First time to Barcelona...
 

My husband and I and 2 sisters in law are going to spend 4 nights in Barcelona after 2 and 1/2 weeks in Italy this Spring. Never having been to Barcelona, I'm not sure of the best area to stay in... We won't have a car and would like to be within walking distance to many attractions..

Is the location of this apartment is good for us?

http://www.renttopapartments.com/fic...apartamento=83

Has anyone used this booking agency?

Thank you!

I don't know the particular street, but the location is very central, you can walk to many attraction.
...( the nearby Mercat is great place to shop for food or have a quick meal ).
Metro in Barcelona is very good and cheap.

Thank you. Has anyone booked with rent top apartments?

My husband and I were in Barcelona last May for the first time. Very populated after spending time in the countrysides of Provence but a nice trip. And great food and architecture.
We stayed closer toward the center of town nearer the La Rambla to be able to walk to the shops. You location is a little bit of a walk to the central part but if the weather is good, it will be fine. Definitely do the bus tour that you can find information about when you get there to see Park Guell and other well known sites.

sorry, don't know the agency.
the very center of Barcelona is Placa de Catalunya...
that should help you with location.
Las Ramblas is a touristy street I try to avoid when in
Barcelona.

Go to the Maribel'sGuides website for all you need to know about Barcelona and Spain. Her hotels, restaurants and sightseeing info made our trip excellent.

Thanks for the information...

Elainee - The pdf files on Maribel's guides are password protected? Do you know the password to open? Thanks.

no they are not
you cannot copy, though

http://www.maribelsguides.com/

That's not a bsd location, but it's not in El Born, you need to be farther down toward the Jaume 1 Metro station for that. That puts you more central to some sights and dining/shopping.

Must comment on Danon's comment..Las Ramblas is touristy yes but part of the Barcelona experience especially for the first time. No one mentioned Hop on Hop off Bus..another good idea to see what you want to return to see more>It gives a good overview..

We had a great week in an apartment right around the corner from Santa Maria del Mar. I had come to Barcelona for the Modernisme architecture, but fell in love with the old Gothic quarter. This was a perfect location with Metro stops nearby (including Jaume I) and only a 15-20 minute walk to either the beach or Placa de Catalunya.

The agency was very easy to work with and the spacious apartment exceeded our expectations. The name is Inside BCN: www.inside-bcn.com

danon - I still can't open the pdf on that website - prompts me for a password...

My daughter was in Barcelona and loved Las Ramblas so I'm sure we'll go there once...

Alan and Magster - Thanks for your comments. I do want to be central so maybe I'll keep looking. I'll check out inside-bcn. Thank you.

Las Ramblas is not much different in feel that Times Square in NY, but more crowded, a sea of humanity with a carnival atmosphere. I have been in Barcelona many times and still fail to see the attraction there. If you want to have that part of the "Barcelona experience" hold on tight to your wallet.

psgmartino, that's strange that you're being prompted for a password. I just tried Danon's link and it worked for me.
Regarding apartment rentals, I have never rented in Barcelona but have read reviews by Fodor and Slow Trav posters that have used Habitat apartments and also Friendly Rentals.

psgmartino,

Read up about the Born area. I has such a neighborhood feel and is not more than a 10 or 15 minute to the Ramblas. As you walk toward the Ramblas there are very interesting shopping streets, many pedestrian only with lots to see along the way.. Lots of streets to explore, great restaurants. You would not be "out in left field" so to speak.

The comparison of the Ramblas area to Times Square was right on. If you like all that sea of humanity, mimes performing, kiosks, noise, and touristy feel then it is right for you.

From the Born you are much closer to the sea and the interesting area of Barceloneta.

Agree, El Born is an interesting area. Don't miss the Santa Maria del Mar church there, has lovely stained glass.

I don't know why you cannot open it. There is no password
I know of!

My "beef" with Ramblas is that for many people it somehow defines this beautiful and big city...It does not.
My friends who live in Barcelona never go there.

I'll add on - does anyone have a good apartment suggestion for the Born area?

I think the location of this apartment is fine. It's actually quite centrally located, with lovely shops and spots to eat and convenient to metro. It's quite a short walk to Las Ramblas, but frankly, the area around it and just adjacent in the actual El Born neighborhood were, to my taste, better for shopping. As danon pointed out, it's quite close to Mercat Santa Caterina, a wonderful market (It's where we did almost all of our shopping for our apartment). We stayed on Calle Flassaders in El Born; the apartment you are looking at is a very brief walk from there. So, no it is not in El Born, but it is quite near all the sites of the old city.

All that said, I have no information on the rental agency.

I'm with danon on Las Ramblas. We took our obligatory stroll down it as first time visitors. I don't think we got much out of it.

arewethereyet2: Try a search here for reviews and skim through trip reports. We used Habitat Apartments for our Flassaders apartment. They were very easy to work with, very helpful at check-in.