Barcelona

Lex_Diamonds

Im heading there in the new year for about five days, so have you been there? Any random sagely advice you could provide?
I want a hotel in the centre or near to the good stuff. Actually my primary concern is how hard is it to get around.

Thanks in advance.


Yes looks like I *did* spell it wrong, bugger, no wonder nothing came up in the search.:mad:

ToxicPaddy

Always good for some decent down to earth advice without painting the place in
a false light

Lonely Planet

Ive never been there, but Ive herad nothing but good about the place.. well about
the place anyway, from what i believe, pick pockets are a big thing over there so
beware of that, but apart from that its supposed to be a class city..

Tox

acid

Spent 2 days there a few years ago, not nearly long enough. It's a wonderful city, I'd love to go back sometime.
Public transport is cheap and very efficient, getting around is a breeze.

Don't miss a trip to the Sagrada Familia cathedral (take the lift to the top). A visit to Parc Guell and the cablecar up to Montjuic are also well worthwhile.

Take a walk along the Ramblas and through the Barri Gotic. I didn't have time to see much else, unfortunatley.

cailinoBAC

I know it's a while away but I'm thinking of going to Barcelona for New Year. I'm just sick of too many crappy new years in Dublin and I've never been to Barcelona so seems like a good match. Also, having looked up hostelworld.com, seems like rooms are filling up already. So has anybody been there for New Years. Is there anything special about it there?

jonny68

I was there on Paddys Day last year and had a great time,friends of mine were there on NYE a few years ago and said they had a great time.

Your Hotel will probably tell you when you check in but make sure your fully aware that Barcelona,in particular Las Ramblas is infested with pickpockets, no matter who comes up to you if they are disabled,blind or supermodels just walk on and have your valuables in your front pockets with your hands in your pockets,don't even entertain them for a second, these people are so professional it's unreal, my mate found out the hard way..have fun anyway.;)

atgate

Just stayed in the Market Hotel www.markethotel.com.es and can't recommend it high enough for the price. Go for a suite (about 100 per night) - fab rooms, huge baths, sun terrace. They have agreat restuarant as well (you won't believe the price / quality).

Barcelona is great. I'd advise taking the bus touristica (sp), gives you a great sense of where things are and where you might want to go back to and spend some time.

Enjoy!

NicOda

Was in Barcelona in january . Stayed in the H10 Raco del Pi in the Barri Gothic, just off La Ramblas. I cannot reccoment this hotel enough. The location is perfect , near the main attractions but in a very quiet side street. The hotel also provide free cava, pastries, tea and coffee and internet access all day . Its very reasonable(got the trip as a bd pressie for my mam) . Enjoy it and soak up all the city has to offer

dak

Turistic bus is great way to see the city. Costs €19 per adult for the day and €11 for kids . I think a 2 day ticket is only slightly dearer! Hop on and off as often as you like . Bus arrives every 5 or 10 minutes!

The Swordsman

Website for Bus Turistic is:
http://www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/busturistic/busturistic.jsp

A two day pass is only 23 euro and its very worthwhile to spend the extra 4 euro rather than trying to cram everything in in one day. I think some hotels sell tickets at discounted prices.

My wife and I went for a weekend in March and stayed at the Apsis Millenia http://www.apsishotels.com/ which was really nice. Its about a ten minute walk from La Ramblas.

Like one of the other posters said, be extremely careful with your valuables. Trust no one - not even guys claiming to be police. Apparently a big scam over there is for one guy to claim that he has been pickpocketed. A plainclothes cop will just happen to be at the scene and will ask people nearby to show their wallets to see if they match the picked wallet. When he has the wallet(s) in his posssesion, he and the 'victim' leg it pretty sharpish down a side street.

If you can avoid anything like this happening to you, you should have a great time.

Doodlebug

Good info here for me - I'm trying to organise a stag in Barcelona in September.

Anyone done anyhting like this there?