Barcelona hotel reccomendations~

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

Thanks so much Annie what awesome info!!

I really like the idea of staying on or near Las Ramblas, and was about ready to book a hotel and then my husband says he wants to stay near the beach lol! Ahhh what to do what to do... I really appreciate all of the help deciding! So many choices and I am so bad at picking one! It takes me forever to decide!

I have been looking at the Holiday Inn Express 22 (I think that's what it's called) and it's right near a metro, a few blocks from the beach and a free breakfast. If I can't find an apartment we like, then I may just go ahead and book two rooms there...they allow up to 4 per room.

 

[jrs_mommy]

My DH has offered ZERO input into this trip with the exception of only about 3 or 4 things. I tried to get him to look at some hotels & he was like just pick them. On DH's to do list FIRST, was he said he wished we had time to visit Normandy while we're in Paris. Well, with 1 night / 2 days (out of 4) being spent at DLP that one just isn't going to happen SO I will make sure we visit the war museum in Paris (Musee de l"Armee). Second, he said he wants to be sure we see both the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe (OK, no brainers there) and Third from La Spezia he thinks we should go to Pisa (I want to do Cinque Terre so I'm trying to figure out BOTH). And Fourth he wants to be sure we do at least 1 beach (likely Palma and / or Villefranche & Nice).

For Barcelona I heard that the best beaches were outside of the city (the water is supposed to be cleaner away from the port) so I figured we'd probably pass on the beach there. But that was 1 reason why I wanted to make sure we booked hotels with pools. The city is supposed to be so fantastic it makes it really hard to pick an area to stay. I found Paris was harder to choose from because there are like 1,800 hotels there plus they're significantly more expensive. I didn't have my DIS cruise peeps to ask for opinions so I felt like I was really on my own!! Good luck.

Is this your first time in Europe? You are going to LOVE DLP!! I just love it there.
If you are looking for a hotel in Paris I know one that we just love! It is so charming and you can see the Eiffel tower from a few of the triple room windows! Only a 5 minute walk to the Eiffel tower and the Trocaderro (my fav) and right across the street from the metro! There is the yummiest pattiserie right next door We have stayed there 3 different times last year and I am sure we will be back!
http://www.hotelpassyeiffel.com/
I am sure you aready have a hotel booked for Paris because you are on the ball, but just some food for thought!

 

[Anal Annie]

Is this your first time in Europe? You are going to LOVE DLP!! I just love it there.
If you are looking for a hotel in Paris I know one that we just love! It is so charming and you can see the Eiffel tower from a few of the triple room windows! Only a 5 minute walk to the Eiffel tower and the Trocaderro (my fav) and right across the street from the metro! There is the yummiest pattiserie right next door We have stayed there 3 different times last year and I am sure we will be back!
http://www.hotelpassyeiffel.com/
I am sure you aready have a hotel booked for Paris because you are on the ball, but just some food for thought!

Hummm...first trip to Europe. Sort of but not technically. I went to Paris & London waaaay back in HS with my French class (in like 1979) so it's been well over 30 years. Since it was a school / group tour where everything was pre-arranged I didn't have anything to do with the planning. DH went to Copenhagen on business several years ago for about a week...all of his arrangements were handled by someone at his work. But so this is our first trip together and really, our first international trip on our own. And yes, I've already booked a hotel in Paris but where were you back in February when I was still looking for a place?! Left bank, right bank I wasn't sure what area to pick but so a friend of DH's family who goes there to work for a month or so at a time every couple of years or so recommended we try to stay near Luxembourg Gardens in the Latin Quarter or the Saint-Germain des Pres area. She said it would be nice neighborhood with lots of cafes & shopping to walk to. So that's where I concentrated my search. Thanks for your recommendation - your hotel looks lovely - a view would be nice. I ended up booking a reallllly old 16th century place called Hotel Odeon Saint-Germain. I hope it will be OK...it looks like it will have a lot of character (has sort of a middle age decor). Probably no views tho. It is on rue St. Sulpice and only minutes from Blvd. Saint-Germain, the Seine, Luxembourg Gardens, La Sorbonne & Notre Dame. I am getting nervous about this whole entire trip!!!

 

[llkoolj40]

We stayed at Hotel Europark and loved it. Great price on their web site. and a short walk to Las Ramblas.

 

[keenercam]

We are at Barcelona Catedral Hotel for 3 nights pre-cruise. We got our rooms at $193/room/night including all taxes. It is a fantastic location near Las Ramblas and it has a restaurant on-site and a rooftop pool.

Post-cruise we are at Ciutat del Prat near the airport with free shuttle and a great pizzeria nearby and free refreshments in the mini-bars (and a pool) -- It is $94.75/night with taxes.

