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In spite of the efforts made to increase hotel capacity for
the 1992 Olympics, in terms of accommodation, Barcelona is
still the most problematic place in Spain. This is true at
all levels, from budget pensions up to the 4- and 5-star hotels
on these pages, which makes booking ahead essential. What
is more, Barcelona is a very popular conference centre and
when a number of conventions coincide, the "no vacancies"
sign can go up for virtually the whole city.
Comparing price-bands, Barcelona is quite well provided with
4-star establishments, and you may find yourself obliged to
use a hotel of this category when you really wanted a 3-star
place.
Practically all the hotels on these pages are bookable either
through Hotel Club or through the Venere reservation service,
of which this site is a partner (see the bottom of the page
for more information). I do not wish to list only Hotel Club/Venere
hotels, however; if you think your establishment should be
included, drop me an e-mail.
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| Abba
Sants |
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| Why would a Spanish hotel chain choose
the name of a Swedish pop group? Whatever, they tend to
be modern, business-oriented affairs, and this is no exception.
The reservation service on the hotel's own website
uses that same wobbly engine again, and the price it gives
is so low I find it difficult to believe, so you would
probably do better to book through Venere. |
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| AC-Diplomatic |
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| AC hotels are often ultra-modern, though
I am not sure about this one. It is very well situated
and certainly looks comfortable enough. Its web
page, like the whole of the chain's website, is inexplicably
in Spanish ony, and at the time I checked the prices given
by its online reservation service were a swingeing 50%
above those given by Venere. |
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| Ac-Front
Maritim |
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| The hotel's name refers to its excellent
location, on the seafront next to the Olympic Village.
The hotel's web
page is not very inspiring or informative, but at
the time of checking, the rates given by its online reservation
service were a tiny bit cheaper than Venere's prices.
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| America |
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| I have not found this hotel's website,
but thanks to this brief article
on Sonar 2002, the electronic music festival, I know it
is an ultra-modern affair, with design conspicuous all
around. |
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| Aparthotel
Acacia |
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| Another establishment for which I have
found no website, but I know it is well located. |
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| Aparthotel
Atenea Valles |
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| A new hotel, well located, with an uninteresting
web
page. Note that it offers a cheaper rate at weekends,
the sure sign of a business-oriented establishment. Venere's
rates are competitive, so compare. |
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| Aparthotel
Mariano Cubi |
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| I have not found this hotel's web page,
though it seems to belong to the same chain as the Atenea
and Atenea Valles above. It looks quite splendid on its
Venere page, though. |
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| Atenea |
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| I have not found this hotel's web page,
either, though it must belong to the same chain as the
Atenea and Mariano Cubi. |
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| Balmoral |
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| A smart hotel on the Via Diagonal. Booking
is much cheaper through Venere than through the
hotel's own website. |
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| Barceló
Sants |
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| A nice website for a very swish, business-orientated
hotel, which may even be cheaper booked through its own
website
than through Venere. I would compare if I were you, though. |
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| Barcelona
Universal |
|
| A splendid new hotel on the Avenida Paral.lel,
with the added attraction of a roof-top swimming pool,
if the photo on the hotel's otherwise uninformative website
is to be believed. Cheaper through Venere, but don't take
my word for it, check. |
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| Bel
Air |
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| Another new hotel which has a nice website
with a few good tourist information links. The rates offered
by Venere are only slightly cheaper than those of the
hotel's online reservation service, so you would be wise
to compare. |
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| Best
Western Dante |
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|
If you are a Best Western addict, I suppose you might
be prepared to pay the exorbitant prices given on the
Dante's website,
not to mention the extra charges for parking. Sane people
should book through Venere or go elsewhere.
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* Many of the hotels on these pages
belong to the Venere or Hotel Club online booking services,
of which this site is an affiliate, in which case I link to
the booking service. I have tried to make fair comparisons,
but I cannot check all the different possibilities - season,
number of guests, room type - so you should make your own.
I do not want to give a sales spiel, but in general Venere
or Hotel Club present advantages for you, especially the convenience
of online booking and, in many or most cases, a reduced rate.
For example, the price for a night in a double room in the 4-star
Hotel Mayorazgo in Madrid in September as given on the hotel's
web page is €170 plus IVA (value-added tax), whereas
the rate advertised by Hotel
Club is €125, including tax. And I get a little commission
which helps towards the upkeep of this site.
If you have any complaints about either Hotel Club or the
Venere booking service, I want to know about them - e-mail
me at complaints.
And if you have a gripe about your hotel, by all means feel
free to let me know, though I am not in a position to do anything
about it.
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Flights
Expedia.co.uk
As well as flights, Expedia offers hotel booking, car rentals...
Mainly but not only useful for UK residents.
Airline
Tickets!
Booking from the US, especially, you may find cheapflights.com of
interest. They run a search for the cheapest available flights on
your chosen date, and even suggest alternative airports.
Rail
Travel
Rail
Europe
Get rail passes, buy tickets or simply check timetables and fares.
The links for non-US visitors are at the top of the page.
DIY
Packages
Spain
your way!
Eurovacations is an interesting website allowing independent
travellers to put together their own packages.
Group
Travel
Bell
Wether
is a company specializing in business group travel, for meetings,
conventions and the like.
Travel
Goods
Magellans.com
Not just luggage. Remember, for example, that you will need a voltage
adaptor if you want to take your laptop or other electrical appliances.
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