Barcelona anyone ? (paging Butterfly).

novita77
By novita77

Doing preparation for summer holiday. Thinking about going to Barcelona for 8 to 10 days. Anyone been there can recommend cheap clean hotel and nearby metro station ... places must visit and things to do.

Any advice or suggestion are most welcome.

By novita77• 25 Jan 2008 14:14
novita77

errr Butterfly ... no problem then. I will keep that i mind. xxx

Have you finish packing for moving?

By butterfly• 25 Jan 2008 13:47
butterfly

I have a little confession: I am really clueless abut Barcelona. I have been there only once in my lifetime and it was many many years ago, in my early teens. So no idea about nice affordable hotels. Sorry!

If you were going to Madrid I would be able to direct you to every single hiden corner, but Barcelona.... I know what everyone knows, Gaudi, Sagrada Familia, Ramblas etc.

By novita77• 25 Jan 2008 12:45
novita77

thanks Genesis. Really appreciate your info :)

By genesis• 25 Jan 2008 12:41
Rating: 4/5
genesis

Check out Hi tech hotels (http://www.petitpalace.com/). I've stayed iin the 1's in Madrid/Seville. They are centrally located/3 star hotels with modern minimalist decor. The one in Barcelona is in good location. I like 2 add that any hotel close to Les ramblas might be over priced in (may/june) as it's a tourist season.

By Vegas• 25 Jan 2008 10:27
Vegas

Thailand...YAY

You can't teach experience...

By novita77• 25 Jan 2008 10:25
novita77

@Genesis :

I have no idea why we choose Barcelona. On our winter holiday we saw one of the magazine in one of the flight about Barcelona, and my husband asked weather I am fancy going there. Since i am also like to travel anywhere i havent been ... no problem by me. And also we were planning to take son to Lego Land in Windsor this summer. The plan is going down from North East of England by bus to Victoria Coach Station, stay in one of the hotel around there for about 5 days to a week and take the shuttle bus to windsor for Legoland.

For going to Barcelona there is direct flight from Gatwick - Barcelona with flymonarch.com, so i thought the trip would be quite easier for us.

I been to Granada Genesis ... my brother in law used to live in Illora and recently he sold his house and bought bigger house just outskirt of Granada.

I dont really fancy going to kiddies park for my holiday ... not into things like Disney Land or Ocean Park in Hongkong. I rather sighseeing looking around old building and walk up and down the old alley with their old fashioned cafe.

Will defenitely visiting Madrid one day if we not going this summer. Do you know any 'cheap flight' going to Madrid that fly from New Castle or Teesside. We normally stop in the UK first to visit inlaw and relatives before we proceed with out travel.

Genesis we are planning going there about late june beginning of july. Havent bought anything yet ... just reading the guide book and asking around people who been there.

Thanks alot again for your info though ... you are very helpfull :D

@RedPope :

I agree with the travel book like a compass. Last november we went to Lisbon for 10 days. And i used the Portugal Travel book by Dorling Kingsley and it is really a god send. We managed to see most of the stuffs in 10 days. Without using any taxis apart of the airport transfer. Just hop on and hop off Metro or bus.

Used the same system for Turkey ... bough Turkey book but by Lonely Planet (which i am not too impressed) before we go there. We also spend time with Dweller and the wife on our holiday which was great. The first QL'er i met outside Qatar.

I have bought the travel book just for Barcelona from the same publisher, and it does seems quite good. I thought i asked some more idea about Barcelona to the fellow QL'er who been to the place.

@ Vegas :

Thank you for the idea ... but we been to Thailand more than 5 times now. So i thought we looking for a change :-)

By genesis• 25 Jan 2008 09:23
Rating: 4/5
genesis

i assume you're traveling with children?Madrid & andalusia has more to offer than Barcelona/Valencia (Warner Bros. in Madrid, Water parks in costa del Sol, Granada parks). The past few years Madrid is making more buzz in term of culture with plenty theaters, art shows & museums stretched between Gran Via & Sol.

By Vegas• 25 Jan 2008 04:48
Vegas

Vivi, just take the old man to Thailand...:)

You can't teach experience...

By anonymous• 25 Jan 2008 02:44
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

Don't forget to check the local tourist information center, they have great information of tour packages and information where to go and what to do.

If you wish not to spend lots of money on rental of vehicles and fancy hotels , they got pensiones and pretty nice room boarding very clean and safe.

Enjoy your trip. Don't forget to take your lonely planet book on Spain from Virgin records at Villagio. Their Information is like a compass in the desert.

I did my tour in Spain, most of it in the south and had a good time walking and travelling around to different places via train and buses.

Enjoy your trip and happy sightseeing.

PS

Remember that once you land in Barcelona or Madrid and you are Transferring to another local hop like Alicante or Valencia your International 70 pound luggage is not covered in your return back, They will charge for the extra pounds for those local flights.

Air france was a good deal until I hit Iberia Airlines, which is their national airlines, surely they suck big time.

The Red Pope of Qatar Living

Do not invite death by the error of your life, nor bring on destruction by the works of your hands; because God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living. Solomon Chapte

By genesis• 25 Jan 2008 02:07
Rating: 5/5
genesis

I recommend Madrid(. You can start from there, then proceed to Seville (2 hr by train). Then you can rent a car and explore the rest of andalusia (Granada, Cordoba, Malaga & the lovely beaches of Cadiz). If you're determined to go Barcelona (check hotels in Las Ramblas) but avoid going there in August

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