Salou/Barcelona thread

ZOLTAN28

Hi

Des anyone know whether any of the English/Irish pubs in salou/cambrils run a mini-bus service to barca for football matches.

Last time we went with the holiday rep organised trip but this was a rip-off and there will be three of us rather than the two there was last time.

I figure someone must run a service like this over there as its a cast-iron money maker especially as the public transport ends so early and the matches finish so late.

Munster Magic

try touchdowntours.co.uk

ZOLTAN28

cheers - they seem like the type of crowd I'm after - I 've mailed them and will let people know the story in case others are planning to see barca next season during their holidays.

ZOLTAN28

IN case anyone else is in the same boat - the place mentioned does do trips from barca back to salou - works out at about €140 for three of us - a bit expensive but cheaper than staying in a hotel for a night and training it back the next day.

They also do return trips including match tickets.

Dodge

Loads and loads of places in salou do bus trips (including tickets) for about that price. Shop around when you're there. We booked through our hotel last time, worked out about €30 cheaper than the Irish travel company

Munster Magic

I am going in the middle of September, only thing is I fly out on a Saturday and with the match most likely on Sunday I wont have much time to check it out. fixtures are out and of course they have an away game while I am there, now my only hope is that they have a home champions league game. anybody know how hard tickets are to get for champions league games over there

Dodge

Munster Magic wrote:

I am going in the middle of September, only thing is I fly out on a Saturday and with the match most likely on Sunday I wont have much time to check it out. fixtures are out and of course they have an away game while I am there, now my only hope is that they have a home champions league game. anybody know how hard tickets are to get for champions league games over there

Friend of mine got tickets to barca v AC Milan a couple of years ago on the day at the ticket office.

If they'r playing a team witha large travelling support you might have trouble but there will always be touts. Don't think they'll be playing Cl at that time. Have you checked out who Espanyol are playing?

Munster Magic

first match in the group stages are on the 18/19 september so im hoping they have a home game

ZOLTAN28

It's rarely sold out - except for visits of the big spanish teams and the latter stages of the CL.

The problem with booking inclusive trips including tickets is you can get put anywhere in the ground - I did it this way last time - took nearly four hours to get to the ground because of all the stops and then the traffic - ended up right up in the top tier - if you don't get there early someone is always in your seat - no-one (including the stewards) have a clue.

THIS TIME I BOOKED TICKETS ON THE INTERNET - YOU CAN PICK YOUR OWN SEATS.

Also, I will be going by train - getting there early to secure my seats and getting a lift back to my holiday place straight after the match - if you are in a coach park you can be waiting up to an hour to even get out of the car park.

Dodge

ZOLTAN28 wrote:

- ended up right up in the top tier - if you don't get there early someone is always in your seat - no-one (including the stewards) have a clue

Its local custom that those seats are unreserved so its not really them that hasn't a clue...

Also any of the packages I've seen on sale for Barca games in salou have always had different prices for different areas of the ground. Tiers 3 & 4 are unpoliced and its sit wherever you like (only ever tourists looking for their seat). Up until a couple of yeas ago Tier 4 tickets weren't even numbered but UEFA made them do it

ZOLTAN28

Not everyone on here is an expert like you dodge - a lot of people may be going for the first time and be quite upet to find their seats gone especially if they are with children or in a group - we nearly missed the start of our match because of this.


Again, for those who are not aware of 'local customs' I would advise to get there early or book on the internet to get better seats - the atmosphere up at the top is not the best.

Dodge

I've no problem with people going for the first time being unsure of things, it was the "no one (including stewards) has a clue" comment I thought was misplaced

ZOLTAN28

Fair enough - from personal experience and from stories I've heard I find the stewards there really unhelpful - to locals and Spanish also.

For a first time visitor I would always recommend an early arrival - the place is huge but it's quite easy to navigate when its not full.

le souteneur

going to Salou for a 6th year holiday on tuesday with friends. does anybody have any suggestions of good things to do e.g. clubs, activities, cheap restaurants etc. also going to barcelona for a day, similar suggestions for there would also be appreciated. also does anyone know how much it is into the nou camp. cheers

Nightwish

If you're looking for somewhere quiet for an evening go to Cambrils. There's lovely restaurants there. I never went into Salou itself at night as it was a bit mad. You HAVE to go to Port Aventura. Its a brilliant day out, as is the Waterpark in nearby La Pineda. The trip to Barcelona is exhausting. The bus journey is about 2 hours. You'll be brought to see all of the sites - Iglesa de Sagrada Familia, Estadio Olimpico de Montjuic, Ramblas, Nou Camp and El Corte Ingles. If you buy the full tour at your hotel, your entrance fee to the Estadio Olimpico and Nou Camp are included.

