Barcelona Hotel Suggestions?

[HappyMe_]

Any suggestions? Something that is moderately priced and convenient to the Las Ramblas area. Prefer non-highrise, and perhaps something more in the authentic spanish style. Thank you

[willmschen]

We stayed at the Hotel Colon on the square across from the Cathedral. It is a short walk to Las Ramblas.

[HappyMe_]

Thank you Will. I read an endorsement somewhere else regarding this hotel and I checked out the website. It looks convenient and priced right too. Cruise is not until 2006, but the planning is great fun!:)

[Jane110]

We liked the Hotel Continental Palacete. http://www.hotelcontinental.com

 

Have heard some negative things about their sister hotel, the Continental Barcelona.

 

The Palacete is in an excellent location, just a few blocks from las rambals. We took the Sun Sol room - one of the better ones. Some of the cheaper rooms are quite small and have terrible views so take one of their better rooms.

 

Service is very friendly. Breakfast is terrific.

 

It's not a 5 star hotel, so don't expect 5 star, but it's a very nice 3 star.

 

Jane

[conderost]

we will also be on the oct. 20 '06 insignia, let me know what info you found out on this hotel, we would be interested also. we are planning to arrive a night or two before the trip also.

[mikiew]

Not cheap, but it was wonderful. The Claris Hotel. GREAT location

 

 

http://www.derbyhotels.es/eng/claris_in.htm

[frankpc]

We also stayed at the Palacete a couple of years ago. Fine example of a 3 star, not luxurious but certainly comfortable. Good Internet cafe, breakfast/snack bar too. You actually check in on the second floor - when we were there they had a luggage only "lift".

Hotel is right at the top of the Ramblas - great location

Taxi stand right outside for that last minute dash to the ship ....

My standard disclaimer - Most cab drivers we encountered didn't speak English so a little Spanish (Castilian Spanish) is helpful although Catalunya is the native tongue - long story short, make sure the cab driver knows you want the "port" and not the "aeroport".

 

Enjoy,

 

Frank

[JoePDX]

We have not stayed here, but the Regencia Colon (owned by the Hotel Colon people) is often lauded and is more reasonably priced than the Hotel Colon and also a great location right near the Cathedral. I've heard outfitted with Spanish antiques.

 

In 2002 we stayed at the Hotel Rialto which has a great location just steps from the Ramblas - definitely in the moderately priced range. Nice clean room, however most of the charm has been removed from the building. :( But again, the location is excellent!

 

Joe

[Judyumcer@aol.com]

We have a reservation at the Royal Hotel on the Las Ramblas. Have not stayed here before but it looks nice and the reviews I have read seem good. Great location and the rate we got was $649 for 3 nights including breakfast.

We styed at the Barcelona Hilton one year and the location is awful. It is in a financial district and not much around except offices. Also stayed off the Las Ramblas at the Le Meridien. Nice hotel but very expensive. Not that nice for the amount they charge. If anyone has stayed at the Royal; let us know your opinion.

[meow!]

The Regencia Colon is right at the back of the Hotel Colon, crossing a narrow street (the Hotel Colon is on the main street). Spanish hotels are classified by some quasi-official organization. The Regenica Colon is three star (usually around 120 euros per night), while the Hotel Colon is four stat (usually around 160 euros per night). We stayed at the Hotel Colon pre-cruise in April last year, and it seemed both hotels were quite good enough. Hope this helps.

[arizonaartie]

Any suggestions? Something that is moderately priced and convenient to the Las Ramblas area. Prefer non-highrise, and perhaps something more in the authentic spanish style. Thank you

 

We stayed at the Hotel Ramblas, right on the Ramblas. Not fancy, 3 star, a short walk to the famous square where you can catch the Double Deck Tourist Bus. It covers the whole city with a Narration included. You can get on and off at any stop and catch the next bus at no additional charge.

arizonaartie

[dkcorbett]

We recently stayed at the Montecarlo Hotel on the Ramblas and 1 block from the Plaza Cataluna. It was very nice 3+ stars hotel with no restaurant. Very helpful staff and a very nice breakfast for $14. Our room,facing the rear, was very quiet. Price was about $150.

[millieb]

We have a reservation at the Royal Hotel on the Las Ramblas. Have not stayed here before but it looks nice and the reviews I have read seem good. Great location and the rate we got was $649 for 3 nights including breakfast.

We styed at the Barcelona Hilton one year and the location is awful. It is in a financial district and not much around except offices. Also stayed off the Las Ramblas at the Le Meridien. Nice hotel but very expensive. Not that nice for the amount they charge. If anyone has stayed at the Royal; let us know your opinion.

