I am driving myself crazy with trying to narrow down hotels for our stay next May in Barcelona. It's our first time to Spain for DH and I and our 11-year-old son. We like hotels with some character, smallish, probably 3 stars (if the star system in Spain is similar to Italy and France), clean, don't care about luxury or the restaurant/breakfast as we'll likely eat a Spanish breakfast at a cafe. We like to walk, be near cafes for people-watching, but not too noisy or party-like. Very much into good local food. Not into shopping. Given the contemporary feel of Barcelona (or that's my imression, anyway), I'd prefer a hotel with contemporary decor. But a great location would win out over most else, as long as the place is nice and clean and has decent bathrooms (there's a story behind that comment).

I have a long list of hotels, most of which look good. Part of the problem is I can't decide which part of the city to stay in. The Barri Gotic appeals, but some say it's deserted at night. Eixample (especially closer to Placa de Catalun) sounds good, but maybe too shopping-oriented for us? A number of the hotels I like are in El Raval - is that an ok area?

It would help if you could compare for me the Barcelona neighborhoods/areas with the tourist areas of Paris, Rome, Chicago or San Francisco. When we visit Paris, we stay in the 6th, rue Jacob/Dauphine. In Rome, we like the area near Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. When we visited London with our son, we stayed in Bloomsbury; when in New York City recently, we stayed on the Upper West Side. Does that help tell you what we're likely to prefer?

Here are some of the hotels on my list (I don't know whether the following have triple rooms or doubles that can fit an extra bed) - you'll notice they're all over, as are the prices: Hotel Colon (dull-looking rooms), Hotel Pulitzer, Hotel Inglaterra, Raco del Pi, Casa Camper, Hotel Constanza. (For each hotel, I've already looked at the hotel's website, tripadvisor and of course Fodor's!)

Thanks in advance for the help - I'm looking forward to discovering Spain and Barcelona!

I guess I'm one of those dull people who stayed in the Colon on my first trip to Barcelona and what wasn't "dull" at all was the view of the cathedral across the square.

However, the catehdral is under scaffolding and that's one of the reasons I stayed in the Eixample (also called the "gay" Xample by some) on my last trip.

I prefer being next the Placa Catalunya now that I've actually stayed in that neighborhood and I don't see how the shopping opportunities would really affect the overall ambience of your hotel.

But don't stay in the Colon for the cathedral view.

Hi, I live in Barcelona and I would advise you not to stay in the Raval. It is a mostly decrepit and full of prostitutes, thieves, and drug dealers. Last week they arrested 110 people connected with the prostitution business in the Raval. The part nearer placa Catalunya it is safer. Both this part and the Barri Gotic are full of cheap hotels that cater to young and drunken tourists. Definitely not deserted!

I think the Example would be a better choice for a family.

ps.
In the Eixample look for hotels not too far from the Paseo de Gracia, that's the more upscale/nice area. The Gayxample is only a small section of the Eixample (near the Aribau/Arago intersection)

To compare with San Francisco:
Raval = Mission

.. I love the Ribera (NOT the Ravel..part of this area is as stated above less than ideal) specifically the area caled the Born. It is near the Picasso Museum and an easy walk to a subway stop. A lovely medevil part of the city with lots of pedestrian traffic. I stayed in an apt (see Loving Barcelona- the Calders apt). It was almost a one bedroom the area with a dbl bed had a screen and there was a pullout in the lr..might be a good alt with a child..esp as I had a stove top, micro wave and a fridge (with a store across the street- a wonderful cheese shop and a great place to buy wine next to it..what more could I want).

You all are so helpful! Raval = Mission says it perfectly for me.

That being said, it sounds like some parts of Raval are ok (it also sounds like Eixample might not be too shopping-oriented???).

The addresses, in Raval, of some of the hotels I'm looking at are: Casa Camper, carrer elisabets 11; Hotel Inglaterra, Pelai, 14; Hotel Pulitzer, Bergera 8. In addition, there's the Hotel Jazz, also on Pelai, but at #3, and the H10 Gravina, at Gravina, 12. Can anybody tell me if those sections of Raval are nice enough to want to stay there?

But given the comments so far, Hotel Constanza (in the Eixample, on Bruc, 33) and Raco del Pi (in the Barri Gotic, on Calle del Pi, 7) are looking better. And the Colon, I knew about the work on the Cathedral, so that's a factor there.

indeed both C Elisabet and Pelai are ok, and so are C/ d Pi and Bruc. Can't comment on the specific hotels. The Eixample has a lot of cars and commercial activity. The other two areas don't have cars and have much older buildings... In any event all these hotels are within short distance from each other, it shouldn't matter too much...

We stayed at the Constanza in September. It's about a 5 minute walk from there to Placa de Catalunya. This was a good hotel--great location, quiet, safe neighboorhood, and good service. The rooms are spotless and smartly decorated, in a modern style. Given your preferences, however, probably the El Born would be a better choice--it has more of a neighborhood feel, with tree-lined streets, cafes and shops. The Constanza, while near everything else, is not in the heart of a neighborhood with soul. I can't comment on any hotels in the El Born, but if I had to go back, I'd probably stay there.

