4 star hotels in Catalonia

I went here for five days. the hotel looked nice, and the layout was easy to figure out. Restaurant was on the first floor, and it was a buffet. the options and food variety could definitely be expanded a little bit, but i understand that they wouldn’t want to stray too far from the local cuisine. The desserts were nice though, and so were the breakfast options. my friend really liked the spanish omelet...

The refrigerator and air conditioner in the room were broken, the pool is tiny for a hotel with so many rooms, however the staff's service was good

Good Hotel. Rooms are clean, good swimming pool on roof top, restaurant is ok but maybe little more choice for the menu.

Only stayed one night. With that said, the staff is very friendly and check in was easy. However the location is next to a bus stop and there were some unsavory individuals around. There is a taxi stand close by. The rooms were very very hot and the beds super hard. No extra pillows and the bathrooms cleanliness was less than desirable. A maid didn’t even knock when she entered my room in the morning...

Rooms need an upgrade. For instance, TV is very old and has an extra TDT deco, just for very old TVs. Breakfast is buffet, but quality needs an improvement. Rooms also need improvement. Walls have scratches and bathrooms are old. Staff are really kind and helpful. This hotel cannot have 4 stars. Will not repeat.

Our stay at SB Hotel Ciutat Tarragona was a mixed experience. Upon check-in, we discovered that our booking was incorrectly made for one guest instead of four, despite having sent an email to the hotel asking to double-check our reservation. They confirmed all was fine, yet we were still asked to pay an additional 30 euros per night for a family room. The hotel's location is a major plus—perfectly...

Very friendly staff, the rooms are clean, the food is very good, a nice place for the kids, very close to the beach... We love it.

Great location, exactly what I was looking for.

The staff were friendly. The rooms were cleaned every day. The pool was large and clean, and there were enough sunbeds for everyone. The view from the room was wonderful on the sea.

Great hotel. Rooms are spotless. Bathroom has sink, bathtub and shower, bidet and toilet. All very clean. No view on the back side if the hotel, but that wasn't why I was here. Beds were comfortable and everything felt clean. Front end staff were friendly. Buffet breakfast was really nice too, hot food and staff were cleaning and restocking quickly. I would recommend this hotel and will stop in again...

The staff is friendly, many of them are Russian speakers. The room is good for 4*: 2 large beds, powerful air conditioning, TV, bath-toilet and balcony with a gorgeous sea view. Bed linen and towels are changed every day. The dining room has a relatively large menu, everything is very tasty, the dining room staff works promptly) wi-fi is also available, but it is quite weak, so it would be better to...

Good 4* hotel. The room has two double beds and a large balcony. The mattresses and pillows are comfortable. The food is good. A special thank you to the cook.

Great location, close to the three Gaudi masterpieces and surrounded by many restaurants.

Very close to Gaudi's three masterpieces, Sagrada Familia is about a ten-minute walk away. Good value for money.

Very clean, nice bed! Perfecto 😉👌

The hotel has a great environment and an excellent, safe location. I'll definitely stay here again next time I visit.

The hotel's overall environment exceeded my expectations. It's located just off the end of Passeig de Gràcia, surrounded by many delicious tapas bars and great brunch spots. The 'Chorros' place across from the hotel is absolutely fantastic, and the coffee shop serves excellent coffee too. The hotel even boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant! Highly recommended! Barcelona is a very clean city and perfect...

Thanks to Seventy Hotel, our trip in Barcelona was way better than expected! The hotel itself is very stylish and definitely comfortable. EVERY STAFF here was very very friendly, kind, warm, and always happy to help! My friends chose here for their 15th anniversary and the hotel surprised them with a room upgrade. On the first day when we were back to the room from sightseeing, the friends even got...

I had a fantastic time, can't fault it I had room 108 which was a single corner room lovely balcony overlooking the pool, shower red hot, bed very comfy, so clean and quiet, some guests were complaining about noise, I never heard a thing, reception staff very friendly, breakfast was typically Spanish the worst bacon I've ever tried to eat and all luke warm, substitute then bacon with ham stick it in...

Great hotel with lovely room's fabulous pool area, aways plenty of sunbeds never have to do the early morning dash as nobody puts towels on bed's to reserve, very quiet pool area to sit chill read & enjoy the sunshine. Lovely friendly staff. It's a little far out from the crowds & rowdy pub's but ideal if you like a chilled out evening.

