GLBT Travelers - Barcelona Hotels

Hello,

I need to go to barcelona for work and am looking for a good hotel that's also near the gay bars/etc. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Chris

Hello,

I need to go to barcelona for work and am looking for a good hotel that's also near the gay bars/etc. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Chris

The two hotels I have stayed at where the Hotel Colon and the Axek.

I loved the Axel and really liked the sky bar. It's a gay hotel with a bar. If you look on the RSVP thread someone from BCN said there are other hotels that are in the gay area that are full of gays that are a lot cheaper, so you may want to send him a PM since he would be more familiar with the area. It's been a few years since I have been there, so it's possible they raised their rates since then or we lucked out and got a good rate.

I have also stayed at the Hotel Colon and liked it there. While it's not gay, it's next to the cathedrial.

A gay restaraunt we ate at in Barcelona that I liked was the castro. We ended up chatting with 2guys that got seated at the table next to us, as we were near the end of our dinner and they struck up a conversation and we ended up staying around and chatting with them and when they finished their dinner they showed us some of the gay bars.

I had a good experience with the H10 Universitat.

The Axel is indeed right in the thick of things, its roof top bar and pool can be fun. The rooms are basic in a minimalist sort of way (toiletries include lube and condoms, watch out for the "please disturb" sign for your door knob :D). Service is hit and miss and probably akin to a 3* hotel. They charge a huge premium for being a "hip" gay hotel. While I definitely had fun there I am not sure it is worth the money in high season. If you decide to book it go for the deluxe room or suite, as standard rooms are tiny and have no views.

Isnt the gay area in Eixample?? There are tons of hotels in this neighbourhood, but I would stick with H10's or AC hotels which now belong to Marriott. We will be staying at the H10 Ithaca, not close to the gay area but got a good rate of CAD$125 per night.

paging dragonfirebcn (if he's still a member)

paging dragonfirebcn (if he's still a member)

I'm still a member. My expiration date is July 11th :D

Axel is totally overpriced. I've posted this in every other Barcelona gay hotel thread there is. Not worth it to pay 100€ more for condoms and lube (you get them for free at bars and clubs), and the 'please disturb' door hanger (it's not that difficult to get action in this city, is it?). If you're willing to pay Axel prices for a gay hotel, stay in the W.

H10 Universitat is a nice hotel, half the price of the Axel and with an amazing location close to the gay district. Also, there's a lot of very nice gay Bed & Breakfast in the area in the H10 Universitat price range (check any BCN gay guide for names).

I'm still a member. My expiration date is July 11th :D

Axel is totally overpriced. I've posted this in every other Barcelona gay hotel thread there is. Not worth it to pay 100€ more for condoms and lube (you get them for free at bars and clubs), and the 'please disturb' door hanger (it's not that difficult to get action in this city, is it?). If you're willing to pay Axel prices for a gay hotel, stay in the W.

H10 Universitat is a nice hotel, half the price of the Axel and with an amazing location close to the gay district. Also, there's a lot of very nice gay Bed & Breakfast in the area in the H10 Universitat price range (check any BCN gay guide for names).

Being from Barcelona would you recomend staying at Passeig del Taulat upon arrival if I do the RSVP cruise next month? Seeing the cruise doesn't leave until 5 and I can land early that morning I was going to just fly in the morning and then get a hotel on the final day and fly out the next morning.

I really want a place to just relax at and don't care about sightseeing in BCN or going out since I have been to BCN in the past, just relaxing on the beach or at the pool sounds great and it appears that they have a lounge which I would have access to.

Being from Barcelona would you recomend staying at Passeig del Taulat upon arrival if I do the RSVP cruise next month? Seeing the cruise doesn't leave until 5 and I can land early that morning I was going to just fly in the morning and then get a hotel on the final day and fly out the next morning.

I really want a place to just relax at and don't care about sightseeing in BCN or going out since I have been to BCN in the past, just relaxing on the beach or at the pool sounds great and it appears that they have a lounge which I would have access to.

Are you talking about the Hilton?

Are you talking about the Hilton?

Sorry, yes was talking about the Hilton property.

Sorry, yes was talking about the Hilton property.

The hotel is OK. Drinks at the lobby bar are overpriced for what it is, and it is far from everything. Never been to the pool. The beaches around the hotel are not so nice, but you can take a bus and be in less than 10 minutes @ Marbella beach, which is fun.

So, if you don't plan to go out of the hotel (tops going to the beach) and don't mind paying extra for the taxis, and you're getting it on points, go for it. If you're paying for that room, there's better options for that price.

I've been to Barcelona many times and have almost always stayed on or near Las Ramblas... I love the energy and it's just a short walk to the Eixample, particularly if you are at the Plaza Catalunya end.

A couple of years ago I spent three nights at Hotel 1898, which is located on Las Ramblas in the old headquarters of the Fillipino Tobacco Co. which is a magnificent building. It's got a great spa area and rooftop pool and bar.

Dragonfire recently recommended the Barcelo Raval and I had a great stay and it was within walking distance of the gay bars. Highly recommend- like a W with a great panoramic rooftop bar.

BCN is one of those places where I liked being somewhere just enough out of the way to be quiet at night (having just spent four days in a Reykjavik hotel needing earplugs to drown out the partying on the street.) I stayed at the U232 Hotel in Eixample and it was a handsome place at a great value. The Tripadvisor reviews convinced me to try it and they were right. It's about 10-15 minute walk to Passeig de Gracia, and 30-40 to the tick of Las Ramblas, or a fast and inexpensive subway ride.

