Barcelona the first time?

[Kruz Guys]

We will be in Barcelona two days before our cruise Nov 4, 2011 and have a couple of questions since we have never been in Barcelona before.

 

I have Marrriott points so we booked the Renaissance (Marriott) Hotel close to the Barcelona airport. The hotel concierge emailed us information about shuttle service to the center of Barcelona (for a small fee) and shuttle service to the port on the day of departure.

 

If you have stayed here, would you please provide your thoughts on the hotel itself, the staff, the ease of getting to places in Barcelona from the hotel, etc?

 

Also, if you have any recommendations of on-your-own sightseeing in addition to the Hop-On-Hop-Off buses we would very much like hearing your thoughts.

 

We are looking at various threads on Cruise Crticic as well to see what we can find.

 

Does anyone have any recommmendations or review of any of these tour companies in Barcelona?

http://holabarcelonatours.com/

http://barcelonadaytours.com/

http://barcelonatourguides.com/

 

Thanks for any ideas you would like to share. :D

 

Kruz Guys

Stephen and Tom

[riffatsea]

I suppose the Marriott points gave you a free stay at this hotel? I would never stay at an airport hotel in a foreign city if I wanted to visit the city and get the real flavor of it! Even if they have a shuttle you'll get tired and want to go back and then won't want to go back AGAIN after you rest so it just doesn't seem like a great idea.

Sorry I can't help with the tours.

[baggal]

We used Barcelona Day Tours this past July and were very pleased. We took a 4 hour tour in the morning after disembarking our cruise and we hit all the highlights (did not include the inside of Sagrada Familia). Afterwards we checked into our hotel, had lunch and continued to explore on our own.

[chipmaster]

IMHO with two days take effort to stay in central Barcelona. There is so much in the city that is just a taxi ride, or metro, or even a stroll from the center of Town. The port is also just a 10' or so taxi ride from the city. The airport is 30' away, why waste time and money to stay there for two day?

 

I recommend tours for port days where time is short but for extended stay DIY is always worth doing if you are staying in a good central place, the airport wouldn't be the place.

[Kruz Guys]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback on Barcelona. It really helps when one is trying to make plans to visit a place they've never been to, especially when the visit will be for such a short time.

 

I'll have to check into the hotels in central Barcelona.

 

Thanks again ;)

[WesW]

Another strong endorsement for Barcelona Day tours..we used them this past November. They picked us up (large luxury sedan) at the Airport, immediately we went on tour visiting BCN highlights; La Boqueria, Sagrada Familia, Montjuic, BCN Cathedral, Las Ramblas, Christopher Coloumbus monument, Guell Park, Plaza Catalunya, Port Veil (had to see where our ship would dock).

[riffatsea]

Kruz Guys, The area around Placa Catalunya has many hotels from which to choose. It is central for arriving from the airport and getting to the cruise port.

I hope you find a hotel there so you can really enjoy the city!

[Kruz Guys]

Thanks to everyone for their invaluable feedback. This really helps us in our decisions. Thanks again. :D

[Kerry's Girls]

I stayed at that Marriott on the night we finished our cruise and there is absolutely nothing nearby/walking distance - no places to see, eat or shop, so you are completely limited to what the hotel has to offer and looking out your window would have absolutely no idea what city you're in. It served our purposes because it was just a place to sleep before we left the next morning, but I was very glad we'd stayed in the city pre-cruise for all the reasons others have stated.

 

Best,

Mia

[Turtles06]

The airport is a good half hour or so out of town, so I strongly echo the recommendations above not to stay out there. There are many, many hotels in the center of the city. If you stay in the area near Placa Catalunya, you can easily walk down Las Ramblas (making sure not to miss La Boqueria along the way), walk up to La Pedrera, etc. In fact, Barcelona is very walkable, and also easy to get around via Metro and taxi. With only a couple of days, I think you'd waste a lot of time and miss a lot going back and forth to an airport hotel.

