Gaudi

Hotel Gaudi strikes me as a typcial European downtown big-city, mid-range hotel, by which I mean the location is excellent, the accomodation reasonable, and the price high compared to similar accomodation in smaller towns or in North America.

The front-desk guys were very pleasant and moderately (but not oustsandingly) helpful. We didn't opt to try the 7-ish Euro breakfast. The room was fairly small but not annoyingly so, the bathroom a decent size and clean. Our room on the fifth floor had a HUGE patio with a view over Palau Guell (pictured here), a Gaudi-designed building. The hotel is just a few steps off Las Ramblas - very convenient.

The sliding door to our patio was un-lockable (lock broken), and the front-desk guys were fairly unperturbed about this, but did rent us the room safe at no extra charge as compensation.

Directions: El Raval, off Las Ramblas

Our stay in the Hotel Gaudi was very pleasant. Our patio afforded views across the city in one direction, round to the harbourfront and across to the Olympic Village. I can't vouch that all rooms will be as pleasant as ours, but it's well worth it if you can get it. It's also in an ideal situation, just a stones throw from the Ramblas and within 5 minutes walk from the Harbour and the Playa de Catalunya.

Unique Quality: We read a tip from another member to request a room overlooking the Palau Guell, situated across the street from the hotel. Although the hotel wouldn't confirm it in writing, when we arrived we were shown to a room with a superb view overlooking the rooftop of the Palau Guell with it's Gaudi inspired chimneys. For anyone coming to Barcelona to enjoy the Gaudi experience, this really is the number one choice.

Directions: Directly opposite the Palau Guell, which can be found on most tourist maps.

Price was about 16000 - 18000 pst per night including breakfast for two.

Unique Quality: From the outside this hotel exhibits classic spanish architecture with small balconies, french doors and cast iron railings. Inside the rooms are modern and clean. The lobby has been modelled on Gaudi architecture so is colourful and inviting.

Directions: Hotel Guadi is just of Las Ramblas in the centre of the old town. A great central location to do just about anything. It overlooks one of Gaudi's classic works, Palacio Guell