Hi all,

We have just booked flights for a week in Barcelona at the end of Feb. We have never been before and are looking for a comfortable (but not luxurious) hotel for a family with one child. We are unfamiliar with the city and would appreciate advice on suitable areas to stay and nicer hotels.

We are flying into the airport at El Prat. We assume this is fairly close to the city. However, as we are flying BMI we could actually be flying into an airport the otherside of Spain...

We have been told that the Travelodge provides a good clean room but have no idea if it is too far out as it is in an area called Hospitalet.

Thanks for your help

I hope you get some constructive & positive advice - mine is a cautionary tale. We loved the city, particularly Sagrada Familia (probably got the spelling wrong) however that was until OH was mugged on the underground & I know this can and does happen in every city in the world but we were told by the police, after the fact, that gangs of mainly north africans were rife carrying out such attacks - so just be on your guard. Can't recommend a hotel cos thanks to it being a weekend without toddler, we went 5 star!! (god those were the days)

Thanks for the warning - I think we needed it as we don't have a clue about the city and what / where is Ok to go / do.

I wish we were going 5* LOL

Here are a few links from the same site that may assist you. The tour double decker bus tour is a good way to give you a potted guide of the city, You can then revisit anything that grabs you later. The double-decker Barcelona Bus Turístic is the most convenient way to discover Barcelona's most interesting and attractive sights. You can get on and off the Bus Turistic as many times and for as long as you like at any of the 44 tour stops. Combine 3 different tourist tours with the same ticket -you have six transfer stops- and.. all for 18 euros. Enjoy your stay.... Try the Hotel Moderno Barcelona is rather nice shown only as a three star but well worth the 550 a week for two price. Check it out.

Cheap hotels here....http://www.easytobook.com/en/spain/b...s/?amu=9999410

Travelodge here....http://translate.google.com/translat...&swap=1&swap=1
http://www.easytobook.com/es/espana/...talet/?amu=823
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Search?...earch=Go&geo=4

Watch your bags/Handbag on Trains/Streets of Barcelona. Mrs P was boarding the Train home the other week with luggage and turned as she was boarding to find a young girl with her arm in my wife's shoulder bag, Mrs P shouted and this girl dropped Mrs Ps Purse. She was lucky, don't let that spoil your holiday just be aware. These Eastern Europeans are expert pickpockets, The purse would have been passed to a member of the gang so when the main suspect is arrested no property is found on them.


http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/af/18...d-tourism.html

http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/infor...atsontoday.asp

http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/af/44...barcelona.html

http://barcelona.angloinfo.com/af/48...barcelona.html

Here are another couple of links.......

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Engl...MNcKs3T9_-TIcY

http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...acDfIGDfdnPOon

When you find a hotel that you may wish to stay in......Pop over to the link below and check the reviews of that hotel ie distance from the sights size of room etc. I would advise you to ask for a room at the back of the hotel as the Spanish party until dawn and if you have an early start sight-seeing this can spoil your holiday. Unless of course you are joining the party. They don't go out until about 1030pm.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Search?...earch=Go&geo=4

Yep - loud talking in English or looking like you resemble a group of tourists is not advisable on the underground. An Amercian stopped my phone being stolen from my bag a few weeks ago, as he shouted at the person who was about to take it. I was distracted and chatting in English to a colleague of mine at the time. This has never happened to me before as I either travel alone or with my husband on the underground. Also I have heard of drunk English friends on Saturday nights out being approached by complete strangers in the street - so keep your wits about you!

Hospitalet is quite a few miles from the centre of Barcelona. Personally I would look at some of the more central hotels as Barcleona is great for walking around (and its a small city) so avoid the underground if you can walk - its more interesting! Most of the bus stops have a street map on them somewhere, and from that you can work out where you want to be.

Make use of the 'Bicing' service too - its cheap, and a great way to see the city! Barcelona is great for cycling in most areas...

i'd stay as close to las ramblas as money would permit, although possibly not in plaza reina (i think thats its name, its the one near the bottom of las ramblas port end).
las ramblas is the main tourist thoroughfare and where most of the action is, plus the olympic port bars are just at the bottom of it.
been a few years since i was there, but if on las ramblas, look out for the wax museum (its down an alley near the bottom of las ramblas) - not for the wax museum, but for the class bar beside it, cant remember its name (something del bosque i think), but its an enchanted bar, with pools, caves, trees et al.
i've also heard stories of barcelona and theiving, but i dont think its any worse than here in valencia. same thing, eastern european/african gangs, steal stuff the go in each and every direction. usual sense required only, ie dont leave a wallet on a table (or phone!) and wrap your handbag round the leg of your seat.
as posh says, check out trip advisor, when you find an hotel, we always do before we book elsewhere in spain, and you'll love barca. we've been shedloads, and hope to be back this year.

Thanks everyone,

I will go through the links poshnbucks - fantastic thank you!

