Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Finding a hotel vacancy in Barcelona at any time of year can be difficult, so it's always
besttobookinadvance.PricesarehighforSpainbutstillprettyreasonablewhencom-
pared to other big European cities, while stylish rooms on a moderate budget - in this
designer style capital - are fairly easy to come by. There's a wide range of overnight
options inthecity,fromyouthhostels andbudget
pensións
toglamfive-star-plus resort
hotels,housedinmedievalmansionsandmodernistamasterpiecesalike.Ifyou'relook-
ing for the home-from-home experience then Barcelona also has lots of self-contained
apartments for rent, not to mention an increasing number of private “bed-and-break-
fast”establishments-somesimplythetraditionalroominsomeone'shouse,othersvery
stylish and pricey boutique bolt-holes.
Places to stay go under various names -
pensión
,
residencia
,
hostal
, hotel - though only
ho-
tels and pensións
are recognized as official categories. These are all star-rated (hotels, one-
tofive-star;
pensións
,one-ortwo-star),buttheratingisnotnecessarilyaguidetocostoram-
bience. Some of the smaller, boutique-style
pensións
and hotels have services and facilities
that belie their star rating; some four- and five-star hotels have disappointingly small rooms
and an impersonal feel.
Apartment rentals
are available by the night or week, and while prices compare well with
mid-range hotels make sure you're happy with the location (some are out in the suburbs)
and understand all the costs - cleaning charges, utility bills and taxes can all push up the at-
tractive quoted figure. As for
youth hostels
, some traditional backpacker dives survive here
and there, but they have largely been superseded by well-equipped, well-run modern hostels
with en-suite dorm rooms as well as private rooms. For a more intimate experience there are
plenty of
budgetpensións
that also have dorms and shared accommodation. A youth hostel,
incidentally, is an
albergue
;
hostal
is the word for a
pensión
.
With the advent of online community marketplaces such as
Airbnb
(
airbnb.com
),
9flats
(
9flats.com
)and
Localo
(
localo.com
),alldesignedtoconnecttravellerswithlocalswho
have spaces to rent, a new pool of competitively priced - and sometimes very unique -
lodging has entered the where-to-stay game. Take your pick: from a sailboat in Port Olímpic
to a private penthouse overlooking Parc Güell.
