ekscrunchy

Not sure if you are meaning to post a specific apartment; the links above lead only to VRBO and Ownersdirect, not to any apartment that you might wish to recommend...

iris1745

ek; Nothing specific.

enzian

Hi ekscrunchy---have you looked at the apartment attached to Hotel Sixty-Two? It is on Passeig de Gràcia, which I believe is a good location. It is a two-bedroom, two bathroom apartment which looks lovely in the photos on the website.

http://www.sixtytwohotel.com/apartment-64

I just did a "test" booking for mid-March (weekdays). For 2 people, four nights, it came in at 117,50 euro a night.

Are you still going to Granada/madrid this month? I am looking forward to your trip report!

tonybola

I was in Barcelona for 7 days in November. Stayed at an apartment in El Born and will recommend it to anyone. After a couple of days we felt like we lived there. Several times I caught myself saying "when we get home" when referring to the apartment. It was one of the Princesa apartments with http://www.habitatapartments.com/
The area has tons of restaurants, boutiques, museums, and is very close to the Jaume I metro stop and the Barceloneta.
Every night we went for tapas or pintxos around El Born and later took a stroll thru the Barri Gotic al the way to La Rambla and Placa Catalunya always taking a different street. It was very charming. Just don't cross La Rambla over to El Raval at night unless you are really up for an adventure of the wrong kind.
Overall Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
One more thing, if you are traveling from or to the airport you could take the train at the Estacio de Franca which is in El Born thus avoiding the Metro and the pickpocketers. You will have to change trains at Estacio de Sants but it is very easy since all you have to do is to get off of one train and walk accross the walkway and get on the other one.

lincasanova

Nice to know there aren't pickpocketers on that train.

just kidding, of course.

opaldog

We took the train directly from the airport and got off at Passeig de Gracia. We didn't enter the metro with our luggage at all. It was very easy and quick (and cheap).

lowcountrycarol

The Born and the area of the of the Eixample are very different in character. For me I would only stay in the Born. The Habitat Princesa #1 apartment is a 2 BR 2BA, very comfortably furnished, surrounded by only small walking streets with no traffic.

If you like this cozy neighborhood feel, small shops, restaurants etc. rather than the busy wide boulevards with traffic, noise and bustle this area is for you. We prefer a quiet, area with a real feeling of character and the Borne provides that and as I said before a short walk to everything.

Think of this as Paris. Do you prefer to be in a quiet apartment off from the grand boulevards or prefer that more wide open large less intimate "flavor" ?

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Carol. Twice I stayed in a hotel (GranVia) just off Passeig de Gracia--most recently about 6 years ago-- and I liked that area (and the hotel) well enough. But I found myself walking every night to the Born/Gotico area at dinner time. So if we can find a place in Born that is not reputed to be noisy, and is not too pricey, I will go for it. ( In Paris, I would want to be in a cozy neighborhood--with good restaurants--Marais, maybe)

Would Born be a little less frentic at night than B. Gotico? I am afraid that the two areas are a little confused in my mind..not sure where one begins and the other ends..

Enzian: We are leaving this weekend for a week in Madrid/Granada; I will be sure to report back!

lowcountrycarol

Hi ekscrunchy,

I am not en expert here but I think the B. Gotico is a more to the west of the Born and when we explored that area did not feel we would have like to be based there.

My impression of the central part of the Born is that it is bordered on the east by the Passeig de Picasso , Carrer de la Princessa on the north and approx. Via Laietana on the west. That said I think that traffic noise is not as much a problem in the Born as the streets are tiny and many that off the Passeig del Born are pedestrian only.

I agonized q

lowcountrycarol

Hi ekscrunchy,

I am not en expert here but I think the B. Gotico is a more to the west of the Born and when we explored that area did not feel we would have like to be based there.

My impression of the central part of the Born is that it is bordered on the east by the Passeig de Picasso , Carrer de la Princessa on the north and approx. Via Laietana on the west. That said I think that traffic noise is not as much a problem in the Born as the streets are tiny and many that off the Passeig del Born are pedestrian only.