Does exactly what is says on tin and you get what you pay for. The staff are very pleasant and it has a lovely pool area that is very clean and very well maintained. The sun loungers are really comfortable and not the cheap white plastic thing you normally get. Yes the rooms may need a little update particularly the Bathroom I had a shower over the Bath which whilst it didn't work very well wasn't...

I stayed at the Hotel California Palace for 10 nights half board from late August to early September 2025, and I really enjoyed my stay. The staff were friendly and helpful. The food was good with great taste and variety at both breakfast and dinner. Pro tip: it’s in Spain so expect elements of Spanish food on the menu. I walked most evenings up to the strip along Passeig de Jaume l towards Carrer...

The room's air conditioning is underperforming, the accommodations are outdated, and the in-room safe is non-functional due to a missing lock. Furthermore, there were mosquitos present in the room, and the entryway light fixture was inoperable. The quality of the food at the all-inclusive hotel is satisfactory.

Nice hotel, spotless and clean .Bar staff were friendly. Food might have been more varied, but i think you can say that about a lot of hotels on this type of holiday.But all round enjoy my stay and would definitely return here again.

House keeper was come into the room even we used sign board of don’t disturb….. Location is good MRT station (L2 and L4) is very closed.

The room seemed pretty clean. Facilities: Most basic amenities are provided, except for toothpaste, toothbrushes, and slippers. Bottled water was given on the first day of check-in. Hygiene: Okay. Environment: A bit noisy, not quiet enough. Service: You can leave your key at the front desk for safekeeping every time you go out, which is convenient.

Great location, and the cleanliness was okay, but something really strange happened. Someone else's toothbrush mysteriously appeared in my cup, and the hotel couldn't provide a reasonable explanation.

Very satisfied with this hotel. The room was clean, the location is convenient with many restaurants nearby, and the service was excellent and impressive. Check-out at 12:00 noon is very considerate. The breakfast was also great. But, I was in the newly renovated room on the 8th floor did not have bathrobes or slippers. This is not acceptable for a 4-star+ hotel. Hope this can be improved.

Getting around is super convenient, as it's right next to the metro station. Casa Mila and Casa Batlló are within walking distance. Plus, the airport bus terminal is just a five-minute walk away. The hotel staff were warm and friendly.

Great location and convenient. Nice view from the terrace. Pillows are comfortable. However, the hairdryer's power is very weak.

I couldn’t praise this hotel enough, plenty of pools to chill around and the food was incredible especially at lunch. The rooms are average for a family hotel. Entertainment has been amazing and this hotel is very close to a lot of things bars, beach etc.

Outdated rooms in the Palace part. Everything is old, the bathroom has toilets with chalk stains, you have to stand in the tub to use a very old school small shower head. The water changes temperature. No active air suction in the bathroom, so everything is damp. No warmed mirror in the same room so just fog. We booked for 3 persons, and only 2 plastic chairs on the balcony. Not a place to relax as...

Perfect from start to finish. Lovely family room, plenty of space for 2 adults, toddler and baby (cot provided). Toddler had a sofa bed in a separate room divided by a sliding door and blackout curtain. Shower/ bath was warm and powerful. Food was perfect all week, plenty of themes with your typical everyday items (salad, bread, pasta, pizza). Kids pool in one of the other hotels and at first we thought...

The first thing to mention is that we actually booked the Suites via Jet2 and with no warning were told we’d been “upgraded” to the Palace upon arrival. This came as a bit of an annoyance at first. It could be problematic for people who specifically like the Suites but as we hadn’t been before we went with it. The Palace appeared half shut. Bar closed, restaurant closed, pool bar closed and the pool...

Overall a good stay but needs more shade around pools and a better system for sun beds. House keepers do a great job in keeping room clean during stay.

I don’t want my review to put anyone off the hotel because it’s a brilliant set up if it works for you and what your family is after, unfortunately that wasn’t the case for us. We have a 2 year old and 5 year old so the idea of an all-inclusive and a pool with slides etc. was the reason we booked but in reality it didn’t turn out that way. The main issue we encountered was that the food timings were...

