Travel Channel 

Planning to spend a couple of days in barcelona before and after cruise. where do you recommend staying? gothic quarter or olympic village? and what about moderate-priced hotels?

Hmm well both are really cool. I loved the Olympic Village but didn't spend as much time in the Gothic Quarter as I'd have liked.

I'm not sure about hotels, sorry, but just PLEASE go to La Boqueria market and Parque Guell. I didn't get to go when I was there and as a result was muy muy triste

Upon Samantha's recommendation and based on the Passport to Europe segment, we booked a trip to Barcelona, Spain over the last Christmas holiday. EVERYTHING was as she promised and described. We absolutely adored Barcelona and plan to return there. We tried many of the places she recommended. Much to our delight, they were wonderful. The cava and tapa bars were great... thanks, Samantha! We stayed at a boutique hotel across from the cathedral square. Christmas day was spectacular. It was actually a good time to go. The weather was decent and fewer tourists, so we actually got to see many things without standing in long lines.

Regarding the question about hotels. We stayed right in the Gothic Quarter at the Hotel Catedral. The prices were reasonable and the rooms were very nice! Hotel Catedral is just a couple of blocks away from La Boqueria and Las Ramblas. Everything is within walking distance. A short walk up to Placa de Catalunia and you can catch a Bus Tourisic to all of the sites for a very reasonable cost!

I preferred the gothic quarter to the Olympic village. It depends on what you like, if you are partial to old and quaint, go gothic. New and modern? Go Olympic.