LoriBehr

My husband and I (28 years old) will be traveling to Barcelona over Easter 2016 and know it's a very busy time there and in Spain overall. When is a good time to book the hotel stay (when is the latest you recommend?) and what are some good, but affordable (preferably under $180 U.S. dollars a night) hotels to stay in near the city center? We're not too picky...we're just looking for somewhere to stay that is safe and clean. Our thoughts are we hopefully won't be in the hotel too much except for sleeping because we have a shorter time frame to be in Spain. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much.

Robert2533

Try the Hotel Inglaterra Barcelona (www.hotel-inglaterra.com/en/).

jelopez33

I second the suggestion of Hotel Inglaterra. Excellent location and good hotel.do your reservations through the hotel website.

zorrosf

As to when to book, as soon as possible altho always make sure you can cancel without penalty. Good, quite reasonable to affordable and excellent location: Hotel Regencia Colon. It's no Ritz Carlton, but seems to fit what you are looking for.

MFNYC

I 3rd Inglaterra! It's a very convenient location. Literally in the middle of almost everything and near public transportation, including the airport bus. Rooms are on the small side, but more than adequate. The breakfast is ver nice, and the Nespresso machine in the breakfast room is great.

ribeirasacra

Search through Booking.com.
Save your booking until after Christmas as then all the accommodation will have released prices for 2016.

SJesN

Try booking.com. You can find hotels of your choice for locations and prices. Also as mentioned above, try to book as early as possible as the prices will not be that high yet. Also, sometimes they do have promotions that will save you a fair deal of money.

kimhe

I use to stay in El Born, close to both the Gothic quarter, heart of the city Plaça de Catalunya, famous Las Ramblas, the nice Ciutadella park and the Barceloneta beach. El Born is a cradle of Catalan identity and culture, and here you'll find the Santa Maria del Mar Church (one of the finest Gothic buildings anywhere), the Fossar de les Moreres (the memorial for the fallen in the 1714 war and the loss of Catalan Independence to Spain), the Picasso museum, the Catalan Cultural Center, some of the finest tapas bars and restaurants in town as well as excellent nightlife. http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

Take a look at these hotels in El Born, both great value and within your budget.

Banys Orientals (both my brother and some close friends have stayed here recently, and they were all very happy with both the hotel and the location): http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/bany...als.en-gb.html
Park hotel (stayed here a couple of months ago, and it was just what we needed, fine hotel in the best location): http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/park.en-gb.html

If you want to save more money, but stay in the same area (40 meters from Park above), I can recommend basic hotel standard Hostal Orleans (private bath, AC, TV, safe, 24 desk), safe and clean. Stayed here many times when we didn't plan to be much in the hotel. Some 60-80€ for a double: http://www.hostalorleans.com/
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/host...ans.en-gb.html

jack333

You might look at the Hotel Gran Via. I've stayed there a couple of times and have found it very conveniently located (about 5 to 7 minutes walking from Placa Cataluna) and very comfortable. It was completely renovated 2 years ago.

cafegoddess

Maitaitom just recommended Hotel Colon.

Here is his trip report, he is one of best writer on this board. He just got back from Spain.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...spain-2015.cfm

Christina

I think all of these are good choices (Inglaterra and Banys). I'd book when you are firm on your plans, what's the point of waiting? But I never book 9 months in advance myself, but I'd do it in Nov-Dec, most likely, if they allow it.

Hotels don't base prices on when you book (except a few cases when it is advance purchase and you save money for that reason, you prepay), but when you are staying. But you want to have the best choice and be able to get a room where you want, that's the reason for booking early, and to make sure the type of room you want is available. You can't save money by booking now based on current prices because you won't get the price of the date you booked, but when you are staying. For example, prices at the Ingalterra are about the same now as next Easter, but a lot lower in November, of course, but that doesn't do you any good.

wunderbar2

We've booked a hotel for April 2016 in Amsterdam using Booking.com as mentioned by a few other posters. I like using the free cancellation options with them so our hotel is booked, we have a price and it can be cancelled up to a few days prior to our arrival. The way I see it, we have the hotel and price we want and even tho it's many months away, there is nothing to lose!

Just an FYI, we visited Barcelona last October and stayed at Citadines Ramblas, for our first visit we felt it was in a perfect location tho some don't like being on Las Ramblas. Yes, it's in a very touristy location but was close enough to Placa Catalunya to use the bus from/to the airport and in a great location and our room was very quiet. We also love having a small kitchenette with coffee maker, etc. Just a thought.

Enjoy Barcelona.

dreamon

Suggest Hostal Goya. Very central. Stayed there some years ago and enjoyed it.