<p>HI,
H, D and I are visiting Granada for 3 nights and Barcelona for 4 night early June. We will have been in a hotel for 4 nights before in Madrid visiting friends and would like to book apartments after.
Any first hand “we stayed there and loved it” to share?
Thanks!</p>
<p>We had an apartment in the Gracia neighborhood, and loved loved loved it! Wonderful area, lots of cool boutiques, squares with cafes, good restaurants. We were between the Fontana and Joanic metro stations.</p>
<p>If not there, I’d look at Barcelonetta, maybe Born. Stay away from the Ramblas.</p>
<p>And I highly recommend the forums at tripadvisor for advice.</p>
<p>We rented an apartment just off Las Ramblas</p>
<p>[Citytrip</a> Barcelona Apartments | Apartment | Ramblas I - 1](<a href=“http://citytripbarcelona.com/en/property/show/id/20]Citytrip”>Apartments and villas in Barcelona and Castelldefels)</p>
<p>It was perfect. We would stop at Mercat de la Boqueria daily and buy fruit, breads, nuts ,cheese, wine etc on the way home after a long day sightseeing. We were there 4 nights at the end of June. We actually had 2 apartments. One for us and friends and one for D and her college friends who were back packing round Europe. Every one loved the apartments and area.</p>
<p>fir–do you have a name? Or agency you used?
Sally22–that looks fabulous!. We must have two bedrooms and that is one and a couch. When they say “double” is that a double or two twins pushed together?
Thanks! Really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Anyone else?</p>
<p>We used [Barcelona</a> Apartments | Holiday Apartments in Barcelona | BCNinternet](<a href=“http://www.bcninternet.com/]Barcelona”>http://www.bcninternet.com/).</p>
<p>If other families are wanting just a hotel room, we liked Hotel Continental on La Rambla. There was 24hr buffet, with modest amount of food items and beer and wine and ice cream too. The place is older and a bit quirky -just what I wanted. It is a block from the Hop On Hop Off bus hub - blue & red lines (ask for coupon).
<a href=“https://www.hotelcontinental.com/hotelcontinentalbarcelona/en/[/url]”>https://www.hotelcontinental.com/hotelcontinentalbarcelona/en/</a></p>
<p>I must have included the link for the apartment the kids were in. We had a 2 bedroom apartment. One double bedroom and the other room had twin beds. D2 slept on the sofa bed in our apartment a couple of nights and then moved to the other apartment when some of the friends moved on. it is not a large apartment by US standards, but for within a European city we had enough room. There was a washer/ dryer on the top floor which I wish we had discovered earlier, for the traveling kids.</p>
<p>We stayed in this apartment while in Barcelona and cannot say enough good things about it: [url=<a href=“http://www.destinationbcn.com/cadaques.htm]Spacious”>http://www.destinationbcn.com/cadaques.htm]Spacious</a> and elegant 2 bedroom holiday apartment Barcelona - Pla</p>
<p>We stayed at the Parador the last time we went to Granada, but I think you need reservations about a year in advance, so can’t help you there. I also think that in June you may need advance reservations to get in the the Alhambra, but I could be wrong on that. I would check online, though.</p>
<p>3 days seems like a lot for Granada.</p>
<p>Enjoy your trip!</p>
<p>I agree that 3 days is a lot for Granada, unless you are planning a day trip for one of those. There is a lot to see in Andalucia. And I think you always need advanced reservations for the Alhambra.</p>
<p>We were in Barcelona, Madrid and Andalucia last spring. </p>
<p>We rented an apartment through AirBnB in both Barcelona and Madrid. I agree with the suggestion of staying in the older part of Barcelona, we were close to Gracia and Born and had fun exploring all of those areas. I found reading the reviews through AirBnB were very helpful. I wanted enough reviews to see a positive trend and looked for a convenient location to transit and sites I wanted to see. We loved traveling that way and wish we were going back to Barcelona this year!</p>
<p>We did not visit Granada, because we couldn’t get reservations for the Alhambra. I’d make them at least a month before traveling. There were plenty of other wonderful places to see. We were based in Cordoba and the Mezquita and Old Town were both fun to explore. We took day trips to Seville and into the white towns that were nearby. I’m sure you will have a wonderful time!</p>
<p>We stayed at Suites Gran Via 44 in Granada last summer. It was an apt with a kitchen and LR. Spacious, clean and comfortable with AC. About 5 min walk from the center. We were coming from Madrid, Toledo. It was good to have a kitchen. I would have like to be closer to the center. 5 min walk was long in August heat. Other than that, no complaints. We decided to take a trip to Spain at the last minute in July for August trip. Had no problem booking Alhambra tickets. Maybe it is easier in August. Have fun in Granada. We spent two nights there but I don’t think we would have been bored there if we stayed another day.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your responses. This information is great!
