New Hotel Colon

There is something refreshingly practical about New Hotel Colon. You stay in Mataró, close to the beach and the town centre, with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour cafeteria ready for the awkward hours when divers and normal civilisation stop keeping the same timetable.

The hotel suits a shore-based break with some time split between the coast and Barcelona. You can return from the sea, cool down in your room, and still have a train connection or a local dinner within easy reach. It is a straightforward base rather than a full resort, which is precisely the point if you prefer your hotel to leave the day in your hands.

The hotel website is available in Spanish. For wider travel planning, the 24-hour reception includes a tourist desk, with tickets available for attractions such as the Sagrada Família, La Pedrera, Park Güell, PortAventura and the tourist bus.

You are in Mataró, Spain, at C/ Cristòfor Colom, 6–8. The beach is roughly a three-minute walk from the hotel, and Playa El Varador is about 350 metres away on foot. Playa del Callao is around 650 metres away, while Playa Sant Simó is about 1 km away. Sand, in other words, is not a taxi problem.

Mataró station is about 650 metres away, or roughly a ten-minute walk. Regular trains connect you with Barcelona and towns along the Costa del Maresme, including Arenys de Mar, Calella and Blanes. Barcelona city centre is 35 km away, making the hotel a useful choice if you want access to the city without booking a room in the middle of it.

For a change of scenery on land, Parc de la Pollancreda is about 1 mile away. Local food and drink are close at hand too, with Rostisseria Nou Lloret roughly 50 metres away and several bars and restaurants within a short walk.

The room choice is mainly about how much space and separation you want at the end of the day. The compact Single Room is the sensible solo option, while the Double Room and Twin Room keep things simple for two people who already agree on the alarm time. If you sleep better with a little more room around your bags, the Superior Double Room or Superior Twin Room gives you that extra margin without turning the stay into a suite-only affair.

The Junior Suite is the more comfortable choice for two when you want room to spread out rather than stack equipment and clothing in one corner. The accessible Junior Suite comes with twin beds and is designed for guests requiring disability access. Families can use the Family Room, arranged for two adults and two children, with a super-king bed and two single beds.

Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom, towels, a hairdryer, a wardrobe, a television and a desk. Some rooms have a balcony. Soundproofing should help keep the night from becoming a public performance, while heating is available when the coast turns cooler. Daily housekeeping, room service and a wake-up service cover the practical bits; the free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Breakfast comes as a continental buffet, with gluten-free options, and is served from 07:00 to 10:30 on weekdays. At weekends, the breakfast window runs from 08:00 to 11:00. That gives you a useful choice: early fuel when the day starts promptly, or a slower plate when nobody is chasing the first boat.

Dinner is served in the hotel restaurant from 19:00 to 23:00, with traditional cuisine. It is the obvious place to sit down properly rather than assemble a meal from whatever survived in your luggage. Kids’ meals are available for younger members of the group.

There is also a cafeteria open around the clock, plus a bar, coffee house and snack bar. That combination matters more than it sounds: coffee before an early start, something small when a full dinner is too ambitious, and a drink without having to set off in search of the nearest open door.

The beach is the main outdoor escape, only a short walk away. When you want to do more than sit with a book and inspect the horizon, kayaking, paddleboarding and windsurfing are available, with equipment hire. These are useful options for a non-diving day or for a partner who prefers staying on the surface.

There is also a spa with massage treatments. It gives you a way to deal with tired shoulders without turning the afternoon into an organised expedition. A swim is not part of the hotel’s facilities, so the coast does the heavy lifting here.

For a more urban diversion, the tour desk can arrange or sell tickets for Barcelona attractions and other outings, including Sagrada Família, Park Güell, PortAventura and the tourist bus. Mataró’s railway connection makes independent exploring feasible too, with Barcelona and the Maresme coast on the same practical route.

Barcelona El Prat Airport is about 27 miles away by road, while Girona–Costa Brava Airport is about 37 miles away. The hotel gives an estimated journey of around 45 minutes by train from the airport. From Mataró station, you can continue towards Barcelona or other towns along the coast.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00. A photo ID and payment card are required at check-in. Private parking is available nearby in a parking garage; it is paid, and a reservation is required. If you are driving, settle that detail before arrival rather than discovering it with luggage in the boot and a tired passenger holding the map.

The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, lift access to the upper floors, facilities for disabled guests, non-smoking rooms and free Wi-Fi throughout. Children of all ages are welcome, with family rooms available; children aged 13 and over are treated as adults for the booking arrangements. Cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to availability.