Thank you to all of you.... what a learning curve....I'm the
frustrated post, lol. Got the booking done...Now I've been looking for
a place to stay for my 20 yr. old daughter and I  in Barcelona.
Mercy, even a good hostel will do at this point. Seems like I"m going
around in circles. I took the advice and we aren't going to Porto but
we had to go through Barcelona to get to Jerez... so figured we'd stay
for 3 nights.... my travel agent was supposed to get a hotel there....
ha, already paid a flat fee to have here book the tickets(5 flights!).
Still have Barcelona on the 28, 29, 30, leaving 31st of May. Any
suggestions? Has to be easy to find from the airport because we come
in at 7pm and want to be comfortable and safe... and in the center of
things, within walking from downtown.... if anyone loves doing this ,
I'd love suggestions/help/ Here I go again! THanks so much for the
past support!!!!   Kim

Pleased to see you are starting to put it altogether.   Some suggestions.
Yes, take a taxi from the airport to your hotel destination.  Then, after
that,walk or travel by metro or city bus.  The metro will take you to
wherever you need to go, or at least close.  Sometimes, you might have to
then switch to a bus to complete the journey- like up to the hill to
the Miro Museum.  7pm is not late in Spain, especially if you want something
to eat.  Things are just getting started (maybe).  I have been to Barcelona
numerous times (but not for four years).  And one of the things that puzzled
me is that I always had a hard time in getting an advanced hotel
reservations.  A lot of the places seemed to be booked up, or at least the
ones I was interested in.  Lots of visitors?   So... Good luck.   Also,
remember that a "hostel" in Spain does not mean a backpacker's budget dorm.
It is a hotel catagory or designation.  fyi-- I have always stayed at
the *Aparthotel
Silver*, which is located up the avenue from the La Ramblas in Gracia, about
a 10-15minute walk to the Diagonal.     Gracia is a unique  residental
neighorhood with lots of local color, places to eat and drink etc, and
as you specified, "safe".  The hotel is in sight of a metro stop down the
street, which is I believe three metro stops from the center of Ramblas.  I
walk down and ride the metro back at night.  The Silver is a rather drab,
semi-modern place, and from my observation, popular with Euro families and
businessmen.  I found it clean and practical, as well as reasonable in
price. It is not a place for old time Barcelona color or atmosphere.  Most
of the rooms have small kitchen facilities, although I never bothered to use
it.  Did I say Gracia had great places to eat?  And, the hotel is on line or
*web page* for details and reservations.  My room faced a small grass patio
area with tables, and off the tiny breakfast buffet room. All enclosed by
the bleak urban walls of next door buildings and parking garage.   Again,
making hotel recommendations is tough,  as one person's budget is another's
dump, and etc.  Hopefully, some others on the forum can give you their
suggestions and recommendations.  And, check out the travel guides for
ideas!  Good travels.  edwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Interestingly, Kim, today's Los Angeles Times had an article on seeing Barcelona by foot.  They also recommended a few places to stay and eat.  Check it out at:

http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-barcelona4may04