Need to know how far the airport (BCN) is from the main part of Barcelona. Also can we do the train or should we do a cab or shuttle to get to Barcelona. And... any recommendations for lodging for one ( 1 ) night on April 17 and again for one ( 1 ) night on April 25. ( around 200 Euro max per night ) We're taking a cruise for seven ( 7 ) nights out of Barcelona. (April 18-25 )

In case anyone would like to offer suggestions, we are arriving in Rome on April 14 and spending three ( 3 ) nights before flying to Barcelona on April 17......( 7 night cruise ) then leaving Barcelona on April 26 and flying to London where we'll stay until May 29 and then on to Paris until May 3. While in France, we want to go to the D Day landing areas for a day. Like to stay around 200 Euro a night for lodging if possible in each country.

Thank you.
Larry B.
Folsom, CA

The airport is between 25 - 30 minutes from heart of the city, depending on the traffic and time of day. Cabs were relatively inexpensive from the airport into town.

Check out www.maribelsguides.com for ideas on hotels. Her information is wonderful.

the Acta Atrium Palace hotel

There is an inexpensive shuttle bus (called the aerobus) from the airport to the Placa Catalunya in the center of Barcelona.

I enjoyed staying at the H10 Catalunya Plaza. http://www.h10hotels.com/eng/barcelo...unya-plaza.php

Good location (especially if you are taking the aerobus from the airport). Great buffet breakfast included, and free cava (Catalan champagne) and snacks available in the lounge throughout the day.

I second the suggestion to check Maribel's Guide.

There are 3 possibilities to get to Barcelona from the airport: train (direct train from airport tot Barcelona Sants station), Aerobus and cab. All will take about 30 minutes.
Train is the cheapest.

Last time I stayed at the 4* Gran Hotel Torre Catalunya, just next to the Barcelona Sants Station. Modern hig-rise hotel, often very good deals. Metro stops right next to the hotel, about 10 min. to Ramblas and other sites. Very good reviews on Tripadvisor.

for only a couple of nights, I would take a taxi ( 25-30 euros) and stay in Eixample ..( not far from Pl.Cataluya))

With cruise after BCN, don't you have quite a lot of luggage? Then taxi is obviously the easiest, no stairs involved at the stations, just door to door, unless you really have a reason to save money there. Aerobus will work if your hotel is near Plaça Catalunya which is the bus's terminus, then again you will at least have to walk a little bit. The bus makes a few other stops, but where I'm not sure and when the bus is full sometimes it's a hassle to get off at one of the smaller stops. As to the train, you have to walk quite a long over- ground bridge to get to the aiport train station, it's not impossible but long still and when you get off at the city center, at Sants or Passeig de Gracia, again there are a few steps + escalators upwards. I have no problem with any of these means since I always have only small pieces of luggage, what about you?