We are a family of four with two kids (age 9 and 4). We want to plan a relaxed ten day vacation to Spain where we stay in one city soak in the culture and local flavors. Ideally, we would like to stay in a vacation rental rather than a hotel. Any suggestions on what city (Madrid or Barcelona) we should visit and best way to book accommodation. This is the first time that we are planning a trip like this and online searches are not helping out.
Thanks
A

<<online searches are not helping out>>

Seriously? This is fish-in-a-barrel stuff. Evidently you're not entering the right information.

When are you going?

What is your nightly lodging budget?

What do you want to do/see?

Barcelona rental apartments are easy to find. Go to www.apartur.com and look through the various companies that belong to the organization. You'll get a ton of references for Habitat Apts. We stayed with Barcelona Stuff in a flat three blocks from La Rambla on a quiet and private side street.

For a decent tourist discount if you like modern "art" you can get this: http://www.articketbcn.org/en/barcelonamuseums. Unfortunately, La Pedrera (aka Casa Mila) is no longer covered.

When you are going is vital. Summers can be incredibly hot - but winters in Madrid are cold.

I think Barcelona is a much better choice than Madrid - afterall besides all the other cultural attractions there is a pretty nice beach. There are several apartment agencies with LOTS of choices, almost too many, so I'm not sure why finding a place to stay is problematic. Just be aware that apartments may "sound" larger than they are - watch the square footage. My dauhgter and I rented an apartment that, I guess, could sleep six but it would have been miserable! Very small 2nd bedroonm (made OK luggage closet)and one of the bathrooms was hardly big enough for one person!

I'd definitely choose Barcelona rather than Madrid. Barcelona is more colorful and interesting.

I'd consult a guidebook or two on Spain and Barcelona. You'll find suggestions for accommodations, things to do and whole lot more. Travel information, restaurants, tips of various kinds.

If you went to Madrid you could easily let your kids be kids.
http://www.parquewarner.com/
http://www.parquedeatracciones.es
http://www.zoomadrid.com/
http://micropolix.com/
Apartments in Madrid.
http://bit.ly/apartsMadrid
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-ren...drid-area/r392
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-ren...drid-area/r392

If you want a relaxed family vacation, you should go to a beach somewhere. Kids are much happier there than looking at historic sites.

Barcelona has the advantage of being right on the ocean so taking the kids to the beach is easy.

As others say it depends on the time of year and Barcelona can be crowded but out of season it is a great city to hang out and chill. Like a lot of cities it has some issues with theft and Barcelona has this in spades in one area in particular but it is easy to like with good places nearby to visit by train and a nice range of accomodation.

bilboburgler on Jun 28, 14 at 4:06pm.... Barcelona can be crowded but out of season

I think it can be all year round these days.
http://www.tiemposcanallas.com/bye-b...ientras-tanto/

Madrid also has it's share of pick pockets, by reading the interweb not quite so much as BCN.

I'd say Barcelona with the kids. I actually heard of more tourists complaining about pickpocketing in Madrid than Barcelona, but that's kind of random what you hear (such as people in the lobby of my hotel).

Summers are not incredibly hot in Barcelona, I was just there last July, it was fine to me. It was about the same as where I live in the US (mid-Atlantic region). Madrid is hotter because it's inland. And you do have those beaches in Barcelona if you are there a long time, they aren't that far away from the center. If you don't want to trudge from the metro stop, you could take a taxi for not that much. They have that aquarium there which is good for kids, also.

here's info on the beaches
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...n-beaches.html

Thank you for all the input. We are actually planning on end of July-early August so it's going to be crowded and hot !