Hotel Location in Barcelona

The port area is not ideal for a stay longer than a night precruise, in my view. It is not easy to reach from the airport, and not good for walking around.

I suggest you look at hotels near (but not right on) Plaça Catalunya, where the airport bus ends. This is right on the dividing line of the Eixemple, which is a nice safe area, and the Barri Gòtic Old Town area, with its narrow winding streets. Stay off Las Ramblas when walking here and you should be OK.

Take a look at Hotel Pulitzer, a short half-block off Plaç Catalunya. This charming hotel rates an 8.9 (“fabulous”) on booking.com, while the Eurostars Grand Marine get only an 8.1 (“very good”). On booking.com the Pulitzer is $300 for a room on a night in late October when the Eurostars Grand Marine is over $1000. Of course you would book direct, but that price does look to be excessive.

https://www.hotelpulitzer.es/

Note they are offering a 20%BlackmFriday discount through Monday Nov. 27.

You can easily take a taxi from your hotel near Plaça Catalunya to the cruise dock on the day of your cruise.

Find a hotel near Plaça Catalunya. You can take the aerobus from the airport to here and then walk to your hotel.
Our RS tour stayed at the Catalonia Portal de l'angel. Great location and a short walk from the Plaça Catalunya, where you can also catch the hop on/hop off bus.
The cruise port bus only goes from the World Trade Center to the ship. So you are better off taking a taxi from your hotel to the ship.

The Eurostar grand marina is near a cruise bus stop and a hop on/hop off bus but the airport bus does NOT go near here. You would want to take a taxi from the airport.
I guess it depends what's more important to you.

I can recommend BacHome Gallery B&B on Calle d’Arago which is one of Rick Steves’ recommended hotels.
It’s in the Eixample neighborhood just three streets from Casa Batllo, and the “Passeig de Gracia” transit station which is a stop for the airport train, several metro train lines and the Rodalies suburban trains. Hop-on Hop-off Buses stop at Passeig de Gracia on the street level.
From here, you can get around easily in Barcelona.

We stayed at Hotel Jazz in 2017 and loved it. It is maybe 2 blocks from Placa de Catalunya and walking distance to many sites. I see it is still getting good reviews on Booking.com rated a 9.0.

Thank you all. I am going to check out all the hotels mentioned. I always give myself lots of time.

To be continued

I have checked out Plaça Catalunya and I can tell that this would be a great area for me. I love squares or Plazas and I love people watching.

Convenient from airport via airport bus. Just bet there is a ho-ho bus stop close by and probably any hotel can direct me to the Cruise Port bus stop.

I checked out Jazz Hotel and like it. I have seen it recommended elsewhere. It is too soon to book using booking which I always use.

I am beginning to get familiar with Barcelona -- just beginning but i have time. This is why I begin early.

Take a look at Hotel Praktik Rambla. It is within walking distance to most everything, the building and rooms are lovely as is the private outdoor space, staff are helpful and kind, and complimentary coffee with pastries in the morning are a plus. We had a great stay in 2019.

bostonphil, you're writing this stuff down, right? 😊👍

We stayed at the Hotel Gran Via in Eixample in 2010. It was awhile ago, of course, but we were happy with our stay there. Very convenient location. And you can always take a taxi from the airport to your hotel and then to the cruise port. I realize we were there over 10 years ago, but taxi rates were very, very inexpensive then. The taxi brings you directly to your hotel. I personally don't like dealing with my luggage on public transportation.

Good Morning Mary

I will be making notes but for now I am just trying to find a hotel. I am checking out all those that have been recommended.

Once I choose a hotel, I will then write down how to get there taking the airport bus. And I will write down how to get to a hop on hop off bus as well as how to get to the Cruise Port bus.

Some of the hotels that have been recommended to me in this discussion have been mentioned in YouTube videos. I have been watching many excellent YouTube videos.

I am trying to remember Plaça Catalunya but I am still home and on my computer so I do not need to write it down yet.

My New Year's resolution is to be better organized on my next trip.

Another thing in favour of centring your search on Placa Catalunya. There’s a big branch of the department store El Corte Ingles there, which has a buffet restaurant on the top floor with great views. If, like me, you don’t want to eat as late as Spaniards do, and would prefer somewhere cheapish where it’s easy to eat alone, they do some genuinely good food there and it’s a really comfortable place to eat alone early!

Golden Girl

I love buffets and I like simple dining. I am not seeking four course meals. The view is a plus.

I will make a note about this department store.

I think that the Placa Catalunya. will be a great place for me to book a hotel. It will also be a good landmark for when I get lost (not if but when). I think the Christopher Columbus Statue is also going to be a good landmark.

