alanw,

thanks for your reply. We won't be too jet lagged as we are coming from Cork, Ireland. Mrs bravoecho is already there and I will be then with enough time to aclimatise.

With regards to the hotels, I have been able to get a company rate at Hotel Arts for Euro199 and Calderon for Euro163. Bearing this in mind what would you recommend? Mrs bravoecho would also like to do a bit of relaxing by the pool (considering she has been in Cork all winter I can sort of understand). How far is the Hotel Arts from Plaza Catalunya? Is it worth staying there, doing the touristy things in the city and then retiring to the hotel for afternoon drinks by the pool and then back into town for the evening?

Thanks