We're going to Barcelona in mid-September and staying 10 nights. We arrive at BCN around 9am after flying PHL-BCN in Envoy/biz. I'm HHonors Gold.

We were there about 6 years ago, for just 3 nights, and stayed at the Hilton Diagonal del Mar. Unfortunately, that property isn't allowing arrivals on the day we arrive (oddly if we arrive a day prior we could stay that night).

At any rate, the Hilton Barcelona and Alexandra are both available. Heck, we can stay at either of those properties the whole time.

I'm torn if we should stay at either of those properties for the first night (I'm thinking more like 2-3 nights min) then move? Or stay at one the whole time.
We've done the change hotel in same city thing before elsewhere, and it is a pain having to pack up, pay for a taxi to the other property, then get re-settled (provided they have a room ready for you). It pretty much eats about half a day out of a vacation.

The Alexandra has decent rates, looks to be located fairly central (according to Google maps a 20 min walk to Sagrada Familia and 3 min to Casa Mila). Looks like it has a pool, but not sure how that compares with the pool at Diagonal del Mar (plus I've seen reports of having to pay to reserve chairs there )
The FT thread on the Alexandra doesn't paint a pretty picture of the property, which makes me want to just do a few nights then move to Diagonal del Mar.
Rates at the Hilton Barcelona and Alexandra are about 10-15E apart.


Here's a quick summary of things we want to do in Barcelona:
* typical tourist stuff in city, walk La Rambla (carefully/safely), visit most of the Gaudi sites, other museums, etc.
* a day or so at the beach, weather permitting (here is where the del Mar location would help)
* some excursions out of town: Sitges, Park Guell, Montserrat, and possibly even a car rental to Andorra and other areas (other suggestions welcome)

Along with the beach right there, the del Mar location has a slight advantage in that we've been there before (had a great experience). We know there's a supermarket/mall across the street, and a subway station very close too.
Neither other property will have the beach advantage.

So what say the experts?
Split the stay, or the whole 10 nights at Hilton Barcelona or Alexandra?
One last option would be to spend a few days elsewhere, preferably driving distance. But I'm not getting any warm and fuzzies after reading the thread on the Girona Doubletree.