I can tell you that I am going to love Barcelona

It is too soon to book using booking which I always use.

BP, you do know that it's it's almost always cheaper to book directly with the hotel, right? Plus it gives you some added protection if something goes wrong. Booking.com is great to search for hotels and to check reviews, but in almost every case, you would be better off (and pay less) by booking with the hotel. You can access the hotel's website from booking.com.

Stay right on the Ramblas! Short walk (100 m) from Placa Catalunya is the Hotel Continental, which we loved (https://www.hotelcontinental.com/hotel-continental-barcelona), Balconies right over the Ramblas, great location to walk to the harbour, Barri Gotic, Market and Place Catalunya, which is the transit hub.

Mary was being very gracious in her reminder to write things down. So many of your difficulties on your last trip came because you did not have any notes from the many, many questions you had asked and people had answered.

Buy a cheap notebook. Every time you ask a question on this forum, write that question at the top of a new page. Then, as you get answers, write them down as notes on that page. Later you can refer back and not have to count on memory.

Mardee

I have booked directly in the past but prefer booking.com. I feel safer with booking. Do not know why but I do. However I sometimes do go directly to the hotel and I will try it again this time.

There is no shortage of very good hotels in the Square or the Plaza.

I am feeling very positive about Barcelona

Carol and Mary

Actually I do keep notes. In fact that is why I came back to this site just now to resay what I have said in the past

I have a little notebook.

And I kept notes on my hotels. I put down all the contact information as well as directions to get to the hotels both in London and Lisbon.

I found directions to V & A in London in my notebook

I also found directions to my friend's hotel in London

I did not keep notes on recommended restaurants but this time I will about the cafeteria that was mentioned in this discussion, the one at the top of a department store.

I am only taking guided excursions this time which might be a problem if I can not keep up. I might post questions about which excursion members would recommend.

I am arriving and leaving from Barcelona so I am not researching two separate cities.

And I am committed to taking the Hop On Hop Off Bus. I wish that I had done that in London because even stuck in traffic, you can look around and get your bearings.

And I took your suggestion about Hotel 63 in London.

I think that I am going to do much better this time, Carol and Mary

I have booked directly in the past but prefer booking.com. I feel safer with booking. Do not know why but I do. However I sometimes do go directly to the hotel and I will try it again this time.

I would at least go the hotel website to compare prices. You've mentioned more than once that you are on a strict budget so it looks like a good opportunity to save some money. And FWIW, I've been travel for almost 30 years and have always booked directly with the hotel/B&B, etc., and have never had an issue. That's not to say that one won't come up, but the hotel is in the best position to take care of it, rather than an online booking agency.

Regarding booking hotels with booking.com or booking directly with the hotel, you need to look closely at the cancellation policy. That is more important to me than the cost of the room, unless there is a huge difference in price, of course. I have sometimes noticed that if you book directly with the hotel, their cancellation policy is more strict than if you book with booking.com.

I had to cancel a 2-week trip several years ago because of health issues, and sometimes I've found a better hotel than the one I originally booked with, so the cancellation policy is very important to me.

IIRC the Barcelona HOHO bus had three different loops, which I did on three successive days. One covered the Barri Gotic, Ramblas, Cathedral, waterfront, etc. One covered the Eixemple, Sagrada Familia, Casa Miro, Parc Guell, etc. And one went further afield to Diagonal, Camp Nou, Montjuic and the Olympic Stadium.

kmkwoo

I am very cautious of the free cancellation and make certain that I can cancel very close to my arrival date. Some give free cancellation right up until the day before arrival or even the day of arrival but others are far less generous. I will not book a hotel unless I can cancel free very close to the date of arrival.

darrenblos

Did you enjoy it? Sounds like you did.

I have been looking at the one that is called the Tourist Bus and there are only two routes. I can buy one pass and use it on both.

I think The Tourist Bus is affiliated with Tourist Barcelona

It was probably City Sightseeing (https://city-sightseeing.com/en/17/barcelona/277/hop-on-hop-off-barcelona), but looking at their website it appears they have just two loops, but covering all the same areas I listed. Funny how memory plays tricks.

I did enjoy the HOHO bus tour very much. My favourite area was Montjuic and the Olympic Park. If I could do it over again, I would have taken the opportunity to get out and explore Parc Guell more. I did get off at Nou Camp and take the tour there, but I'm a big soccer fan, so that might not mean as much to you.

darrenblois

Maybe there were three loops when you were there and it has been reduced to two.

Or maybe you did one twice.

I am planning on the HOHO bus when there. I have not done one before but I am looking forward to the one in Barcelona.

