It's wonderful. There are cheap flights with easyJet directly into Barcelona (El Prat) Airport or ultra-cheap flights with Ryanair into both Girona and Reus (from either of which it takes an hour and a bit on the direct coach to Barcelona).
Getting around Barcelona is cheap and easy. Just buy a day ticket which covers the excellent underground trains, the fast trams and the modern buses.
Communicating with locals is fairly easy. The local language is Catalan but everyone speaks (Castellan) Spanish as well, so a few phrases from a Spanish phrase book should help you get by. (Don't expect shop and restaurant staff to speak English. Some do, but English isn't as widely understood as it is in the main coastal resorts)
There are great beaches, fantastic restaurants, loads of historical sites, stunning architecture, great bars, loads of nightlife, excellent shopping .... . Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it in Barcelona.
Official tourism website:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/?go=jN7uAYLx/o IJaWVQCb4ZU93ygJVYLOpRQdvyIue/wAW6Ddhyhal0Y8Jy bdczumN4RSbo3CRL94sJBt7u1Kc=
Chris