Friends trip to Barcelona – top tips
Fly by low-cost airline and to get the best deal, try and purchase flights when budget airlines have offers on
Worth registering for websites such as moneysavingexpert which sends a weekly email to your inbox identifying top offers when you need them
As most low-cost airlines operate unallocated seating, we would also recommend arriving in good time for check-in. Passengers are categorised into groups depending on how soon they check in and on the way out we were one of the last to check-in – hence allocated to one of the final groups which meant were called last to board – no chance of a window seat! We made sure we were in group A on the way back by checking-in early and bagged a window seat!
Use the flight time to read through Barcelona guide books. We had borrowed from friends, family and the local library to help us compile a list of sights we wanted to see during our trip.
Do not leave the airport without visiting the Tourist Information Desk. Staff will provide you with a map which will highlight hotels and Metro stations as well as all the major landmarks to ease your sightseeing.
Barcelona is renowned, along with other cities, for being a hot spot for pick pockets. To prevent becoming a victim, do not carry a handbag wherever possible or have wallets/cameras in visible pockets which may be easy for pickpockets to spot or have access to. Carry the amount of money you have budgeted for that day and ensure you have this concealed in an inside coat pocket/money belt or similar with your clothes fastened over the top.
To enjoy the best of Barcelona and the weather, walk everywhere you can – this will save you a few pennies too. Not only will you soak up the atmosphere and the sun but you will be able to see the very best of the beautiful buildings, amazing architecture and all the sights.
Avoid the bus tours which are particularly expensive in Barcelona. The public transport system is great and if you call at one of the information booths such as the one in Catalunya Square, they will direct you to the appropriate bus stop and where possible provide you with bus times. Most public buses to the sites run at least every 15 minutes
Before you leave for your trip, research online for the different museums in Barcelona so you can decide which exhibitions you are particularly interested in seeing. Then you can identify which will be free of charge and those you will need to budget for those from your holiday fund
When eating out in an evening bear in mind that the locals tend not to eat until later, so look for restaurants that are busy with local people between 8-9pm. This is generally a good indication of restaurants with quality food, nice atmosphere and value for money. Again, venture off the main streets wherever possible to find the ‘better restaurants’ for taste and quality.