Thanks to everyone for their feedback

I did a lot of research and checked out all those hotels recommended to me.

I have decided to go with the Hotel Continental.

There are so many good choices that it was hard to make a decision.

You'll love the Continental. Make sure to get a room with a balcony over the Ramblas. They have a nice bar and an ice cream machine!

darrenb

I read that they have a 24/7 buffet and that it is a nice buffet? Is that correct.

I am a muncher and tend to snack all day. I also love coffee and drink a lot.

My trip is not until next October but I am all ready to pack and go.

The buffet is a nice gesture, but its very light. Bread, cheese, cold cuts, yogourt, that kind of thing.

I don't want to mess up your choice... but are you sure you want a hotel located in Les Rambles? To me (to me!), that's not a good choice: too rowdy (in general) and, if you return late in the evening, while not unsafe per se, it can be an area with some pickpocketing and the occasional mugging. Again, my view. I tend to recommend other areas, ie. the Eixample district, neighbouring to the area you chose.

PS: Don't ask me about hotels, sorry. I live here and have no use for them so I am not in the loop. I can only advise on location.

I'd rather be on a side-street, too. If choosing a hotel on the Ramblas I'd do a lot of review-reading because of potential noise issues in rooms facing the busy street(s). Remember than Spaniards are out in force until midnight and later because they eat dinner very, very late. There could be a lot of street noise--not only on the Ramblas, of course. (My solution is to take the cheapest single room--the one facing an airshaft.)

darrenblois

what is breakfast like?

I read the reviews and it seems like they offer a good breakfast, different than the buffet. Am I correct?

Were you there recently?

Most of the reviews for the buffet were positive. One person said they offered wine and beer one time. Another said something about ice cream.

Some of the reviews about the buffet said it was just ok but others said it was very nice. There were a few negative reviews about the buffet.

Whatever they offer, I will probably be happy with. You can not please everyone.

another question. If you read a couple of new posts I got, there was a caution about street noise. Is there any problem with street noise?

Hi Enric and acraven

I do not go out at night anymore. I am old and my clubbing days are past. I usually am back at my hotel by early evening the latest.

I have a sling bag that I wear close to my chest. It would be hard to pick pocket me and I am cautious. Oh, the thought of losing my passport or phone or credit cards ........ just the thought.

I have read the reviews about noise. Most of the complaints have to do with from within the hotel. like the pipes and the old building. Some were about other guests.

I am talking about the Continental Hotel.

There was very little about street noise. There were a few comments but only. a few and there were no warnings.

I will go back and read them again.

I am a severe insomniac and my sleeping is very erratic. I am awake when others are asleep. and i sleep in weird places. so any noise from the street may not interfere with my sleeping. Sometimes it is comforting.

If you read back a few months I believe that you will come across several posts, maybe even in last year, where people on the Spain Forum complain about things on Les Rambles, including several folks who were pickpocketed.

I think I would always have most of my cards and cash in an under clothing safe place like a money belt, and most definitely my passport on Les Rambles and in Barcelona generally.

I remember stories of entire handbags being stolen. It would be awful if you lost everything in your cross body bag and had to spend hours at the Embassy replacing your passport and hours on the phone cancelling your cards.

I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

WOW- thank you for all of these good suggestions on neighborhoods and the Bed/Breakfast that Rick suggested Hotel BacHome--
still curiou has anyone stayed at Europark? the reviews are a tad mixed- overall good- but when I see a lot of reviewers new to reviewing it makes me question..

Check and see if this 7-room spot is back in business post - COVID:

https://www.pensio2000.com/en/contact/

So long as you are reasonably fit this is the perfect location - right across the alley from Palau de la Música Catalana
and steps away from two supermarkets and the transit stops of the Plaza Catalunya.
(but there are steep staircases, old hinges, heavy doors, retrofitted bathrooms squeezed in where they were not originally intended, etc.)

April, here are a couple of posts that discuss Europark. Keep in mind these reviews are 4-5 years old, but it might give you a good idea of what it's like:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/spain/barcelona-hotel-now-for-something-completely-different
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/spain/hotel-recommendations-in-barcelona-2320789e-61a3-4fba-a8b4-d32d6d5f973d

I am currently winding down a few weeks in Portugal and not ready to head back to USA (recently retired). Thinking of a week in Barcelona but I don’t have my travel books because that was not my original plan. As a woman in her 60s who is active and likes to walk alot what part of Barcelona should I try to stay? Hotel vs AirBB and any specific recommendations? I do like to sleep with windows open so low noise is good. You all are the best I welcome your help as I have to decide in next few days.

Jbeighle:
It would be best to start your own new thread so that you get up to date answers.
This thread is old and may not get many views now.