 

Hi Judy!

 

We are going to Barcelona for 3 nights before our cruise. Do you have the webpage for the Royal Hotel in Barcelona?

 

Thanks!

[laughoutloud]

Hi Judy!

 

We are going to Barcelona for 3 nights before our cruise. Do you have the webpage for the Royal Hotel in Barcelona?

 

Thanks!

 

http://www.hroyal.com/en/index.htm

 

Bon voyage!

[millieb]

http://www.hroyal.com/en/index.htm

 

Bon voyage!

 

Thanks Judy! We appreciate it.

 

Millie

[john2003]

We also stayed at the Palacete after our transatlantic in March. I would agree with the previous comments, it worked great for us.

[elin]

We have been to Barcelona twice. The first time we got a fabulous rate at Le Meridien.

The second time, the rate was ridiculous. We stayed at the Atrium Palace which is an Apsis Hotel (www.apsishotel.com). It is located at Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, which is walking distance (like 2 blocks) from Placa Catalunya. The nice thing about the hotel is the further out you book the better the rate. We also got a reduced rate as we booked 3 rooms. Our rate was $150 EUR per night per room, plus breakfast (see following).

The rate is the best on their website and is fully cancellable without penalty prior to the day before. If you also book on their website you can "get" breakfast for an additional $7.50 EUR per person (roughly half price) and the breakfast was great.

The hotel is listed as a 4 star SUP. We also recommended it to friends who stayed there and loved it. They had a suite (they were travelling with kids) which was $250 for the 4 of them + breakfast, and it overlooked the main street and was huge.

The hotel was very clean. The people were very nice.

Would definitely stay there again.

Elin

[daniela]

This may not be for you but we still thought it was such a gorgeous and modern hotel - Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel - in a grand setting right on the harbor and a few minutes walk to Las Ramblas.

[geta911]

http://www.pereivhotel.com/ :D

 

A solid 4 star at afforable prices. East of the Ramblas but close enough to walk. Keep in mind that Barcelona has a lot more to offer than the overpriced, tourist-trap but gotta see once Ramblas!

[Bruin Steve]

In recent years, we have stayed at the Hilton and at the Gran Havana...

 

I would not recommend the Hilton (even though the hotel itself is very nice) because of the location...it is somewhat remote for tourist purposes...

 

Our stay at the Gran Havana was as part of a post-cruise hotel package through Celebrity and we were very impressed...Modern with great, working air conditioning (not always the case in Barcelona) and on Gran Via Corts Catalan in the Eixample district, reasonable walking distance to the Placa Catalunya...

 

The real key to hotels in Barcelona is LOCATION...

 

The center of everything, especially for the tourist, is the Placa Catalunya...The Placa Catalunya is the large public square at the northern end of Las Ramblas...All of the transportation systems--buses, subways, etc. use this as a hub...But more importantly, a lot of what you will want to see and where you will want to go, including tourist sites, restaurants and shops are in close walking distance...The great Spanish Department store, El Corte Ingles, has a monster store right on the Placa (buy drinks, snacks and water in the basement supermarket)...

 

If your hotel choices are near Las Ramblas, opt for this end, rather than the southern end...The "better" and safer neighborhoods are to the north...The Eixample District, to the north and east of the Placa, is the "newer" section of town with the wider boulevards and more up to date accommodations...To the South and east, around the Cathedral, is the Barri Gotic...very quaint, but safety is a concern and a lot of places are just not in that good repair...

 

Good luck...

[Benita]

I was surprised to see that almost all the hotels recommended on this web site, as well as the ones in Frommers, are all booked up for the two days we need in May 2006. I guess it is a popular cruise time, and it seems like the rooms are booked out well in advance by the cruise companies. We were able to get into the Atrium Palace, which somebody a few posts ago, recommended. Better hurry and book well in advance, wherever you decide to stay.

[Liat]

We stayed for one night at the Hotel Meson Castillo as part of our Millennium Med cruise in May 2003. It is about 150 yards off La Rambla near the north end, and therefore in an ideal location. We had a nice 5th floor room and a very good breakfast in a most pleasant dining room. The staff sent us up the street for lunch at a truly local restaurant which was delightful.

La Rambla is touristy, but lots of fun. It does not close until the wee hours of the morning; and don't count on getting dinner before 8:30 or 9:00. Visit the food market for a real treat; and try a true tapas bar.

Barcelona has a great subway system, fast, clean and sensibly designed. If you can spend three or four days there, do it.

The hotel is three star, and priced accordingly, but we have always found European three star hotels are just fine.

I believe you can find their website through google.