We just returned from the 7 day cruise out of Barcelona from August 29th to September 5th. We are a family of 5 (DDs are 20, 18 and 13).

Pre-Cruise We flew into Barcelona 3 nights before the cruise. While we knew we could have taken the Aerobus, with our group, and suffering jet lag, we decided to arrange a private transfer. Our driver from Barcelona Airport Transfers was waiting for us with a mini bus, and we were quickly transported to our hotel. We booked our transfers online. The price was comparable to taking 2 taxis, which we would have needed for 5 people. I would recommend this service if you want a private transfer.

We stayed pre-cruise at the Praktik Rambla, which we picked after reading many positive reviews on TripAdvisor. It was one of only a few hotels which had triple rooms. The hotel was in an excellent location on the Rambla de Catalunya, close to Placa Catalunya, and within easy walking distance of several metro stops. We booked through Booking.com. The street was quiet, with a number of bars and restaurants (the hotel does not have a restaurant). We appreciated the fact that the hotel is non-smoking. We also liked the energy conservation features - the hall lights were triggered by motion detectors, and the room lights and air conditioning would only stay on if your key card was plugged into the main switch. DH and I had a double room on the fourth floor with a very comfortable queen-sized bed, and good air conditioning, although it can get cold at night. The room was small by North American standards, with modern furnishings. DDs had a larger room across the hall with 3 twin beds. Their room also had a nice balcony looking out on the street (our view was of a tiny back alley). The desk staff were friendly and helpful, and all spoke English. The hotel has a computer for guest use, and free wifi. We would happily stay there again. Read more