Spain/Portugal/Gibraltar - Barcelona - what hotel do you like?

Will be in Barcelona for a couple days in early May and am having difficulty choosing a hotel and would appreciate hearing the experiences of those who have visited there recently.

Our specs:

arriving by air
departing by train, would like to be convenient to the Sants (I think) station
want a neighborhood safe for evening strolls
need someplace where a well-behaved tween is welcome
prefer under $150/night
want something bookable through Expedia as trying to use some banked points

I'm considering the L'Eixample District, thoughts?

Will be in Barcelona for a couple days in early May and am having difficulty choosing a hotel and would appreciate hearing the experiences of those who have visited there recently.

Our specs:

arriving by air
departing by train, would like to be convenient to the Sants (I think) station
want a neighborhood safe for evening strolls
need someplace where a well-behaved tween is welcome
prefer under $150/night
want something bookable through Expedia as trying to use some banked points

I'm considering the L'Eixample District, thoughts?
The Catalonia Berna (http://www.hoteles-catalonia.com/en/our_hotels/europa/spain/catalunya/barcelona/hotel_catalonia_berna/index.jsp) in Carrer Roger de LLúria certainly fulfils most of your criteria at least. I was there a few weeks ago, and I found it comfortable and very friendly, all in a pleasantly understated way. The area is pleasant and some of the buildings are quite fantastic.

I don't know, though, if it is available on Expedia.

You would need to get (presumably) a taxi to the railway station, but it wouldn't be a long journey. I'd add that things seem to be generally easy to organise in Barcelona, and the hotel was very happy to book a taxi for me at 4.30 in the morning, so that shouldn't be a problem.