Barcelona
 

Going on a cruise and leaving from Barcelona and returning to Venice. Please refer a nice clean economical hotel for both places. Would like to know if the ports easily accessible in both places. Also may consider an airbnb as well. Would like a location near an area with something to do, Thanks

first, for Barcelona, the cruise ports are extremely convenient, right at the bottom of Las Ramblas. Here is a map http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...uise-port.html


I don't stay down in that area, but something in El Born would probably work for you.

HOstal Orleans is a good budget hotel down there. http://www.hostalorleans.com/

You can check booking.com to see what suits your needs, and it would probably be to your advantage to read a couple of good guides, one on Barcelona and one on Venice. Fodor's offers both.

I envy you. I went on a cruise that started in Barcelona and fell in love with that city. Now if only I could remember the name of the hotel. Sorry

Probably your best option is Venice is near Piazzale Roma. Venice hotels can be a bit tricky to get to esp. with luggage from a cruise trip. But those near Piazzlae Roma are convenient to connection to the airport and main cruise dock.

Many more options in Barcelona - I agree with other poster as to El Born over Las Ramblas. Tripadvisor is a great resource, also Cruise Critic - You can look under "ports of call" and there will probably be several hotels mentioned by other cruisers that are good for pre or post cruise.

We fell in love with Barcelona years ago and we keep coming back to depart from there to the States when we go to Italy, we will be there this summer. Get there if you can 1-2 days before the cruise, check on Booking.com, there are several apt and hotels for both cities, also vrbo or airbnb. Venice is lovely, but you also need at least a full day after the cruise. I never stay in hotels so I can't recommend, always use apt.

Banys Orientals would be a great value alternative in Barcelona. In the medieval and vibrant Born area, close to "everything": https://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/bany...als.en-gb.html

El Born is a cradle of Catalan identity and culture, great tapas bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, the Picasso museum, The Cultural center with the excavations of Barcelona around year 1700, the gothic Santa Maria del Mar church, narrow Carrer Montcada, the most important street in the city from the 12th century etc. etc.:
http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/born
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html