train in Barcelone
 

I will travel by car from France to Barcelone. I want to leave the car either at the hotel and get the train or leave the car at the train station and take the train. I am looking to book Holiday Inn Montmelo which it seems is 3km away from the train station. Anybody stayed at that hotel, if yes how easy is to get to the train station to go downtown Barcelone. If there is a parking at the Montmelo train station, would it be a good idea to leave it there, and how much it is.

Use mappy.com to locate parking. Select map instead of directions. Enter city (Barcelona or Granollers where your hotel is) and after the map loads there will be a list on the righthand side called practical info. Click on parking. You will have to scroll down beneath the map to see the parking list. Each parking lot usually has a clickable link where you can access more info such as rates, etc.

unless you need to be there for alternative reasons... granollers would NOT be a very convenient place to stay to visit barcelona.

do not count on there being free parking at the station. i don't know who can help you from that town.. you may find there is not enough parking at station because of the high number of commuters and need to leave the car elsewhere.

your hotel could best answer that. expect to pay 12-15 euros/day for off street parking.

Is it important that you drive from France? As you may already know, you will incur a significant charge for dropping off a rental car in a different country than where you rent it, so you might consider a train to Barcelona. Service is very good from Montpelier and points closer to the border.

I think I will have to find another hotel. What I was looking for is a hotel that provides free parking si I can leave the car at the hotel and get downtown Barcelone using public transportation. I had problems finding one that is close to public transportation. Actually I found the Holiday Inn Montmelo, but is 3 km away from train station, and there is another hotel in Zona Franca but has bus station in front of the hotel, and free shutles to airport which I think is more convenient then the Holiday Inn. There is no way for me to go by car downtown Barcelone or get a hotel downtown. I will be there just for two days.

As for the car rental, I will return back to France with the car, I do not drop it off in Spain.

i have stayed and parked on street with no problem at a hotel on the northern part of new barcelona area..a couple blocks back from beach.

i am trying to remember the names of some of the lodgings up that way. if i knew your dates i would be happy to check out a website and i would probably recall the name if i saw it.

i know there is an AC hotel there, but i stayed at a different one and can't remember the name. they sometimes have better rates since they are off the beaten track.. much further up coast than hotel arts, but it is well connected by bus and pleasant new residential area.

i know i got my room on bacontel for 50 euros (off season), is why i went there with some students.

two city hotels, but northern part new area are "barcelo atenea mar", and "husa barcelona mar".

in july showing rates of 65-75 euros/night.

easy street parking. good public transport. minutes to puerto olympico and ramblas area.

i have stayed in husa barcelona mar.. so i know i had no problem parking. they say "near beach", but it is not a beach hotel. but a few blocks away.

really nice rooms. the barceló is nice, too, i am sure. a very reliable chain.

To lincasanova,

Thanks a lot, I will check for the hotels you mentined to me. I want to go Barcelone July 29th to July 31st, but I am flexible on the dates, it can be anytime between July 29th and August4th, for two nights.

startin july 31 i was a le to see better prices than previuos days.

www.rumbo.es( or .com) seems to be giving me best rates so far.
i also like www.gtahotels.com.
try any other sites and perhaps you can get breakfast incl.

good luck.
this hotel area is not hard to get to.
and a straight shot everywhere else with buses.

lincasanova,

Thanks a lot.