I agonized q

macdogmom

Have stayed in Born area two years running in Princesa apt. through Habitat Apartments (link in above posting). Loved the location, proximity to great food and overall ambience. Very quiet since the bldging is on a pedestrian street. Wouldn't stay anywhere else-my analogy is always that the Born is the TriBeCa/soho of Barcelona and Eixample is the UES. Both good, just individual preferences.

danon

"Would Born be a little less frentic at night than B. Gotico?

between the two... Born gets my vote. Closer to the sea and "happening".
Both are very busy at night.. I am just not that fond of BG.
I also stayed at Princesa ( habitat) in March 2009.
There are many tapa bars, restaurants and wine bars in Eixample and Gracia., Born, BG... all over the city...
On one visit we stayed in a residential part of Barcelona and still had a choice of many fine eateries.

DeborahAnn

ekscrunchy, I'm trying to decide on what neighborhood for our first stay in Barcelona in May.

I found an apartment service recommended by Slow Travel and the owner, Ron, is very willing to help me find a suitable apartment. He is located in PA but must represent several individual owners. He gave me two listings that I'm considering, one is in the Born, a 3 bedroom for under 900 euros for an 8 night stay.

I wouldn't call the apartment upscale but it seems to be fine for our needs. If you are interested you will find the company at www.likelivingthere.com. I don't know if I'll rent one of his apartments yet but I've appreciated the help he's given me so far as well as his prompt response to my questions. Deborah

ekscrunchy

I am back on the search for an apartment for a possible trip in late Feb/early March. Some of the recommended apts are showing no availability, including the Old Town flat (linked above and recommended by Elizabeth.)

Would you all mind giving me your opinions of these:


1. http://www.habitatapartments.com/en/...na=1#test_link

2. http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p436475


3. http://www.athome-barcelona.com/apartments-397#

ekscrunchy

...and this one, along with any others you might recommend:


http://www.destinationbcn.com/cadaques.htm

lincasanova

you certainly are finding some nice properties!

ekscrunchy

Lincasanova: They do look really nice, but I am finding this a little overwhelming since there are so many different agencies and so many listings, and so many factors that are not addressed, like exact location, noise factors, etc etc. I've never rented an apartment short-term before, but I can see that the value is so much better than a hotel, as long as the places live up to what they seem! You really have to take a leap of faith!

In Valencia, I found a few hotels that look good; what do you think about the location of these.

1. http://www.adhochoteles.com/valencia...index_eng.html

2. http://www.hoteles-catalonia.com/es/...ncia/index.jsp

3. http://www.valenciamansion.com/

Do you think I can take a bus to La Mantandeta for paella? I was worried that I would not find good airline connections to Valencia but there do seem to be decent ones on Iberia, with one stop, from JFK. I thought we could start there and then take the train to Barcelona...

lincasanova

love the location of excelsior. I think they have remodeled it.. not familiar personally with the mansion. the ad hoc has good restaurant and is on a dark side street near the river bed. I have never seen the rooms. not sure how big they would be.they are all well located.

see if hotel astoria Ayre is on offer.

If you give me your dates I will be happy to see what comes up. try www.trivago.com to see if any new rates develop. also, see if there is a 10% off coupon for hotels.com and expedia.

no bus that i know of to la mantandeta but will try to figure something out if I know the date.

danon

the last one in Barcelona (destination) seems to be quiet..
which is important.
Cannot find it on their map.
It is not in El Born ( if it is close to University) , I like the area north of University

Someone here stayed in habitat(1) and id not like it too much ...."charmless and a bit seedy street", if I remember.
No. 2. homeaway is right in Born, looks to me like the same building where habitat has several apt.
3. seems a bit dark...cannot see the map.

ekscrunchy

Lincasanova: You are a great help. Many thanks! I do not have confirmed dates yet as I have to settle on an apartment rental in Barcelona first and that means e-mailing back and forth with my friend and with the rental agencies. Hopefully I will get things settled by the middle of this coming week. We are thinking about coming first to Valencia, at the end of February, and then taking the train to Barcelona and staying there for about one week. So perhaps we would be in Valencia from about the 25 or 26th February until the end of the month. I will let you know the exact dates when I have them. One very important reason to visit Valencia is for the food, so we will have to compile a great list of places for paella and other delicious things!