We have just spent a few days in London and have been very security conscious whilst there. We will remain vigilant. I assume that hotels have safes where passports etc can be locked? (We are migrating to Australia in a few weeks and have our newly acquired visas in our passports!!!)

Thanks for the tip on las Ramblas - we suspected that the Travelodge was just too far out.

I will keep you updated with our hotel progress!

As a foreigner you are supposed to keep your passport on you while you are in Spain. ;-))

Just a few follow-up thoughts
Passports - I heard/read somewhere a suggestion of taking a photocopy of your passport info page in case you ever need to replace it in a hurry - ie take to embassy/whoever & they've got the relevant info. I guess you could do the same in reverse, carry the photocopy as proof of ID to avoid losing the real thing?
Ramblas -
The big fruit/veg etc market in the Rambla
The rastro thing on a ?Sunday morning near the port (no different from many but fun for trinket/nicknack browsing)
Underground & other thieving. It's not just the obvious that happens. My OH did not have his wallet on a table in front of him, nor were we 'obvious' tourists (may have been speaking English but not loudly, we knew where we were going...) anyway just to clarify, though I don't think anyone could have avoided this: We were on the tube, it was about to leave the platform, OH feels something touch his trousers, (wallet AT THE BOTTOM of a deep pocket) goes to move realising what might be happening, cannot move because someone (else) has bent down having 'dropped' a lighter... & got hold of both his legs by the trousers/ankles. Before he could do anything they'd leapt off complete with wallet, as the door closed so on top of all that we had to wait til the next stop before having signal to be able to use the mobile(s) to call the hotel re stopping Visa etc.
Just glad our little boy wasn't with us. As I said, I don't hold it against Barcelona any more than any other city, but we did seem to hear a fair number of horror stories afterwards!

How about renting a tourist apartment? That way you don't have to pay the vastly inflated prices to eat every meal (it really adds up). Don't stay in Hospitalet, too far out and you'd waste ages travelling around. Look at the Hostal Goya, very central, there are two parts, one is more hotel-type and there is a cheaper hostal part (I recommend the first option). My wedding guests stayed there and loved it.Not luxurious but very clean, friendly, super central and not so expensive! Good luck.

Hospitalet Travelodge is a good deal at 30e or so I paid last year but any more isn't worth it. It is 30 mins from centre by tube or 2 bus trips. Free parking underneath though.

Deffo do the Freixenet tour - book online at 5e or so & it is even in english. Avoid the organised wine tours & just do it yourself.

All the Gaudi stuff is well worth doing, research beforehand.

Enjoy!

I would recomend a hotel near plaza de espania. which is at the posh end of Las Ramblas. It may cost a bit more, but do you want to waste your limited time travelling?
Avoid the tourist hotels along the sea, they are quite a distance from the city centre.
The open air bus tour is a great way to sight see, get a two day pass it is quite cheap. Look out for Guadi's many creations. Corte Engles and the Hard Rock cafe on plaza de Espania are worth a visit.
I hope you enjoy the city of lights

Hi Fionamw,

I actually have a photocopy of my passport in evey suitcase etc. It costs virtually nothing to do (I scanned mine into the computer so reprints are easy).
If ever your suitcase is missing in transit, or as you say, your handbag gets stolen, then it is easier to prove to the British Consulate who you are.

Davexf

Def' go to Barcelona - You'll have a FAB time !!!

Las Ramblas (the main tourist attraction) is VERY EXPENSIVE - and their smallest beer is at least a litre for about 7Euros !!

I loved the BUS TOUR. get-on/get off as you please with a audio commentary.

My fave place was Gaude's Park - if it's a nice day use the Tour Bus and have a lovely picnic up there.

You can take pleasure boat trips from the port - the beach is quite nice out of season.

BUT BEWARE OF THIEVES AT ALL TIMES. You can actually sit and spot it happening on the Ramblas - we did !! The 'busker' with the old 3 cups and a pea trick !! Don't go near them !! Why people still fall for this is beyond me.

I stuck my wallet down the front of my pants. Wife NEVER carried an handbag - she had a coat with inside pockets!

Don't walk round with maps.

Don't ear expensive jewellery / watches / even your wedding rings.

Maybe have a whistle around your neck in case you are robbed. The police do nothing / except the paper work (if you insist) !!!!

...still be safe and enjoy it !!

If you need a rented apartment I can recommend one, a lovely place but about €70 p.n. - you'll have to PM me though.

Hi

We live quite close to Barcelona and usually just do day trips, but earlier this month we spent a couple of days there and stayed in a nice little hotel. It's called H10 Catalunya Plaza and is situated on the Placa Catalunya at the top of Las Ramblas. Nothing special, but it was clean and surprisingly quiet in the bedrooms.

You should go to La Boqueria, as recommended before, a very interesting market. Don't just visit the stalls near the entrance, (they are more touristy).

Also recommend seeing Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia.