Inside

Chiropractic centres in Barcelona and Sitges: Dr Chiappinelli and his team of chiropractors from the top universities in America and France deal with all back-related problems using the latest technology from the US. Multi-lingual staff. Open Saturdays. Find out more...

Accounts, taxation, bookkeeping, cost reduction, business development and strategy. Expertise of UK Chartered Accountant coupled with Spanish qualified professionals - our local knowledge enables us to help you unlock the full potential of your business. Find out more...

Benjamin Franklin School

International school for children aged 3 to 18 years offering an authentic American education in a multi cultural, multi lingual setting. Students can study the Spanish Selectividad and Bachilerato as well as American High School Diploma and AP exams. Find out more...

Barcelona Local Reference INFOrmation

Share |

Print |

Holiday Accommodation Options in Barcelona & Catalonia

Going on holiday to Catalonia, Barcelona, the Costa Brava or Dorada? Vacationing near Girona? Find the right place to stay: self-catering accommodation, bed and breakfast, casas rurales, pensions, cottages, budget hotels or backpacker hostels.

Spain welcomes over 52 million visitors each year; as such the tourism industry is very well developed in many areas, particularly the Costas and the islands (Balearics and Canaries). There are many types of vacation accommodation available.

See The AngloFILE for Hotels & Holiday Accommodation

A wide variety of accommodation is available in Barcelona, with something to suit all budgets. There is a good selection of low-cost accommodation in most areas; the favourable prices and popularity with young travellers means this kind of accommodation is quickly booked up during the summer months.

Hotels

Accommodation classified as "hotels" includes hotels, boarding houses (or pensions) and hotel-apartments. All hotels are categorised; there are four category types recognised by a letter symbol.

H: Registered hotels
HR: Residential hotel with no dining facility
HA: Hotels with self-catering apartments
CV: Holiday complexes

The hotel categories range from 1 to 5 stars Grand Luxe (GL):

5 star: Outstanding, luxury hotel
4 star: Highly superior hotel
3 star: Highly comfortable, tourist hotel
2 star: Good standard, tourist hotel
1 star: Average standard, tourist hotel

Accommodation may also be graded according to Tourist Quality certification (Q) or its environmental quality (EMAS or the environmental quality guarantee symbol). The large number of hotels in Catalonia means that discounted stays can often be found either on web-based reservation portals or via a travel agent.

Paradores

The government created this hotel chain in 1928. Paradores are luxury hotels or inns located in special buildings such as converted Moorish fortresses, castles or monasteries. There are 85 of them around Spain and they remain state owned.

See these websites for more information and to find paradores:

Paradores
Paradores of Spain

Pensión

A pensión is a small but basic hotel usually offering a room but no dining facilities. It is also classified according to star rating.

Fonda/Casa de Huespedes

A fonda is symbolised with a blue letter F on a white background. A fonda is a type of hotel but is more basic than a pensión, with typically, a small number of bedrooms. It may or may not have a bar or dinning room. A casa de huespedes is similar to a guest house.

Hostals

Do not confuse a Hostal with a hostel. A Hostal is small private hotel with limited facilities and services and often a competitively priced alternative to a hotel.

Aparthotel

As the name suggests this is a mix between an apartment and hotel in that it is an individual accommodation unit but is usually within the grounds of a hotel. The hotel's services (cleaning service and dining facilities) can be used by the guests in the apartment.

Casas Rurales, Fincas and Villas

Rural accommodation and country houses range from large sprawling houses with large gardens to small, compact cottages in the country. In Catalonia, rural accommodation is classified regionally and can be either a room, with breakfast service, half-board, full-board service (or access to the kitchen), or a fully-equipped independent house.

Fincas are rural properties, often former farm houses, that have been converted into tourist properties.

The Inner Catalonia Federation of Agritourism (Federación de Agroturismo de Catalunya Interior - FACI) has information on the various independent rural lodgings, townhouses, country houses and farm houses with rooms available for rental in the interior of Catalonia.

Federación de Agroturismo de Catalunya Interior
Tel: 938 691 886
Fax: 938 684 635
e-mail
Website

Villas are often located outside the main urban centres, so private transport is usually essential. Villas often have good amenities including swimming pools and kitchen facilities.

Apartment/Apartamento

The self-catering options can vary in size and standard. They are often in large high rise buildings, sometimes with no lift.

See The AngloFILE for Self Catering Apartments & Holiday Rentals

Aparthotel

As the name suggests this is halfway between an apartment and hotel in that it is an individual accommodation unit but is usually within the grounds of a hotel and the hotel's services (cleaning service and dining facilities) can be used by the guests in the apartment.

Habitación

This is bed and breakfast style accommodation (it is not always regulated), often rooms rented out in a private house by the homeowner. Breakfast is not always offered.

See The AngloFILE for Bed & Breakfast

Youth Hostels

Known in Spanish as an Albergue, these are competitively priced and ideal for those travelling on a budget. They are marked with an Hs symbol issued by the tourist board. A feature of hostels in Europe is the shared, dormitory-style bedroom and bathrooms.

The Youth Hostel Network of Catalonia (Xarxa Nacional d'Albergs Socials de Catalunya) provides information on youth hostels in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia.