MsGladysCravitts

Taking a 2-week Western Mediterranean Cruise (8.1-14) which departs from Barcelona. Never been to Bar. so thought it would be nice to spend 3 nights (7.29-8.1) before departing to see the sights. Hotel location is crucial as we want easy access from airport and to pier. The mark-up for booking a hotel through the cruise ship is crazy so we're hoping to use the money we save to enjoy the city. Any hotel or restaurant recs that offer a "foodie" experience and nice accommodations that are airport/pier accessible would be appreciated. Preliminary research has revealed "Las Ramblas" as a main drag. Any other "need to know" info about the city that you're willing to share would be appreciated. Ciao!

greg

The Plaça de Catalunya is sort of middle of where hotels are scattered. About half in north of that in Eixample and other half towards the ocean. You choose a location depending on where you want to be around over three nights.

However, do you really want to use airport/pier access as key factors in choosing a hotel location? The airport trip is perhaps a 20 minutes event while the pier access is a 10 minutes event by taxi from hotels in the center of the city out of your three nights stay? There is an airport bus to the Plaça de Catalunya, but if you are doing a cruise, you probably have a lot of large luggage and a taxi would be needed in this case.

One way to visualize hotels quickly, use www.booking.com, select your criteria, and look at the map view.

FHurdle

I agree with Greg. Find a hotel you like. You can take the metro/light rail from the airport and then a taxi to the ship. There is no real bonus to being "near" the ship. Far better to be "near" the restaurants and nightlife.

I see you will be going to Salerno. There is a ferry that goes from there to Positano with a stop in Amalfi. You can get off in Amalfi, walk around, glimpse inside the church, and be on your way. Consider having lunch at the terrace restaurant at Hotel San Pietro. My wife and I ate there and it was a highlight of our cruise. I should note that we took this ferry after taking a train from the cruise port in Naples. I'm not sure how packed it would be when the ship actually ports in Salerno.

kimhe

All hotels in central Barcelona will be within ten mins taxi drive from the pier and 15-20 from the airport.

<Any hotel or restaurant recs that offer a "foodie" experience>

Tickets bar is the new paradise version of traditional tapas style restaurant run by the Adrià brothers of the world's by far most awarded restaurant the past decade, now closed El Bulli. Very affordable Tickets is #57 on the world's 100 best restaurants list after just two years. http://www.theworlds50best.com/

The basic concept is traditional tapas prepared and presented as you never would imagine and with tastes to the maximum. Iberian ham, Spanish cheeses, olives, croquetas, tomatoes, anchoas, shellfish, Iberian pork etc etc plus some surprises from out of this world. Just tell the waiter how much you would like to spend and what kind of food you like, and then leave it up to the kitchen to make it an evening never to forget. The four of us had 17 dishes here some months ago and payed around around 75€ each with wine/cava included. Lived very much up to the high expectations.

You can only book online and only 60 days in advance. Tables are literally gone 10 minutes after midnight 60 days prior to every day year around, so you have to be online on midnight Barcelona time two months on the day before you want to book a table. http://www.ticketsbar.es/web/en/

kimhe

I can highly recommend Hotel Neri, just outstanding. Our best hotel experience ever after more than 25 years of intensive traveling in Spain. In the Gothic quarter, close to the cathedral and heart of the city Plaça de Catalunya, but in a tranquile and secluded alley down towards small and beautiful Plaza San Felipe Neri. Large and very laid-back roof-top terrace with bar for hotel guests. 20% off if payed more than 30 days in advance, which for us meant some 190€/night. http://www.hotelneri.com/en/

Info and guest reviews: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/nerihr.en.html
Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Catalonia.html

And this site is great on Barcelona in general. Much more to the city than the owercrowded Las Ramblas to say the least. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/

Some Barcelona "musts":

- Gaudí's architecture: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...ona-gaudi.html
- Boquería, one of the finest food markets in the world: http://www.gardenista.com/posts/la-boqueria-market
- Palau de la Musica Catalana: http://www.palaumusica.cat/en
- El Born: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html
- Montjuich (Jewish mountain): http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Parc...XHP4btJkzuN28w
- A meal at 7 Portes from 1836, an institution in town and great, traditional Catalan food. I always come back to the Arroz caldo, something like a more liquid seafood paella, just delicious: http://www.7portes.com/angles/index.php
Arroz Caldo at 7 Portes: http://www.foodspotting.com/places/1...rcelona?page=2

TPAYT

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