Barcelona is tight and pricey when it comes to accommodations. For the best value, reserve a room as far in advance as possible. I found these top deals in the elegant and boulevardian Eixample neighborhood — a 10-minute walk from the Ramblas action.

Hotel Granvía, filling a palatial 1870s mansion, offers Botticelli and chandeliers in the public rooms; a sprawling, peaceful sun garden; and 54 spacious, comfy, quiet, air-conditioned rooms. Its salon is plush and royal, making the hotel an excellent value for romantics (Sb-€80, Db-€130–or €110 July–Aug, Tb-€150, these rates promised with Rick Steves’ Spain in 2009 if you reserve directly by phone or email–not on their website–and mention my name, breakfast-€11, air-con, elevator, Internet access and Wi-Fi, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 642, tel. 933-181-900, fax 933-189-997, www.nnhotels.es, hgranvia@nnhotels.es, Juan works the morning shift).

Hotel Continental Palacete, with 19 rooms, fills a 100-year-old chandeliered mansion. With flowery wallpaper and cheap but fancy furniture under ornately gilded stucco, it’s gaudy in the city of Gaudí. But it’s also friendly, clean, quiet, and well-located. Guests have unlimited access to the extravagant, “cruise-inspired” fruit, veggie, and drink buffet — worth factoring into your comparison-shopping (Sb-€97, Db-€132, €35-45 more for bigger and brighter view rooms, extra bed-€45, 5 percent discount with Rick Steves’ Spain in 2009, includes breakfast, air-con, Internet access and Wi-Fi, 2 blocks north of Plaça de Catalunya at corner of Carrer Diputació, Rambla de Catalunya 30, tel. 934-457-657, fax 934-450-050, www.hotelcontinental.com, palacete@hotelcontinental.com).

Hostal Residencia Neutral, with a classic Eixample address and 28 very basic rooms, is a family-run time-warp and a fine value(tiny S-€35, Ds-€60, Db-€65, Ts-€75, Tb-€80, Qs-€80, Qb-€85, €8 continental breakfast in pleasant breakfast room, request a back room to avoid street noise, thin walls, fans, elevator, elegantly located 2 blocks north of Gran Via at Rambla de Catalunya 42, tel. 934-876-390, fax 934-876-848, hostalneutral@arrakis.es, owner Ramón, Lino works the night shift).

Sleep Code
(€1 = about $1.40, from U.S. or Canada, dial 011-34 plus 9-digit number)

S = Single, D = Double/Twin, T = Triple, Q = Quad, b = bathroom, s = shower only. Unless otherwise noted, credit cards are accepted.