Hi Everyone,

We will be taking a trip to Barcelona in May. We love Spain! Usually we use Hilton and/or Marriott points, but it seems that those hotels are too far from the center of Barcelona. Fellow Fodorites, please help me with hotel recommendations for Barcelona. We are looking for a nice hotel, not necessarily the top of the line, but not a budget hotel either. We'd like to find one in the heart of Barcelona, so that its easy to walk to everything. If there is a workout room, even better! If it's quaint, with personality, on a quiet street, not a noisy busy street, that's a plus too. Thanks in advance for your help.

We had a room looking out at the Cathedral, room 306. www.hotelcolon.es

We stayed at Hotel Inglaterra and you can also gather reviews from Trip Advisor and traveler pictures (this is how I found it). We liked it and would stay there again because it had updated rooms and insuite bathroom with breakfast included. It is walking distance to Placa Catalunya where you can use metros and the hop on/off bus to get acquainted with the city. It is also very near to Las Ramblas which is a must see walkable blvd. It stretches all the way to the marina (cruise ships dock here) so there is plenty to see along the way--colorful characters, shops and restaurants (marina itself has alot of interesting things to see and do. Enjoy BCN, we did and happy travels!

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...rcelonaScenes#

Synergysol...is that really you? It's been so long since I've last seen your name. Hope all is better than well for you and yours.

The hotel I will recommend may not meet your criteria, but we liked it very much mostly for its convenienece..just around the corner frm Placa Catalunya and walking distance from the Gaudi buildings on Passeig Gracia.

The few selected pics show it's lobby and white marble staircase..old Spanish colonial...I believe rates now are in low 100's E's.

Maybe Iris's reco above will suit you more...occasionally Dick (Iris) makes a good reco!! Other than that I pay no attention to him. I think he's got a good one here, within view of the cathedral. Dick, please stop recommending half-way houses!

Nice to see your name again Synergy Sol "N"..

Stuart Tower

Syn; Your friend Stu and I have stayed at the same half-way houses in Prague and Rocamadour. Stu has never forgiven me--I got the better deal.

The Hotel Colon is in the middle of everything. Busy during the day, but I don't remember it being loud at night. I think what Stu meant by half-way house is, you sleep in one building and walk to breakfast just next door. LOL

Take a look at Banys Orientals, voted one of the ten best hotels in the Med area on Conde Nast some years ago and one of the 50 most recommeded hotels in the world. 100€ for a double in the absolute best location, in the vibrant El Born area with fabulous bars, cafés, restaurants and close to "everything"; central Plaça Catalunya, famous and touristy Las Ramblas, up-scale Passeig de Gracia, the cathedral, the wonderful Santa Maria del Mar church, the Ciutadella park and the Barceloneta beach.

Banys Orientals: http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/index.html
Banys Oriental and Conde Nast: http://unlike.net/barcelona/hotel/banys-orientals
El Born district: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

My brother just returned from some days in Barcelona, and he was very happy with Hotel Sixtytwo. Seems that most are: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/sixt...celona.en.html

I recommend the Hotel Colon, as mentioned by iris1475; it is right across the square from the Barcelona Cathedral and near the Ramblas. Nice and quiet at night. We were there several years ago and some group was doing Catalan folk dancing one evening and we enjoyed watching.

Condes de Barcelona-pool but cant remember re workout room

Stu!!! How are you??? Yes, it's been a looooong time. I am doing very well. Just returned from a 2 week trip to London (went to Wimbledon), Vienna, Salzburg and Munich. Had a fantastic time. Still love traveling with a passion. Am now combining it with my love of tennis, so this coming May we are going to the French Open (Paris for 3 days) and then Barcelona. Last time we went to Spain, we missed Barcelona and always wanted to go. Would love any suggestions for what to do, see, restaurants you loved that you'd go back to in a heartbeat.

Hope all is well with you, Stu! All my best, Nancy

Thank you all for sharing hotels with me. I will check them out online this weekend. Would love more suggestions from all of you too! I get all the best ideas from fellow travelers.

Nancy..so great hearing from you and happy to know the travel bug hasnt been cured. My overseas travel has ended, so a few little solo domestic trips here and there is it.
Write me at my same address: rozstu1 at aol dot com
stu

I like the Colon and I hope they've renovated some of the interiors. be sure to ASK for a room with a cathedral/square view though. These days I like the Montecarlo better but it is on La Rambla and there are a lot of people who cannot stand that area.

We're staying in the Barcelo Raval early in September, enjoyed it greatly last time we were there. Also stayed at the Hotel Royal and the Rivoli, both right on the Ramblas close to the Placa de Catalunya.