Barcelona/ Valenica

grasshopper

Trying to get the olde summer holidays sorted.
The plan is to head to spain mid july, maybe do the camino de santiago walk for 3 days up near Bilbao and then hanging out/ travelling around for the next week, before heading to bencassim for the this festival www.fiberfib.com

Anyone recommend an iterniary, or anyone done the camino walk, is it worth it, do u need to be pretty fit for it? Also anyone been to this festival before??

Would appreciate any sussgestions

p.pete

What's the camino de santiago walk? *goes to google*

Can certainly recommend Barcelona. Haven't been to Valencia but I hear it's excellent - would also be nearish for the festival.

grasshopper

Here some info on the camino walk - this route is suppose to be the best -

www.totallyspain.com/spain_travel_itineries.asp?id=14s


Any recommend some cheapish accomdation in valencia or barcelona and or any worth seeing areas inbetween

cheers

bleary

Not sure if you saw this in the Times
about a non hiker oing the walk
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,10321-2100129,00.html

grasshopper

Thanks for that Bleary. Intersting read.

Our plan is to only do a 3 days walk- then hit the beach for a week of chillaxing before heading for festival in benicassim.

bleary

Maybe you should do it after the festival -youll get an indulgence for all the excesses then
Im really tempted after rereading that article and the link
http://www.csj.org.uk/ to do it now myself

grasshopper

Thanks for the link, would rather get the healthy bit outta the way first then hit the festival and have a few days after to chill before heading home.

When are you thinking of going?

Jesper

For appartments around that area I've been dealing with these 2 sites. Found them very good to deal with and reasonable.

http://www.oh-barcelona.com

http://www.lovingbarcelona.com

grasshopper

Hey Jesper, Thanks for the sights. Will have to do some investigation into accomdation today. Could you let me know where the best place to stay around - is it las rambles?

Also is it worth flying to Barcelona with Aer Lingus and spending bit of extra cash then going for the cheaper Ryanair option to Girona?


Cheers

Roll on the Friday after work drinks

Jesper

We'r flying into Barcelona with Aerlingus early Saturday of a bank holiday weekend for e110. flying back from Reus (Salou) with Ryanair for e120 on a Sunday. Nice flying times and both airports are only a few miles form where we'r staying.
Yeah Las Ramblas is the centre of the social and scenic scene in Barcelona. Most rental sites know this and most properties will be around this area. The sites I listed above have good little maps showing the 11 districts or Barcelona. Its a good guide. Also when looking at an appartment the page will have a link to a street map of where the appartment will be.
We've booked one just off Las Ramblas (Gotica). If your to close to the street it can get very noisey I heard. The street is very long and runs from the sea west through the city. I'd advise getting one nearer the sea.
We'r staying here. http://www.oh-barcelona.com/accomm_descr.php3?refnr=417323&rent_in_future=1&arrivaldate=2006-08-05&departuredate=2006-08-09&personnr=6&accommodation=studio&lan=1&searchDate=1147766245&ap= it works out good value for 6.

Afuera

Nice find on the appartment Jesper.

Since it's near to Placa Reial you'll have a good collection of clubs and bars around there (but be aware that they go on way into the wee hours).

Also, contrary to your advise I would not recommend the parts of las Ramlas that are closer to the sea. This is quite a dodgy area and well known for prostitution, drugs, crime etc. If you want to stay by the sea in Barcelona then Barceloneta is a nicer area only 5 mins from las Ramblas.

bringitdown

One word of advice (Barcelona) - leave your wallet at home and just bring enough cash for the night only ...