Sounds like Constanza is a good choice, but now I have a new area to check out!

I'm hoping that Barcelona experts Maribel or LaClaire are checking Travel Talk today...

Lexma, we just returned from Barcelona and our stay at the Hotel Splendid.

I choose this hotel after a ridiculously exhaustive search of web sites, Fodors, Tripadvisor and wherever else I could get an opinion! (Why do we do this to ourselves?)

Anyway, I chose this hotel because of location and cost. It is in an “in between” area north of Ravel(too scary), south of Eixample (too expensive) and east of Placa Catalunya (just right), so it is safe, close to everything, but still very reasonable. It is modern with a beautiful marble bath, air, frig, cable, Wi-Fi, the works. Our room was 105E before tax a night, a great price. My one suggestion is to reserve early, I noticed that the price doubled as you approach the date of visit! Also, if you want the breakfast buffet get it at time of reservation for the half price deal.

We are staying at the Hotel Pulitzer in March with our two kids (ages 11 and 14). I do not believe it is in Raval but right near the Placa Catalunya. I went through a similar thing - driving myself crazy - trying to decide which hotel to choose. I periodically recheck the TripAdvisor site for new reviews on it, and everyone continues to be pleased.

I went thru the same "search pangs" for my trip in September 06. I did get a lot of help from those in this site and ended up staying at the Hostal Girona. Although my stay was OK I discovered a little seaside village to the north of the airport and decided that if I ever go back to Barcelona that I would stay there and take the train into town. The hotel and village are of the same name "Garraf". BS

Lexma,
I'm also going through similar pangs, and after much research here (with Maribel's recommendation)I have made a reservation at Hotel Banys Orientals in the area of The Born. But sometimes I still think maybe we should be staying closer to the Gaudi sites, but I also want to go to the Contemporary Art Museum and this seems closer. Plus, none of it is that far and Barcelona is a great place to walk.

A plus for you at Hotel Banys Orientals is that they have suites for a very reasonable rate (126 E). They have a website, I believe it's www.hotelbanysoriental.com or maybe others here can tell you (us) more. We're going in April, and of course I'll report back.

Make sure you get to Parc Guell--your son will love it (so will you!)

I've stayed in the Eixemple District three times, and once at Placa Catalunya. I like the Eixemple District because of its architecture, because it's less crowded than the Barri Gotic (and therefore seems like it attracts fewer pickpockets), it's a mixed commercial and residential neighbourhood that stays active (but not in a super-loud way) late into the evening (and therefore, I feel comfortable walking around on my own), and it's very close to the sights I want to see, so I can walk everywhere. Although there are shops on the main streets, the shops haven't taken over the neighbourhood and it retains its architectural character - it's not like walking down the Champs-Elysees or Boulevard St Germain, for example.

I stayed at the 3* Hotel Astoria (which is part of the Spanish Derby chain - www.derbyhotels.com. It's not super-stylish, but it has nice modern rooms. There were several cafes nearby where we ate breakfast. It might be a little far north for you, though (it's about a 15 minute walk to Placa Catalunya). There is another 3* in the group that might suit you better (the Balmes).

Artlover, I was also very interested in Hotel Banys Orientals because of the reasonable price and great Web photos. I walked by it and was happy I did not choose to stay in that area. It was fine during the day but at night I was uncomfortable, and I am a pretty big guy.

InMiami,
Thanks for the feedback--this is good to know. Even though DH is a pretty big guy too, I'd rather avoid areas that don't feel safe. Anyone stay there? What did you think?

Hi

I recently stayed here : Chic & Basic http://www.hotelclub.net/enter.asp?id=43802

It is a couple of blocks from La Ramblas, but quiet.

Peter

I stayed at the Hotel Constanza a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it. It was convenient to just about everything, immaculate, quiet and comfortable. I reviewed it in my trip report here and on Trip Advisor.

Thank you Peter and Amy. Will check this out.

Bonjour,

If you are still looking for a hotel in Barcelona, go and have a look at my posts in the thread called "Barcelona Hotels??"

We loved our 4-night/3-day stay there at "la Toussaint" holiday (From Nov. 1st to Nov. 5th 2006). You'll only have to walk up one of the little "calles"/streets close to the hotel to find yourself in the Barrio Gotico which is full of people having dinner, taking a walk, etc. at night ! We loved it ! It was so cheerful ! From there, you are a short distance from the "funicular" which can take you to the "Fundacion Juan Miro", MNAC/Museum of National Art of Catalogna", etc. located on the Montjuïc hill, you can also walk to the modern part of the harbour and visit the "Aquarium" which might be interesting for your child to see, we went there late, between 7 and 9 and loved watching the fish and the... pinguins ! The Ramblas are very close, etc. Great location and not quiet nights. Voilà ! Cordialement. Marie (Normandy, France)