 

[KermitRocks]

We did 2 nights at the Praktik Rambles. It was AWESOME! We did 2 rooms (80 Euro one night, 130 Euro the other). They have a great patio area as well as an indoor lounge area. Free internet near the lounge. Our kids (13 and 6) stayed in one room while DH and I had the other. We were worried about this at first, but I think 2/3 of the people at the hotel were DIS people, so it was all good! The kids were fine on, we got to know the people we were sailing with and we got some great pre cruise photos in the lounge and the entrance hall!

http://praktikbarcelona.barcelonahotels.it/

I second the Praktik Rambla recommendation! We were at the hotel at the same time as Sue because we were on the same cruise and I will stay there again (if I'm lucky enough to go back to Barcelona). It was very close to the Ramblas and had great restaurants near by. And it was very reasonably priced. There are two Praktik hotels in Barcelona - the Praktik Rambla and Praktik Barcelona. The Praktik Rambla hotel costs a little more but is more central to the action.

Have fun!!!!

 

[NancyIL]

I found Paris was harder to choose from because there are like 1,800 hotels there plus they're significantly more expensive. I didn't have my DIS cruise peeps to ask for opinions so I felt like I was really on my own!! Good luck.

Lots of people could've given you their two cents on lodging in Paris! My two daughters and I stayed in an apt. in Paris for 3 nights last summer: http://www.vacationinparis.com/

I have been looking at the Holiday Inn Express 22 (I think that's what it's called) and it's right near a metro, a few blocks from the beach and a free breakfast. If I can't find an apartment we like, then I may just go ahead and book two rooms there...they allow up to 4 per room.

My in-laws stayed at that Holiday Inn Express twice and thought it was very nice. My DH and I were going to stay there, too - but I wanted to be closer to Las Ramblas. I booked the NH Duc de la Victoria (http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/spain/barcelona/nh-duc-de-la-victoria.html?action=search). I would stay there again.

 

[jrs_mommy]

I booked our Barcelona hotels in January for August as we needed rooms to sleep 3 people and those are hard to find.

We're also booked at the Novotel Barcelona City for 1 night pre-cruise. At the time I was able to snag their best rate (pre-paid, non-refundable, non-changeable) to include breakfast for $146 USD. It is currently rated #59 out of 553 hotels in Barcelona on Trip Advisor. It has a rooftop pool and rooms that sleep 4 (kids 16 & under are free). It is across from the Glories Shopping Center and about a 15 min. walk from the Sagrada Familia.

For post-cruise we're booked at the Hotel Jazz which has remained consistently in the top 10 on Trip Advisor for at least the last year that I've been watching reviews. It was also won a "top choice award" in 2010. It is a little more expensive than the Novotel but is located at the top of Las Ramblas near Placa Catalunya and also has a rooftop pool. I wanted to experience 2 different areas of the city so chose a different hotel for this portion of our trip. They offered a "triple" room which is what we needed so I snagged it so we wouldn't have to book 2 rooms.

Thanks for the tip! We booked the Hotel Jazz for the 25th and 26th of August! Now trying to decide on the night after the cruise. Maybe I will let let my husband have his way and stay at a beach hotel lol, maybe...

 

[Anal Annie]

Thanks for the tip! We booked the Hotel Jazz for the 25th and 26th of August! Now trying to decide on the night after the cruise. Maybe I will let let my husband have his way and stay at a beach hotel lol, maybe...

I hope it's as nice as most of the reviews have said it is. With the USD getting a worse conversion rate by the day I actually just just went ahead yesterday and emailed them to pre-pay the entire balance. Our 2 nights at the Jazz have gone up about $40 since I first booked it and I watch the currency rate almost every day & it was driving me NUTS!! I prepaid our romeinlimo tours at the end of March and I am also pre-paying now for our hotel in Paris which has gone up about $60 or $65. Between the 2 hotels an additional $100 or so since February! I am gambling. The rate is higher now than it's EVER been so it could drop. But I am afraid it's not done going up yet.

 

[awatt]

We really liked the Hotel Jazz. Clean and modern, well-located. Well rated on tripadvisor

 

[meagan9848]

We booked the W Barcelona on hotwire last year for $156. It was AMAZING. Right on the beach, incredible service, big rooms...we even had a view of the ship

 

[jdybnsn]

I would like to recommend Habitat Apartments as suggested by previous posters. We used them last year and they have some wonderful places. Don't worry about being too far from the centre - the Metro will have you in the middle of things in minutes - its VERY easy and cheap to get around this way.
http://www.habitatapartments.com/

Re the apartments for two nights - sometimes it is as cheap, and/or you will get a much wider selection, by booking three nights - even if you don't end up using the third night.

 

[perryandmason]

This is the one of the best hotel I stayed till now. Rooms are so good with a sober interior. I am really fan of their architect. They have done really fantastic work. Overall its a finest place to live.

 

[luke]

Finally booked some hotels for before and after our august 13th cruise

This is our pre cruise hotel, down at the bottom end of the Rambla near the port

http://www.grandmarinahotel.com/en/hotel.html

And this is our post cruise hotel, at the top end of the Rambla near ish to the Plaça Catalunya

http://www.ohlahotel.com/en/hotel/

 

[diane aggelidou]

What about ICARIA
It seems to have good reviews!? I am I think on your cruise 27th Aug,we are staying here after cruise. I chose this as like your husband wanted beach/affordable/near zoo for daughter!
I have a triple club room BB for 3 at 110 euro per night.
What I know about hotel
good reviews
on/very close beach 2 blocks
has tourist stop and train service
zoo on foot 2 blocks
many videos on line and positive reviews!