Clarea Posted August 24, 2016 #76 Share Posted August 24, 2016 I stayed at the Hotel Continental for 2 nights in Oct. 2015. No issues with this hotel at all, I realize expectations might be higher for some people, I'm fine with it. Great price, food availability, water/soda, location, no complaints. I'm booking this October for my Royal transatlantic. Susan, what TA are you on this October? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susancruzs Posted August 25, 2016 #77 Share Posted August 25, 2016 (edited) I'm on the Royal Princess, Barcelona to Ft. L., October 21st. Great ports, 3 in Spain I haven't been to, Valencia, Cartagena, Gibraltar (which I loved on the Vision cruise), Seville (Cadiz), plus Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife). I'm back to Princess through 2018, then I'll check on some RCI cruises again! :) Edited August 25, 2016 by susancruzs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 25, 2016 #78 Share Posted August 25, 2016 I'm on the Royal Princess, Barcelona to Ft. L., October 21st. Great ports, 3 in Spain I haven't been to, Valencia, Cartagena, Gibraltar (which I loved on the Vision cruise), Seville (Cadiz), plus Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife). I'm back to Princess through 2018, then I'll check on some RCI cruises again! :) We will miss you this year, we are on Brilliance. Bon Voyage!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susancruzs Posted August 26, 2016 #79 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Actually I'm on the Royal Princess Oct. 2017! I was on a TA plus Baltic this Spring so no Fall cruise for me! Australia/NZ in March though. Enjoy the Brilliance, awesome ship, perfect size, have fun! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted August 26, 2016 #80 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Actually I'm on the Royal Princess Oct. 2017! I was on a TA plus Baltic this Spring so no Fall cruise for me! Australia/NZ in March though. Enjoy the Brilliance, awesome ship, perfect size, have fun! :) Thanks Susan.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgregel Posted August 31, 2016 #81 Share Posted August 31, 2016 I'm going on my first European cruise 9/2017. What should I expect to pay for a hotel in Barcelona pre-cruise? I want a reputable hotel close to tourist spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LakerVA Posted August 31, 2016 #82 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Stayed at Acta Atrium Palace near placa Catalunya....loved it...modern clean great staff that goes above and beyond! Easy walk to main spots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Bell Posted September 3, 2016 #83 Share Posted September 3, 2016 Stayed at Acta Atrium Palace near placa Catalunya....loved it...modern clean great staff that goes above and beyond! Easy walk to main spots Thanks for this I've just book this Hotel after seeing your post:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmvda Posted September 6, 2016 #84 Share Posted September 6, 2016 three hotels that i like and stayed in Barcelona Hotel Jazz Hotel Lleo Hotel Midmost(formerly hotel Inglaterra) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suekay Posted September 7, 2016 #85 Share Posted September 7, 2016 We've stayed in Hotel Lleo and it's now our "go to" hotel in Barcelona after previously staying many times in Hotel Continental Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karinad Posted September 7, 2016 #86 Share Posted September 7, 2016 We've stayed in Hotel Lleo and it's now our "go to" hotel in Barcelona after previously staying many times in Hotel Continental Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk I had reservations at both and couldn't decide. I decided on The Continental because I thought the location of it is closer to the Gothic Area and we're only there for one night. I didn't book a balcony but hoping I could request an upgrade to one with a view. We'll be there in Oct. Any cons to this hotel while I still have time to change it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnricM Posted September 7, 2016 #87 Share Posted September 7, 2016 (edited) Just for clarity for other readers... There are two hotels with that name. Or rather, the name used above is incomplete :) These are Hotel Continental Palacete and Hotel Continental Barcelona, both 3-star and both located near Plaça Catalunya, considered the centre of Barcelona. The first one is at the luxurious Passeig de Gràcia --sort of Champs-Elysees of Barcelona-- and the second one at the top of Les Rambles boulevard, in between two mega-shops of -one of the famous fashion brands born (and headquartered) in Barcelona. Yet I suspect @karinad refers to the second one. Edited September 7, 2016 by EnricM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suekay Posted September 7, 2016 #88 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Hotel Lleo is in an old building but is more modern inside. Breakfast is served on crockery instead of polystyrene plates. There is a rooftop sun terrace with sunbeds. It's only a few hundred yards further away from the Gothic area round the corner