But sometimes you just want to get a little bit off-the-beaten-path and out into the city’s excellent neighborhoods where you can feel more like a local than a tourist. Or what if you’re after something a bit more authentic that’s a little bit away from the crowds in the Gothic Quarter and along La Rambla? Here are three excellent hotels that offer a great deal on rooms (some as low at $90 for doubles) as well as a top location just outside the main districts.

Stay close to the beach and the hip El Born neighborhood at Hotel del Mar. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hotel del Mar

Neighborhood: La Ribera
Rates from $136
Read the full review

The beach and port area of Barcelona are crowded from June to September, but in off-season you’ll have the beach pretty much to yourself. Staying at Hotel del Mar puts you on a little plaza not far from trendy shops and eateries in El Born, but also separate from them (in a good way). Some of the metropolis’ top fish and seafood restaurants are a short walk from this hotel, as is the beach, port and the Gothic Quarter. Locals who live in adjacent La Barceloneta love their ‘hood—and you will, too.

Hostal Girona is a cheapo fav with very low rates in an incredible location. Photo: Regina W Bryan

Hostal Girona

Neighborhood: L’Eixample
Rates from $94
Read the full review

Passeig de Gracia cuts through the right and left side of the Eixamples. Choose Hostal Girona on the ‘right’ side of L’Eixample (Dreta de l’Eixample) for an affordable room off the main tourist train track. L’Eixample is a vibrant neighborhood where many locals choose to live, and is viewed as the center of the city by many. It can be a little noisy due to traffic, but not because of late-night revelers, an issue at times in the Gothic Quarter and El Raval. If you start poking around, you’ll quickly find an abundant supply of cute clothing boutiques, cool art galleries, homey cafes and great restaurants frequented by residents in this area.

Hostal Centric puts you close to the action without having to deal with the big crowds. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hostal Centric

Neighborhood: L’Eixample
Double rates from $103
Read the full review

This clean and convenient option has 30 rooms and is set a few blocks off Plaça Universitat, one of the city’s busiest hubs. This particular part of L’Eixample is not a hot spot for tourism or hotels which is good news for those looking for a local feel. Right around the corner from the hostal are two excellent cinemas—Aribau and Renoir—in addition to a wide array of bars and cafes. A short walk from Hostal Centric will put you in El Raval, one of the top areas in Barcelona for nightlife, vintage shopping, hipster hangouts, and kebab stands. The trendy beer bar Fàbrica Moritz is a couple blocks away and open 365 days of the year!

Scoring a good deal

When you consider that over seven million tourists (that’s seven with six zeros!) booked a room in Barcelona last year, it can make sense to search out accommodations that are located just outside of where most visitors are headed. You’ll save a little money and find a little bit more peace and quiet. As always, you can check out our full listings on EuroCheapo to find the best rates at local, independent hotels.

The post Barcelona hotels: 3 budget favorites in less touristy neighborhoods appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But while the center of Barcelona can be fun, with plenty of fascinating sights on offer, the bars, eateries and boutiques here are always a bit more spendy, cashing in on the fact that you don’t know the exchange rate, or the local cost of things.

One way to avoid getting gouged is to stay in parts of the city which are less frequented by tourists. Here are a few hotels that get our stamp of approval for being “off the beaten tourist track”:

Take a break with a game of ping pong at the HelloBCN Hostel.

Poble Sec

HelloBCN Hostel
Lafont, 8-10
Doubles from $80 to $134

Quickly becoming the next “hip” spot in Barcelona, a title that El Raval has had for years, Poble Sec has always been a working-class neighborhood behind Barcelona’s theater district, on the foot of Montjuïc Mountain.

HelloBCN Hostel is a superb 148-bed establishment located right around the corner from Paral-lel Metro stop, the Apolo Club and concert hall, and the countless bars, shops and restaurants in Poble Sec.

The hostel is decorated in red, charcoal and metal tones, with numerous black leather sofas throughout. It’s comfortable, it’s cool. There is always music playing, and the vibe is inviting and festive.

Most of Poble Sec is on a hill, and walking up it can be brutal. However, HelloBCN is right at the beginning of this incline, meaning it’s easy to get to with bags and backpacks in-tow.

The Astoria Hotel provides a swanky setting off the beaten track.

Eixample (upper)

Astoria Hotel
Paris, 203
Doubles from $94 to $257

You won’t find many tourists here unless they are lost or going to the Astoria Hotel. Though the Astoria is tucked away in the upper Eixample, it’s actually not far from Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona’s main shopping drag where many a Gaudí building are located.

The 114-room Astoria Hotel is a splurge-worthy pamper palace and one of the top three-star hotels we’ve seen, with great extras like a fitness center and rooftop swimming pool.

The Hostal Girona may be a hidden gem, but it’s still close to most major sights!

Eixample (lower)

Hostal Girona
Girona, 24 1º-1ª
Doubles from $67 to $114

Staying at Hostal Girona means that even though you’re off the tourist track, you’ll still be in the heart of town, with all the benefits that provides.  In close proximity, you can find the Gothic Quarter, Plaça Catalunya, the metro, the bus, Parc de la Ciutadella, Gaudí sights, and many restaurants, bars, and cafes.

