Barcelona

We will be staying a few days in Barcelona before our crossing in September. Are there any recommendations for lodging? It has been years since we've been to Barcelona.

We have been to Barcelona twice and our favorite place is the Hotel Avenida Palace just off Placa Catalunya. It's a great location in Eixample, so close we walked almost everywhere. Eixample is a beautiful area with good restaurants and shops. We took the Aerobus from the airport, very easy and dropped us one block away.

If you are looking for something fairly luxurious but in the middle of it all, we like Hotel 1898 which is on Las Ramblas, about 1 block from the Bouqeria Market (de St. Joseph). There is a Starbucks nearby as well as many, many restaurants and shops. What we like about Hotel 1898 is the luxurious rooms, the free use of the water circuit and sauna and steam room in the grotto like basement for hotel guests - ideal after a day touring Barcelona and the wonderful modern tapas bar on the roof of the hotel with an awesome view. There is also a swimming pool on the roof.

We stayed at Hotel Ingleterra and would recommend it. We stayed in the Gaudio suite which was lovely and spacious. There is a rooftop pool and the option for an included breakfast buffet which was very nice. Excellent location and service.

Excuse the auto correct error. It was the Gaudi suite.

We stayed at the W Hotel in Barcelona two years ago when we were doing the crossing on Crystal. We usually stay near the center of Barcelona, but wanted to be off a bit from the crowds. It is a lovely hotel and the views from the windows of the beach is magnificent. As a regular traveler, we were very prepared for any pick pockets as in previous trips to Spain and Buenos Aires. We were sprayed with some thing smelling like mustard and a young couple came out of nowhere carrying wipes and kept saying it was a bird overhead. I screamed at them not to touch us and ran back to the hotel. When we arrived the staff in the hotel said to please NOT take any passports out of the hotel, but to leave them in the safe until we checked out. The pickpockets are not dressed shabby, but look like any person of means.

Sheila

Last time we were in Barcelona we stayed at the Ritz-Carlton. Very nice.:)

We will be staying a few days in Barcelona before our crossing in September. Are there any recommendations for lodging? It has been years since we've been to Barcelona.

Welcome to CC you might try the ports of call thread here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=596

I also recommend Hotel 1898 - a lovely rooftop patio (for a sangria or tapas in the evening - before, after, or instead of dinner), very comfortable beds, lovely atmosphere, and a great location.

We were in Barcelona for the first time in May. We spent 2 days prior to the cruise and the day we returned before flying back to the USA. The first 2 days we were at the Europark. It was very nice, clean, comfortable and within walking distance of many things. On the return we were at the SOHO which was also very nice. At SOHO we were on the 7th floor with a huge terrace. Again, clean, comfortable and we could walk to many things. I'd recommend both. Pricing was also very reasonable. If we went back I wouldn't hesitate to stay at either one. Have fun! Barcelona was wonderful! :)

We have been to Barcelona about 5 times, stayed at two Hilton - one in the business district, another at the conference center -- it is right on the Mediterranean, new and very nice -- shopping center across the St, street cars near you can take if you want to visit the city center. We have also stayed at the ARTs - a Ritz Charlton, also very nice but expensive, we got a good deal when we stayed. By side these places, we have stayed at the airport a couple of times, for easy early morning departures... when we stayed there, took the airport bus into the city center... easy to do from the airport, you do need to be a walker... as the airport bus is a major walk from departure/arrival area to the car parking area. Obviously the airport hotels are very inexpensive... other vary depending on time of year and what is going on in the city.

Love Barcelona... :)

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

You can get a lot of recommendations for lodging by posting on the Spain Ports of Call Board.

Also Cruise Critic's sister site is a great way to read up on reviews on hotels and that is at http://www.tripadvisor.com

Keith