from the start of Las Ramblas. Nothing wrong IMHO with Hotel Continental but you will be very aware that you are in an historic hotel. Balcony rooms are very popular and I would say there is virtually no chance of even a paid upgrade. If I hadn't been to Barcelona so many times I'd definitely book a Continental balcony room to people watch Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karinad Posted September 7, 2016 #89 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Just for clarity for other readers... There are two hotels with that name. Or rather, the name used above is incomplete :) These are Hotel Continental Palacete and Hotel Continental Barcelona, both 3-star and both located near Plaça Catalunya, considered the centre of Barcelona. The first one is at the luxurious Passeig de Gràcia --sort of Champs-Elysees of Barcelona-- and the second one at the top of Les Rambles boulevard, in between two mega-shops of -one of the famous fashion brands born (and headquartered) in Barcelona. Yet I suspect @karinad refers to the second one. Yes, it is the second one. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karinad Posted September 8, 2016 #90 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Hotel Lleo is in an old building but is more modern inside. Breakfast is served on crockery instead of polystyrene plates. There is a rooftop sun terrace with sunbeds. It's only a few hundred yards further away from the Gothic area round the corner from the start of Las Ramblas. Nothing wrong IMHO with Hotel Continental but you will be very aware that you are in an historic hotel. Balcony rooms are very popular and I would say there is virtually no chance of even a paid upgrade. If I hadn't been to Barcelona so many times I'd definitely book a Continental balcony room to people watch Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk Thank you! I seen that Hotel Continental is sold out in all the cheaper rooms (ours). They still have the balcony rooms that are priced close to $200/night. I guess it couldn't hurt to email and ask. If not, for a night it'll be ok since we plan on being out sightseeing. It would still be nice to be able to walk out on the balcony. I wouldn't go without one on our cruise. Nice to know that the location of the Hotel Lleo is near the Gothic area. DH loves the old architecture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnricM Posted September 8, 2016 #91 Share Posted September 8, 2016 (edited) Just a reflection... I can understand the allure of the El Gòtic neighbourhood (the Gothic Quarter), being the origin of the city of Barcelona over two thousand years ago. Yet, as in all cities with an old neighbourhood, one has to consider how these ancient European cities were formed and most importantly how the buildings were tightly grouped to one another in order to increase the available space within the city walls. These areas have normally few major avenues/boulevards and plenty of small streets and back-alleys. Barcelona was been one of these fortified cities and has had walls for centuries, in fact, three walls altogether built as the city grew. The last wall was torn down just 150 years ago and one can still see bits of it scattered around the El Gòtic and El Raval neighbourhoods. But this romantic heritage of the past carries a burden, which in the case of Barcelona is aggravated by the density of population in the city, one of the highest in Europe. While the city in itself 'merely' has roughly 1.6 million inhabitants (5 mil within the greater metropolitan area), Barcelona has an area of just 40 sq miles, which yields a density of 41000 inhabitants per sq mile and that is specially appreciated in the oldest neighbourhoods, such as El Gòtic, La Ribera or El Raval. Already in the late 1800s, when the neighbourhood of L'Eixample (meaning "the widening" in Catalan, the local language) was developed, the bourgeoisie of the city rushed to move out of El Gòtic and had their mansions erected in that area. This is the reason why l'Eixample has the most number of magnificent Modernist buildings (ie. Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Casa Ametller, LLeó i Morera, etc). So, what then?... this is to reflect on the fact El Gòtic is a maze of small streets and back-alleys, with lots of people, local and visitors alike, and that at times can be overwhelming. This is why El Gòtic is an area one must indeed stroll if visiting Barcelona, but one might not necessarily want to 'stay in' overnight moreover having plenty of attractive options in neighbouring areas, at a stone throw away from "the center", which can make resting at night a more pleasant experience. Well, everyone has his preferences of course. Just sayin' Enjoy! MAP OF NEIGHBOURHOODS OF BARCELONA PS: Yeah, I probably cheated... the picture is from a commercial street (Portal de l'Angel) during Christmas :)) Edited September 8, 2016 by EnricM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 8, 2016 #92 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Thank-you for this Enric, and your many other informative posts.