Barcelona, Lisbon or...?

[Thejubremonyatthelibrary]

Long story short: DP and I are going on a mini-break at the end of Oct and we are going through a (seriously) rough patch so I want it to be as good as possible. We've been on a lot of mini breaks in Europe over the years and i'm wondering whether to go for his favourite place as a 'safe bet' or try somewhere new.

We've been to Barcelona before and he loves it but i've got bad memories of the place but would be willing to set them aside to make him happy. But there is a part of me that wonders whether we should try somewhere new and Lisbon fits the bill in that it is a cultural, arty waterfronted city (our favourite kind of place). However, I'm nervous about booking somewhere he won't like. Obviously, he is leaving this all to me!

So what would be your advice? Would you go for Old Faithful Barca, or try somewhere new? And if so, have any of you been to Lisbon? What do you think? And is there anywhere else I should consider?

I loved Lisbon. We stay at an apartment from www.diva-apartments.com/

If you want to give Barcelona another go then try the Eixample/Gracia districts. Much more chilled out. We go to Barcelona most years for at least a couple of days. I was pickpocketed at the port when I was 18 but that was down to a lack of vigilance on my part and it was 30 years ago! Never had an incident since.

Granada is nice, but there are a LOT of beggars. Same with Seville.

Can I also recommend Cadiz - very nice, and quite untouristy.

Thanks all, I appreciate your help but I think i've wasted your time. It doesn't look like it's going to happen . He's gone up the wall at me again tonight when I was trying to cheerfully talk to him about this. I give up! I try to do nice things but it never works out.

But at some point, on some vague future date, i'll definitely go to some of the places you've mentioned. I really do like the look of Lisbon especially.

Have a look at Cascais - about 30 mins from Lisbon.

sorry to hear that op. Sounds like your relationship probably isn't worth working on? If you get out now, you'll have all the freedom you want to visit the places that interest you!

Thanks Bibbity. I've posted a few threads under different names and every responder was basically horrified that i'm still with him. Don't know why i'm pulling out all the stops and trying to make him be nice to me. What a doormat.

Anyway, the silver lining is that I now have a chunk of spare cash so that's something.

If you do go for it, how about Cordoba. So interesting, beautiful, historic. Or Sienna, similar.

I didn't like Lisbon. Thought the food was rubbish compared to Spain and we were mugged at knifepoint in the late afternoon. Wanted to love it but didn't.

Gosh Beatrice, that sounds terrifying. What happened?

Just guys with a knife. They spoke really good English, funnily enough. To be fair the same could happen in any big city, including the one I live in. I just mentioned it because people were talking about crime in Barcelona, to give an alternative viewpoint. Still think Barcelona has better food though.

I love Lisbon. If you go, you must go to the Gulbenkian and Belem is fab plus the markets and, well just wander.

Oh, Op, just read your update and sorry.