Am I right in thinking some people on here live there? Or near there? It's just that I may be visiting in the near future and would welcome hints on any nice but not expensive hotels near the centre or the Ramblas (if that's not the same thing)

Any ideas?

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

Answers

Lynda, contact Swift. And as for hotels in the Ramblas, about 5,000 Mags visited back in our CL days. One of them is bound to know a good hotel. Some of them even booked into one, although they spent the night in the bars and probably never used their rooms. I stayed, but forget the hotel name (mind it was good/cheap)

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

mine was too

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

Lynda - I'm off there at the end of April to celebrate Mrs Josh's 40th - she's coming as well.

I've booked the flight via Easyjet and there's a link to an Octopus sit on the Easyjet website.

They matched the Bridge travel and Cresta hotel only prices and had availability where they didn't (Grand Prix & Barca @ Home).

Get a few brochures and have a mooch - I suspect Sudden can probably recommend something as well.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

We went last year and stayed at the Hotel Regina - it's about 50 yards from the Place Catalunya which is the big square at the top of La Ramblas. 3 star job - very nice and very convenient. Super buffet breakfasts!

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2002

Wor lass is off there in May for a hen weekend. Any recommended places to go?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

Thanks everyone.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

sounds like Barca is turning into Dublin as the place to go to party, what's wrong with the Quayside ?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

Familiarity breeds contempt?

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

If you want a cheap clean hotel in the Barrio Gotico (old town), try Hotel Jardi, Placa Sant Josep Oriol overlooking a little square with cafes and bars. Fax 34-93-3183664, tel 34-93-3019500. There is also one called Hotel Internacional right on the Ramblas about half way down which is also cheap and cheerful. Get one where breakfast is optional then if it's a nice day you can go and have your chocolate and churros breakfast outside in the sunshine. There are so many hotels in Barcelona you can just walk around when you get there and find one that you like the look of (as long as it's not a busy weekend). The other way is just to look in the internet and you also find loads that way too. I go there quite often and to me it's the 2nd best city in Europe. Cava and tapas, Passeig de Gracia for Gaudi buildings especially the one with the Gaudi Museum on the top floor, the recently-started-to-be-done-up-but-still-a-bit-spooky El Born district for bars, restaurants, clubs, the incredible range and quality of fruit and vegetables in the Boqueria covered market half way along the Ramblas, Barrio Gotico for little shopping streets, guided tour of the Nou Camp and better still get into a match if there's one on, fish restaurants in the new port, Restaurants "4 Gats" and "Los caracoles" in Barrio Gotico, a walk up to the the Montjuic Park incl Olympic diving pool and athletics stadium and great views, fastest hair cut in the world in the old barber shop on the corner of pl de la universidad where about 10 old barbers work all day (though just a spectator sport for you Lynda), and definitely a 40 minute train ride and cable car up to Montserrat for a hike along the mountain ridges. Great place.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

Lynda,

I've been here for 3 and a half years but I'm not up too much on the hotels as, well, I've never stayed in one here.

The following are therefore based on other people's reports... One of the best value for money-wise in the center is Hotel Urquinaona (Phone 0034 93 268 1336) at about 40 quid a night for a double. Much better than you'd expect for the cash apparently - top notch place and great location.

The Jardi is pretty good as someone said, cheap and cheerful, 25 quid a night (approx) for a double. However, like the Internacional (55 quid a night) , it's often booked up well in advance.

If you don't mind spending a bit more, The Inglaterra (0034 93 5051100) is top VFM but about 100 quid a night. There are deals for weekends though.

Generally the best places are found just out of the Raval / Ramblas area which can be a bit seedy, touristy and run-down. Anywhere near Placa Catalunya is fantastic as it is the starting point for the Ramblas, Port D'Angel and Passeig de Gracia, your 3 main sightseeing and shopping areas.

Feel free to email me if you want more info and drop me line to let me know when you're coming out. I'll point you in the right directions in exchange for a pint :-)

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002

Lynda

A couple of websites you might find useful:

http://www.eurohotelguide.com/hotels-barcelona/

and

www.laterooms.com

Sorry I still haven't taught meself how to do those clever blue linky things yet!

I've used the laterooms on a number of occasions myself. I got a ridiculously cheap appartment in Washington last year for considerably less than half price using that site. When you log on you can tell it which country, then city, you want to stay in. You tell it when you want to stay and it chucks out all the cheapies available. You can only book about a month ahead though so if your panning a while ahead it might not be any use.

-- Anonymous, January 29, 2002