advices for planning a trip to Spain.. Maribel? :)
 

I am trying to go through this forum while planning my trip to Spain.. I am working on it way early, but I just want to make sure that it is as good as it gets.
So the idea is to go to Spain for New Year's. Yes it might be somewhat cold, but hell I am from Vermont so that shouldn't be a problem.
Flying into Barcelona right after Xmas and spending about a week there.. maybe wondering off to "Wine Areas" (need to find more info first).
Flying to Palma Mallorca from Barcelona (costs only $45 and takes only half an hour) for a couple of days..
Flying to Madrid from Palma (again only $45 - beats the train!) and spend 2-3 days there to check out museums.. and bars :)
Anyway it is just a sketch. I guess my question is if this kind of itinerary seems reasonable or should be changed dramatically?! Also I looked at the few hotels in Barcelona and Madrid (went through tripadvisor.com for recommendations) and was wondering if anyone knows them. I was looking into a 50 dollar/night range because I am going by myself and for awhile.. of course the requirements being - safe to leave my stuff in (I do photography so have lots of equipment), private bathroom, clean floors/walls/linen/etc.
In Barcelona:
Hostal Opera
Hostal Central Barcelona
In Madrid:
Hostal Villar
Hostal Aguilar

It is a first time for me using a web-forum? any advice/input is greatly appreciated!! :)
Thanks,
Masha

P.S. Maribel, could you also email me those Spain files? :) [email protected]

a couple of other places that I found looking through this forum in Barcelona;

Hostal Central (http://www.hostalcentralbarcelona.com credits to Leslie)- looks fine, but I am not sure if it is in any better than Hostal Girona (http://hostalgirona.com - thanks Jim).
Hostal Palacios looks good but a bit pricey (www.hostalpalacios.com - recommendation from Karen).

So what's better? Should I spend more and stay at the last one?
I am extremely picky when it comes to bathrooms.. but when I stay at a B&B in Prague and Frankfurt shared bathrooms were perfectly clean and as good as private ones. From this point of view would Hostal Girona be the best choice..?!

Have you checked out the reviews on your hostals on www.madridman.com? Lots of info on that website.

Hostel Lopez in Madrid is a perfect place to stay. Very close to the Prado, nice family that owns it. Safe, clean, and comfortable.

I second the madridman site.

Also I just sent you Maribels files.

honestly, I didn't find madridman.com very useful.. tripadvisor.com seems to have more (recent) reviews :) but thanks for the suggestion!

stormygirl,
thanks! :) have you actually stayed at that hostel?
and I have already received files from Maribel.. :)

yes I stayed there but it's been 5 years now. I thought it was a great hostel. We had a triple room for 3 girls with our own bathroom and shower. Very nice and we walked from there, everywhere.