Dragonfire recently recommended the Barcelo Raval and I had a great stay and it was within walking distance of the gay bars. Highly recommend- like a W with a great panoramic rooftop bar.

It's a really cool hotel, but I'd be a little nervous coming home late. The hookers line the street around the corner and there are lots of shifty looking guys hanging out around there. It's maybe a half a step too edgy for me at the moment.

And in my one-track mind, I thought that the capitalisation of the HO in HOtels in the thread title was some sort of secret code for a certain kind of BCN experience that was being asked for... :o. ;)

And in my one-track mind, I thought that the capitalisation of the HO in HOtels in the thread title was some sort of secret code for a certain kind of BCN experience that was being asked for... :o. ;)

We'll await your expertise when that thread comes up :D ;)

We'll await your expertise when that thread comes up :D ;)
What happens in Spain stays in Spain! :D

And don't forget, if I go down, I can just as easily take you down with me. :p ;)

I just got back from a long weekend in BCN and stayed at The Mirror hotel.

We booked quite far in advance and got a rate at around €100 for a double room which was excellent value. The room was much nicer then those at Axel and the bed was extremely comfortable.
Nice staff, many nice restaurants in the area and only a 10 min walk down to the gay area at c/ Casanova.

I had a good experience with the H10 Universitat.

I stayed at H10 in Berlin two weeks ago and let me say I have no interest in staying at a H10 again.
That said, I will be in BCN at the end of October and for now I am leaning towards staying at the Axel. Is this hotel "leather"-friendly? How far of a walk would "Berlin dark" and "Nightberry" be?

Update: checked rates for the Axel today and it is a steep €160/night for my dates. Too expensive IMO.

I stayed at the U232 Hotel in Eixample and it was a handsome place at a great value. The Tripadvisor reviews convinced me to try it and they were right. It's about 10-15 minute walk to Passeig de Gracia, and 30-40 to the tick of Las Ramblas, or a fast and inexpensive subway ride.

This hotel has come up on my radar for a BCN trip July '14, my first to the city, so thought I'd ask if you can you offer any further thoughts about the hotel such as rooms, breakfast, transfers to airport, etc.? It looks like a remarkable value for a small, chic boutique hotel close enough to the sights without being in the middle of the hustle & bustle.

Normally I'd economize and take the "Basic Room" which seems fine for a solo traveller but as am planning a longer stay, around 8-10 nights, was really taken with the larger "U232 Plus Room" which offers a decent size balcony and a street view which would be nice morning & evening so might splurge and move up to this room category.

Edited to add I thought my FT search on Hotel U232 pulled up a thread in Spain forum but see now it is in GLBT forum so am not looking for a hotel for the same reasons as OP at all but was curious about your impressions of the hotel and area. :)

These are my notes for Tripadvisor - from April '11.

A very positive experience. The hotel offered a very good rate for a fully cancelable booking - under €85/night. We arrived early in the morning, but the hotel let us have our rooms immediately - greatly appreciated after an overnight flight. Desk staff were friendly and helpful, the rooms are stylish and comfortable. (Smallish by American standards, but just fine actually) Wifi Internet is free, and there is a computer center for printing boarding passes and the like. The location is slightly off the beaten path (in Eixample about a 20 minute walk from the Passeig de Gracia) but take advantage of that and view the beautiful Beaux Arts architecture in the neighborhood. It's also nice to have some distance from the Rambla. I did not eat breakfast at the hotel (there are inexpensive cafes right on the corner) and there is no gym. I would happily stay here again.



We took the metro from the airport - it involved one transfer at Sants.

My new favorite in BCN is the Omm Hotel, not unexpensive but clean and very nice to stay in.

BCN is not lacking in small, independent, cool hotels. Tablet (http://www.tablethotels.com) is a great starting point.

any gay B&B or hostel for a single traveler in BCN?

Can anyone recommend some must-go gay bars?
Planning a trip in September with friends to Barcelona, but the information that I find online all seem a little dated.
Thanks!!

Can anyone recommend some must-go gay bars?
Planning a trip in September with friends to Barcelona, but the information that I find online all seem a little dated.
Thanks!!

I did not find any gay bar in BCN to be a "must go". Most of the bars in L'Eixample are within walking distance of each other, so you can check them all out in one night.

The more sex oriented ones are a little bit more spread out...none of them is particularly outstanding either.

I had a great time in August last year at Arena (during "Circuit" but I wasn't up for a big event on the Sunday night). It may just have been a good music night and a fun time with my friends, but the bar/club itself seemed good with a decent crowd - AND they have "V" energy drink (a NZ-founded alternative to red bull that tastes nicer). I'd go back there / recommend it.

Re: hotels, I just can't recommend the Axel to stay. Overpriced for what it is - go to the rooftop for drinks instead. You'll probably get an invite downstairs anyway ;) Casa Camper is still my favorite, the W if you can upgrade to a suite (SPG fellas), or as others have stated the NH hotels in a good location are solid 4* reasonably-priced alternatives. Let's face it, you probably won't be in your hotel room much!

Thank you guys for the suggestions!!
Putting the itinerary together.
So excited! =)