We're spending a week in Barcelona, Sept 8-15 2008. Our budget is about $50 U.S. per night, and we'd like to stay in a central area, prefer Barri Gotic neighborhood but we're flexible (will not stay in Barri Xines). The Breakfast part of the Bed and Breakfast is not important. What is important is trying to stay as central as possible, near metro stations/bus stations, cleanliness, non smoking accommodations. Given our financial limitations, any help and advice will be appreciated.

We just returned from Barcelona and I honestly would be shocked if you could get a place for $50 U.S. a night. We stayed in the Gotic area for 80 Euros a night. I wouldn't recommend the place we stayed at though. Hopefully someone can tell me I am wrong.

Sandy

Hi Sandy - oh know - what was wrong with the place you stayed at?

Otherwise how was Barcelona? and the rest of your trip?

Liz

Okay - we're upping the ante to $100 u.s.

My friends like the "7 Balconies".
Its official website seems to have been hijacked. Try this one:
http://www.travel-library.com/b&b/europe/spain/barcelona/7_balconies.html

Sandy, sorriest to hear the rental did not work out.
I too would like to know more. Considering the 80-euro price and the location, I thought it was a good deal. Was the building/apartment not good quality?

Hi Everyone

I am a pretty optimistic type of person and try to be very positive minded especially while on holidays so it really was not a big deal...I just would not recommend staying there. The first indication was when we walked in the door. We are not smokers so we felt like we were living in an ashtray. There is a couple of nightclubs next door so we made the mistake of not packing earplugs because the hollering and banging of metal doors went on until at least 4 AM. The owner of the apts. is a lovely person who agreed to change us to her adjoining apt. that strangely didn't have the same smoke odor. My son and I walk around at night wherever we stay at but my husband did not want us to on this street. We also felt like the taxi driver wanted to quickly drop us off when we first arrived. The owner told us that it is much safer now that they have police guards in the area. I agree that they seemed to have a known presence to all around. We were out for much of the time anyway so they really were minor problems.

The apt. itself needs some maintenance work done.... Again, I just wouldn't recommend it. The owner is a gem though.

We did as you suggested Americana. We only went to Park Guell and Sagrada Familia. The rest of the time we just kind of soaked up the culture and used the Hop on Hop off bus as transportation for two days. We even spent some time at the beach.

Sandy

Sandy, I hope you will write a review of the apartment you stayed at for slowtalk. Liz, I hope you do too. We don't have a lot of reviews for Barcelona, and what we do have are pretty proportionally negative/positive. Definitely more negative than I have seen in other cities, though my rental experience there was great.

So please send in reviews!

For the OP - 7 Balconies Does look really nice. You might also check out the reviews of apartments and hotels on slowtalk. I hope you find something great in your price range, and that you'll come back and tell us all about it!

Sandy - sorry the apartment wasn't quite what you'd hoped for.

Shannon - I was going to but have learned it's for sale (you could buy it for 950E!). If it stays in the rental pool after sale I will then (does that make sense?)

We've just come back from a weekend in Barcelona and we stayed in an apartment in barceloneta we found through this forum. Here is the link:
http://www.freestanza.com/english/apartments-barcelona/sant-miquel-ii.html

Overall we were delighted with the apartment. In particular the location was very convenient for all areas. The apartment combines living room, bedroom and kitchenette into a single unit, barring a bathroom. It's small but nicely decorated. We got everything (nothing more, nothing less) than we were expecting. Only comment is that a hair dryer would be handy.
The lady who met us was very helpful and friendly, especially when I was given many advice on my trip in barcelona. And the price is not bad, we payed 320€ for 3 nights and 3 people (my 5-year old son payed as an adult)

quote:

Originally posted by Leo72:
We've just come back from a weekend in Barcelona and we stayed in an apartment in barceloneta we found through this forum.

Leo, would you consider writing a review of the apartment?

To submit reviews, start from here.

Thank you!

My husband and I stayed at the Hostal Girona last summer. I can't remember the exact price, but it was less than 70 Euros. No breakfast though. It is very close to a subway stop and within walking distance to Barri Gothic.

hostalgirona.com

Have a great trip!

Barcelona isn't as cheap as it used to be but you might be able to find something around 50 euros in Raval but I wouldn't trust the quality. Apartment renting is big business anfd your $ seems to go much further, maybe there's a studio you could get for this money.