Milktrolley

Nightwish wrote:

I never went into Salou itself at night as it was a bit mad.

Yep... I was on a school trip there so I never got to take part in this madness but we saw plenty to know about it alright! Depends what you're into, if it's nightlife you're after then Salou should be grand. Completely agreed on Port Aventura, it's most definitely worth the short trip going there. Can't be overstated how wise it is to get there early though.

dak

Port Aventura ....was there in July. Q's were up to one and a half hour long for some rides. If going buy an express pass for 20 euro . I think you can only buy these in the park! worth every penny!

Cambrils, Port Aventura, Barca and Taragona are worth seeing.

Salou itself is extremely forgettable. Good craic maybe, but bog standard British bars and football shirts and neon lights and concrete apartment blocks everywhere.

Munster Magic

Dodge, or anyone for that matter, does anyone know if any pubs/hotels do return transfers plus ticket, I will be there for Barcelona v Lyon and the crowd I had hoped to go with, touchdowntours, are fully booked.

Dodge

Munster Magic wrote:

Dodge, or anyone for that matter, does anyone know if any pubs/hotels do return transfers plus ticket, I will be there for Barcelona v Lyon and the crowd I had hoped to go with, touchdowntours, are fully booked.

All the local hotels do them through the same company. Most tourist agencies do them (Budget don't) and there's several travel agencies around town that sell tickets+travel (at a mark up)

Doodlebug

..also - do NOT go to the "The Magic Fountain of Montjuic" in Barcelona if its not dark - there really is no point and its boring!

If its dark its apparrently OK - still goes on for quite a long time though!

But in the summer months, its thronged with tourists, and doesn't get dark until its over, so I wouldn't bother!

BuffyBot

Merging these together

Dodge

Doodlebug wrote:

..also - do NOT go to the "The Magic Fountain of Montjuic" in Barcelona if its not dark - there really is no point and its boring!

If its dark its apparrently OK - still goes on for quite a long time though!

But in the summer months, its thronged with tourists, and doesn't get dark until its over, so I wouldn't bother!

In September it'll be dark enough about 9, and it goes on until after 10. Its only on for half an hour too, which isn't "a long time” IMO

Entertaining enough. It'd be a couple/family thing only

ZOLTAN28

Munster Magic wrote:

Dodge, or anyone for that matter, does anyone know if any pubs/hotels do return transfers plus ticket, I will be there for Barcelona v Lyon and the crowd I had hoped to go with, touchdowntours, are fully booked.

Just back from The Barca Inter game - well woth the money.

The local bus company PLANA do trips including tickets for the matches - its a pity touchdown are fully booked - we used them to get home after the match made it back in about an hour - the coach trips took about three or four hours.

BTW for people wanting to go to barcelona from salou and thinking of the buses, I would recommend the train - its cheap, regular and fast (about an hour) - takes you straight into SANTS station - you can the get metro or buses from there to anywhere you want rather than relying on an organised trip.

Dodge

What time did the last trian leave sants for salou at?

ZOLTAN28

Dodge wrote:

What time did the last trian leave sants for salou at?

Thats the only problem - the last train is around 2000-2030 - after that you're stuck

Dodge

Was thinkiing that. So for the CL you're ****ed.

Cheers for the info though. BTW Plana rent out most of their buses so you mightn't neccesarily be travelling with them (if you know what I mean). Last time I went from salou I was on one of their buses and it was a bout an hour fromk Nou Camp to Hotel

Going in September and will get two games in

ZOLTAN28

yeah - for evening matches you are either on a coach a taxi or an organised lift.

I was mentioning the train more for people who want to visit barcelona while staying in salou - not neccessarily to see the matches.

Dodge

Fair enough. Good point.

Munster Magic

Any idea how much the hotels/companies would be charging roughly?
thanks

Dodge

Munster Magic wrote:

Any idea how much the hotels/companies would be charging roughly?
thanks

A couple of years ago it was about €130, but that was for very good seats. They charge more or less depending on where you want to sit. Here’s the face value of the tickets for the Lyon game from official site

Munster Magic

seems a bit dear, 400euro for 3 of us, think I might just do a tour of stadium

Dodge

Munster Magic wrote:

seems a bit dear, 400euro for 3 of us, think I might just do a tour of stadium

Like I said the prices I paid were for expensive seats. You could've gone for a fair bit cheaper than that.

Best to ask around whe you're there. if you're going with a travel company, the rep might have acontact