Which one Renaissance Barcelona or Hilton Diagnol Mar??

[Forever a Princess]

Hello!!

We have booked the Mediterranean cruise for June 2013.

We have booked the DCL transportation.

Currently I have the Hilton Diagnol Mar booked for two pre nights.

We plan on seeing a few sites in Barcelona prior to the cruise.

What ever info you can give me on these two hotels would be great.

TIA!!

 

[eva]

Hello!!

We have booked the Mediterranean cruise for June 2013.

We have booked the DCL transportation.

Currently I have the Hilton Diagnol Mar booked for two pre nights.

We plan on seeing a few sites in Barcelona prior to the cruise.

What ever info you can give me on these two hotels would be great.

TIA!!

We stayed at the Renaissance a couple years ago. We stayed at the club level. It is well worth it. The club room was open early till midnight or so. They had food offered all the time and lots of great free drinks throughout the day. The room was nice and the pool was great. They have a nice restaurant that serves tappas. Biggest issue is the location. It is fairly close to the airport, but further from the main attractions. You will need to either take a bus or taxi to most places.

 

[Stokkie20]

we also stayed at the Renaissance. Very nice and clean hotel, and very nice rooms. We also got an upgrade to the club level. Free food, drinks and Wifi!!!!

Just one tip! You could save some money if you would book the pre cruise package from the hotel itself. You will then get a free ride from the airport to the hotel and a free ride to the cruise terminal.

This wil cost for one night the same price as for the price that you need to pay for the disney transportation

 

[MDTerp]

We also stayed at the Renaissance in July 2011 pre and post cruise. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the base of Las Ramblas (and back) so we still got to sightsee. While the hotel does not advertise a post-cruise package, return transport from port is available for a reasonable cost.

 

[jel0511]

Actually the Rennaisance Barcelona is the renovated AC Diplomat, a hotel DCL used before. It is not the one at the airport. It's located pretty close to the top of Las Ramblas and practically right at the hop on/off bus stop. Personally I thing the Rennaisance is in a better location.

 

[eva]

Actually the Rennaisance Barcelona is the renovated AC Diplomat, a hotel DCL used before. It is not the one at the airport. It's located pretty close to the top of Las Ramblas and practically right at the hop on/off bus stop. Personally I thing the Rennaisance is in a better location.

Good catch! It has been 3 years since our cruise. At that time I am pretty sure there was only one Renaissance hotel in Barcelona. But I just checked their website and there is a "Renaissance Barcelona Hotel" and "Renaissance Barcelona Airport Hotel." we stayed in the one by the airport. MDTerp is right, they do offer a free shuttle to Las Ramblas. I am not familiar with the one that used to be the AC Diplomat.

 

[austraveler]

We stayed there for our 2011 Med cruise. The rooms are nice, there is free wi fi in the lobby and my boys LOVED the free mini bar drinks and snacks (we did remove the beer and the red bull....). There is a small rooftop pool as well. The location is excellent , with a hop on hop off bus stop only two blocks away and a dining strip around the corner. steer clear of the expensive but poor quality hotel breakfast.

 

[tajz90]

We booked the Renaissance for 2 nights pre cruise and are planning to use Disney transportation, but I'm feeling pretty bad about it. I know I can get a cheaper hotel and find diff transportation that would cost less, but want to take the easy route. What suggestions would you make?

We took the med cruise in 07, but I can't remember a lot from it. The first time we stayed at the Hilton Diagonal on our own and took Disney transport. Need ideas or a something.

 

[carpenta]

Hello!!

We have booked the Mediterranean cruise for June 2013.

We have booked the DCL transportation.

Currently I have the Hilton Diagnol Mar booked for two pre nights.

We plan on seeing a few sites in Barcelona prior to the cruise.

What ever info you can give me on these two hotels would be great.

TIA!!

We stayed in the Diagonal Mar in 2007 on the Med. cruise and it is right accross the street from as large mall and the ho-ho bus stop. The subway is on the back side of the mall (two blocks) and we used it to zip us downtown (2 stops). It was a block from the Med. and we walked alond the beach to Las Ramblas and back. Nice walk, Also along the water there are a few nice resturaunts where we ate like locals. Roof top pool was nice and they have a nice spa. Last cruise with DCL in 2010 we stayed in the Pullman located closer to the inner harbor and Las Ramblas. Also quite nice and had breakfast included which was quite nice. Both were relaxing and quiet for us. We are also booked on the Venice cruise in 2013 to venice if that is the same as you.

