Options
Barcelona hotels
I know Tauck uses The One Hotel, The Majestic, and Le Meridien in Barcelona. I’d appreciate any recommendations, and feedback on any of these please. Going a few days prior to a cruise.
0
Comments
When we did the “Treasures of Spain and Portugal” small ship cruise, we stayed at the “Palace” hotel. Very very nice.
Of the three hotels, I only have experience staying at Le Méridien and that was years ago. The only thing I remember about the hotel is that our room overlooked La Rambla, the main pedestrian thoroughfare. I am not a fan of that area because of its circus-like atmosphere, but the market—Mercat de la Boqueria is a great place to wander through and have a bite to eat.
I recommend researching each hotel and where located before making a decision.
We also stayed at Le Meridian. This was in 2022. As mentioned above it is on Las Ramblas although the entry (wisely) is on a side street. You can wander away from Ramblas which we mostly did to avoid the crowds and pickpockets. The hotel itself was fine. We got some Marriott points for incidentals. The concierge staff was excellent. The food was passable. There are some pretty nice hotels in Barcelona. Le Meridian is a tour group hotel and if I was traveling independently it would not be my first choice. Across that small side street is Hotel 1898. Now we have not stayed there but the concierge at Le Meridian booked a table for us at their rooftop bar and restaurant. It was terrific. We met couples who were staying at the hotel and they loved it.
We did Barcelona on our own some years ago and stayed at a hotel called Casa Camper. It was nice, and very modern, on a side street off Las Ramblas. If you're looking to save some money, check it out. It's was a good hotel.
Here are a few pictures - https://www.mikeandjudytravel.com/2017FranceSpainPortugal-12.htm
If I ever returned to Barcelona, I would choose the Palace Hotel. Thanks for the recommendation, Sealord. It looks fabulous.
Skip Le Meridien. We were there with Tauck this past May. Las Ramblas is overrated - too many tourists and pickpockets. And, it is completely torn up with construction. We came in early to go to Mahler's Second Symphony at the Palau de la Musica Catalana. We had been up over 30 hours (long story) and asked the hotel to wake us in an hour so we could get to the concert. They failed to do so (luckily, our watches work us up in time). It is an average hotel with mediocre food. You can do better elsewhere. Enjoy Barcelona! Between Gaudi and Montaner there is much to see.
It’s literally almost 50 years since I had one day in Barcelona. We had the Northern Spain tour booked last year but had to cancel very near the date because of illness and have not rebooked yet. i know I could google, but what exactly do you see in Las Ramblas?
I guess I found my answer. https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/ramblas/barcelona-las-ramblas.html#:~:text=Plaça de Catalunya: This central,Europe's most renowned cultural landmarks.
I could skip the cafes, shops and food market but the Opera house would be tops on my list to visit. Having been lucky enough to sing on the stage of the Academy of Music, we just love to get the chance to go on the stage and to visit the backstage spaces of other theaters and see all those ropes at the side of the stage that control curtains and pieces of scenery. It’s amazing too to see the tiny and sometimes shabby dressing rooms that the cast have to put up with.
You won't see the backside of the Palau de la Musica Catalana but I think it is among the top five things to see in Barcelona. The guided tour includes a short film which explains the recognition of the common man movement in Barcelona. Couple that with the must see Sant Pau Hospital by the same over the top architect and the museum in it will also explain the movement. The Sagrada Familia is now so crowded that I recommend going there on your own as tours don't allot enough time. Even the basement is interesting as is taking the elevate up to the towers (not sure I could do that anymore because the walk down.would be hard on knees). For those of you who have been to Barcelona before and seen Gaudi's apartments, there is a newly renovated house by Gaudi, Casa Viicens, which is really interesting. And, if you come in several days early consider taking a half day tour to Montserrat.
According to the locals, Las Ramblas will be torn up for some time. It has always been at the bottom of my list of things to see in Barcelona. Way too much to see in this city - kind of like Paris on steroids. British, Place de Catalunya is a really big square at the top of Las Ramblas.
If any of you are lucky enough to have Eloidie as the TD, she is the best!
Crossing my fingers and hope Eloidie is our TD.