Apartment in Barcelona

[natto]

Hi, I'm searching on the internet for somewhere to stay for a week in Barcelona and am a bit overwhelmed so just wondering if anyone can recommend somewhere suitable?

We're a family of 2 adults and 2 children (aged 2 and 4), and want somewhere close enough to the main attractions to be able to walk mostly, but don't want to be kept awake all night with noise. Also need 2 bedrooms so we can stay up in the evenings when the children have gone to bed. Therefore a nice living area would also be great.

Even some idea of good/bad areas would be very helpful.

Many thanks

I live in Barcelona.
Try the website rent4days [http://www.rent4days.com/]. They also have a special offer on the left and sometimes they have very good deal.
Districts to avoid:

• All the Old Town and that means: Born, Raval, Gothic, Cathedral: Noisy, sometimes dirty,
• Gracia: very nice and boheme if you have 20 y, a nightmare if you want to sleep. But do go there during day time as it is really nice

I would recommend the Eixample area: if you look at a map, (even google map) you can draw a square with the bottom line represented by Plaza Catalunya and then follow Passeig the Gracia up till Diagonal. That will be you northern limit. Back in the middle of Passeig de Gracia, move your finger on the right till Roger de Lluria, another limit, and then on the left till Enric Granados. . This square is perfect for transportation, restaurants, and you are next door to the Casa Batllo, Pedrera, ...and you have tons of buses/metro, and it's nice.

Wow, thanks so much for all this info, it's all really helpful. Off for some more research now.....

Barcelona is just great for children, and my sons love to go to the Science Museum - Cosmo caixa, we go there at least once a week after school. There is also a nice restaurant and you have a stunning view. To go there take L7 till the last stop Avinguda Tibidabo.
The Citadella park is really nice and in Paseo picasso you can rent a ko-cart for 4 and have a easy ride in the park or around.
Park Guell is just fantastic and to go there don't take the metro, you'll have to walk almost 1 km, take the bus nr 24 in Paseo de Gracia, it stops on front of the entrance.
If you have to choose between one of the Gaudi Building, go for the casa battlò it's like a magic house.
Ramblas are nice but overrated.
Children love the funicular for the Montjuic hill.

Gordonpym - this is really useful as I am about to take parents and kids to barcelona for a few days in march and that web site was very useful - are there any nice hotels in that area you would recommend - last time I was in Barca I stayed at Arts - not quite in that league sadly - and would you be able to suggest a good restaurant to take parents to that would be OK with kids - 11 and 7?

Cheers and thanks!

I'm going next weekend to Hotel Praktic Ramblas. Haven't stayed there before but the girlfriends I'm meeting up with have and say it's funky and cheap (90 Euros per night for a twin).

I echo what others say about noise - we stayed in an apartment in Barrio Gotic last time and couldn't sleep for arseholes football fans chanting Barca Barca Barcelona all night

My favourite restaurant is Los Coracoles. I've been to Barcelona a lot and always go there.

Mumblechum - thanks for those ideas!!

Nice hotel:
group NH: the best is NH Calderon in Rambla de Catalunya (Rambla de catalunya is NOT the Ramblas) or the NH Duc de La Victoria . This one is in the Gothic but if you ask for a room "interior" there is no noise. We stood there for 10 days while looking for a house .
Once my sister stayed at the Hotel Crystal eurostar. Great location and big room and paid125 euro/night. But you can get the same price for Nh.
Restaurant: every restaurant here is ok for children. I like the Matamala because it's delicious and they give paper and pencils for children. It's smartish but easy-going, perfect for family, not noisy, all white, calm.
My father likes a lot Casa Amalia, next to the Concepcion Market, real spanish cuisine and no tourists.
La cerveceria catalana is a classic, but too crowded . In Enric Granados there are plenty of small restaurants and they work with locals. Habaluc, La Polpa , Origens ... A very good one is a new one in Grandados corner with Rossello, great hamburgers and salads. Can't remember the exact name, something like fileto ruso.
all have 10 euro menus at lunch time.
The restaurant in the boqueria market are amazing, but I never can't enjoy my meal there as I am too paranoid about thefts

Let me warn you about robberies in Barcelona, a very safe city but for your wallet.
[http://jon.es/barna/scams.html]. You need to be veryyyyyy careful.