We're going to Barcelona (for the first time!) for a week in mid-May. Originally, I had thought about an Airbnb until I found out that there really aren't very many to cut down on tourism (a good way to do that). We're in our 70s, experienced travelers, but can't run around as much as we used to. So we want something central (Eixample?), near sites, near restaurants, near metro. We'd love something more than a single hotel room. I read about apart-hotels, don't know if that's a good idea. I saw that some hotels have suites, which would suit us fine (expensive is okay but ridiculous is not). I need something quiet (interior, high floors) and something dark is a bonus (sleep issues, can you tell?).
I usually look on lots of sites (booking, expedia etc.) but tend to book directly at the hotel.
Any suggestions for lodgings? Any suggestions for some other good sources for finding lodgings? Any other neighborhoods that are worth looking into?
Thanks so much for your help.
Alice

We spent Thanksgiving week in Barcelona last November and booked an apartment with Destination BCN at their Universitat location in Eixample. They have nine apartments in the building, including some rooms, and I highly recommend this agency. Extremely professional and helpful, our 2bedroom/bathroom apartment was exactly what we needed.

Perfect location, with the metro across the street and bus stop just outside the front door. Centrally located and we walked almost everywhere. Two minutes from Placa Universitat and five from Placa Catalunya, extremely convenient for the Aerobus to/from the airport. Loads of cafés, restaurants and fast food outlets around, offering a variety of international cuisine.

DBCN also has apartments at other locations in the city and you can message them with your requirements. They’re also on whatsapp.

[email protected]

https://www.destinationbcn.com/

+34 696 68 80 95

Thanks so much, geetika! I will check out both agencies, I think an apartment may be our best option.
Alice

I rented a wonderful two-bedroom apartment from DESTINATION BCN. They were great to work with. The apartment we (two friends) had was named GHOST.

I'm going again for a week in March and looked at a lot of hotels.
I wanted to stay in the Eixample.

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but the hotels I looked at (after tons of reading) were these; you could ask for a room facing the rear, for the darkness. They all have suites. But the apartment would give you more space for a lower price.

MONUMENT
ALMANAC
ALMA
MAJESTIC
PALACE (former Ritz)

ekscrunchy, no matter where I'm going, or when, you are always full of good advice!

I hadn't known about the apartment option until AFTER I found out that airbnb was NOT an option. I too want to stay in the Eixample. I will definitely looks at apartments (all the space! A little kitchen!), I'll check out destination BCN, and the apartment you picked. I'll also look at the hotels with suites you mention, I've already run across some of them (Majestic and Monument, I think).

I'm also glad to know I'm not looking too late, most places I've looked at still had vacancies. But I don't want to wait too long, in few weeks we'll be visiting friends in Florida and I want it done before that. (I don't know where you are, but it is absolutely FREEZING here).

Thanks you AGAIN!
Alice

Alice, you are too kind! I am in Florida right now and the forecast is for 35F on Sunday morning! This morning (Thursday) I put the heat on, which I almost never do here.
But it always warms up quickly down here!!

I looked at my photos and see that I rented that two-bedroom apartment from DESTINATION BCN in 2011.
I found a few photos (below) and although the rental was great for the two of us (on a medium budget), I do like staying in a hotel better.

I picked the MAJESTIC for March. Prices were not too bad, except for my first night; while I was trying to book a hotel, I found out that there was a big tech convention in the city during thee first week of that month, and many hotels were booked full even a few months ago. So I will pay about TWICE the daily rate on the first night of my stay, and even paying that, I needed help getting the room on that night (I used Virtuoso and the agent was able to find a room for that night, when their online site showed no vacancy.)

So here are a few photos from the GHOST apartment (not very good, I know):

Well, it was 8 degrees here this morning! I'm in Maryland, DC suburb. There is ICE everywhere, I've never seen such a prolonged cold spell. We were SUPPOSED to go visit friends in Florida this week and we... postponed.

The photos of the GHOST apartment looked pretty good. At least there was SPACE.

I thought the Majestic looked nice, and I'm sure the prices will be higher in May than in March. I'll do some more homework and book somewhere. I really want to start working on an itinerary. We want to do a few day trips, so I need to figure that part out as well. I read that many of the places we want to visit need to be booked ahead (maybe not this much ahead). But getting the air reservations and hotel/apartment reservations is the first thing, so that will be nice to have done.

And it's true, you know. You have been helpful for just about every trip I've taken over the years!
Alice

eks was the one who recommended DBCN to me, we stayed at the same location, but a different apartment.

We always prefer apartments to hotels, so
much more room to spread out. For a family group it’s fun to sit around in the evening and catch up on the day’s activities.

My siblings live in the Fort Lauderdale area and said tge forecast for today’s low was 31F!

geetika,I am SO glad we postponed our Florida visit. 6 degrees here this morning. (I wonder if my friend will play her usual morning tennis today).

There are only 2 of us, but I'm definitely going to look at apartments, that's why we generally use airbnbs if we're traveling in the US. In fact, we're staying in a airbnb for 3 nights after we visit our friends.

I have time to do more Barcelona lodging today (mostly because it's too cold to go OUT today, at least for me).