 

Barcelona is also easy to "do yourself." If you haven't yet come across this web site, we found it very useful in planning our several pre-cruise days there last year (and note the instructions for buying Metro tickets):

 

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/

 

My partner and I did everything ourselves, except that on Saturday morning, we took a walking tour of the Barri Gotic with the folks at this link, and enjoyed it very much.

 

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/tour/barcelona-walking-tour.html

 

Happy to answer more specific questions.

 

Have a great trip!

[Cruzer Two]

We will be in Barcelona two days before our cruise Nov 4, 2011 and have a couple of questions since we have never been in Barcelona before.

 

I have Marrriott points so we booked the Renaissance (Marriott) Hotel close to the Barcelona airport. The hotel concierge emailed us information about shuttle service to the center of Barcelona (for a small fee) and shuttle service to the port on the day of departure.

 

If you have stayed here, would you please provide your thoughts on the hotel itself, the staff, the ease of getting to places in Barcelona from the hotel, etc?

 

Also, if you have any recommendations of on-your-own sightseeing in addition to the Hop-On-Hop-Off buses we would very much like hearing your thoughts.

 

We are looking at various threads on Cruise Crticic as well to see what we can find.

 

Does anyone have any recommmendations or review of any of these tour companies in Barcelona?

http://holabarcelonatours.com/

http://barcelonadaytours.com/

http://barcelonatourguides.com/

 

Thanks for any ideas you would like to share. :D

 

Kruz Guys

Stephen and Tom

 

The taxi fare from the airport to the port in Barcelona will be about 40 Euros - the fare to downtown Barcelona about 25 Euro and it takes about 30 minutes.

 

As others have suggested, I would look for hotels within walking distance of Las Ramblas http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/albums-en/ramblas, the main pedestrian boulevard of Barcelona. This are will give you the real flavor of the city. Take a look at The Hotel Pulitzer http://www.hotelpulitzer.es/index.php?idioma=en, located at the top of Las Ramblas near Placa de Catalunya – the m ain plaza – in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. There are many nice hotels in this area.

 

There are two hop-on, hop-off bus routes http://www.city-discovery.com/barcelona/tour.php?id=1829 that cover the main tourist sights of the city including Sagrada Familia – The Gaudi Cathedral.

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/sagrada-familia.html

 

While you are in Barcelona, check out Los Caracoles http://www.loscaracoles.es/index1.htm, located just off Las Ramblas This is my favorite restaurant in Spain and it will be an experience you won’t forget.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Ron

[Kruz Guys]

The taxi fare from the airport to the port in Barcelona will be about 40 Euros - the fare to downtown Barcelona about 25 Euro and it takes about 30 minutes.

 

As others have suggested, I would look for hotels within walking distance of Las Ramblas http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/albums-en/ramblas, the main pedestrian boulevard of Barcelona. This are will give you the real flavor of the city. Take a look at The Hotel Pulitzer http://www.hotelpulitzer.es/index.php?idioma=en, located at the top of Las Ramblas near Placa de Catalunya – the m ain plaza – in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. There are many nice hotels in this area.

 

There are two hop-on, hop-off bus routes http://www.city-discovery.com/barcelona/tour.php?id=1829 that cover the main tourist sights of the city including Sagrada Familia – The Gaudi Cathedral.

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/sagrada-familia.html

 

While you are in Barcelona, check out Los Caracoles http://www.loscaracoles.es/index1.htm, located just off Las Ramblas This is my favorite restaurant in Spain and it will be an experience you won’t forget.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Ron

 

Ron, thanks very much for your information. Looks interesting and we will definately check it out.

 

All responses are very helpful.

 

Thanks again.

 

Kruz Guys

Stephen & Tom :D

[riffatsea]

Lots of great info in Ron's post. I just feel the need to add that "las ramblas" is the main pedestrian street for tourists! It is not the "main street" of the city for residents of the city. In fact, I have been told that they stay away from it as much as possible!

[Kruz Guys]

Lots of great info in Ron's post. I just feel the need to add that "las ramblas" is the main pedestrian street for tourists! It is not the "main street" of the city for residents of the city. In fact, I have been told that they stay away from it as much as possible!

