I was thinking about doing a weekend in Barcelona in November, but it seems like hotels have gotten incredibly expensive compared to a few years ago. I've seen rooms for €150-200 a night even in the Eixample area. Is it worth it or should I look at other Spanish cities instead?
Barcelona in November is still worth it, especially because it's low season and prices drop compared to summer - maybe not to the levels of 5-10 years ago, but definitely more affordable than what you'll find in August. If 150-200 euros a night seems too much, try looking a bit further out from the center (Gràcia, Sant Antoni) or consider Seville and Valencia, which keep a better quality-to-price ratio without sacrificing much in terms of attractions. To be honest, November is a good compromise: fewer tourists, less heat, and the city is still beautiful.
The problem is that November isn't really as low season as it seems, especially if you land on weekends or around local holidays - that's when prices jump up quite a bit. What you read online is true, but you should check the specific dates you're interested in, because the difference between one week and another can be really noticeable. If you really want Catalonia on a budget, consider Girona or Tarragona - they still have that interesting vibe without Barcelona's tourist markup. Otherwise, if the city appeals to you anyway, the advice is to book well in advance and don't count on November as a guarantee of low prices.
The prices you see are definitely inflated, but it really depends on how you organize your trip. If you pick the right days in November (avoiding weekends and any public holidays) you can find rooms even at 80-100 euros in decent areas, not necessarily outside the city. The problem is that November has become a more sought-after season in recent years precisely because people are escaping summer and winter, so it's not the bargain it used to be.
But here's the thing: is it worth it compared to what? If you compare it to Barcelona 2015 the answer is no, times change. If you compare it to Madrid or Valencia right now, you're not really saving much - all the big Spanish cities have realigned themselves on prices. Where you actually find value is by managing your dates well (weekdays, not weekends) and looking for areas like Sant Antoni or Gràcia instead of pure Eixample, which is the priciest. I'd recommend November anyway because the weather is good, the crowds are manageable, and if you're flexible on dates you can still get some decent deals.
November is still a good time, but you need to be careful about how you book. Those 150-200 euros you're seeing are weekend prices or days with shows/events in the city - if you pick a fixed Tuesday or Wednesday instead (not around holidays), prices drop like crazy. The trick nobody mentions is checking check-in times: a lot of hotels have rooms available in the afternoon at normal rates, but if you want to get in early in the morning they charge you more. Try booking with check-in after 3 PM and see how the rates change.
As for the rest, Barcelona stays expensive because it's Barcelona - it's not going back to prices from 10 years ago, that's just reality. But if your question is "is it still worth it or not", the answer is yes, especially if you don't want to drive around all of Spain looking for the perfect city. Madrid, Valencia or Zaragoza are cheaper, sure, but they don't have the same appeal. If your budget isn't super tight, just do a Barcelona weekend and call it a day. But if every euro counts, go to Valencia - it's beautiful and costs less.
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