Barcelona in November

[Travel2Learn]

Since so many of you have experience in Barcelona, which Regent hotel do you recommend? I am thinking of staying at the Hesperia Tower and hiring private tour guides for 2 days rather than traveling around the city alone. Comments?

[Colonel(Ret.)Wes]

Trave2Learn, (if I recall correctly, we enjoyed your company on a tour in Halong Bay and for lunch on the Voyager in March/early April!) can't help u with Regent hotels, am sure someone will soon chime in. Strongly believe your plan to do two days of private tours/w/guides is a good one. For private tours in Barcelona, we used Barcelona Day Tours last November...we were able to see BCN key attractions:

La Sagrada Familia- world-famous architectural masterpiece
Park Guell- Gaudi's greatest Park with beautiful city views
La Boqueria market
Pg. de Gracia- Barcelona's most expensive & magnificent Avenue
La Pedrera- Gaudi's most famous building in Barcelona (Casa Mila)
Casa Batllo- Gaudi's most astounding contribution to Modernisimo
Casa Amataller- part of the trio "Apple of Discord"
Casa Morera- part of the trio "Apple of Discord"
Plaza España- most impressive plaza in Barcelona
The National Palace- a very impressive site with great views
The Olympic Ring- see where it all happened in 1992
Montjuic Castle- with lots of history and great city views
The Columbus Monument- for the world-famous explorer
Pt. Olympic- Built for the 1992 games: a Marina, shops & more
Plaza Catalunya

[Travelcat2]

Since so many of you have experience in Barcelona, which Regent hotel do you recommend? I am thinking of staying at the Hesperia Tower and hiring private tour guides for 2 days rather than traveling around the city alone. Comments?

We will be on the same cruise in November and have decided against using a Regent hotel (not that there is anything wrong with them). We were able to get one night in Barcelona and one night in Dubai for less than than the $600 Regent charges for their hotel. Have you checked Regent's hotels on TripAdvisor? The reviews should be helpful.

We did La Boqueria market on our own a couple of years ago and higly recommend it. You don't need a tour for that. Just be careful of pickpockets wherever you go -- there are a few cities where they are noticeable and Barcelona is one of them. Suggest wearing something under your clothing to carry money. I have even pinned a pocket shut so I could carry money in it. We do love Barcelona and look forward to spending the night there in November:-)

[Travel2Learn]

Thank you for the warning. Pickpockets, my specific site-seeing wishes and not knowing Barcelona are 3 reasons why I thought I'd hire a private guide. My focus is art and architecture. In Dubai, I will stay at a 5 star hotel, but not through Regent. Their mark-ups are outrageous for a solo traveler.

[jhenry1]

We were on a Med cruise in May and I booked the Hotel 1898 and it was great and a great price for the location. It is on the las Ramblas and right around the corner is a starbucks if you are into coffee and the market is right down the street and it is a must see. We also booked a tour with Spanish trails adventures with 2 other couples. they picked us up at our hotel and we toured Monsterrate and Barcelona highlights and even had tapas for lunch. They are great and we designed our own tour and it was a full day and I mean a full day tour. Great and they have a website and respond very quickly to any questions you might have. Also the Hotel 1898 being on Las Ramblas is very close to many great restaurants. hope this helps. If you have any questions just let me know.

Kandy from Texas

[Travel2Learn]

Kandy and Wes, thank you for the suggestions.

[Traveling Library]

Barcelona is easy to get around. Put your "big city" hat on and enjoy. We stayed at the Hotel Colon (4 star) and the Hotel Regencia Colon (3 star and right behind the Colon). Some rooms of the Hotel Colon overlook the Cathedral.
We did a combination of the HoHo, Metro (which is safe), and walking. We never felt unsafe but we also didn't wear jewelry, carry a flashy camera or cell phone, and avoided large crowds. Yes, be aware of the pickpockets but don't give them an opportunity either.
Remember see anything and everything Gaudi. You won't be disappointed. He had such whimsy, a sense of humor, and style.

[Eager2Travel]

We are booked at the Hotel Condes something on our own. It is one of the Regent hotels. I have it on hold but still staying open to something else. It is very easy to get to the port in Barcelona.

[No Mo Deputy]

We're excited about our first cruise and looking forward to Regent. On recommendation of friends who visit Barcelona regularly, we booked our own transportation and 2 nights at Le Meridien.

Thougths on the weather through November 11th ending in Venice?
Joe & Patty

[Longhorn1]

Also stayed at Le Meridien. If you can get a Med suite, go for it. Great rooms on the top floor with fabulous patios. Views over the rooftops. Service was good there and location convenient. Agree on private tour guide...we accomplished a lot that way. By the way, what a town!!

[gourmet guide]

I have stayed at the hotel condes de Barcelona and can vouch for it. It's tidy and clean and rooms are high quality. They even have telephones in the bathrooms which is slightly weird :(. THe hotel sits on one of the main thoroughfares and is around six minutes walk from Barcelonas hib the plaza de Catelunya. It's also only ten minutes in a taxi from the port.
Good rooms,good,location and staff that speak perfect English. Watch out for the breakfast which is included in the price. It's a continental breakfast but it's pretty basic and not worth the effort.

there is a brilliant takeaway diagonally opposite the hotel which is super cheap and they do a great cooked breakfast.

Staff are very polite and don't get in the way. you won't go far wrong if you use this hotel.

Just broke my posting virginity :)

[ededmd]

Just broke my posting virginity :)

Congratulations!