Really good hotel - the restaurant on site also serves very good food. For those who can walk 1.5 miles or so, all attractions like casa Batlló etc are near by. Sargada familia is about 0.5 miles away. There is breakfast buffet on site for an additional cost. Welcome wine is also served. The rooms are clean and storage spaces are well thought and designed. The beds show as “twin” online but are actually...

Great room, very clean and well placed (not very far from the centre). Only minus point was one of the receptionists who was unfriendly. But other than that nice hotel

Great modern , clean comfortable hotel. Staffs were kind, professional and cheerful. Reception was always open when I passed by. Bar was also opened when needed. Great options for breakfast, opened from 7am. Rooms were spacious , cleaned daily, quiet corridors , unfortunately the weather was not the best but the roof terrace was open. Pool and jacuzzi is available. Great location close to L1 metro...

My first time to Barcelona, the hotel was a bit pricey for what it was, not quite near the city centre but a short bike ride away. Once i familiarized myself with the city it was quite nice as renting bikes was easy and the city is made for cycling. Would stay here again for sure :)

Reception was pleasant, so I’m surprised by some of the reviews saying they were unwelcoming. Interactions with different staff have been fine. Reception will give you towels and amenities if you need more. They are happy to book excursions for you if you’d like, and will provide recommendations if asked. It did feel like they are encouraged to provide specific recommendations. Rooms are a good size...

We really enjoyed our stay, we arrived at 11am to check in with the expectation to leave our bags to go explore as check in wasn't until 4pm. We were delighted when we were told our room was available early, this allowed us to freshen up and start our holiday, we really appreciated it. We were impressed by the room, well designed and thought out with space to put cases and loads of surface area to...

Very clean and large room. Nice breakfast but above all a top staff. We arrived very late and receptionist was waiting outside to welcome us and guide us to the parking Space. On the day of our check-out, we had to leave early and we got a breakfast bag for on the way. Everything was arranged and clearly communicated. Beach and restaurants nearby on walking distance. I highly recommend this hotel

This hotel is just a short walk to the shops and bars with Aldi being three minutes up the road. If you go here to buy wine please be aware that the majority of bottles have corks so you will need a cork screw! The hotel is very busy with people coming and going most of the time. While we were there there was a large group of women and a large group of cyclists who all breakfasted early and who...

Very good stay. Close to everything. Beautiful beach 5 minutes walk away. Old town not too far. Beds very comfortable. Small fridge in room. Free parking in vacant opposite Aldi. Pool is a bit worn but nice seating. The air conditioning didn’t work very well and the temp was not adjusting when changed. Also the air conditioner was moderately noisy rumbling along at night. Bar down stairs only has ...

Lovely location, clean and very easy to walk to the beach or local restaurants. Never ate in the hotel this time as have many times before and always been good.

We stayed at Sol Port Cambrils for 11 nights from 30th September. The hotel is spotlessly clean and the rooms are well appointed, although it has to be pointed out that the hotel is situated on quite a busy road where cars and motorbikes seem to rev at all times of the day and night. We used the pool area most afternoons and it was generally very quiet. The hotel is popular with groups so the restaurant...

Second visit to this hotel this summer. We love it! Staff are so friendly and helpful, lovely Sara on reception remembered us! It's a fabulous location, very clean rooms etc comfortable beds. Hospitality tray in room with free safe and fridge. We absolutely love the musicians who play in the outside dining area which in itself is beautiful, we will be back. Thank you to all the staff☺️ Also, Cambrils...

The breakfast was delicious, and the surrounding environment was also quite nice. It's just that the facilities are a bit old.

Nice hotel, good breakfast. Location is excellent. 100meters to subway. Lots of restaurants near the hotel. I will book it again. The price is ok.

Great location in a safe residential area, especially being so close to Camp Nou. A must-stay for football fans!

During the Spanish audiovisual exhibition, this was a decent choice given I didn't book in advance.

Great location for exhibitions. Easy access to hotel, fira, FCB stadium, and city center. However, the hotel room was constructed with cheap materials and poorly maintained: for example, the floor in my room is tilted, and the bed light is flashing.

Great location if you plan to visit or watch a game at Nou Camp Stadium as it is walking distance. The nearby metro and tram station is at Earnest Lunch. The hotel lobby looks new and modern but rooms need some renovations. Lift was shaky too🥲 Toilet has bathtub. As it support sustainability, amenities are available upon request. Has a washer next to WC so it solved my asian problem of having to...

