The Pulitzer Hotel is great! Just a few steps from Plaça de Catalunya. A very cheap bus will take one from the airport to the Plaça. On the Plaça, one can take the Hop-on, hop-off bus. Barcelona is quite spread out, and the bus provides a quick look at everything. The Parc Guell is outstanding, perhaps outstandly different. My favorite restaurant is La Bella Napoli with the best Italian food I have ever eaten. It is at at Margarit,14. Enjoy Barcelona. It is a great, fun, young city. You might want to see Woody Allen's "Vicky Christina Barcelona."
Boots

IS this hotel near the port to get on the ship? How far by bus to the airport? know nayting about beaches there or taking a scooter around the town? Any highlights we'HAVE To SEE"? not into museums though....

Get a TAXI to the ship; there are several "moles" where cruise ships may be docked.

If you want info about the airport bus go to the BCN airport website which explains all the possible ways to get into the city.

There is a great beach area in Barcelona - we rented bikes for in the park, (not Park Guell tho) and also rode along the beach. Not sure I'd want to do a scooter. I'm sure the other poster had a nice Italian meal but please try a tapas meal! or a seafood meal down in the port area.

I assume you have not been to Barcelona before so I'd suggest seeing some of the Gaudi sights and maybe a market. A HoHo would give you a good overview - get off and explore Parc Guell very unique and fun. There is a sound, light and fountain show in the evenings at one of the big plazas that is alot of fun too. Enjoy!

Cool, so now Looking for :
1. Hotel Under $200 would be ideal. Good location so in 1.5 days we can do the hop on off bus and explore city easily
2. hit a nice beach coast area-where?
3. have a nice evening somewhere(Sat night)-which area?
4. eat fresh tapas and seafood -any suggested one?

If you are going this Sept. the ideal hotel may be a bit of a challenge - go NOW to a site like tripadvisor and enter your date and see what is available. Hotel Regencia Colon is good location, good price, but not very hip.

Look at a map -you will see the beach area - not far from Hotel Colon.

Hopefully the evening will be nice for an outdoor meal in either the old city or El Born - we like Taller de Tapas but there are many - I would avoid Las Ramblas. Many seafood restaurants down in the beach / port area. The one we like is (I think) Can Maja - you would need reservations.

Take a look at Banys Oriental, voted one of the ten best hotels in the Med area on Conde Nast some years ago and one of the 50 most recommeded hotels in the world. 100€ for a double in the absolute best location, in the vibrant El Born area with fabulous bars, cafés, restaurants and close to "everything"; central Plaça Catalunya, famous and touristy Las Ramblas, up-scale Passeig de Gracia, the cathedral, the wonderful Santa Maria del Mar church, the Ciutadella park and the Barceloneta beach.

Banys Oriental: http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/index.html
Banys Oriental and Conde Nast: http://unlike.net/barcelona/hotel/banys-orientals
El Born district: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/areas/el-born.html

suce1 and
kimhe, great suggestions! thanks, Ill take a look.

We stayed at Hesperia Del Port on Parellel. Great location, great price, security, close to La Rambla, port and metro. We did this after our first cruise and have scheduled another stay there for April after yet another cruise.