 

[braysmommy]

We stayed at the Renaissance after the EBTA last year and liked the location and room. We did not book it through DCL since it was much cheaper on another website. My DS, 4 at the time, had no problem walking everywhere we went. Did take a cab back from train after Montserrat. Easy to get a cab from port to hotel and airport.

 

[wrennies]

I dito the comments about the reniassance (at the airport). The free bus into the city and the club level perks were well worth it. We also booked the cruise pack. Conceirge also spoke very good english and was extremely helpful.

 

[mindelmouse]

The Hilton Diaganol Mar is farther from the action. You will have to take the metro to get to the attractions or sightsee. We are staying there post cruise in June, mainly because my DH got us two rooms with Hilton points. I've heard it is very nice but a little farther out than the other one which doesn't matter to us because we're taking a tour post cruise that picks us up at the ship and drops us at the hotel after. Since it's for most of the day, where we stay is moot.

 

[SCFamily4]

I am looking at hotels as well, and am trying to maximize use of hotel points. Wow, hotels are expensive! Looks like the Renaissance Barcelona might be our best option, especially since it appears we need 2 rooms for my family of 2 adults and 2 kids. The only thing that is disappointing is that this hotel doesn't have a pool. I appreciate the feedback from those who have stayed there! Looks like a good location for the hop on hop off bus, correct?

We are on the July 23rd cruise next year, so we are in a holding pattern waiting for the Marriott system to open dates up for booking. Looks like they allow booking 330 days out (or so).

 

[braysmommy]

I am looking at hotels as well, and am trying to maximize use of hotel points. Wow, hotels are expensive! Looks like the Renaissance Barcelona might be our best option, especially since it appears we need 2 rooms for my family of 2 adults and 2 kids. The only thing that is disappointing is that this hotel doesn't have a pool. I appreciate the feedback from those who have stayed there! Looks like a good location for the hop on hop off bus, correct?

We are on the July 23rd cruise next year, so we are in a holding pattern waiting for the Marriott system to open dates up for booking. Looks like they allow booking 330 days out (or so).

If you are talking about the Renaissance that use to be the AC Diplomatic our room could have fit 4 if your kids are ok sharing pullout sofa. It did have a very small and very cold pool rooftop but maybe they took it out when Renaissance took over?

 

[NancyIL]

We booked the Renaissance for 2 nights pre cruise and are planning to use Disney transportation, but I'm feeling pretty bad about it. I know I can get a cheaper hotel and find diff transportation that would cost less, but want to take the easy route. What suggestions would you make?

We took the med cruise in 07, but I can't remember a lot from it. The first time we stayed at the Hilton Diagonal on our own and took Disney transport. Need ideas or a something.

It's quite easy to take a taxi from the airport to the hotel you book yourself - then take a taxi from your hotel to the port. We stayed at the NH Duc de la Victoria - now called NH Barcelona Centro. It is a couple of blocks from Las Ramblas in the Gothic quarter, and reasonably priced: http://www.nh-hotels.com/

 

[tajz90]

I think we've decide to go Disney all the way. We took a taxi from airport to hotel last time and I didn't like it. I have been looking at transfers and they are almost as expensive as Disney transport.

My question is, if you book and pay thru Disney, do you have to pay the extra hotel fees the hotel charges (1.25 euro per person). The Med 07 and the Baltic, we stayed at the Disney hotels we booked ourselves so I don't know how it's handled with Disney. And since most arrivals are early, are we allowed early check in times? Any insight would be helpful.

 

[carpenta]

I think we've decide to go Disney all the way. We took a taxi from airport to hotel last time and I didn't like it. I have been looking at transfers and they are almost as expensive as Disney transport.

My question is, if you book and pay thru Disney, do you have to pay the extra hotel fees the hotel charges (1.25 euro per person). The Med 07 and the Baltic, we stayed at the Disney hotels we booked ourselves so I don't know how it's handled with Disney. And since most arrivals are early, are we allowed early check in times? Any insight would be helpful.

We stayed in Disney hotels as well as used Disney transportation in both 2007 any 2010 and we were not charged ant extras. We plan to use Disney again in 2013 just for the fact that you can check-in at the hotel that morning and by pass the lines at the pier as well as not having the hassel. We were met at the airport in 2010 and whisked away to our hotel in a Mercades (sp?) and that was really nice.

 

[tajz90]

We stayed in Disney hotels as well as used Disney transportation in both 2007 and 2010 and we were not charged ant extras..

We have enjoyed the advantage of staying at the Disney sponsored hotel because of early check in. We have yet to find a better price online. Yet... Still looking Thanks for answering.