If you want to plan a relaxed holiday in Barcelona, Spain, but are nervous about the hotel choice, how about trying an apartment instead? Apartments are available that are perfect for a couple, a family, or a group of friends vacationing together. Besides the variety in sizes of apartments available, there is also a great variety in the type of accomodations, from the simple low budget option to an apartment that has all the amenities of a four star hotel. Of course, the more luxurious the apartment, the more expensive it will be. Whether you want luxury at any cost, or you want to keep your vacation expenses low, you can find the right apartment. Different locations are also available, and you can stay right in the center of town, near all the tourist sites, or by the port where you can enjoy the view, or perhaps you prefer a quiet neighborhood the outskirts of town. If you rented a car, you could choose any one of these kinds of locales to stay in.

One of the most important advantages of an apartment rental is the space it offers to each one staying there. You don't have to be crowded in one hotel room, but each person can have a little space to spread out in. In addition, the apartments offer one full and one half bath, so there is no waiting for the bathroom like there is in a hotel room. Ample closet room and drawer space also make life easier for vacationers sharing a space. There is a wide variety of bedroom layouts, so you can have double beds, single beds, bunk beds and sofa beds to accomodate as many people as you need to. No worries about making the dining room on time for breakfast, since each person can make his own when he gets up in the convenient kitchen. Vacation apartments in Barcelona are completely equipped with kitchen appliances and all the utensils you will need. Whether you want to make a complete meal, or just have a quick snack without having to run out to a restaurant, the choice is yours. A typical Barcelona experience can be had by breakfasting on the terrace (Barcelona weather is warm year round). The traditional breakfast is a fritter with a cup of hot chocolate, so go native and enjoy this simple breakfast. For a good wakeup, however, you may want to have a pastry with a cup of strong Spanish coffee. And for the hearty eaters, a Spanish omelet will satisfy the appetite. The really wonderful thing is that you can enjoy all of these things without paying expensive restaurant prices, and without even getting out of your pajamas!

Especially in the beginning of your stay, you may want to eat at home until you find out where the good places to eat or visit are located. If you see a pretty park or scenic area, you can pack a picnic in your apartment and bring it along with you for your day trip. Or you have the option of picking up prepared foods at one of the many wonderful delicatessans and supermarkets Barcelona has to offer.

Before the advent of the computer and the internet, renting an apartment was not an easy task, and involved a lot of paperwork. But now, you can just email one of the agents specializing in short term or holiday apartment rentals and have your pick of aprtment to suit your needs. And apartment rentals are not just available in Barcelona. You can go to other areas in Spain and have the same convenience. How about a visit to the Costa Brava in Sitges? Carnival is an especially wonderful time to rent an apartment here. If you drive into the mountains, you can choose an apartment in the countryside of Girona or Figueres. Another option is to visit the Dali museum and then drive on to the foothills of the Pyrennes. There you can rent a lovely rustic apartment and enjoy the mountains. There are also ski resorts that offer apartments and you can indulge in your winter sports and then relax in your apartment afterwards. If you don't look forward to breaking a leg skiing, you can just take a walk in the countryside.

All of this is available to you, and since you'll save money on lodging by renting an apartment, you can do a lot of other things.