Hi Melissa,

Don't know about the sage bit but my wife & I just got back from a stay at the Hostal Girona the other week. If you click on my name above this message you'll find my trip reports which will hopefully answer some of your questions. To sum up, however, we liked both the Hotel & the area & wouldn't hesitate to go back.

If I can give any further advice please don't hesitate to ask.

Jim

Jim,

I too am considering a stay at Hostal Girona. Thanks for all of the information. Now, specifically, if you don't mind, I have a question or two!

I am a single female who will be travelling alone. From that perspective, is the location safe?

Also, what was particularly sorry about the inroom shower?

Thank you, thank you!

Hi bg217,

It's undeniable that the subject of crime/safety seems to come up time & time again when Barcelona is mentioned on this board & I suppose that there must be a good reason for this. I can only tell you, however, that we felt perfectly safe going to & from the Girona. My wife is quite sensitive to this type of thing (for example, there were areas of Paris & London where she felt very uncomfortable) but she was very happy with the Girona's location - although of course she had a big strapping hulk like me to protect her (that noise you can hear is my wife sniggering in the background). The Girona is located in the Eixample which seems to be generally recommended as a "safe" place to stay & based on what we found I would go along with that.

So,yes,I would recommend it for a single female traveller.

As regards the showers, I'm not quite sure how to explain - it's the first time I've stayed in a hotel where the shower was actually IN the bedroom rather than being in a separate room off the bedroom. If you can picture a sort of flimsy booth or cabinet in the corner of the bedroom then you might get the idea. We didn't actually use it so I can't say how effective the water jet was but it just seemed to us that there was a complete lack of privacy. My wife & I have been married for 18 years, so we have no secrets between us (if you see what I'm getting at) but it just didn't seem "right". If you're going to be on your own, however, maybe this won't bother you. As I mentioned in my report, there was a very nice shared bathroom/shower just out in the hall & we were more than happy with that.

One final point - Karen (who posts here under the name of "kaudrey") is in Spain right now & will be staying in the Hostal Palacios when she gets to Barcelona. If anything, this looks to be in a slightly more central location than the Girona & so if you have time it might be worth waiting for her trip report.

Hope this helps - if you'd like to know anything else, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jim

Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately it is all a moot point as the room I inquired about and procrastinated about booking has been reserved! I'm bitterly disappointed! Perhaps I will inquire about the other place you mentioned. I'm dead set on a balcony so it's been a bit difficult. I'm crossing my fingers!

Hello again bg,

Sorry to hear that you missed out on the Girona, but here are a couple of other ideas which might help. I should say first of all that I don't have personal experience of any of these - but they are all places that were on my "possibles" list before I booked the Girona.

Firstly, have a look at www.timeout.com/barcelona/accom/

This has details of accomodation split, firstly, into the different areas of the city and then again into various price brackets, including "budget". There are links to the websites of many of the hotels listed & so you might find something there.

If you look at the Eixample budget section, you'll find a favourable review of the Oliva. There's no website address shown but I was able to find one at www.lasguias.com/hostaloliva/index.htm

I actually saw this Hostal during my visit & although I don't know what it's like inside it could hardly be better situated. It's in the very heart of the favoured Eixample area, right on the Passeig De Gracia, which is generally considered to be the city's most elegant shopping street. I don't recall seeing any balconies, but then I think it does occupy the top floors of the building, so maybe I missed them.

My next suggestion is the Hostal D'Uxelles & you will find their website at www.hotelduxelles.com. The rooms look charming on their website (move your cursor over the pictures to make them change) & they do seem to have plenty of balconies! I'm not familiar with the exact location, but again it is in the Eixample area.

Finally, I mentioned in my last message that kaudrey would be staying at the Hostal Palacios & you can find their website at www.hostalpalacios.com

I hope this points you in the right direction.

Jim