Barcelona - where and which hotel/apartment?

[MaggieW]

DH and I are off to Barcelona for three nights in a month's time. Haven't been before so not sure where to stay. Any tips please? Mid-range budget.

Try '39 Steps' (Staying Cool). Lovely and romantic and 2 mins from the ramblas

Oooh...jealous! Barcelona is my favourite european city :)

We stayed here for my borthday a few years ago. We had an apartment (right beside the hotel) which was very nice and it's a good, central location for wandering the gothic quarter, Las Ramblas etc.

Last year, we stayed here for a few nights. I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised by it :) Our room was more like a suite (complete with cooking facilities) and the living area overlooked the roof terrace of Gaudi's Casa Mila...pretty fab view. It's a little further from Las Ramblas etc but very close to a major metro station so good connecting point to the whole city.

Have also stayed in other establishments when travelling on a student budget but the less said about those the better!

It's a personal opinion but I prefer the very old twisty lanes which then come out by the beautiful Med. Most of Barcelona is oddly facing away from the sea. Don't stay by the beach though it's too far south if it's your first time. It's all walkable but you'll wear yourself out as theres loads to see!
Anyway the Duquesa de Cardona is my fave feel like a movie star is a great location facing out to Port Vell.
There is a cheaper option next door but I don't know if it has the amazing view. catalonia port. Both back on to some brilliant secret little bars and restaurants and a few recommended ones.
We have also stayed here but there isn't a pool (which is good to have after trudging round all day). It is however right in the middle of where you are going to be and yet it is down a quiet back street. Don't let the negative comments put you off - it's a bit ethnic that's all and not the sleezy den of inequity some people have put (and I like the Daily Mail on occasion).

39 steps looks brilliant though!

Hi Ladies. Thank you for your suggestions so far. I've drawn a blank as most are already fully booked. Any other ideas please? Also, if we stay in an apartment, which area is best? And of course, what are the not-to-be-missed things to do in Barcelona in three days, allowing for a bit of beach time too please?

"Best" is really open to what makes your idea of holiday special. I like a nice view (not air conditioning units and backs of buildings), I like old and I like sea. So I stay by Port Vell (between Barri Gotic and La Ramblas)

Lots of places are up in l'Eixample which is sort of above the middle of town. It is supposed to be the smart area and certainly there are lots of expensive shops and restaurants. Casa Mila is up there which is on my list of must see's. However I think it looks a bit like any old European city and the four lanes of traffic on each side drive me insane so I'd never stay there.

Barcelona is like several cities squashed into one and none are that far apart. So when we stay in Raval (bit run down and scruffy) you are literally a two minute walk from La Ramblas and it's bonkers street market. Cross over and go into twisty old Roman lanes full of nice shops. And if you go up la Ramblas you get to something akin to Piccadily Circus (Placa de Catalunya) and the onto LEixample. If you go down you hit yacht club and seaside. And all around are stonking great hills!

Taxi's are cheap and the Hop on hop off bus will take you everywhere and give you a view of the city which is amazing so where you end up isn't problematic really. Avoid El Poblenou perhaps as being a bit outside for a first visit.

Pullman, grand central, duquesa all fab. The Novotelis also worth a punt for cheap and cheerful.

We stayed in a Whotells apartment - www.whotells.com/en - I think ours was in Raval if I recall but they also have them in Eixample and Barceloneta according to the website.

They are not luxurious (the website describes them as functional) but they are reasonably priced and had everything we needed. We like self-catering though as it is a bit more relaxing having the choice to cook in or go out, particularly for breakfast.

If we go back to Barcelona we would try to stay in one again.

Updating as we are still not decided on accommodation for May- Air B and B or hotel?