Looking for a room for 4 nights in Sept under $100 a night. Does anyone have experience with Hostal Europa or ArtHostal? They both fall in our budget.

You may want to check out renting an apartment. We rented through habitat apartments barcelona and got a 1BR apt in Barri Gotic for €85/n back in November. Studio apts are cheaper, and even with a studio apt, it'll still be larger than a hotel room. I believe Habitat apts has a minimum of 3 nights policy.

I love this review of the Europa on TA:

"Unless you are a movie director seeking dingy locations for a sordid crime thriller..."

It's pretty low on the list of favorites.

Yikes.

I just book Hotel Cortes on Venere for 72€ (prepaid, no refunds). Haven't stayed there yet (my trip is on March) but it got good reviews on TA. I stated at Hotel Continental on my last trip to Barcelona but a double is now 97€. They do have an all day breakfast bar, free drinks all day long, fridge and microwave in the room. But though that was probably not worth the 25€ extra per night. Both are very close to Placa Catalonia which I liked.

We stayed at Apartment Europa in June 09.
Excellent location.
Nice and clean.
Only 52 Euro per night per room for 2 people.
Equiped Kitchen.
3/4 min. walk from Barc. Sants station/tube.
Cerefour just across.
And a bonus.. View of the Montjuic Hill castle cable car, Walkable dist. to Taragona Square ( 8 min) and Catalunya Square(? I think that was the name) 12 min.
Well connected to all the locations in Barc. + closer to the stop of the sightseeing bus. You can go to other places in Spain from Sants station as well.
We had a 5h floor apts. Ask for an apartment on 6th floor with Balcony.
U can go ahead and book it. You won't regret it.
All the best.

Never considered an apartment. Will look into it. Thanks!