The hostal has all the perks of being in the center without the excessive noise, pickpockets, and price gouging. The 19-room pension tends toward bare-bones, but it’s spic-and-span and its peak season rates top out at €60 for a standard double.

Do you stay “off the beaten path?”

Have you stayed in a hostel or hotel in Barcelona and loved its non-touristy location? Let us know!

The post Barcelona: Best “off the beaten path” hotels for Cheapos appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Keep the weather in mind while you’re looking for a hotel. Ask yourself these questions:

– Will my room have air conditioning?
– Will my room have a fan?
– Will my room have a window?
– Will that window open onto a noisy street, meaning I won’t be able to sleep?

If the heat bothers you, you’ll want to pay more and get A/C. To avoid noise from the street with the window open, don’t stay in the center of the city.

Here are a few hotels we like for the summer, for different reasons:

The Hostal Nuevo Colon’s proximity to the beach makes it a prime summer pick.

Hostal Nuevo Colon

Avenida Marqués de Argentera, 19
La Ribera
Doubles from $55

No air conditioning here, but there are fans. Ask for an interior room if you’re worried about noise from the street coming through an open window. The Nuevo Colon makes the list because it’s very close to the beach, which is excellent from June to October.

The air conditioning at the Hostal Orleans can be a lifesaver in August

Hostal Orleans

Avenida Marqués de la Argentera, 13
La Ribera
Doubles from $65

Like the Hostal Nuevo Colon, the Hostal Orleans is just a short walk to the beach or breezy Barceloneta. This hostal, however, offers air-conditioned rooms, which is almost a must in August, when the heat and humidity in the city are dialed up all the way.

The Hotel Banys Orientals provides a bit of summer luxury at Cheapo rates.

Hotel Banys Orientals

Calle Argenteria 37
La Ribera
Doubles from $130

A step (or three) up from both hostals, this hotel is one of our favorites, located not too far from the beach in the Born area. Not only does it have A/C, it also has a bar where you can have a refreshing cava mimosa and cool off in the evenings.

More ways to beat the heat

Keep in mind that Eixample hotels and hostals will also be good options, as the Eixample, especially in August, is less touristy. Anything on La Rambla and around Pl. Catalunya will be noisy.

Anything to add?

Do you have your own advice on how to take the ‘hot’ out of ‘hotel?’ How about any other questions or comments about summer in Barcelona?  Let us know by posting in the comments section below.

The post Barcelona’s best hotels for the summer months appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Truth be told, though, most of the hotels and hostals featured on EuroCheapo’s Barcelona page have “character.” These select few, however, go above and beyond, and stand out for their unique personality and quirky vibe.

Galerias Malda
Del Pi 5 1/1
Barri Gotic
Doubles from €20 to €30

Taking the “Personality Prize” is definitely the Malda, if such a prize existed. It’s not everyday that one can stay in a former Marqués palace for €20 a night. Each of the Hostal Maldà’s 25 rooms is unique. Furnishings are antique—and some are quite worn. It’s bare-bones all the way at this budget palace, but unlike many Barcelona properties, the Maldà’s rooms are large, and, thanks to the hostal’s top-floor location, light filled. (Note that the trade off for natural light is lugging your bags up many stairs.) Family-run, the Malda—and it’s owners—will make you feel at home.

With the view at the Mar-Luz, it’s impossible to forget that you’re deep within the Gothic Quarter.

Pension Mari-Luz
Palau 4 2º 1ª
Barri Gotic
Doubles from €45 to €75

If the passage of time, and age, give way to character and a strong “personality,” then Pension Mari-Luz has it in its 18th-century walls. This budget-friendly pension is situated deep inside the Barri Gotic, in an area oozing historic charm.

As is typical in Barcelona, the rooms are small at the Pension Mari-Luz. The furnishings are simple and spare: beds or metal bunks, plus maybe a utilitarian nightstand or small desk. Hanging artwork adds pops of color here and there.

The fireside lounge in the Fashion House gives it a cozy, welcoming personality.

Fashion House
Bruc, 13 Principal
Eixample
Doubles from €50 to €150

Both the place and the owners make this B&B a winner. It’s got flair! It’s got an amazing patio for lounging! It’s got a dramatic fireplace! The Fashion House feels like a “real” house with a cozy, laid-back energy about it. The charismatic Italian owners have paid lots of attention to detail and cleanliness, and their hard work shows—the place is spotless.

The Hotel Banys Orientals blends personality with class.

Banys Orientals
Calle Argenteria 37
La Ribera
Doubles from €100 to €105

Personality can also be bold and chic! Such is the case at this long-time cheapo fave, Banys Orientals, in La Ribera/Born area. The outstanding three-star Hotel Banys Orientals offers 43 rooms in a sought-after setting on Carrer Argenteria, a picture-perfect cobblestone street lined with unique boutiques and bars.

Share your thoughts

Barcelona is full of hotels with tons of personality. Have you stayed in a place with a style all its own (in a good way)? Tell us about it by leaving a comment in the box below.

Want more?

For even more Barcelona hotels, including plenty with vibrant personalities, check out out Barcelona hotel guide.

The post Barcelona: Four cheap hotels with personality appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.