Barcelona - Info Needed from Boardsies!

kead1987

Hi, I am going to Barcelona with my partner at the end of July and was hoping for some advice from people who have already been there as regards to a hotel. This is the one I am looking at:

http://www.hotel-aranea.com/index.html

Perhaps somebody who knows the city could look at the location of the hotel on the map on that site and tell me if its in a good position to see most things that are to be seen in Barcelona?

And Ive been told theres a New city centre and an old city centre - where are these areas? Is La Rambla in the area of the new city or old city centre?

As regards to the location of that particular hotel, is the Camp Nou stadium near there, or what area is it in?

If somebody could indeed suggest a better hotel with a better location, then I would be very grateful. Any additional information on this city would be appreciated. Thank you.

bug

Its a tiny bit far, generally if you stay anywhere near or immediately north of the ramblas its the best bet.

I stayed here, ramblas.http://www.eurostarscristalpalacehotel.com/

Its near playa cataluyna at the top of the ramblas in the shopping area. But just off a main street so you dont get all the noise.

its really nice and not too far from the top of the ramblas, has parking and lovely modern comfortable rooms. There is also a little cafe right across the road if you miss breakfast, and serves as a little place for a nightcap too!

The hotel I stayed in is nice and a good location for walking, we got a great deal on rates to go.

The location your hotel is in looks ok, but I would say you might get tired feet.
The tour bus passes by the Sagrada Família, the hotel your in looks like its in the gothic area.

gary the great

Im heading to Barca next week (for the champions lge match), but im staying for 4 days as a holiday and need abit of info on what there is to do?

There doesnt seem to be any threads on barca that give any info about touristy things.

I'm going to the Nou camp for the match, im going to do the tour of the nou camp and on the Thursday night im going to the Espanyol UEFA cup game. Other than that i have no plans, any suggestions?

learnerplates

yeah great spot, the city centre is worth walking around in so I wouldn't worry about getting anywhere within a 2km radius of La Ramblas.
I stayed in the most beautiful hotel, it was just taken over by BestWestern when I went over about 3 years ago and so may have been temporarily cheap but i couldn't believe the deal, it was superb, and was just refurbished, bestwestern atrium palace hotel
it's about a 20 min walk to la Ramblas, I wouldn't recommend staying on la Ramblas it's to busy.

To get around to the stadium and all of that the tour bus is the only way to go, brings you everywhere.

There's also a bullfighting arena up the road, came across it by mistake, an eye opener and cheap to get in, only if your into that of course.

peter1892

Perhaps somebody who knows the city could look at the location of the hotel on the map on that site and tell me if its in a good position to see most things that are to be seen in Barcelona?

I stayed in the Apsis Aranea in october 2005. The hotel is really good, modern & clean. Location wise, well it was about a 15 minute walk from Place Catalunya (which was OK for me but mightn't suit everyone). The area was quiet, there's not a lot of choice in the immediate area as regards restaurants & bars (lots of 'local' places which were fine) but as it's not too far from Las Ramblas you'll have lots more choice in that area. Tetuan was the nearest metro stop but you'll end up changing at Catalunya anyway.

I found the hotel's location to be fine for sightseeing - the tour buses go from Place Catalunya & the metro connections from there are excellent too (actually the hotel was about a 5 minute walk from Sagrada Familia as well). The Camp Nou is on the other side of town (other end of the Diagonal) but the tour buses stop there & you can take a metro train that'll leave you close by anyway.

The bus tours - there's a red & blue route...I think the red one brings you up to FCB, and also serves Parc Guell (which is close to a metro stop). The other tour spent way too much time up at the Olympic complex.

Other info...well it's a great city, lots to see and do there (museums, shops, bars, restaurants, clubs). The Ramblas is a really vibrant street with a variety of attractions but mind yourself down at the bottom end of it, especially at night. Some people will tell you horror stories about Barcelona, I've been twice & never saw anything bad. Take the usual precautions that you would in any big city regarding personal safety & you'll be fine.

DublinDilbert

Hi All,

Planning on going to barcelona myself next week... we just got the flights organised... now looking for hotels, have tried both the hotels mentioned above, but both are booked up...

has anyone any other recomendations for some where central to stay??

Thanks,
DD

Zindmin

You definitely want to stay near Las Ramblas, probably at the marina end as there is more hotels down there i think, down by the columbus monument. As for getting to the nou camp etc you just get the metro or you can go on one of those hop on off bus tours. I was there a few months back and there is a ticket that you can get that lets you go on all 3 routes and hop on and off as you please. You get to see everything from the Nou Camp, to the cathedral to the gaudi apartments. Plus then you're not far from the beach if you stay near the marina!

heggie

try oh-barcelona.com I used it and found it good for accomodation. It's a great city, none of the catalans enjoy bullfighting (who would?!) so dont go for that reason! Stayed near las ramblas, noisy if near the street, but well worth it