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnricM Posted September 8, 2016 #93 Share Posted September 8, 2016 A real pleasure. Glad to be helpful... (pss, I also like braggin' about my hometown, LOL!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buggins0402 Posted September 8, 2016 #94 Share Posted September 8, 2016 A real pleasure. Glad to be helpful... (pss, I also like braggin' about my hometown, LOL!) Last stay, we opted to stay in l'Eixample for a change...we were so glad we did. It was so much more pleasant than being in ground zero of the tourist area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brazilgirl Posted September 9, 2016 #95 Share Posted September 9, 2016 I also recently stayed in L'Eixample and was very pleased with the location. Very charming neighborhood. We stayed at a nice 4 star hotel with excellent family rooms and a good rate. http://www.derbyhotels.com/en/hotel-granados-83/?utm_campaign=afiliados&utm_medium=afiliados&utm_source=AffiliRed&utm_content=afiliados Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaraldOslo Posted September 9, 2016 #96 Share Posted September 9, 2016 We are currently in l'Eixample and it's a nice area indeed! But, not too pleased with Ilunion Auditori. It is a bit worn down and found black mold in the shower. Will look at other hotels next time Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chairsin Posted September 10, 2016 #97 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Condes De Barcelona on Passieg de Gracia in L'Eixample is lovely. Really cool with a very comfortable room and an atmospheric rooftop bar. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron & Kristy Posted September 11, 2016 #98 Share Posted September 11, 2016 I should have possibly read this before booking our hotel. Now I am having doubts after reading the post by EnricM. We did book our hotel in El Gotic. It is Hotel Barcelona Catedral. It is a 4 1/2 star hotel with great reviews. We only have one day in Barcelona after we get off the ship and then we fly out very early the next morning. It is very close to a beautiful cathedral, Las Ramblas, and Plaza Catalunya. We know we won't have time to see much so thought it was the perfect solution. Have we made a mistake? We would really like to end this trip of a lifetime in celebration of our 20th anniversary on a positive note. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobal Posted September 11, 2016 #99 Share Posted September 11, 2016 (edited) I should have possibly read this before booking our hotel. Now I am having doubts after reading the post by EnricM. We did book our hotel in El Gotic. It is Hotel Barcelona Catedral. It is a 4 1/2 star hotel with great reviews. We only have one day in Barcelona after we get off the ship and then we fly out very early the next morning. It is very close to a beautiful cathedral, Las Ramblas, and Plaza Catalunya. We know we won't have time to see much so thought it was the perfect solution. Have we made a mistake? We would really like to end this trip of a lifetime in celebration of our 20th anniversary on a positive note. :confused: You definitely have not made a mistake. We stayed in its sister hotel Catalonia Catedral, which is on the adjacent street. It's a great location right in the heart of things and wouldn't hesitate to stay at either of those hotels. Edited September 11, 2016 by Bobal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnricM Posted September 11, 2016 #100 Share Posted September 11, 2016 (edited) Wow!... thanks for trusting my words so much but I am afraid I might have conveyed you (and perhaps others) an erroneous idea: there's nothing wrong with staying in El Gòtic per se. What I was trying to say is that (1) there are other areas to stay, Barcelona is not only El Gòtic, it's much much more and there are different areas, with different "ambiances", that might suit different travellers; and (2) El Gòtic can be quite busy -especially Jun to Sep- to the point of being suffocating at times, thus looking at other areas can be a relief. This however doesn't mean that all of the streets of El Gòtic are necessarily packed. This is the map of neighbourhoods of Barcelona: http://monbarcino.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/barris_bcn.jpg and, if anyone wonders, "stuff" visitors are interested in is spread across the city, not concentrated in a single point/neighbourhood. In your particular case, Ron & Kristy, your hotel is in a side street by the Pla de la Seu (the square in front of the Cathedral of Barcelona) which is not that busy... don't worry. Some of the streets that are really busy (or noisy) in the area of El Gòtic are, for example, Les Rambles, Plaça Reial, Via Laietana, Carrer Pelai, Plaça Catalunya, Carrer Boqueria, Carrer Ferran... as I've mentioned many times, it's more about this or that street than a general view on the whole area. But again, there are literally hundreds of avenues, streets, little streets and back-alleys... I couldn't possibly name all of those that I wouldn't recommend (as per being very busy or being noisy), could I? :)) Edited September 11, 2016 by EnricM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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