Quick Tips for Choosing a Hotel in Barcelona

Jorge Franganillo

Whenever you book a trip, one of the most important decisions to make is where to stay. Even if you're hoping to spend your time out and about, a good night's sleep is essential. You don't want to be kept awake by partying downstairs, next door or outside. And you certainly don't want to spend your time in Barcelona staying in a dirty or unsafe room. Whether you go for cheap and cheerful, or you're looking for the ultimate luxury, choosing the right hotel could make or break your vacation. Try using the tips below to pick the right place for you and have an enjoyable time in Barcelona.

Set Your Budget

The first thing you should decide is how much money you want to spend on your hotel. If money is no object, you can look at four and five-star hotels that have everything you could need. But if you need to watch your wallet, it's better to set yourself a budget. There are different levels of accommodation you could choose from, from hostels or pensions to budget and luxury hotels. If you want to stick to somewhere in the middle, look at three-star hotels.

Choose Your Requirements

You need to think about what you're looking for in a hotel. Barcelona has a lot to offer in terms of accommodation, so narrowing down your wishes will help. Perhaps you have to have a pool, or you want somewhere with a bar. Are you looking for a hotel in a certain location or one with a gym? Remember that the price will be influenced by the location and facilities. So don't expect to find everything you could ever need at a budget hotel.

Use Booking Sites

The easiest way to find a Barcelona hotel that's perfect for you is to use booking sites. Visit Venere or a similar site and browse through the many hotels available. You'll be able to look at photos and read information about each hotel. Then you can book your stay without having to leave the site. Most sites also have ratings and reviews too, so you can see what other guests thought.

Check the Photos

Having a look at a hotel's photos is always a good idea. If you love photography, it's an even better idea. You could find a hotel that's perfect for taking a few shots. If you can, try to find photos taken by guests too. Doing so will give you a more accurate picture of the state of the hotel, and not just a carefully-controlled professional image.

Read Reviews

It may seem obvious, but reading hotel reviews is essential. You don't want to check into an awful establishment, only to find it could have been avoided if you had read the reviews. However, they're less important for more expensive hotels. And if you want to stay closer to the center of Barcelona, you probably won't find anywhere horrible.

There are lots of hotels to choose from in Barcelona, and some of them are beautiful buildings. Just take your time choosing one to make sure you don't get duped.

United States Immigration: Basic History that You Must Know

United States immigration has always been interesting to many historians. It can be recalled that the first indigenous people crossed the ice bridge connecting Asia to North America some 12,000 years ago yet it wasn’t until the end of the 15th century that Europeans entered the country’s borders. The French and Spanish were the first to establish settlements while English and Dutch followed soon after and founded their first permanent colonies. 

Many immigrants that came to United States were in search for greater economic opportunity while Pilgrims in the early 1600s arrived in search for religious freedom. It was during the 17th to 19th centuries when thousands of African slaves were delivered to United States in forceful manner. Humiliation and discrimination were reported to increase after the imports of the blacks. The first significant federal legislation restricting immigration was the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Ellis Island opened up and became the country’s first federal immigration station. Individual states regulated immigration then after. In 1965, new laws ended the quota system that favoured European immigrations. And today, most of the country’s immigrants are coming from Asia and Latin America. 

Since the foundation of United States, immigration laws have been reformed. The change was based on the needs of the time but political agendas were assumed to influence the amendments. 

Why Early People Migrate to United States? 

a. Indentured Servants Young people were paid for their passage to United States by working for a household for a certain number of years. This labour system was widely practiced in the 18th century in the British colonies in North America and elsewhere. It was expensive for Europeans to cross over to the American Colonies and this was one of their easy techniques to obtain passage. When the contract ends, the servant is free to work on his own. The system gained success that it claimed half of the white immigrants in the 17th and 18th century as indentured servants. Although some people voluntarily indentured themselves, others were found kidnapped in European cities and forced to serve in United States. Convicts were also shipped across the Atlantic for the same purpose. 

b. Economic Opportunity United States was the perfect place for cheap land and freedom of enterprise during the colonial period. Farmers, tradesmen, fishermen, shipbuilders and craftsmen are secured with work. There was an independence of resources and the trade among colonies and indigenous peoples have produced massive improvement. 

c. Religious Freedom Early people migrate to United States to preserve their religious identity. Some were quick enough to migrate to prevent persecution in Europe. Immigrants wanting to preserve the purity of their spiritual views were free to live their lives the way they wanted. Today, United States is packed with numerous religious institutions which is a testament of the freedom that was enjoyed so many decades ago. 

Who were the major immigrants in United States? 

