed together and quite comfortable. The bathroom is separate and contained a bath/shower loo and bidet. Towels were clean and fresh. a separate area had two basins with toiletries. The room had a coffee machine and supplies plus tea too. My only criticism of the room was the air conditioning, or rather the lack of it. The cool air was about as strong as an asthmatic pensioner, and frankly was very poor. The room had a large TV and channels were identified by nationality making things easy. Lots of storage room too. There is also a mini bar, and room service Breakfast was traditional continental, with lots of breads, cheese, Iberian ham, pickles and smoked salmon. Cereals and toast and also an are to get cooked hot items. additionally there were freshly baked cakes and other pastry items, fresh fruit and yoghurt. The bar is a typical Basque design and served the best G&T I've had in Spain. Around the corner of the front of the hot is a taxi rank and a beautiful flower garden.. There were quite a few events on whilst I was there but were never a hindrance. This is pure class in my opinion
Loved this hotel.. the room, the staff, the location, everything about the Carlton Hotel is good. We had a fantastic room overlooking the plaza out front, with a balcony, huge bed and a good sized bathroom. The staff were very helpful and friendly, nothing was too much trouble. They helped us park our car, helped with our luggage and were very prompt checking us in. We returned to the hotel after dinner and popped into the bar for a night cap. We were presented with two fantastically prepared Gin and Tonic drinks. Excellent.. top marks all round!
Very service minded personell. Big room with giant double bed. Carpet with10 years wear and tear, which brought down the overall impression. Bathroom very clean with good accessories. Easy accessible garage facility. Excellent central location.
Nice big "grand dame" of a hotel, nicely updated. It is quite literally in the center of things - a short walk to the Guggenheim, a short walk in another direction to the old town and on a pretty plaza where the airport bus picks up and drops off and (during our stay)was the launching point for raucous May Day marches. We got a great room rate so didn't mind that our room was internal and handicapped accessible - very quiet. We had no idea that the buffet breakfast cost $20 a piece, a bit of a shock at checkout ---- so be forewarned.
Hotel highlights
- Walking distance to Plaza Moyua and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
- Free WiFi in rooms and public areas
- Onsite dining
- Fitness center
Located in Abando, Hotel Carlton is adjacent to Plaza Moyua and within a 10-minute walk of other popular attractions like Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. This 142-room, 5-star hotel welcomes guests with a restaurant, free in-room WiFi, and a fitness center. Also close to this Bilbao hotel are Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Santiago Cathedral.
Dining
Enjoy a leisurely bite to eat at the onsite restaurant, or have a drink at the bar/lounge. Order from 24-hour room service to satisfy your hunger without leaving your room. Start each morning off right with buffet breakfast served for a fee.
Rooms
All of Hotel Carlton's 142 air-conditioned rooms provide minibars, free newspapers, and safes. LCD TVs come with satellite channels, and free WiFi keeps guests connected. Beds sport pillow menus and bathrooms offer hair dryers and free toiletries. In-room massages are available, and other amenities include phones and desks.
Property features
At Hotel Carlton, guests have access to a fitness center, a sauna, and free WiFi in public areas. Valet parking is offered for EUR 27.00 per day. Multilingual staff at the front desk are standing by 24/7 to help with dry cleaning/laundry, tours or tickets, and luggage storage. Other amenities at this luxury hotel include conference space, a business center, and free newspapers.
Reviews from Trip Advisor
81% of guests recommend this hotel
Total of 884 reviews