Fantastic hotel with lovely staff and excellent food service. The only minor gripe that I had was the towels were washed out grey and the bedding was not the best. The room was also a little tired but clean.

We loved our stay at AQUA hotel! Bar was very convenient and decent prices, pool is small but enough for our needs

Good budget hotel. Breakfast good. Evening meal fair - no drinks included not even water or coffee- with hindsight I would go B&B not half board. Outside area small but wasn’t a problem in mid-June. Our room had a small balcony overlooking someone’s back garden and tatty buildings. Staff helpful

amazing breakfast, good-sized room. Room for improvement will be the mattress. It is hard to my liking.

Good hotel in the area , but … Too short breakfast time 8-10, late short dinner time 19:30-21:30, poor choices for dinner, artificial cakes ,older lady in dinning area doesn’t speak English and have problem what sparkling water means , too early check out 10:00. Tiny pool with very limited spaces. Great reception staff . Nice smell in hotel areas , good size rooms .

Excellent property, good value, very clean, good food and great facilities.

Clean ,near by metro to center and there is a big supermarkt in walking 5 min

Great service and good location. Close to subway.

The room was quite big and the near the metro station. There was a coffee machine free to use at the ground floor.

The room was quite big and the near the metro station. There was a coffee machine free to use at the ground floor.

Hotel is a bit far from downtown Barcelona, but it's convenient to travel by metro. Staff is nice and helpful. Will definitely go back again.

The hotel located in a residential area abit far away from the tourist spots. There is a metro station about 5 min walk from the hotel. We mainly bolt cost about 10-20 euro to central, train is also quite convenient when there is congestion. Room is good size. Gym is very small. In winter there is only heating in the room, even advertised with air conditioning. We have to open window if room got too...

Perfect stay ... Our room blew us away. We had two balconies and saw an amazing sunrise each morning. The swimming pool was also very nice.

The reception desk is as usual, a disaster. with uncoordinated people with a calculator instead of head. Their unique worry is to invoice even if everything has been previously paid. We belong to a group and I can affirm that all spend at least half an hour to check on and out. Rooms need a touch up paint. Very noisy conference room

Location is great, right on the beach but at the quiet part so you can sleep at night even with an open window. The view is amazing. The staff is friendly

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Aromar. To start, the parking lot was very conveniently located (there is a charge for it). I would suggest reserving in advance of your stay. The balconies and views from our room were incredible. We could see both the mountains and the sea. The family room provided two separate spaces for us and our children which was great. The breakfast buffet was delicious...

Nice hotel. Basic room. Free parking around the area if you have enough patience to circle around a few times

Nice lokation on the brach Great location on the beach and clean rooms. Not much space for your clothes. Check In was 30 min late and parking was moved to 1 km from the hotel. Our room smelled from sewerage probably because of the rain and only in random periods. Breakfast was really bad - Omelet and croissants was very dry. The staff wanted our kids to pay as adults (10 and 12 years) so we did...

The room was large and clean, and not far from the subway station.

Best hotel amongst all the hotel i have stayed in Barcelona! I like it even better than Grandhyatt Barcelona in terms of room and location. the room is large with working space for my husband. their handwash and shampoo/bodywash is Ritual. Very stylish design, just that the sound barrier wasn't the best. breakfast is good although lacking in varieties, their breakfast crossaint is from a bakery Madeleine...

Everything else is good as expectations except I was bitten badly (about 30 bites) by bedbugs after the first night. Reported to the manager and he immediately changed room for us and said they will “seal” the room and do an investigation by a third party. We checked out after 2 more nights and ask for the report and findings and was told that “there is no trace of bedbugs”. There was no compensation...

Great location and very convenient parking. The hotel service was excellent.

There wasn't a single service or facility lacking. It isn't near any major tourist attractions, but if you plan to use public transportation, it's fine since bus and subway stations are all nearby. The cleaning was done very thoroughly, and the building itself didn't look old. I was satisfied.🙂

The hotel is close to a metro station. The room was spacious, clean and had all the amenities I needed for a comfortable stay. The staff was very friendly and hospitable.

