First Night Hotel-Barcelona

How big a pain the hotel change will be is going to depend partly on how close your Night 1 hotel is to the Nights 2 & 3 hotel. I don't like wasting time on things like unnecessary hotel shifts, but I'd do it if I judged the savings to be significant. You have to define "significant" for yourself. Barcelona is not a cheap city. How low can you go on the Night 1 hotel? The tour-provided hotel sounds like a rather nice one, based on the rate you were quoted for the additional night. Are you willing to accept rooms that are considerably smaller and plainer?

We are doing the same tour in June and plan to arrive 2 nights earlier since there is so much to see in Barcelona. We decided to reserve an Airbnb and the total for the 2 nights is as much as one night in the hotel for the tour. We've done this in the past in Florence and it worked well. Usually hotels will keep your luggage for you safe until the check in time, especially if you are part of the tour. Hope this helps. We are also doing the same in Sevilla -staying an extra 2 nights and moving to an Airbnb after the tour ends.

Those are good questions, acraven. From what I have seen, hotels in that area range quite a bit. It looks like we could get something significantly cheaper. I would definitely research and read reviews. It's just the dealing with the luggage move-over that next day. It seems like it would be nice to stay in a completely different area if we have to be somewhere else anyway, but that would make the luggage issue hard the next day.

Thanks, Jessica! Maybe I should just go with an Airbnb. I'll look into that. Glad to know other people are staying other places for their first nights. Hope you have a great trip!

Is it possible your tour operator could book the rooms for you? The company might get a better rate, and your stay would be co-ordinated..
Otherwise, if you have checked the hotel's own site, compare booking agencies such as Hotels.com or Booking.com
These sites often offer lower rates than the hotels do.

It's a Rick Steves tour. I believe they don't help with reservations.

Expedia has the rooms at $239/night and it's 249 euros/night from the hotel directly. Just too much since we have to get two rooms. I'm definitely looking for another place now but will try to be close so we can drop off our luggage in the morning. Thanks for your input!

I'd seriously consider the hassle involved in schlepping luggage after one night. The packing and relocation for four could take a significant portion of your extra time. Plus you'll all be jet lagged. Balance the difference in cost of lodging with the time gained touring or spent moving. Have you contacted the hotel directly? We did that last year in Rome before our tour and got a Rick Steves discount.

If you are only taking carry-on luggage, it can't be that much hassle to pack up after one night. You'll be doing that on the tour anyway (or every other night). If you are checking luggage, then it shouldn't be a hassle at all. Do what I do, put everything you need for the first 24-48 hours in your carry-on (I've had luggage go astray more than once :-). Then you don't have to open your checked bags at all.

You have two choices. Either leave your stuff at the hotel and pick it up in time to get to the tour hotel before the meet-and-greet. Or take your stuff to the tour hotel first and have them keep it for the day. Taxis are not expensive in Barcelona, so you don't necessarily need to find rooms close to the tour hotel.

Really, I don't see the downside. For a difference of $50, I'd be on the fence. If I'd save more than that, I wouldn't think twice about the "hassle."

Thanks, pollyhrae. I did check with the hotel directly. Their price is higher than Expedia and they didn't offer any discount. The hassle factor is exactly what I'm concerned about!

Thank you for your input, Chani. The difference in rooms I've been looking at is over $100 per room, so I'm glad to hear you think it wouldn't be such a problem to move over after one night. I'm also glad to know taxis are cheap. That makes me think it might be a good idea to stay in a completely different area just to experience two "neighborhoods" while we are there. I appreciate the suggestions!

If I could get a hotel relatively close, or an easy metro ride with limited walking, especially since you need to purchase two rooms and you are staying two nights, I would do it. My preference, in general, is to limit room switches within a city but you are talking about quite a savings. If the room isn't that great, you are only there two nights and will have a lovely tour to look forward to. I spend little time in my hotel room and always think of expenditures in terms of what else I could get for any savings. I do like a comfortable bed and clean room and bathroom, but I can make do with most places. In the end, its up to you whether the savings is worth the "hassle"