Barcelona's Best Family-Friendly Hotels, Most Accommodating Places to Stay on Vacation

In a busy city like Barcelona, it's nice to come home to a hotel with an overabundance of ways to kick back and take the edge off. From its chill out Mimosa Garden with its Lebanese cuisine, to the 9th floor wading pool (only two feet deep), to the trendy Banker's Bar where you can actually see the old metal security boxes displayed above the bar and embedded into the walls (it's a converted bank building), the Mandarin is all about R & R and is great for families looking for a hotel with plenty to do at all hours of the day. Check out their High Tea which takes place daily between 5-7pm.

This hotel is all about location, which is nice especially if you have young kids. Located on La Rambla it's a short stroll to the Boqueria market where you can buy fresh o.j., baguettes and cheese for breakfast (even though you can eat breakfast at the hotel). The hotel is simple and understated and was recently refurbished to give it a more modern feel. This is a great hotel for kids, as it has a computer in the lobby, a spacious dining room and plenty of action being directly on La Rambla. There's no time to get bored in this hotel.

The H10 Montcada boasts a comfortable mix between elegance and comfort. The staff are down to earth and eager to please; so eager in fact that its not rare for them to follow you out of the dining room (after breakfast) if they see you heading towards the door in order to open it for you. The Jacuzzi atop the hotel terrace is one of the best places to spend time with the family, especially at night when the patio lights up and you can see panoramic city views. It's hard to get more centrally located than this; between the Gothic and Born neighborhoods, in the heart of the Old City and only a ten-minute walk from the beach.

It's hard to believe there is a hotel located directly across from such a visage; Barcelona's famous Cathedral. In addition to the hotel's ideal location, the Colon is a small and quaint getaway from the typical loud and noisy atmosphere found on Barcelona's busy downtown streets in Ciutat Vella (Old City). It's a great hotel for families who want to have a relaxing and quieter vacation, while at the same time being able to walk out the front door and be in the heart of the action. This is a great place for kids as they can run around in the square while the adults have a cofee or a glass of wine on the terrace overlooking the Cathedral.

The infinity pool on the hotel's rooftop terrace is but one of the many intricate details that makes the Grand Hotel Central so incredible. Its 1920's fa--ade is complemented by the modern and sleek interior and its eco-friendly solar panels situated on the hotel roof. The staff are all excellent with kids and are more than eager to accommodate its clients, even with extended check outs and dealing with special requests. If you're a 'foodie family', check out their Avalon restaurant, run by well known, Michelin Star Chef, Ramon Freixa. This is a large hotel with a nice lobby space, great for kids to relax.

This one of the best hotels for families in Barcelona. Friendly, warm and personable, the Jazz is casual yet classy and above all its stellar location is unbeatable. It's next door to Plaza Catalunya, close to the Raval and the rest of the Old City and a stone's throw from La Rambla and Rambla Catalunya (more elegant high end shopping). It's also two steps away from the metro, although you can pretty much walk anywhere in the city from the hotel (with a few exceptions). Their pool on the 8th floor is perfect for an afternoon swim with the family and a nice chill out session (the solarium is open until 10pm).

The Soho is a comfortable and contemporary hotel with an awesome location; close to Plaza Universitat, La Rambla, Plaza Catlalunya and pretty much walkable from most places in Barcelona. It's great for families, especially those with young kids as it's really easy to access both the Old and Newer areas of the city in a short period of time. The hotel's rooftop terrace is also great for lounging, ordering food and drinks and taking a dip in the pool. This is an ideal place to stay as it's close to the newer areas of town and also just a short stroll from the Old City.

Walking into Le Meridien's lobby you're instantly thrown into a lively, friendly and warm atmosphere, one that is perfect for young families. The hotel is ideally situated, close to the Boqueria on La Rambla and half way between Plaza Catalunya and the beach. You can pretty much walk anywhere from the hotel or take a quick metro, taxi or bus ride.The Meridien has a complimentary business center downstairs which is great for people who want to do a bit of work while on vacation and their signature Le PopBar, is the perfect place to have a family cocktail before going out for dinner.

Not only can't you walk by a single staff member (at any time of day) without being greeted with a friendly, 'buenos dias', but the Hotel Arts embodies the terms class and luxury and is a super place for families who just want to kick back and relax while on vacation. The Arts' beach-side location overlooking Frank Gehry's famous flying fish, is well worth the short trek that it takes in order to get into the downtown core (about 20 minutes on foot). Their outdoor garden oasis is equipped with hammocks and a whirlpool and is a nice way to unwind with the family at the end of a busy day.

The 1898's rooftop terrace is next to unbeatable. Boasting 360-degree views of the entire city, with its medium sized pool and plenty of deck space it's an ideal spot for family meals at their outdoor restaurant or just fun to laze around, soak up the sun and enjoy the pool together. Coupled with the terrace, the other main selling point for this hotel is location. Walk out the main entrance (there are two entrances) and you're on the famous, La Rambla or dine at their downstairs restaurant adjacent to the lobby, while watching the street performers entertain the tourists directly across the way.