 

Thanks for that tip. There seems to be a lot of good information flowing about different areas for where to shop, sightsee and stay. It's great to get all of this feedback and helps in making choices. Thanks to all for the great feedback.:D

[Kruz Guys]

The airport is a good half hour or so out of town, so I strongly echo the recommendations above not to stay out there. There are many, many hotels in the center of the city. If you stay in the area near Placa Catalunya, you can easily walk down Las Ramblas (making sure not to miss La Boqueria along the way), walk up to La Pedrera, etc. In fact, Barcelona is very walkable, and also easy to get around via Metro and taxi. With only a couple of days, I think you'd waste a lot of time and miss a lot going back and forth to an airport hotel.

 

Barcelona is also easy to "do yourself." If you haven't yet come across this web site, we found it very useful in planning our several pre-cruise days there last year (and note the instructions for buying Metro tickets):

 

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/

 

My partner and I did everything ourselves, except that on Saturday morning, we took a walking tour of the Barri Gotic with the folks at this link, and enjoyed it very much.

 

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/tour/barcelona-walking-tour.html

 

Happy to answer more specific questions.

 

Have a great trip!

 

This is great info. Everyone is being so generous in their responses and reviews.

 

How was the walking tour? My partner is okay with walking as long as there are not a LOT of steps or steep inclines. The walking tour might be a fun way to spend part of the day, and get some exercise at the same time :D.

 

We're still looking for a hotel in case we change our minds about the Marriott. There are a lot to review. Whew!

 

Thanks again for your response Turtles06.

 

Stephen and Tom

Kruz Guys

stephenandtom@att.net

[Turtles06]

 

How was the walking tour? My partner is okay with walking as long as there are not a LOT of steps or steep inclines. The walking tour might be a fun way to spend part of the day, and get some exercise at the same time :D.

 

 

The walking tour was excellent. The Barri Gotic is the old (medieval) part of the city, very historic, including the royal palace where Ferdinand and Isabella greeted Christopher Columbus upon his return from "the new world." Having a guide explain the history of the buildings and the neighborhood as we walked around (and inside some of the buildings of course) was fascinating. Also, the neighborhood is a warren of narrow, twisting streets. Very easy to get lost, which made a walking tour with a guide even more special. A great way to spend part of a morning, particularly when you have a few days in the city as you said you will.

 

It was pretty flat, not a lot of steps. Your partner should be fine. :)

[riffatsea]

To answer your question about things open at night I would say that Barcelona( and the rest of Spain) is a night owl's paradise!! Stores,tourist sights,museums, restaurants are open into the evening. Locals often first start to go to dinner after 9PM or later.

Since you are coming in the off season when it gets dark earlier some things may close earlier but in general you will find folks out and about on the streets quite late!!

[Kruz Guys]

To answer your question about things open at night I would say that Barcelona( and the rest of Spain) is a night owl's paradise!! Stores,tourist sights,museums, restaurants are open into the evening. Locals often first start to go to dinner after 9PM or later.

Since you are coming in the off season when it gets dark earlier some things may close earlier but in general you will find folks out and about on the streets quite late!!

 

Good to knkow about the night owls. Had not thought about that much. Thanks for the info. More to think about:D

[Kruz Guys]

The walking tour was excellent. The Barri Gotic is the old (medieval) part of the city, very historic, including the royal palace where Ferdinand and Isabella greeted Christopher Columbus upon his return from "the new world." Having a guide explain the history of the buildings and the neighborhood as we walked around (and inside some of the buildings of course) was fascinating. Also, the neighborhood is a warren of narrow, twisting streets. Very easy to get lost, which made a walking tour with a guide even more special. A great way to spend part of a morning, particularly when you have a few days in the city as you said you will.

 

It was pretty flat, not a lot of steps. Your partner should be fine. :)

 

Thanks. Sounds very interesting and like something we would want to do. Glad you mentioned it.

 

Stephen & Tom