Help - Barcelona Sants Montjuic Area?
 

I am trying to book a hostal or hotel for a night in May that is apparently the start of the Formula 1 race. This appears to be an impossible task. I wanted to stay around Placa Catalunya or Eixample area but there is nothing available. I have found rooms at nice places n the Sants Montjuic/Poble Sec area but I'm thinking that's perhaps not the best place for tourists. I'm don't care as much about convenience (although that counts) as safety. I'm a 50 year old woman with 50 year old husband, if that makes a difference. We don't plan to be out past 10 at night (jet lag will get us in bed if nothing else)but I'd like to venture out on my own when I wake up the next morning. I guess I'm also wondering if anyone knows any lesser known hostals/hotels in the areas I want that I might try. I'd also consider a hotel, but the cheapest I've found for that week is 160 euros - ouch!!! Thanks for any help you can give me.

I would not recommend staying in the MontJuic area not because of safety, but because it is not convenient to the things I like best about Barcelona. Continue to try for another location to stay in. If all the places in the Exaimple and Placa Catalunya that you have checked are booked, continue to look for other locations such as the Bari Gothic, etc.
Montjuic is not convenient to walk to many of the places(especially on a first visit)
You will be safe in most areas of Barcelona. The Ravel area however, is not so great for safety.
Note: People of all ages do dine very late in Barcelona for dinner, and the streets are very busy in the evenings in general.

Thank you. I just booked at a hotel (Guillem Tell, I believe) that's in the Gracia area. It was way expensive and I know that's not close in, but the area seemed good. My other choices are in the area around the Hospital Sant Pau and thereabouts. That looked so-so to me. Comments? I could also stay at the Dali Hostal (if it hasn't been snatched up yet) but that looked a tiny bit uninviting and almost too much in the thick of things (Barri Gothic, I believe). I'm going to try in another month - MAYBE some people will cancel between now and Formula 1 Grand Prix time! Barcelona's public transportation web site has been fantastic in at least letting me see where things are in relationship to bus and underground transportation. Is El Born La Ribera section ok? I barely know where that is, but I think there were one or two possibilities there.

I guess I was a little afraid about Barri Gothic because of noise and possible pickpocket activity, but certainly that's convenient. Not much available, however. And yes, you're right - people eat/go out late, so I'll probably be the first to bed in the whole city! Thanks for your help.

Il Born and La Ribera areas are also OK---at least you will be more convenient to all of the sights that you will want to enjoy. Glad you changed the location of your hotel. I think it will be better for you. The Metro was so easy to take. I was thrilled at how convenient it was, and simple to understand. I suggest picking up a laminated copy of STREET WISE Maps for Barcelona.(Sold at Barnes & Noble) It will help you as you walk around the city and is easy to use. Good idea to keep checking for cancellations. Perhaps something will open up closer to the center of Barcelona for you.
I am not "a hostel type girl" so I am not able to give you suggestions about that venue. But, I do enjoy being in a convenient location near the sights and activities I enjoy. In general, Barcelona,is much less expenivie then many other European cities (Paris, Rome, London)Don't get "crazy" with the pick pocket fear. As long as you are cautious as you would be in any city and alert, you won't have a problem.
Keep trying for a more central location, and you will be very happy. Barcelona is a wonderful vibrant city with much to offer. You can also enjoy many fabulous dinners and Tapas without spending tons of money if that is a concern.

If this isn't too late have you tried looking for an apartment? We were looking at a cheap hotels (2*) for the Grand Prix but we could find anything under £50 each a night (3 people). We then looked at apartments and found many central ones for about £25 a night. There was no minimum stay.

Thanks. That's good to know. I DID check a few apartments, but not a lot. However, the few I checked had minimum stays, at least for the weekend, so that didn't work. I was able to find a 2 star hostal (Hostal Goya) that looks fairly nice for 80 euros with bath. Not cheap, but cheaper than ANY hotel I could find, and in a good location close to Pl. Catalunya, so I'm happy (and relieved!) I decided I was NOT going to pay the big bucks for the few hotels that had vacancies that night!