Considering a night in Seville and then 2 in Granada. Planning to fly from Granada to Barcelona. Feeling overwhelmed right now! We do have a solid date that we can make Alhambra tickets for so will get that done as well as the air to Barcelona.</p>
<p>I loved Seville! We went to two flamenco performances. The first one was incredible. Flying from Granada to Barcelona may be fun. We took the fast train from Seville to Barcelona. That was fun, too. In August when we were there, they shut everything down on Sundays and Holidays. It was a bit annoying. Our last day in Barcelona was some kind of holiday. We had planned to have our lunch with market produce that day. They had juicest looking figs. No luck. We did get to see the parade tho.</p>
<p>In Barcelona, we rented Tessa apartment Tetuan, 25 at 2 Eixample area. Probably too large for your purposes, but we went though Habitat. One of our favorite vacations ever.</p>
<p>[Habitat</a> Apartments](<a href=“http://www.habitatapartments.com/print/tessa_miniguide.htm]Habitat”>Habitat Apartments)</p>
<p>Thanks! We are now planning on time in Seville and less in Granada.
I have been looking at Habitat as well as the other all of you have mentioned. Looks great.
Priceless information!</p>
<p>A couple of years ago we rented an apartment in Barcelona in the Borne district through Feel Good Apartments. Loved it! Terrific old town area, lots of restaurants, night spots, etc. but also regular day-to-day businesses. Walking distance to the Ramblas and all the sights but pretty much outside the really touristy area. But you can’t drive to the apartment (old streets too narrow) so you have to be ready to hoof it the last few blocks.</p>
<p>We also had a great time in Granada, which I think is underappreciated. In addition to the Alhambra the area around the Cathedral and Plaza de Bib-Rambla is great for walking, shopping and people-watching. Drinks and food at Mirador de San Nicolas followed by a walk down the hill through the Albacin to the cathedral area is a treat.</p>
<p>The real problem is that there’s so much to see in Spain that you have to pick and choose.</p>
<p>OP, I have been reading this thread with interest as my college kid is heading to Barcelona soon. I hope you don’t mind if I ask the posters on this thread a question, they are so full of good info. Have a wonderful trip!</p>
<p>Do you all suggest getting Euros ahead of traveling (I have heard travelers need Euros to get from the airport to their hotels), or using an ATM at the airport?</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>You will want to arrange for a solid source of funds with ATM. Check around your banking sources and identify one that offers low fees. </p>
<p>For an extended period of time, one good idea is to open a secondary bank account in the US in the name of the student to arrange for timely deposit in the account of the card that will primarily be a debit card. You really do not want a debit card with access to a large amount of funds. Then combine the debit card with access to one of your credit cards as it is not unusual for cards to be blocked overseas by the zealous fraud “inspectors.” </p>
<p>All airports will have an exchange booth for dollars to Euros, but the rate will not be too good. In the cities, there are fewer and fewer options to exchange money, short of the Western Union that are plain thieves.</p>
<p>PS Google search THIS site for the multiple discussions about study abroad and foreign travel. Lots of precedents!</p>
<p>No problem momlove. Hope you get to visit your kid!
Should I take your kid a care package 
your mom/dad sent this and now I am watching you…</p>