Monk Posted 24 January, 2014 Share Posted 24 January, 2014 Appreciate any help from you lovely bunch. Looking at taking the girlfriend to Barcelona for a short break in May (looking to get to the Barca vs Atheltico game for the 16th) can anybody recommend a good hotel? 4* preferably. Only looking at 3/4 nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTL Posted 24 January, 2014 Share Posted 24 January, 2014 Any of the H10 hotels in Barcelona are good value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alehouseboys Posted 24 January, 2014 Share Posted 24 January, 2014 Any of the H10 hotels in Barcelona are good value. Agree. Gothic, El Born districts are a good base, short walk to Marina, beach, Ramblers, etc. Metro stations everywhere very easy to get around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 25 January, 2014 Share Posted 25 January, 2014 Me and the gf stayed at the tryp Apollo when we went. BCN is a great city, I'd love to live their. P.s take me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 25 January, 2014 Share Posted 25 January, 2014 Not quite what you need for the gf, but if any use, I did a comprehensive review for my best mate's stag do. Took advice from a current resident and a friend who had lived their for 5 years and have a long list of the best bars, clubs and post hangover chillout brunch places. Worked a treat and meant that we wasted no time while there searching where to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor_Saint Posted 25 January, 2014 Share Posted 25 January, 2014 (edited) Go cheaper and spend it on great restaurants. Hotel Emma - get the penthouse, a lot cheaper than a 4 star in Barcelona but a fantastic hotel (due to work I stay at a 5 star hotel in London every week). Breakfast in the morning is fantastic - continental though but included. Obviously no evening restaurant or bar but if you want to drink and eat in the hotel rather than sample the fantastic city then just go to Birmingham and stay at a Hilton. http://emma.room-matehotels.com/ If you choose that hotel, I can give you the BEST tapas bar in the world which is about a 5 minute walk from the hotel. You need to book a good 2 or 3 hours out for that meal and book early as it's packed every night. Anyhow, can you tell I love Barcelona? PS First day you're there, take the tourist bus (think there are two separate routes) and go on both and find out where you want to stop off the next day (you can get a two day pass on the hop on hop off bus). The cathedral is a must (serious brownie points for taking her there!) Edited 25 January, 2014 by Tractor_Saint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb Posted 4 February, 2014 Share Posted 4 February, 2014 (edited) I'm off with my wife and son in a week or so as joint celebrations for our 40th bdays. We are staying in a fairly quiet part of twon along the Avenue Diagonal. It seems fairly central without being too near the noiseier parts of town. Main bus route right outside the door so should be able to get about quite easily. I have to admit I have been so busy with work that my usual meticulous planning is severely lacking for this trip. We are going to Barca Vs Rayo Vallecano so I hope Messi is up to full speed by then for my sons sake! But apart from that I am winging it pretty much. I am hoping this is a good thing. I will definitely do the bus tours as suggested. I think we are just looking forward to having a wander and doing the usual stuff first couple of days. Edited 4 February, 2014 by jasonb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish fingers Posted 4 February, 2014 Share Posted 4 February, 2014 Stayed here when we went a coupel of years ago http://www.acevihotels.com/barcelona/hotel-villarroel-centro-wifi-free.php?idioma=es Pretty decent location, close to Metro and Ramblers. Great city, loads to do. Don't spend too long on the Ramblers as so much else to see in the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 4 February, 2014 Share Posted 4 February, 2014 You WILL have stuff stolen from you on Las Ramblas, plan for it and leave ID/credit cards in the hotel for emergency Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 4 February, 2014 Share Posted 4 February, 2014 You WILL have stuff stolen from you on Las Ramblas, plan for it and leave ID/credit cards in the hotel for emergency Yup, I got my mobile pickpocketed Though it was rubbish anyway. Did get to spend a half hour then talking a police man who was one of the most charming people you could ever hope to meet the next day. He also gave us some tips on hidden bars and tapas places. So if anything it actually made the trip better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 4 February, 2014 Share Posted 4 February, 2014 (edited) A little outside of the centre (but about 15 mins walk from the La Sagradia Familia (?) is this place; http://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/barcelona/melia-barcelona-sky/index.html Got flights, a premium city view room (panoramic views of the city etc) for £160 each all in just last week! Wish we were still there. :-( It came with tapas menu served until 11pm and free breakfast (the biggest spread of breakfast I've ever seen). Also, all drinks besides spirits are free. Soft drinks, beers, wines...! Taxis ALWAYS outside so you can always jump in one of them if you don't fancy walking. Also, there is the metro and tram which you can also use. If your missus likes shopping, try Avinguda Diagonal - incredible amount of shops from highstreet to boutique. I was dragged round there a whole day last week, such joyous fun. It's about 15-20 mins from the airport, about 30 euros ride between you. Monk, I highly, highly recommend it. Edited 4 February, 2014 by Crab Lungs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb Posted 20 February, 2014 Share Posted 20 February, 2014 (edited) Back from our trip to Barca. Great time and no signs of bag dippers or pick pockets. No different to visiting any big city tbh. Just take usual precautions etc. Saying that we were never in the Gotic area after 9pm as we took my 10 year old so maybe a different story later at night. Really enjoyed the Barca vs real Valacarca game as Barca romped it 6-0 with Messi scoring twice and a screamer from Naymar Jr. Great atmos and a wonderful experience with their club anthem belted out before kick off and at full time. No goal music and not even goal scorer announcers. Total tradition which I would guess has been unchanged for decades. Oh to have this sort of tradition still in existence in our own game. Bring back the Salvation Army band. Get rid of goal music and that annoying prat who tries to whip the crowd up before kick off. Overall a good trip and an excellent metro system. The only thing I was disappointed about was the food. The very thing I was expecting to be brilliant turned out to be a big let down. I'm sure we were just unlucky in some of our choices of restaurant but there did seem to be an awful lot of tourist traps. We tried to steer well clear of places on or just off the Rambla but even so some of the places we ate at we're very average. Shame. Edited 20 February, 2014 by jasonb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pancake Posted 20 February, 2014 Share Posted 20 February, 2014 Jason, did you happen to go with people who like to drink ale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonb Posted 20 February, 2014 Share Posted 20 February, 2014 Family trip so no. Wifey was on the red wine and sangria mainly whilst I also had this plus the standard Estrella beer. Found a Belgian/Catalan fusion restaurant selling decent enough Belgium beer but other than that didn't see much ale where we went. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiggy Posted 21 February, 2014 Share Posted 21 February, 2014 Barcalona is beautiful, but in my opinion the pickpocketing is no worse than any other city of its size - London or Paris for example. If you're vigilant it will be fine. I stayed there with my girlfriend last summer, NU hotels, theres a few out there but the one we stayed in was at the top of Las Ramblas. Easy walk to the shops, metro etc. Plus I highly recommend the market, the food is fantastic there, best street food I've eaten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 23 February, 2014 Share Posted 23 February, 2014 I have been 3 times. Once with a gf, once on a lads weekend and once with England. I have never had a thing stolen and on two occasions I was walking round the town battered. Be sensible and follow the general rules of being in public places and you shouldn't have any trouble. It's a brilliant city, probably my favourite in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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