Barcelona

[sarahbanshee]

We were supposed to be doing a house swap in Barcelona in the first week of August but it has fallen through - but our flights are booked

So I'm looking for an apartment fairly last minute! Me, DH, 5yo and nearly 3yo. Where should we stay? Any tips? The house we were meant to be borrowing is in Park Guell, should we still look round there or in the city centre?

Any advice gratefully received!

We had a great time at Lugaris which we booked through Hotels.com

www.lugaris.com/public_html/

very clean, rooftop pool, parks and beach 5 mins walk and right at the bottom of Rambles.

there was a good supermarket around the corner and great tapas on the beach while the kids play in the sand

buses were regular and stopped on the main street outside

Thanks! Anyone else with Barcelona advice?

Alternatively you could stay in one of the resorts up or down the coast. I took DS to Calella last year for 5 days. The train is quite cheap and very punctual. We went into Barcelona 2 of those days, and on one day went north instead to have a look at Girona.

Sorry, no recommendations for property in the city centre - but just wanted to share that idea in case you fancied a bit of beach thrown in.

We rented an apartment from these people in El Born - www.staybarcelonaapartments.com/en/apartments/barcelona/list_1.html. I think we actually went through Booking.com.

They have a wide range of apartments. Our stay went smoothly and the apartment was well equipped and clean. Would use them again.

Was quite a funky area and our apartment had a playground right outside which was useful with two kids.

Info on the area:

www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/areas/el-born.html

Thanks everyone! Does anyone have tips for getting from airport into town - is the metro ok? We arrive about 8pm.

I think we just got a taxi. The metro doesn't run all the way to the airport.

Here's some useful advice which contains approx costs for comparison:

www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/airport/barcelona-airport-transport.html

the metro doesn't run all the way to the airport, but the train does.

You would have to take the train from the airport into Barcelona Sants (that is the main station) and from there the metro.

But with children I would go for either a taxi or the airport bus (which drops in, I think, just two locations in the city centre)

Do the taxis have car seats, or will we be ok without? I saw a suggestion somewhere that it was a strict requirement for any under 3s. We don't have a portable car seat and really can't take her big one on the plane!

Anyone?

Sorry - don't know. We had ours with us as we were en route to a holiday in Lanzarote where we were hiring a car.

However, the following might be helpful:

www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/faq/transport/taxi/barcelona-taxi-with-child-safety-seat.html

Check put bubble bums portable car seats. We always take them away for taxis etc

We took car seats like Bubble Bum ones for the taxi rides to and from the airport (also useful at this end), but didn't use them for short taxi rides in the city, and the taxi drivers didn't say we needed them.

Train is brilliant- very cheap and clean/ efficient. It is quicker than the bus. It cost 4 euros each for adults. The best stop for central Barcelona is Passeig de Gracia, where you can get the metro.

PS My daughter has just had a disaster at Barcelona airport with a lost passport, but that is unrelated!

Don't forget the airport train also stops at Passeig de Gracia and El Clot Arago. I'd avoid the always chaotic Sants if you can. Clot is a much quieter smaller station from which you can get the metro too.

And just be careful on the train, keep an eye on your bag as well as the kids. ( not that anyone will nick your kids, but if you're struggling getting them on/off a train you're likely to be paying less attention to your bag) speaks with experience of pick pockets on train from Barcelona.

Thanks everyone! What about things to do - I'd be glad of any recommendations. The whole thing has been a bit random, we only picked Barcelona because the chance of this house swap came up and now we are going, all I really know Barcelona for is the Gaudi cathedral and there's a beach somewhere

I love Barcelona. I would take kids there any time.

However, I think you need to be very vigilant with your bags. My son lived there and saw countless thefts from tourists. I disturbed thieves myself when descending a set of stairs to the tube station, who had bent down behind me and were just about to pluck my purse from my bag. Needless to say they had just seen me leave a cashpoint .

Also think about staying in Sitges. You can visit Barcelona for the day but it's much more relaxed