My favorite problem has arisen once again. We are planning another trip to Spain and will be visiting Barcelona for the first time. We'll be staying for three days and would like a well-located bright hostal or apartment....price is not the main factor....so let us know what you've discovered. Also...will be going north from Madrid for a few days...any suggestions on picturesque rural villages to hang out for a couple of days between the urban excitement of Madrid and Barcelona. Gracias.

Try http://www.innsidebarcelona.com if you're looking for an apartment.
met some fun lads from Scotland at one of our community meetings and ended up in the apartment they were renting from innside. it was great. View over the port, barbeque on the terrace, leather sofas. The have a range of places, and at reasonable prices too.

For the real budget traveller try Hostal Kabul on Placa Real. Young crowd always buzzing and very cheap.

Two years ago I stood for some days during the summer holidays in residencia de estudiantes sarria in barcelona. On holiday they are opened for everybody. www.residenciasarria.com

It was a wonderful place with peoples from all over the world. The public bus goes from the residencia directly to the centre.