Apart from British and Asians, another large group of immigrants who arrived in the country were the black slaves from West Africa. They were among the early slaves in America who were forced to indentured servitude. From 20 African servants in 1619, the number increased to 7,000 by 1680 and tremendously escalated to 700,000 by 1790. It was during 1808 when the American congress outlawed the importation of salves to the United States. However, no law has ever stopped their imports. Although there were no exact estimates made, it is believed that 500,000 to 650,000 Africans were shipped to America for slavery between the 17th and 19th centuries, a big population to consider. People from Northern and Western Europe began to flock to United States around 1815 to 1865. About 1/3 of the population was from Ireland which suffered a great famine in the mid-19th century. At around 1820 and 1930, the number of Irish immigrants was estimated to reach 4.5 million. Joined the Irish immigrants were the Germans. Their population was estimated to reach 5 million in the 19th century. Many of them were found buying large portion of farms in many major cities such as Milwaukee and St. Loius. 

The influx of newcomers to United States has posed unwanted competition for jobs and discrimination for due to religious beliefs. Anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic American Party tried to trim down the wave of people coming in into the region but it was until during the Civil War that United States has experienced depression that resulted to the slowdown of immigration. 

United States: Future Immigration Condition 

During the last century, US government had left immigration policy to individual states but the ever-increasing influx of people has never stopped. President Benjamin Harrison opened up the Ellis Island in New York to serve as the federal immigration station. Around 12 million immigrants were admitted to United States through the Ellis Island in between 1892 - 1954. During the rapid industrialization and urbanization (1880 – 1920), about 20 million immigrants were admitted however, the peak year for admission of new immigrants was during 1907 where 1.3 million people entered the country legally. 

Today, the majority of United States immigrants are from Asia and Latin America rather than Europe. 

Bio: this article is brought to you by estapermits.org, a professional US visa agency.

Renting an Apartment in Barcelona

Post courtesy of Apartment Barcelona

Why choose an apartment?

With more space and homely touches, along with the possibility of saving some pennies and sleeping larger groups together under one roof, more and more visitors are choosing holiday apartment rentals in Barcelona rather than hotel stays. In terms of the apartments available in and around the city, the variety of accommodation is vast and there is indeed something to suit all tastes.

Where to stay?
 

Barcelona boasts an amazing choice of different neighbourhoods, each with its very own personality, allowing you to really make the most of your visit to the city and find exactly what you need. From apartments overlooking the sandy beaches and those found at the heart of lively nightlife to those with a more local feel surrounded quirky cafés or chic stores, you’re sure to find the ideal area for you.

If what you enjoy most is basking in the Mediterranean sun, then Barceloneta is the perfect choice for you. The vibrant seafront, lined with sandy beach bars, local hangouts and amazing seafood restaurants along with the area’s proximity to the city centre make this an ideal spot for those wanting to combine the metropolitan with the surf.

Dating back to medieval times, the beautiful, maze-like neighbourhood of El Born is one of Barcelona’s oldest areas and today wows visitors with its wonderful monuments, fashionable boutiques, and enticing bars and restaurants. The area is home to some of the city’s most best loved attractions including the Picasso Museum, Santa María del Mar basilica and Santa Caterina Market.

Crazy about Gaudí? Love classic architecture? If so, then Eixample is the ideal place for you. The area is home to some of the most renowned architectural works in Europe including the amazing Casa Batlló, weird and wonderful La Pedrera and the towering Sagrada Familia. Eixample boasts endless and glamorous turn of the century buildings which today house swanky stores and up-market restaurants.

At the top end of Eixample lies the cute, quaint area known as Gràcia. Originally a separate village from Barcelona, it has a distinctive Catalan atmosphere, and is today filled with charming restaurants, arty cafeterias, and locally-owned boutiques. With plenty of local students and young residents, this area comes alive at night, with a trendy laid-back bar scene.

For a true taste of Barcelona’s dramatic past, you’ll need the incredible Gothic area. Nestled between El Raval and El Born, the neighbourhood offers guests a first-hand experience of the rich and fascinating history of this buzzing city. Characterised by small, winding alleyways and beautiful medieval architecture, renting an apartment in the Gothic Quarter will surely transport you back in time. The neighbourhood is home to plenty of tourist attractions including the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça Reial and the government buildings of Catalonia in Plaça de Sant Jaume.

Apartments in Barcelona come in endless shapes and sizes all across the city and are able to cater to all needs. So whether you’re looking for a child-friendly apartment with a pool, a spacious six bedroom rental for a large group, or a super-stylish studio for one, you’re sure to find the perfect accommodation for you.

Apartment Barcelona

Apartment Barcelona is an online apartment agency with more than 1000 apartments to rent in Barcelona for both short and long-term stays, as well as apartments for sale. The Tripadvisor-recommended agency offers a large variety of rentals, from luxury apartments to studios, and from beach apartments to Ramblas apartments. For more information, visit www.apartmentbarcelona.com