keithman

My wife and I (32 y/o) are planning a trip to Barcelona in April 2012 for a week. We are debating between staying in a hotel or renting a condo. I think we may want to cook one or two nights which is why I'm leaning towards a condo. Can anyone recommend an area for us to stay, and/or a good condo rental site? I am leaning towards the Gothic area. From what I understand the Extension is too far from where we would want to be based. What are thoughts on staying in Borne, Raval, Riberia, Las Rablas, or Barceloneta? Safe, central, too loud, etc?

danon

of the ones you listed Born would be my choice.
Habitat has several apt. in the area.

http://www.habitatapartments.com/

Skoop2

I've rented apartments in Barcolenta, Eixample, and Barri Gotic. Barcolenta I thought was uninteresting and out of the way. Eixample was very quiet and where we wee was about a 20-minute walk to Las Ramblas. We really enjoyed staying in the Gothic quarter. The area is very scenic and there are lots of good little places to eat, narrow streets to explore etc. It's also walkable to Las Ramblas and you can be quite close to the port. There are lots of sites that offer apartment rentals in Barcelona including vrbo dot com, which is the one I always use. Among my favorite things to do in the city: Go to La Bouquiera, the enormous market, eat at one of the market cafes (the ones toward the back are less expensive and just as good as the famous one in the front). And save one dinner for what I think is one of the most enjoyable restaurants I've ever been to - Paco Meralgo. (pacomeralgo dot com)

BigRuss

WTF is the Extension? Do you mean Eixample?

You're reading the map only and in the abstract. The distance from Placa Catalunya to the Placa de Colon (Columbus Monument) is about a mile. Not far at all.

If you stay in the square bordered by the Verdaguer, Diagonal, Passeig de Gracia and Placa Catalunya metro stations you will be in an excellent location within walking distance of major sites. You will also be at the nexuses (?) of the five main Metro lines (#1-5) that go throughout the city (lines 9-11 are semi-suburban, lines 6-8 cater to commuters).

Do not stay in the Raval. There are two things of note in the Raval - the two ultramodern museums. Otherwise, it is dumpy (the Rambla de Raval is an attempt to clean up the mess and attact tourists).

If you want to see the various modern art repositories in Barcelona, buy an Articket - http://www.articketbcn.org/en/ It will pay for itself on your third museum.

There is no such thing as Las Rablas. You mean the Ramblas. The one that really matters is La Rambla, which extends from the Columbus Monument to Placa Catalunya. You can stay near there without problems, but don't stay ON La Rambla. La Rambla has tourists, pickpockets and restaurant touts and not much else. La Bocqueria is overrated.

Rambla de Catalunya is quieter and has better restaurants.

Don't stay in Barceloneta if you're concerned about being "too far" from the main sites. It's the beach area but accessible to only one metro line and often the apartments listed are far from the Metro. The Born district is less desirable than the Eixample square I described above because it's an older part of town.

We rented with barcelonastuff.com and our apt was two blocks from La Rambla, two blocks from the Cathedral and two blocks from the eastern edge of Placa Catalunya and barely more than 100E/night for a 2 bedroom with room for a baby cot. They also did not require a cash deposit (who needs 150-400E in extra cash returned to you the day you leave if you're going back to the US - it means you just have to change the money and lose a bunch in fees or spend it on stuff you might not need), which was a plus.

You should google APARTUR and check the numerous websites and rental agencies listed as members. APARTUR is an association of tourist apartment rental agencies. Barcelona Stuff is a member. Anyone who isn't should not be blindly trusted.

Christina

Eixemple is Extension in Catalan, that's all, so it's useful for someone to know that, I think, I don't understand the vulgar indignation of bigR, quite rude. These areas are just against each other, so you can't say Eixemple is too far from Las Ramblas when then is basically at the southern edge of it. So that's all I can say, Eixemple is a very large area but lots of it wouldn't be too far out at all, just depends where you are.

I just stayed in a hotel so can't advise on condos, that's all.

Skoop2

Holy Moly Big R.

opaldog

We stayed in the Eixample on Rambla de la Catalunya, we loved it. We used habitatapartments.com They were very easy to deal with. We were totally satisfied.

susanna

Really Big R...take your chill pill!

