enzian

I'm just starting to think about a trip to Spain next April-May. At this point all I have on the list is Barcelona, probably 3 nights. I have never been there and an having trouble visualizing the different areas and distances between major sights (the ones of particular interest at this time are the Picasso Museum, Miro Museum, and Sagrada Familia, but I'm sure the list will grow). While we normally choose small, family-run 3* places in Switzerland and Italy, I'm thinking for Barcelona we'll want modern and trendy, a "design" hotel if we can afford it (buddget is around 200 euros a night).

The major consideration for us is location, location, location, as we like to walk everywhere. We are quite happy walking an hour or even more to a sight as long as the route is safe and pleasant. We'd probably like nice restaurants and tapas bars close by in the neighborhood so we're not walking too far at night, however.

Any suggestions, either as to neighborhood or better yet, a favorite hotel?

Thanks!

Robert2533

You have a few good options that fall within your budget. Everyone has their own opinion, but I recommend you read Maribel's Guide to Barcelona to get a better idea of some of the hotels she suggests (www.maribelsguides.com) and go from there.

enzian

Thanks for the suggestion on Maribel's guide. I'll check there.

enzian

Anyone else?

yanumpty

Hotel Arts if it is in budget was one of the best in Europe when we stayed 4 years ago. Check out TA to see its current standing. Their art collection is a museum in itself.

enzian

I'm afraid Hotel Arts is out of reach for us---the website shows double rooms starting at 325 euro.

Among Maribel's recommendations I see, hopefully in our price range, Hotel Cram, AC Diplomatic, Prestige Passeig de Gracia, Inglaterra, Pulitzer, Hotel Jazz, and the Atrium Palace. I think they are mostly or all in the Eixample.

Have any of you stayed at one of these hotels? I am particularly interested in hearing about the location and the ambiance. We would prefer something on a side street rather than a trafficked boulevard, and it's hard for me to tell from the addresses, even looking at Goole maps.

cruiseluv

I have stayed at the Atrium Palace twice, last time in 2008. It's a medium size hotel located on Via de las Cortes Catalanas, a wide boulevard. However, eventhough our room faced the front we never heard noise from the street. The decor of the room is contemporary and they have a modern bathroom. Location is excellent, a couple of blocks from Plaza Catalunya. The "ambiance" is nothing special, it's a functional and attractive hotel, that's about it.

colduphere

I have no chance of winning this contest but ... we just stayed at the Fira Palace near Place d'Espana. Nice lobby, nice pool, nice rooms. Right beside the nightly water show up the street. Easy walk to the Mountjuic and the Olympic facilities.

Barcelona's metro is so good that you can get anywhere in 15 minutes. We are happy we stayed a little bit away from the central sites and in a quieter neighbourhood. We stayed six nights so our rate was excellent - 85E per night.

mimipam

We stayed at the Inglaterra. The room was small, the hotel was nice, the staff was extremely helpful. I thought the location was great. We walked most everywhere except took the metro (station was VERY nearby) to Sagrada Familia. Check out their website. Happy travels!!!

enzian

OK, I've looked at Atrium Palace; it didn't grab me. I love the photos of the rooftop terrace at the Inglaterra.

And colduphere--you might be a winner; you never know. I haven't look at that area at all, but I know we'll be heading up Montjuic at some point. Is the pool large enough to actually swim?

colduphere

Hi Enzian - I have read online complaints that the pool is smaller than it looks on the website. I thought it was a good size - certainly big enough to swim laps unless you are preparing for a swim meet.

Barcelona is extremely walkable. For example we could have easily walked from our hotel to the waterfront, then up las ramblas to Placa Catalunya. And if you get tired, the metro is right there. Great city.

Betsy

We're booked at the Jazz later this fall. The location is off the busy Ramblas but well-located near Place Catalunya. I've asked for a quiet room on a high floor because some report that you can hear a slight rumble from the metro, which runs beneath the hote. Check it out on Trip Advisor.

I've checked out a lot of Barcelona Hotels on the Internet but haven't found anything that makes me want to switch from the Jazz/

sobster

Condes de Barcelona

kimhe

Banys Orientals, voted among the ten most recommended hotels in the Mediterranean and 50 most recommended in the world by CondeNast some years ago. 100€/night for a double.
http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/

Excellent location in the Born area, close to the Picasso museum and with many of the best tapas bars, restaurants and cafés on your doorstep. 10-15 min walking to the Barceloneta beach.
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

jubilada

Does anyone have experience with the suites associated with the Banys Orientals? On the site it says they are located in a different building and so I am wondering about it.

lizziea06

I stayed here last time I was in Barcelona (August 2008). The rooms were clean, large, and quite modern. We walked everywhere and teh neighborhood is perfectly safe and quiet at night. I can't remember what we paid, but it was definitely less than 200 Euro per night.

http://www.hotelescenter.es/barcelona/default-en.html

danon

we usually rent apts. in Barcelona ( visited 4 times, so far ) so I cannot recommend a hotel, but I like Eixample area close to Rambla de Catalunya (NOT Ramblas ) and Passeig de Gràcia.

pizzalova

I have not stayed at this hotel yet (in fact, I haven't even been to Barcelona yet, LOL), but I booked it for my upcoming trip in a couple weeks. It's the Room Mate Emma. All the Room Mate hotels seems very stylish, reasonably priced, in great areas and always very highly rated on Tripadvisor.

Perhaps someone here has stayed at one of them and can relay their experience. I think that perhaps the biggest downside would be that some may find the hotel's style to be over-the-top.

MFNYC

We also stayed in the Inglaterra and were pleased. The room was small, but manageable. The breakfast was good. Definitely check the price on their website, it will most likely include breakfast (not always the case with booking sites).

Cowboy1968

None of the 3 sights you mentioned in your OP is exactly in walking distance to each other. So I see no need to stay close to either one of them as the metro or bus will get you there in 10-15 minutes regardless where you stay in the city center.

Eixample is a a very huge district, and many hotels use it as a catchword to say that they are in the trendy neighborhood.
But only a rather small part of Eixample (namely of Eixample esquerra, the left Eixample) is in fact that type of neighborhood you might like.

If you look on a map I'd stay between Muntaner (maybe Urgell) and Pg de Gracia and between Gran Via and Mallorca (roughly, a block more either way does not hurt). Staying near the Rambla de Catalunya (as danon said already) is especially nice, IMO.

The Old Town (more or less what is labeled Barri Gotic, Sant Pere, el Born, and Raval) is a different type of neighborhood with mostly small streets and alleys, usually no car traffic because the streets are too narrow. You may either like this (almost) medieval type of cityscape or you may find it too cramped. "Stylishness" (with a certain amount of exaggeration allowed) deteriotes east to west from el Born to Raval.

There are tons of modern, stylish hotels in areas further away from the city center in districts like Marina, Poblenou, or @22. Those I would not choose.