I'll be joining my wife in Barcelona in April. (She's attending a conference.) We'll need one additional night's lodging. We like boutique hotels. Decor is important: charm but not fussiness. Exposed beams are welcome, as is a tub. We're not very demanding of hotel desks. We're also not intent on spending as much money as possible, but since it's just one night, the price can be fairly high. Does anyone have a recommendation? Thank you.

I see that my post comes pretty close to another current one. I will check out that large load information cited d in response but also would appreciate any other ideas. To quantify, anything up to 500 euros would be fine.

Hi,
last year I stayed at Hotel Neri in the middle of the gothic quarter. it is the best hotel experience I have ever had, and it would live up to all your wishes... it is boutique (only about 21 rooms), the building is very old but all the amenities are modern, very charming, big bathroom with tub. We had a junior suite and payed 198 euros pr night, so quite reasonable as well. Try to get the junior suite number 107... you will love it! The ceiling is amazing!
www.hotelneri.com

I was also going to suggest the Neri..have never stayed there as we usually stay in the nearby Colon which these days with the cathedral under scaffolding I woulnd't recommend and it isn't in any way a "boutique" hotel anyway.

I suggest you read the reviews of the Neri on TripAdvisor..read ALL of them as it seems to be an interesting mix.

Another vote for the neri or if you think that is to expensive try banys orientals hotel which is only about 90 euros per double room, not every room has a tub though

Looked at the Neri via Internet. My impression is high on comfort and several other things we like in a hotel but a little too "deeply colored" in the decor. (I did say we're fussy). Quite a bit of other Web research has turned up somewhat spartan rooms. Probably this is typical of Spain? Any other ideas? Thank you.

Thank you all for the advice! I haven't quite finished working my way through the maribelsguides.com listings, but I'm becoming "reconciled" to the Hotel Neri despite the rather "dark and deep" look of the rooms shown on the hotel site. Looks like there could be worse fates than the Neri. It also looks like it may be the only boutique hotel in town!

Dave,

I don't know this hotel personally, but the Inglaterra describes itself as a "boutique hotel";

http://www.epoquehotels.com/inglaterrabcn.html

It seems to be in a pretty good location.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks very much. That terrace is appealing!

Hotel Claris. 5 star boutique hotel. Very cool hotel, beautiful and varied modern, stylish rooms, some duplexes, great big tubs in some. Probably in the 250-350 Euro range. Nice location; central, but just off the main drag. www.hotelclaris.com.

Good luck.

Fishskis,

Went to their site. Looks great! Thank you.

I suggest you read the reviews on TripAdvisor about the Claris, too.

Will do. Thanks.

Hi Dave,
I see that you are concerned about the dark look on the Neri website. I too was concernde about that but when we arrived we just completely fell in love with the place, and it wasn't really as dark as it might seem on the website. It ins't bright - and we really like lots of light and minimalistic furniture (we're from denmark!) - but here the deep colours were part of the charm - and again, it is not as gloomy as it might seem on the net!

For what it's worth, I have stayed at The Claris twice. I am well traveled and have stayed at many very nice hotels. The service at The Claris is not equal to a top hotel, it is more like a small 4 star boutique service to me, and can be a little uneven. However, the rooms I have had were very nice, spacious, and unique; and the hotel itself has some wonderful design elements. Additionally, the front desk staff has always been more than helpful. IMHO, The Hotel Arts (A Ritz Carlton) has better service, as well as nice rooms, but it is a large, impersonal hotel in a vastly inferior location.

Good luck.

Many, many thanks for all of your advice! We've settled on the Neri. The location has quite a bit to do with it, though of course I'm recalling the Ramblas from my first visit to Bareclona four decades ago, and I realized time as not wrought wonders when it comes to security. Otherwise, carrying luggage for 50 meters is no problem, since we travel with carry-on only. The Claris looks very attractive, and it seems that the outstanding complaint, room size, could be solved by a suite. (We don't t pay much attention to critiques of desk service, since we almost never ask for it.) But the Claris location was less appealing. The Inglaterra looks like a pleasant, more economical choice, but since we're rounding out what's essentially a "free" stay, in terms of lodging, the one-night Neri fling is fine. Thank you again! (Our first thought of a return to Barecelona, a few years ago, foundered on lack of appealing lodging. We went instead to Malorca, and stayed inland at Scott's Hotel. That is a very fine boutique place! Definitely worth a detour.)

Good choice, i think that you will enjoy the neri, if you dont want to carry your luggage just call them when the cab drops you off and they will send someone to collect it. Hope you have a great time.

Dave,
I hope you have a great stay. Please tell us what you thought of it when you get back!
Enjoy Barcelona!

Intrepid1,
I understand you to have stayed at the Colon. We are planning a
trip to Spain in July and the Colon is on our list of places to stay. Is the cathederal being under construction a problem? Tell me why you wouldn't recommend this place. Also has anyone ever stayed at the Emperador in Madrid?? natjgc