Thanks for your help. Alice

Okay. We booked a cancellable apartment just to have something (and maybe we'll keep this). I did it through booking.com because they gave me a discount, but I will see if it's cheaper through the place.
Suites Center Barcelona. Passeig de Gràcia. Looks nice, we got an interior room, soundproofed as well. Breakfast included. I read ALL the reviews, well located was mentioned many times.

I'll continue to look, but I always feel better when I have something booked.

As far as I can tell, it's still cold in Florida, my friends in Wilmington have a storm coming, and it's still ridiculously cold here.

Alice

Alice, It was 32F here this morning!!! In South Florida!!!

The apartment looks excellent!!

ekscrunchy, so glad you like the apartment! I have a terrible time figuring out WHERE things are, but my husband is good with maps, and I think the location will be good. I'm always very concerned about it being quiet at night, so I have high hopes for this one.

My friends in Wilmington got about a foot of snow! Since they didn't OWN a shovel, her husband put together a makeshift one somehow. And the temperature my friend in Florida reported was a tinch higher than 32 but still, ridiculous for South Florida. We leave on the 15th, and I hope all this cold weather is GONE from Florida!

Our thermometer said 10F when I checked it around 8 this morning, so it was definitely colder overnight. This is the longest frigid spell ever. No school all week.

Alice

Please, in Barcelona there are many problems with housing. Do not use Airbnb, because large corporate landlords are pushing residents out and encouraging gentrification.

If you are looking for an aparthotel, try to make sure it is properly registered and fully compliant with regulations. Apartments that are rented out and only send you instructions on how to pick up the keys do not provide jobs for local people and do not contribute anything positive to the city.

If you’re looking for a quiet place to stay with aparthotel services, you can check out the following:
- Aparthotel Mariano Cubi Barcelona
- NH Collection Barcelona Constanza
- Cosmo Apartments Sants
- Aparthotel Atenea Calabria

In general, it’s best to avoid apartments that are advertised on platforms using numbers. It is everyone’s responsibility to try to improve the real situation, because in the end, cities will be left empty, like Disneyland.
Thanks!

Thanks, Besalu. I understand the problem, I saw some Airbnb's but I assume the numbers they gave were fake. That's when I read more about it and saw that the numbers were not legitimate.

I will look at the Aparthotels you mention. The one I have booked now is associated with the hotel next door, I thought that made it legal. I definitely understand the problem. I was also hoping that sites like booking.com would only list legal apart-hotels.

I appreciate your help, I certainly do not want to add to a serious problem in a beautiful city.

Alice

My husband and I stayed at the Majestic in October 2024. It's a beautiful hotel with a gorgeous rooftop bar/restaurant with nice views of the city. There was a group of well-organized Catalan independence protestors outside the hotel one day and they had a side street shut down for 2-3 hours. I was surprised they were allowed to protest in the street for so long. But the hotel is lovely with great service.

Thanks, Sharona. That's what I want to do. But my husband
1) Thinks it's located too far from the central area.
2) REALLY wants to stay in an apartment, a two bedroom apartment no less. (At home, when he gets up during the night, he re-locates). He's never been able to do that when we travel, and I don't want to start something. I would much prefer a nice hotel, like the Majestic. I think I'm going to book both, and cancel one later.

Alice

My husband might consider a hotel suite if he can hang our while I sleep in the morning. The Majestic has a junior suite that looks possible. His other request (I wish HE would look for hotels instead of me) is that it be central. I think this would count as central enough. Oh and QUIET. I think I'll email the hotel.
Alice

I think I mentioned that I booked the Majestic for early March. The location is VERY central. I think the idea that it's not is that it is not in the Gothic Quarter might lead some to think that it's not well located, but I purposely ruled out staying in that area (BG) in my hotel search.

Since Barrio Gotico is a relatively small area with narrow streets, the tourist presence is more obvious around there than it is in Eixample (or that's what I found during earlier trips). The Gaudi buildings are mostly in the Eixample, as are many of the good restaurants.

Barcelona, although It's a large city, is very walkable--you can walk from he Majestic to the "Catalan Palace of Music," for example, in about 20 minutes. When we stayed at the Destination BCN flat we got around everywhere by walking. Not sure how this will go on this upcoming trip, since I'be advanced a bit in years, but I still expect to walk everywhere on my "list," even the Sagrada Familia and to the restaurants in El Raval.

Well, the choices are the junior suite at the Majestic or this two bedroom apartment, which I think may be quieter - Aspasios Paseo de Gracia Apartments. I do like hotels, and the Majestic has a king bed AND it looks like there are doors between the bed and the suite part. But the apartment has more space and I think it's in a quieter area. It's certainly less costly. I may just flip a coin (later). Actually I could book both, the apartment is through booking.com and the Majestic is directly with the hotel, both cancellable.

I spend WAY too much time thinking about this!

Alice

Der Alice: I am afraid that if we had a contest about who spends the most time researching, and agonizing, about where to eat and where to stay, you would come in second, by many lengths!!!! I've got everything booked and I am still obsessing!

If you can wait until late March, I can at least tell you how the stay went at the MAJESTIC. You can book that hotel, and others, with Virtuoso, and you will get free breakfast and $100 to spend at the hotel during your stay...I can give you you more details..