Hotel wasn't too bad but we paid extra for a sea veiw and the view we got was just trees and the bathroom door is a 2 foot from the pillow on the bed and can see straight thru the big gap directly into your partner eyes whilst there having a crap, so not the greatest for privacy or hygiene. Food was good and location is perfect

The hotel was generally clean and well kept. However, the amenities in the rooms were very limited and honestly disappointing. There were no slippers, no pens, no stitching kits. The elevators were quite impractical for use. Breakfast and dinner were mediocre. The staff barely knew English which made it quite difficult to communicate. The location was good and it was easy walking to the centre of Calella...

Great stay Good facilities and great value for money. Be aware that the roof terrace is adult only. We went with our 4 year old so couldn’t go up there

Fabulous Hotel Beautiful hotel with amazing views from the roof top terrace, we would return just to back to the roof top itself

This is now my 4th time staying at GHT maritim. I really like this hotel. Usually when I book I've had a decent size room. This time me and my partner were given a room that was tiny. Very claustrophobic. The balcony fit for one person. I went to reception and asked for a bigger room and bigger balcony which they were really happy to help with. Only thing is the room was just as small but balcony was...

great view of the beach and room was a good size. downsides were the air conditioning system was poor and the room fridge did not work.

We had a pleasant stay at the hotel, especially thanks to its excellent location near major attractions and convenient transportation.

Quite good, overall exceeding expectations. The room was clean, and the service was just right. It's not too far from Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, and Arc de Triomf. There's a water dispenser on each floor for free use, which is a great touch! The only downside is that it can indeed get a bit noisy at night facing the street, mainly from cars. I'd recommend bringing earplugs.

Staying here was a great decision! The location is superb – Sagrada Familia is a 20-minute walk, Palau de la Música Catalana is 10 minutes, and the city center, where you'll find places like Casa Milà, is also just a 10-minute walk. We stayed in a family room, which was actually two connected rooms, each with its own separate bathroom and toilet, making it incredibly convenient and comfortable!

nice！good nice！good nice！good nice！good nice！good nice！good

Had a great stay, within walking distance to Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo.

Stayed here for a few days. Had a pretty good stay with connecting rooms. The cleaning service was good too. I liked how they have a jug provided for you to get water from the corridor. Environmentally friendly and I get to choose the temperature of the water I wanted. Their location is pretty good too, with supermarkets and food places nearby. However, the carpark is very small and narrow and because...

The hotel's policies need improvement, and they should provide services befitting a 4-star hotel. Initially, the reception staff were friendly, and the Spanish people were very kind, but the hotel's services need improvement. I called reception and asked why they hadn't provided water in my room, as is standard in 4-star hotels. They told me there was water in the refrigerator that I could drink. However...

The location is the absolute best with easy access to most everything you could want by foot, metro or quick taxi. The staff were great (Gaston was a favorite) and their family room with the Murphy bed bunkbed was a big hit with the kids.

Gaston, was amazing his customer service deserves an award. Andrea and Maria ( I remembered her name) were fantastic with checking in and out and recommendations were awesome. I felt as if they were our trip event planners. The most friendliest people I’ve encountered. Eli was a great manager. She surprised me with a special request we asked for and she delivered. The bartenders were amazing from laughs...

Clean room with plenty of storage space. The security people were very friendly and helpful. The first person to check us in was rude and not helpful at all. She said that she was getting are room ready for us then just walked out of the building and never finished checking us in or let one of the other staff know that we were waiting for our room. The other staff member who finished checking us in...

Ana was absolutely wonderful! She gave me an excellent massage, very skilled, gentle, and attentive. She’s also incredibly kind and friendly. I left feeling completely relaxed and refreshed. Highly recommended!

Excellent location! The rooms are a bit small perhaps but cosy and clean. Excellent service from the staff who were very helpful and spoke English fluently enough. The breakfast deserves a special mention both for the quality and the variety provided! We were very happy to have stayed there!

A nice hotel overall. However small rectifiable details took away its 4* rating. There is no iron in any of the rooms in this entire hotel. There is no kettle in the room either and there is a charge to use the safe. They have a fridge in the room, but it does not keep anything cold. There is a 10 euro refundable deposit required for a beach / pool towel. Half-board, should entitle guests to at...

