Ah, Barcelona. “The boat”. Now let me tell you one thing about Barcelona. It is not only the home of what many fans believe to be the best football teams in the Spanish League. And I learned this only after my trip there this summer. This beautiful city is probably highly underrated as a trendy tourist spot. And I feel like blaming the Spanish government for not taking advantage of this incredible city for its tourist value. But tourism revenue aside, this has probably worked out better because unlike other “famous” tourist spots, this place hasn’t been touched by the horde of tourists who, while good for the region’s economy, ruin the main goal of a vacation – “Get away from the city for some quiet time.” You can easily get to Barcelona via Girona airport at a low price.
The first thing I noticed about the city was its very distinctive layout. You really have to give Antonio Gaudi credit for his unique style and his highly individualistic designs. In case you didn’t know who he was, Gaudí was the Catalan architect who almost single-handedly gave the city its distinctive architecture. One of the things that impressed me the most about Barcelona is the large number of good accommodation facilities and accommodation in Barcelona is cheaper. Your tour of Barcelona does not have to end on the stairs of your hotel. Barcelona is not called “La Gran Encisera” – the Great Encisera for nothing. With its medieval-style history and art, it is a great destination for travelers, especially history buffs. Many of the historic hotels are located in what is known locally as the Gothic Quarter. The beautiful streets are designed in a romantic gothic style and are illuminated by lampposts designed in the same way. This makes hotel locations very well placed for tourism areas. A bit of warning though, if you plan your trip to Barcelona out of season (you can tell by seeing if the hotel is not that full), you can usually negotiate a much better rate. I have met repeat travelers who get up to 40% off the suggested price. Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount, just go talk to your assistant/receptionist.
While all this is good for living in hotels, there are also other aspects of living at Barça: the apartments. A typical apartment has everything you would expect for a comfortable stay. After spending some time in Spain, you will always want to come back. But an apartment in Barcelona, whether for sale or rent, can become your second home, or your business meeting point. Your accommodation in Barcelona is also part of many other benefits of holidays in Eastern Spain. Many good nearby beaches as well as facilities complete the so-called “Spanish Mediterranean experience”. In fact, there are many apartments in Barcelona close to both the beach and the famous Ramblas, combining the lure of the sea with the majestic historic heart of the city. And of course there are all the fairly reasonably priced bars and restaurants that you can find all over the city. But then again, we wouldn’t expect anything less from what is said to be the funkiest city in Spain. Car rental at Girona airport and transfers at Girona airport are much cheaper and more comfortable.
So, in closing, I recommend that you take some time to plan your next destination, whether it is a business trip, pleasure or moving to a new location, and consider your Barcelona as your destination as a feasible but unique opportunity.
