Overview

There is no shortage of accommodations in Barcelona. The city has grown in stature among European destinations in recent years and hoteliers have rushed to build new and more exciting hotels. Even during the busiest tourist season you should be able to find a place to stay. Nevertheless, it's always wise to book a room in advance.

The prices are well within the range you would expect for a major city plus there are numerous bargains to be had up to and including apartments and villas.

The local government uses a star system to rate its hotels and pensions but don't confuse the government's rating system with any star rating system to which you are familiar. Three stars in one system doesn't translate necessarily to three stars in the other system. Make a list of the amenities you can't do without then compare your list to what the hotel verifies as the amenities it offers.

Camping

For those only a truly limited budget or those who like to sleep under the stars Barcelona offers only a few campsites. One is near the beach.

Pensions, Hostels and Hostals

Pensions, which are usually family-owned and may simply be a room of the family's house, offers the fewest accommodations. For example, bathroom use may not be included. If you decide to use this least expensive means of indoor accommodation, by all means, make the landlord specify what is included in the price.

Hostals are small hotels, and these too, might be family businesses. Like pensions, they offer a cheap place to stay but they do usually provide one or two more amenities. If you don't want to share a bathroom, make sure you ask for a room with a private bath.

Hostels are far better than they were when your dad hitchhiked across Europe. They're prices, though, are still a great bargain for students. Still referred to as youth hostels, they're actually for everyone. Regardless of your age, you'll typically find today's hostel to be a safe, clean place to stay. Communal bathroom facilities are common. Most will have lounge areas and internet access. Other amenities to check for include lockers, central heating, air conditioning, laundry room and a cafeteria or low-price on-site cafe.

Bed & Breakfast Inns

Barcelona has a few excellent Bed & Breakfast Inns available at enticing prices. Before booking make sure you've seen enough pictures of your room and the inn itself to put your mind at ease. The B&B concept is not well-entrenched in Spain and the standards can differ from what you've come to expect. A little research goes a long way toward eliminating surprises.

Hotels

A good portion of the luxury hotels are around the Sur Diagonal area near the exclusive shopping boutiques. The Eixample also has nice hotels but the streets are noisier. Before staying in one of this area's older hotels, check to see if it has been recently renovated.

The Barri Gotic has inexpensive lodging but the streets are not as safe at night as in other areas.
Keep in mind Spanish high-rise architecture when booking your room. The hotel maybe be designed to enclose a central open-air well or light well. If your room faces inward rather than outward it may not get as much Spanish sunshine as you would like.

Apartments

There are apartments available for as short as one night's stay though the average short stay is one week. Don't expect the apartments to be ultra-luxurious. Most are studio or small bedroom apartments. The exceptions are the penthouse apartments that some landlords list as villas. Circumstances vary, but you typically can save money renting an apartment rather than staying at a nice hotel.

Villas

To rent a true villa you'll have to start searching about 30 minutes outside of Barcelona. But a half hour drive into the city is a small price to pay for extra sleeping space and the quiet of the countryside. The price will be close to luxury hotel prices, sometimes lower.