I'm hoping the Fodorites can give some advice on the best neighborhood for tourists.

I'd like to be quite central (though that at times means noisy!), since my wife usually runs out of energy -then I set off on a walking tour or to visit a museum, while she rests. Want to avoid: crime, graffiti, noise, litter. Not interested in nightlife.

So far, I'm looking at Eixample or maybe Barri Gotic. Maybe Poble Sec. Thoughts?

Any favorite boutique hotels (four star)?

Thanks!

There are many good 4-star boutique hotels in the city. Do you have a budget you need to work with?

Robert2533, I don't have a set budget. Based on very limited research, I'm thinking $300 or so. I'm mainly trying to figure out where to stay. An example of a hotel that looks okay to me is Hotel Colon, in Barri Gotic...across from the cathedral.

But, I'm sure there are a lot of choices. Indeed, so many that I am bewildered.

I recommend medieval and vibrant El Born. tourist-guide.com/en/areas/el-born.html
http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/born

A cradle of Catalan identity and culture and close to "everything". If you stay in one of the two hotels suggested below, ou are within five minutes walk to
the Picasso museum: http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/
The history museum with the excavations of more than 2000 years old Roman Barcino: http://museuhistoria.bcn.cat/en/node/647
The Catalan Cultural Center, with the excavations of 1700 Barcelona and focusing upon the loss of independence to Spain in 1714: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-cultural.html
The 14th century Santa Maria del Mar church, one of the finest Gothic buildings around: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...a-del-mar.html
http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...l-mar.html?o=h
Carrer Montcada, the most important street in the city from the 12th century: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montcada.html
The Cathedral: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...cathedral.html
Art Nouveau Palau de la Musica Catalana:
http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/the-ar...building_23602 http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...alana.html?o=h
The Boqueria food market (5-10 mins walk), one of the finest in the world: http://www.gardenista.com/posts/la-boqueria-market
And of course, the famous Gothic quarter in general: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...c-quarter.html
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...barcelona.html

Great value Hotel Banys Orientals: https://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/

Plain fantastic Hotel Neri, 20% off if payed more than 30 days in advance. Our best hotel experience ever:
https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/sp...luna-barcelona
http://www.hotelneri.com/en/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...Catalonia.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...ls/hotel-neri/

And your suggestion Hotel Colon is a good alternative and 200 meters from both Banys Orientals and Neri. The three make up a fine triangle. http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/colo...ona.en-gb.html

are you sure that you want to go to Barcelona and Spain though ? ;-))
"Want to avoid: graffiti, noise, litter. Not interested in nightlife."