Barcelona in July with reluctant 13 year old DD

[mysteryfairy]

We are going to Barcelona in July for a week with our third child 13 year old DD. Our DSs who are 19 and 18 have other plans so this will be the first time DD has been away abroad with just her parents and she is not happy.

DD and I often spend a few days together in London at half term and that's generally been fine. However she is being horrendous about this trip, claiming it will be really boring and she will hate every minute of it. She apparently particularly loathes art and all buildings, especially any churches.

At the moment we have booked Salgrada Familia, train to Figueres plus Dali museum and flamenco at Palau de la musica. I'll also be booking parc guell as non negotiable.

Any suggestions for things to plan that might appeal to a stroppy 13 year old. We are staying in El Born so can stroll to the beach etc but we are all very fair so I had envisaged more of a sight seeing holiday.

Hmm...

I think you should do some things that she would really like, as well as doing what you want to do.

When we were in Barcelona, we spent half the time at the beach, and a whole day at a waterpark, as well as the city stuff.

The beach at night is great in Barcelona, lots of bars, restaurants - a 13 year old would love that - ours anyway. We let ours to some shopping and she loved tea in a fancy patisserie.

Ha. I have been in the exact same position. I feel your pain. I think she will like the Dali museum. Sitges by train is a good day trip - good shopping, cool cafes and you can hire these really fun pedalos with little diving boards.

Agree - I just don't know what to suggest that she might like hence asking for help!

I don't think she'll want to spend half the time at the beach without her brothers to hang out with so really need some other ideas.

Why choose a holiday that your DD will loathe?

We visited Barcelona, just for a day as part of a cruise, last year with our 16 /18 year old DSs. We were all blown away by it and would like to go back again though I wouldn't want more than a weekend in any city.
Having said that my main consideration when choosing a holiday is the DC. If they are happy then I am happy.

book her on to a PGL activity holiday (maximum mud and watersports) and leave her behind.

We booked the flights for this last August when DD was actually quite keen. Since then she has become increasingly teenagery which makes everything more difficult. She is really sad her brothers aren't coming, but that's beyond my control and, before you suggest I should have planned my family better, we tried for a long time to conceive DD and I would have prefered a smaller gap. I've suggested we add a school friend on, but every one of her close friends is already going away at the same time. (She breaks up on 3rd July so everyone rushes to go somewhere before school holiday pricing kicks in.)

We are going to New York at the end of Aug/beginning Sept and to Dubai in February 2016 and DS2 is coming on both so she is looking forward to those more - she is not being dragged on just one holiday all year that she hates. (Don't think she realises how much European art lives in New York though!)

Sitges is a good suggestion - thanks. Plus maybe even Zara and Mango being cheaper will coax her round a bit.

Tibidabo also - fun journey up by funicular and cheesy type amusement park with great views. (I have same age gap and DD really misses her brothers on hols).

If you don't mind travelling a bit then Port Aventura is brilliant. It's probably about an hour away in Salou and would easily fill a full day.

Have you booked going up the tower in the sagrada familia? If not, I would strongly recommend that you do as it is worth it to see some of the decorative bits up close. Sorry, I have nothing to add in response to your actual question other than to say I hope she changes her mind when she gets there and you all have a great time.

We loved the market just for sheer horror/s[ecatacle of tongues, heads and eyeballs on display as well as mountains of lovely foods to try and sweets.
Its really awe-inspiring

I'd leave her with relatives.
She sounds ungrateful tbh.

my 15 year old son loved barcelona. does she like football as the stadium was really interesting?

no-one is suggesting a family planning error!!!

but a gentle but firm talking to on not being ungrateful, on learning about places and on a little gratitude wouldn't hurt. Especially with holidays stacked three high!

being 13 is no excuse for behaving like a toddler.

good luck...

Tibidabo is a must- honestly wouldn't bother with Sageada familia and/or Dali museum unless she is really into architecture/art- why compound the torture?

The open top red bus tour is really good, great commentary, hop on hop off, gives a great feel for the city so maybe do that first as a taster

Hard Rock Cafe, cheesy yes, but teen heaven (do book though)

Another vote for the beach and the cable car that goes from the harbour up Montjuic is pretty cool. Does she like food? Its fun to sit outside and have some tapas and people watch, great opportunity to try new foods without needing to order a massive plateful.

Port Aventura!

The magic fountains in the evening is amazing.

get tourist bus tickets, get headsets, she will probably enjoy herself even if she won't admit it. sagrada familia can be long and slow - get there first thing. get headsets too, i got bored tbh.

get on and off the bus, tapas, beach, sightseeing, shopping, long lunches. mix it up.
let her bring her ipod/phone/ds.

we went last year with DDs (10 and 8) and had a great few days.

I think the main thing is that DD is the centre of things and you do things that she enjoys, given this is her first holiday as the only child. Get her involved with research and ask her to suggest a few day trips or activities

Tibidabo is perfect for youngs teens. A mixture of cheesy rides, creaky acirnt rides and proper scary ones - best haunted house ever.Get a taxi there snd back ( don't leave at closing time because there won't be any).
I'd book in advance and go up the towers in the Sagrada very scary and I challenge anyone to find the roof at Casa Mila boring. It's wobbly, full of pointless steps and chimneys like people and you can see for miles.
I thought Parc a Guell a bit boring. It really is just a park. I'd get a taxi there too - gets very busy on the buses.

Barcelona city museum - some of it is underground and a bit more unusual than an ordinary museum. Plenty of shops round the old streets if she's into shopping - you could soak up the architecture. Tapas bars galore if she likes a bit of people watching and trying new food. The marina nice. Market too as kingfisher says. Love that photo. Is she into photography? Could she take arty photos for her brothers or that just too cheesy for a teenager?
Its a fabulous city and I would love to take my children there. Not got a teenager yet though!

Definitely take a day trip to Port Aventura theme park. That should keep her happy.

I Went with DS (11) in Feb and he thoroughly enjoyed de markets and hop on hop off ( he decided when to get on off and what to visit). Didn't go in La sagrada as outside was enough apparently. Bike ride also good.

dS says you must have lunch at the Wok show near La sagrada familia, by far his favourite food place....

My teens love Barcelona. Everything from the Ramblas, cable car, those concerts at night where the fountains light up (can't remember where but tourist office will know) the funfair , the beach.

The one thing I have found is that pickpocketing has got a great deal worse there, so be really careful.