WE just rented this apartment from habitatbarcelon, in the Extension (!) area. I hear it's a great location for first time visitors, which we are. They have been very easy to work with and the apartment is very reasonaly priced.

http://www.habitatapartments.com/en/...ew/pedrera.htm

suec1

Born, Bari Gotic, OR Exiample - you will probably get more room for the same money in the Exiample area (and in a newer building) but Born or Bari Gotic have more of the feel of the old stones of Europe. Las Ramblas is too hectic for me and Barcelonetta is only good for those that want more of a beach vacation. But it is quite easy to get around all the parts of the city - excellent metro - just be vigilant, there are alot of pickpockets.

ita

Susana, we stayed in the same apartment. It was very good. The only problem was that the supplies are sparse. You will have to do a big shopping for paper goods and essential supplies. Also the towels are very skimpy. Other than that it was a lovely place in a great location. The agency was very obliging. It also has wi-fi.

susanna

Thanks Ita, I was wondering if it had wifi...so we can use our iphones and ipad???

From the reviews I've read about Habitat it seems that they must clean out all the apartments of all the leftovers and there isn't anything there. Knowing that I will bring a few things for the first day before we can go shopping. When you say the towels were skimpy do you mean just two bath towels for the two of us? By any chance did you use the washer/dryer which I think will be a combo not two seperate units..how did it work on the towels? Otherwise I can always bring two old towel from home and leave them behind.

opaldog

susanna: we also stayed in la pedrera. We loved it. We did find the supplies sparse and found a grocery store not too many blocks away. We loved the location and sat in front of the large wall of windows with wine and jamon and cheese and watched the world go by. I did a report with pictures that include pictures of the apartment (if I remember correctly). Here is a link http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ur-last.cfm?50

susanna

Hey opaldog....your the one that sat in front of those windows and watched the world go by!! I remembered reading that but wasn't sure who did it. I did read your trip report and got lots of great tips,thanks. Is it noisy at all being on a busy pedestrian street...or in the bedroom? They said it wasn't.
I think the price of their apartments is quite good, even if you have to stock up once you're there.

BigRuss

Skoop, Christina and Susana, get off your horse, there was no vulgarity. A bit thin-skinned.

There is no Extension in Barcelona, there is an area called the Eixample.

As for the rest of my post, I gave the OP more useful info than you three combined.

ita

Susana, we did use the washer-no dryer. It was hit and miss. We never really figured out how it works-I think by prayer. Ask the agency rep to show you when you check in. The clothes dried within a day-there is a clothes horse. The towels were thin and quite small. They are only changed once a week. You can get extra ones for a fee. I brought an extra towel. Maybe the dishwasher soap we bought is still there. I also stuffed toilet paper into my suitcase. We shopped at Bon Prieu-a few blocks away near the agency office. Again ask the agency rep. Be careful with fruits and vegetables. You have to weigh them before you go to the check out. We took a wheeled luggage bag and filled it with groceries. When you buy bread I think you can buy 1/2 loaf. It gets hard after one day. I loved opening the windows after a long day and relaxing with the street sounds. It was not noisy as the bedroom faces the inner courtyard.

I had a computer breakdown when I got home, so haven't written a trip report yet. Maybe I will get around to it on the weekend.

opaldog

I agree with ita's comments about the street sounds and bedroom not being noisy. We enjoy facing the street. The bedroom was completely quiet. You can shut the metal shutters on the front windows and that quiets things. Even though it was a fairly busy street it wasn't like the area we just stayed in in Madrid, Calle Mayor which had noise all night (but it didn't bother us).

I would love to go back to Barcelona and would definitely love to stay at la pedrera again. The price off season is very reasonable. Hope you have a great time.

Alan_CT

We've rented in many parts of the city, from Diagonal Mar to Eixample and in between. Barri Gotic and El Born areas are good for first-time visitors who want to conveniently see many key sights. Eixample and Poble Nou (near beaches) can be more quiet and less touristic. It may be a couple of blocks to the Metro station, but after that reaching other areas is quick and convenient. El Raval can be a little scary unless you're used to ethnic areas.
So it depends on what kind of experience you're seeking, and you can find an apartment to match. We've used www.likelivingthere.com to find places that fit our plans.

susanna

Great info on the apartment!!

YES, please do a trip report..when exactly were you there...I go in Feb.

ita

we were there in the middle of October. I will do some kind of report this weekend if only to thank Fodorites for their spot on advice.

NeoPatrick

I can't speak highly enough about the apartment in the Born we rented for a week in August this year. The only possible negatives were that it is on the first (US second floor) and the stairs going up were pretty tiny, and that the bedroom was quite small. But the advantage of the small bedroom was that it was "interior" in the apartment and so quiet as could be. The AC ran beautifully, and the apartment has a ton of character in the perfect spot.
Here's the link:
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ent-53-1-1.htm