I posted this elsewhere, but just wanted to reiterate: If you are looking for a hotel in Barcelona, I highly recommend el Jardin (listed in RS guide).
The location is either ideal or awful, depending on how you feel about the Ramblas (I hate it). But the little hotel is as centrally located as it is possible to be. The rooms are small (as are the hallways, elevator and bathrooms), but they are spick-and-span clean, with comfy beds and crisp linens and little safes for your valuables. The staff (housekeeping and front desk) is superb--quiet, helpful, friendly. Breakfast is minimal but sufficient, fresh and delicious. It was the least expensive place we stayed on a 5-week trip around Europe, and perhaps the nicest. And they offer a 10% discount for paying in cash.
One note: It is absolutely worth paying a bit extra for the tiny balcony rooms that look out through the pine tree to the square and the church. The windows are sound-proof, unless you want to open them to hear the church bells.