Hotels, Flamenco, and Other Suggestions for Barcelona Please
 

Hey all....planning a new trip to Europe and would love suggestions for a hotel in Barcelona and flamenco shows. It will be for two days in early September at the end of a cruise (and end of our 15-day trip). Budget is $150-250 per night but would prefer to stay around $200. I was thinking the area around the top of Las Ramblas and Plaza Cataluyna but if you can offer a better area, I am open. We are in our 50's and celebrating our 30th anniversary. We would prefer historic/cozy to modern.

I was considering the Grand Marina Hotel but worry this may be too far from walking distance "things". The only things we are planning to do right now is ride the Hop On/Hop Off bus to get an idea of the city and wander along Las Ramblas. Maybe take in a flamenco show. Activity suggestions or things not to be missed would be appreciated as well.

I have searched many sites for hotels but there seem to be so many in so many areas I thought I would start over by asking for suggestions here and then starting research again. Thank you in advance for your help!

I stayed at the Hotel Jazz in September 2006 and thought it was great. I'm not sure if it's in your price range still but I feel like it was reasonable then. Just off the top of the Ramlas and Cataluyna. It was still warm enough to use the pool on the roof in September as well!

I enjoyed my stay at the Hotel H10 Catalunya Plaza, right on the Placa Catalunya. Very nice breakfast. Wine and snacks available for free all day.

Gran Derby chain has several very nice hotels in BCN. We've stayed twice at Granados 83 in Eixample area and really liked its trendy, modern vibe. Balmes is another of their properties, also in Eixample, and a bit less expensive. Also worthy. Last time we stayed in El Born area which we like better than Eixample. Noted Ciutat Barcelona, see at ciutatbarcelona.com, there which has good rates and very nice public rooms, plus brochure suggesting that their rooms are equally nice. See also Maribels Guide to Barcelona (just google it) for good recommendations for both hotels and dining.

Thank you so much for all of the info. I will do some research and come back with more questions.

Hi,

For flamenco in Barcelona, I would recommend El Tablao de Carmen. It was set up in 1988 in homage to the greates flamenco dancer of all times, Carmen Amaya (1913-1963), on the site where she made her debut in 1929 in front of King Alfonso XIII:
http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/defaul...=index&lang=en

I suggest that you go for the latest show, starts at 22h. In general the late tablao shows tend to be better and more festive.

The greatest names of the current Spanish flamenco scene visits Barcelona on a regular basis (most of the theaters where the flamenco artists perform are close to Plaça Catalunya). Performances are listed here, check a month or two in advance if any fit with your dates:
http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=4

Search no more.... Just back from Barcelona where we stayed at the Hotel Constanza about 3 blocks (on a quiet street) from Catalunya, etc. Very, very convenient location to all the central sights. Reasonable, friendly staff and immaculate. Ask for a suite. Recently renovated - interior more modern than old world. We are in our 60's and were very happy we stumbled across this "gem". Check out their web site. Google Hotel Constanza Barcelona. Enjoy!

Thanks Gretel. But this is an old post and we already The Hotel Majestic. I do hope your suggestion helps others though. Thanks.

We just started planning a trip which includes 4 nights in Barcelona in April '10 ... these hotel suggestions are great! I'll check out the flamenco site, also.

We are going to fly in and out of Barcelona, then drive into France to explore Languedoc. Plan A was to drive up the coast, then back through Andorra but I understand that's not possible ... so I'm thinking Plan B might be to drive across France to Basque country, then back to Barcelona from there.

We have 16 days, and I'm also wondering if it might be possible to include Madrid without shortchanging other interesting towns.

My husband and I are in our 50's and pretty fit ... any suggestions for routes, sites, hotels, restaurants, museums, would be greatly appreciated.

thx!