recently spent 4 days in bcn and would recommend staying somewhere near placa de catalunya, try to find a small hotel off la rambla as the prices will be much cheaper, staying, eating and drinking on la rambla seemed to almost double in price. it is easy to get around either by foot or use the metro, one of the best in the world we have experienced. we stayed in hotel nouvel, a cheapish clean well managed small hotel 10 metres from la rambla.

i'd reccommend looking for apartments thats what im trying to do in Bari Gotic......

isn't Las ramblas very long?

i'm not taking over your post but hotel/apartment suggestions would be nice we are in the same boat mid 20's spending a week in BCN!!!!!

living it up!!

if you are looking for apartments, try www.homing-barcelona.com, they have apartments right in the center of Barcelona, and quite a few on the Ramblas.

Hi James

We have just returned from 5 wonderful days in BCN. We stayed in the El Born district and rented an apartment through habitat apartments. The immediate area was wonderful, full of wonderful places to eat and drink at night and great shopping during the day.

It was about 10 minutes walking to Las Ramblas and the harbour. The transport network in the area was great to access the rest of the city (bus/metro).

There was a group of Aussies staying in our building (Princesa) of (I would say) a similar age to yourself. They said they were having a great time - they used to be going out at 11;30 pm for dinner when we were returning to go to bed (the joys of travelling with kids!)

Have a great time.

We tend to stay in apartments in Barri Gotic. Some people are a bit intimidated by the narrow lanes and occassional dodgy character but it's mostly fine if you keep your wits about you.

We've used both oh-barcelona.com and visit-bcn.com on several occasions and have been pleased by both companies.

we have just returned from barcelona. stayed on the edge of barri gotic. we used habitat apartments, paid 315€ for 3 nights and this is what we got:

wonderful communications

easy to understand directions

airconditioned, spacious apartment,fully fitted kitchen beautifully done with granite worktops, sofa, dining table, coffee maker, toaster, kettle, lovely bathroom with decent powerful shower,proper hairdrier (not a hoover tube!!) balcony with table and chairs.

all for the price of an average 3* hotel. the location was great, just off a main road, hailed cab to airport in about 2 mins and just round the corner drom cathedral / churchof santa maria del mar where there are no endof restaurants, cafes etc.

you may not be intending to cook buthaving the extra space for the same price was fab. i've been several times to barcelona and will probably go again but after this i wouldn't stay in a hotel again when you can have so much more for the same money