Self-Catering

Holidays by Destination Europe Spain Barcelona Accommodation Self-Catering 

Although the Olympics (of which Barcelona is still proud) seem to have done a lot for tourist attractions, hotels, which as a rule are not of the highest quality, appear to lag behind. Service is not an important concept here and they seem particularly unfocused on the issue of children. This may be in part because rooms are small, even in the better hotels, but it is quite common to limit extra beds to one, even in suites.

Given that there are few outstanding choices, you might wish to make use of the booking agency Room Service (020) 7636 6888 which recommends the following:
The Meson Castilla (see listings) with two inter-connecting rooms at £99 per night; the Gran Via at the top of the Ramblas with reported safe roof-top terrace with children's play area including swings, a three star, £99 per night for a family room sleeping four; Citadines apartments (see below) £96 per night for one-bedroomed apartment sleeping four; or at Sitges La Santa Maria £70 for a family room b&b.

The listings focuses on hotels in the central area, convenient for child siestas and quieter at night in terms of traffic. However, wherever you book, if you have children who wake with noise, ask for rooms at the back as the combination of cars and late night people can be noisy.

An alternative is to stay at the seaside resort of Sitges. A few possibilities are listed.

Sample prices are for May. High season is July, August and September, low December and January except New Year. 7% tax is to be added unless otherwise indicated. Exchange rate when compiling this report was £1 = Pta237 (March 1999).