First time to Barcelona
 

seeking fab location in Barcelona for 3 nights before MED cruise. Undoubtedly we will need to sleep first 24 to recover from jet lag. Then hope to see/experience Barcelona! Have read Eixample neighborhood the best, but am overwhelmed trying to find great hotel! This is a once in a lifetime trip celebrating 25 years! Thank you for giving me your thoughts!

Tiggy

There are several great hotel options, depending on your budget.

I wouldn't say Eixample is "the best" but I don't believe any one neighborhood in any big city is the best. It would be fine, though, as long as you don't have any criteria about public transportation--if you do, you have to choose a hotel accordingly as some are near a metro stop and some not. I presume you are taking taxi to cruise?

I'd still want to stay near a metro stop, but you don't have to be sure it's a straight line to port that way.

Do you just want someone to tell you where to stay? Stay in the Majestic or Mandarin Oriental, 2 top hotels in Eixample not far from a metro stop.

I like the Eixample area but your budget would be helpful!

Hotel Neri is in the heart of the city, yet tranquile down a secluded alley, 12 and 18 century as well as cutting edge modern, and it reflects the playful but dead serious Barcelona perfection you can find in Gaudí and Miró and in places like Boquería and Tickets.

Gaudí: http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...ra-by-day.html
Miró: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...ruta-miro.html
Boquería: http://www.gardenista.com/posts/la-boqueria-market
Tickets: http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Resta...s-341947-41102
http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/...inners/Tickets
Neri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJLu0Cl-VZU

Perhaps see flamenco in Tablao de Carmen? On the site where the finest flamenco dancer in history, the barcelonesa Carmen Amaya (1917-1963), made her public debut in front of king Alfonso XIII during the world expo in 1929. Only top of the shelf artists perform here: http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/

One of my favourites, Juan José Jaén "El Junco", in Tablao de Carmen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs

Tickets restaurant is hideously difficult to get in to... We managed ok in 2014 but despite logging on exactly at the required time this year, no luck!
It is worth it though!

Tickets is difficult, yes, and well worth the effort. You should book exactly 60 days in advance at midnight Barcelona time, ten min after midnight all seats are normally gone. But they keep a few seats open every night (and Saturday lunch) and you could be lucky. And fabulous Bodega 1900 is 15 meters away and run by the same people, quite different but sky high standard here as well! Recommend reservations here also, but not as crazy to land as Tickets: http://www.yelp.com/biz/bodega-1900-barcelona

Check out "Princess Hotel" it is at 1 Ave. Diagonal-we ar staying there in October before a cruise-has a good location,good prices and good transportation. S.P

Some more detailed Hotel Neri info, with guest reviews etc. Just brilliant.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/nerihr.en-gb.html
https://www.tablethotels.com/Hotel-N...ls-Spain/4382/
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...barcelona.html

A few restaurant/tapas bar tips:

7 Portes from 1826 is an institution in town. Traditional Catalan food and the best atmosphere. I never leave Barcelona without having had the Arroz caldo here. http://www.7portes.com/angles/index.php
The Arroz caldo: http://www.foodspotting.com/places/1...73-arroz-caldo

Bargain gourmet food at Somodo. Four course lunch with wine and coffee incl at 18,50€, and nine course special menu at night for 35€ (wine not incl): http://www.somodo.es/english/

Just plain fabulous food/tapas at Cal Pep. Get in line 15-20 mins before opening to get a seat at the bar where all the goodies are prepared right in front of your eyes: http://www.calpep.com/Ingles/index_ing.html

Bar Cañete, just off Las Ramblas. This is where the chefs go to eat: http://www.barcanete.com/

On my last trip to Barcelona in March, these to places were the new food revelations. One fabulous lunch and an unforgettable dinner:
Tapeo, close to the Picasso museum. The Coca de sardina tapa was to die for, but everything very good: http://www.tapeoborn.cat/
Old School and rock'n roll Xemei, I will never forget the Bigoli en salsa Veneziana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lvcjtoh0tU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URRlEVRrWxM

Maybe I should have asked where you would stay if only one trip were possible? Las Ramblas would appear the answer according to some things I read. I realize it is according to what's important to each of us.

The budget--not fully developed. Will investigate Hotels mentioned. Because of my mobility issues, assumed we hire a tour per afternoon. This would be optimal as I'm not able to tour for 8 hours.

Anyone think they know weather mid to late September? Will it be ok for me (the woman) to wear nice Bermuda shorts?

Thanks to you all for taking the time to write!!

If only one trip possible, Hotel Neri. In the heart of the Gothic quarter and close to "everything". Las Ramblas is famous for a reason, and fabulous places of many sorts in and around it. I don't chime in with the many who advice to stay off it, but you should know it's also jam packed with tourists and tourist traps. Neri is 250 meters from Las Ramblas, yet down a secluded alley that is very tranquile, at lest after school hours (the primary school in Plaza San Felipe Neri uses the tiny plaza as a playgrond on schooldays).

Weather statistics for two last weeks of September in Barcelona says daily highs at 76-80F, 1-2 days with rainfall/week and average 7 hours sun pr day. (wetteronline.de)

When we were looking for hotels, Hotel Jazz was recommended to us by a few people. We chose to stay in an aprtment instead of a hotel for our 6 days though. Having been to Barcelona now, I think it is a good location.

Here are some reviews of the hotel so you can judge for yourself if it would meet your needs.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi...Catalonia.html

I wouldn't really say that Eixample is the "best" either, but certainly one of the more luxurious neighbourhoods in Barcelona.

If you're looking for somewhere that's well designed, yet isn't too big of a drain on the budget then I'd strongly suggest Generator Barcelona.

Generator used to be known as a hostel chain, but over the last couple of years they're transitioned into some of the best designed hotels in Europe:

http://www.angloitalianfollowus.com/...ator-barcelona

My partner and I stayed there and the suites are lovely. We stayed in a simple double room too that was just enough for us to catch up with some sleep before we moved to another hotel as well.