I have an early flight out of Barcelona followed by 19 hours of flying. I want to stay in a hotel (not too expensive and not too noisy) that will make it quick and easy to get to the airport. Do you have any suggestions about a hotel to stay in the night before? Perhaps a hotel with its own shuttle or next to an airport shuttle stop? Other suggestion?
That may not be necessary. The airport is not that far from central Barcelona and starting at about 5:00 AM an express bus runs from Placa Catalunya or Placa Espanya. If you need earlier, there are night buses (N16 and N17) that make the trip as well. Both run frequently and are easy to use. If that does not work for you, then, yes, there are hotels near the airport with shuttles.
I stayed at the Hotel Catalunya on C. Santa Anna, which is about one block off Pl. Catalunya. The hotel was perhaps a 3-block walk to the Aerobus stop on the square. It was a very convenient location, with the Barri Gotic being a short walk away in the opposite direction. There's a large tourist office located beneath the square.
Hotel Catalunya isn't fancy, and my single room was extremely small (this may explain the 2-star rating), but it was modern, and I don't remember any noise issues, which is surprising given that C. Santa Anna (a pedestrian street) gets a lot of foot traffic. However, I always travel with earplugs. There's at least one other small hotel on that street, and there are many other lodging options within walking distance of Pl. Catalunya.
At least some of the time, there are separate Aerobus departures for Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, so be sure you know where you're headed before you buy your ticket.
Thank you so much!
The aerobus mentioned above is dependable and easy to figure out early in the morning, but if you're more than one person you should consider having the hotel desk arrange a taxi the day before -- taxi fare to the airport isn't too expensive, and it will pick you up at your door. I once left very early, before the lodging staff were awake, and they just had me drop the room key in the mailbox after making sure the outer door was secured.
You have some hotel options along Gran Via near the Fira Convention Centre - midway between city and airport with easy access to both !!
John,
Any hotel near Placa de Cataluna will be desirable. Last September I took the first aerobus back to the ariport at 5 am and made my 6:45 flight with no problem. I recommend BCN Fashion House if your on a budget like me. Nice quite street a couple of blocks from Placa de Cataluna and near a starbucks if that matters.
Liam
Nothing could be easier in terms of getting to the airport that the bus from Placa Catalunya. It really is one of the easier cities for airport transfer, works like a charm. I stayed in Hotel Lloret right near there with my wife in 2005 and again on a business trip in 2010, and I think that hotel is still in Rick's book. 4* on TripAdvisor.