Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Room, Hotel Mesón Castilla
Right
Suite, Hotel Claris
Accommodation Tips
!
Book Ahead
wrought-iron balconies,
which can make all the
difference to a small
room. Ask for
una habita-
ció exterior amb vistes
(a room with a view) or
amb balcó
(with balcony).
If you're a light sleeper,
opt for a
una habitació
interior
(interior room).
star hotels and above. A
deposit is payable on
reservation. The tourist
office also produces a
list of the best
pensions
and
hostals
for budget
travellers. On the web,
try www.barcelonahotels.
es and www.barcelona
turisme.com.
If visiting Barcelona
in the high season (Mar-
Jul & Sep), book ahead
as the city's hotels,
pensions
and
hostals
(smaller, more basic
guesthouses rated at
one to three stars) usually
fill to capacity. When
reserving a room, ask
about special deals as
many hotels have these,
especially in the low
season (Oct-Mar & Aug).
@
Where to Find
%
Single Travellers
(
Cases de Pagès
Single rooms at
hostals
and
pensions
are
few and far between, but
hotels are legally obliged
to let double rooms to
single occupants at a
fixed price. All rates must
be posted at reception or
in the rooms.
^
Families
Discover rural
Catalonia by staying at
Cases de Pagès
(country
or farm houses), which
offer B&B-style lodgings.
They vary widely, from
small, rural homes with
a handful of rooms to
luxurious, palace-sized
farmhouses. Stop by the
Turisme de Catalunya
office
(see p132)
for a
free list of the
Gîtes de
Catalunya
and (to buy)
the
Cases de Pagès
book, which has detailed
listings and pictures of all
such houses. This infor-
mation is also accessible
through its website
(www.gencat.es/probert).
)
Refugis
Budget Beds
There are scores of
cheap
pensions
and
hostals
on La Rambla
and its sidestreets in
the Barri Gòtic and El
Raval. Plaça Reial also
has a cluster of budget
accommodation options.
Many hotels offer
discounts for children
under 12 when they
share their parents' room
on a temporary bed.
£
Pensions &
Hostals
Room size (and comfort
level) in
pensions
and
hostals
varies widely, but
in the accredited budget
places (the tourist office
has a list of these), you'll
find clean rooms and
good security. Rooms
come either
amb bany
(with a bath) or
sense
bany
(without a bath);
most have a washbasin.
$
Getting the Room
&
Security
If you're going to be
staying at youth hostels
and campsites, carry a
chain and padlock to tie
your luggage to some-
thing sturdy. Always
leave your valuables
in a safe or locked box,
which most places have.
*
Hotel Booking
Throughout the
Pyrenees and other
mountainous areas, you'll
find
refugis
(basic moun-
tain hostels for hikers
and bikers). They offer
simple, cheap accommo-
dation, usually bunk beds
in a dorm room. In the
summer months,
refugis
fill up quickly, so it is
advisable to book in
advance. Ask at tourist
offices for a list of local
ones; or stop by Turisme
de Catalunya
(see p132).
Service & Websites
The tourist office
(see
p132)
in Plaça de
Catalunya has a hotel
booking service, which is
useful if you arrive in high
season without a reserva-
tion. It offers bookings in
hotels of all categories,
but most often in three-
you Want
Hotels and
hostals
give
the best rooms to those
who ask for them - so
always inquire. Most
hostals
, particularly
in the old town, have
some rooms with lovely
142
Visitors seeking long-term accommodation, beware of agencies
that charge for accommodation lists; they are invariably a scam.