Very beautiful location. Food was great was lots of variety. Almost every night there was some sort of entertainment. The staff were so nice and really pleasant. A fridge in every room. I will definitely go back

We wanted a short 5 nights of Autumnal Spanish charm and generally the holiday delivered. The Tropic Park Hotel is a very good 4 star rated resort with very modern and comfortable rooms with excellent showers. The staff are friendly and welcoming and there’s a real civilised clientele. Praise must be said for the superb catering and restaurant staff as the food was of the highest quality with plenty...

Nice newly updated rooms. Rest if the hotel needs an update however couldn't fault the staff who were great. Restaurant was mad busy but very nice food when it was available at dinner. Breakfast a bit more continental than British needs more cereal choice. Nice setting and good sleep on comfortable beds All in all for the cost was well worth the visit 👍🏻

Currently halfway through our weeks stay here and I haven't found anything i'm not happy with. Rooms are clean and spacious with a nice bathroom. We're all inclusive and there is so much choice at each mealtime. Locals drinks are fine for our needs, plus you can pay for the branded drinks for half price if you wanted. Everyone is friendly without being intrusive. The local rail network is an added...

Amenities: Everything you need, except a blanket but no comforter. Cleanliness: This is a must-mention. The breakfast omelet is a must-have. The included gloves are perfect for frying, beating, and even pushing the trash can. Environment: The location is good, surrounded by hotels and very convenient. One thing to note: staying in May was fine. The room smelled quite strong, so you can open the windows...

This was my second stay here. It's really convenient, being so close to the exhibition center.

The room condition was quite good, but the price was too expensive during the Canton Fair.

Rooms are so spacious and aesthetic. The bathroom was lovely except we couldn’t tell whether it was shampoo or shower gel provided in the shower as there was no label. The room we booked was a deluxe twin room and it couldn’t have been a better choice! Absolutely would visit again! Thank you for a brilliant experience. I stayed for 4nights. Staff are so friendly and service was brilliant. They all...

Good location. We used the bus to get into Barcelona centre. Lovely modern hotel. Very clean. Staff were helpful. Only downside was cold dinners served to us in their restaurant but that wouldn't put me off staying there again. I just wouldn't use their restaurant

Everything about our stay was absolutely wonderful, and I highly recommend this hotel without any hesitation. The staff were extremely kind, polite, and always willing to help, making us feel welcome from the very first moment. All areas of the hotel were spotlessly clean and very well maintained, which really stood out and made our stay even more comfortable.The hotel itself is beautiful, with great...

Spacious rooms, very clean and tidy. Secured Parking available at basement @20 euro per day..... Restaurant is decent with food and drinks option... Restaurant staff are friendly and attentive also Liked the robot waiter 😊 Hotel is near to Metro, bus station also couple of restaurants and supermarket available.... Bit far from city center though.... Overall a good hotel for stay

The room was spacious, and the staff were very polite. The shower was excellent, and the breakfast spread was generous. The hotel's location is fantastic; you can walk to many attractions, and if you don't feel like walking, taxis are readily available. There are also plenty of restaurants nearby. The only minor drawback is that the street-facing rooms can be a bit noisy, but I suppose that's just...

The entire room was very clean, and the staff were all very friendly. They even gave us a Chinese New Year card! Casa Milà is very close, and there are many delicious restaurants nearby.

The room was spotless, and the location is fantastic! Just around the corner from Passeig de Gràcia, and Casa Batlló is less than a 2-minute walk away. You can easily walk to all three Gaudí masterpieces. Shopping and dining options are super convenient. I was lucky enough to get a room on my check-in day, and the front desk staff was so thoughtful, arranging a complimentary early check-in for me in...

Facilities: Good Cleanliness: Good Ambiance: Good👌

This hotel is similar to a Hanting Inn in China, probably with 6 or 7 floors and over a hundred rooms. From the outside and inside, it looks newly renovated. The rooms are open-plan, with the bathroom taking up more than a third of the space, featuring a wet/dry separation and a large round backlit mirror. There's a safe and a minibar, which keeps drinks slightly cool but not frozen, and the beverages...

I stayed here for two nights and three days. However, the cups I used on the first day (for drinks and coffee) were left untouched even after the room was cleaned. The housekeeping felt purely superficial, which was honestly disgusting. One night might be acceptable, but after two nights, the level of hygiene becomes questionable. In addition, the personal safe was unusable due to an error code, so...