>>voisin+(OP)
Hostels and hotels are strictly better in my opinion. I stayed in a hostel in Barcelona. A group of us went to a football game and had a great time.
>>salamo+s6
I stayed in a hostel on my first Barcelona visit and it was economical, but I'd not use one again - too Spartan, not enough privacy. Good choice for young gregarious backpacker types though.