family cruise vacation ideas

Easy to plan Caribbean Vacations Inclusive Style

Filed under: Blog — Tags: caribbean, easy, inclusive, plan, style, vacations — @ 12:00 pm June 17, 2011

Easy to plan Caribbean Vacations Inclusive Style

All inclusive resorts have been around for almost 50 years but only recently has the inclusive theme has gained in popularity. The Caribbean vacations inclusive plans of today are a striking difference to what was available even 20 years ago. Inclusive vacations have become so popular, that most hotels now offer at least some all inclusive features. However, due to the sheer number of resort operators, inclusive packages vary widely by resort, so obviously it pays to do your homework first.  Typically resorts having a higher upfront cost, will mean more inclusive features for the traveler, but be sure to read all the fine print.

Travelers Love All Inclusive Vacations for the simplicity of Planning.

Today’s internet savvy travelers enjoy the ease of planning, and the exceptional value these all inclusive resorts offer. Caribbean vacation inclusive packages allow people to plan and budget ahead of time. At the truly all inclusive resorts such as Beaches, it is easy to budget for the vacation, since you will know the total cost months ahead of time. Once at the resort, just about everything is included with few exceptions like photos and souvenirs.

Beaches Vacations inclusive packages for every budget.

Beaches Resorts offer vacations inclusive packages for every price range starting at around 0 US per night per adults. One nice thing about Beaches all inclusive family vacations is that,  regardless of which room category you choose, the basic inclusive features all stay the same.

Gourmet Dining All Inclusive Style.

Beaches Vacations Inclusive meal packages include unlimited meals, snacks, and premium beverages. This can be a especially great value for a family with growing children and teens. At Beaches Travelers can choose from up to 16 different dining options per resort, many featuring gourmet cuisine, and white glove service. While most lower priced all inclusive resorts are still featuring buffet style, serve yourself dining, Beaches vacations inclusive plans offer the choice of several, specialty gourmet restaurants per resort. No need to venture off resort to enjoy elegant dining. Beaches offers adult-only restaurants at each resort, letting parents enjoy a romantic night out without the kids. Some resorts even feature restaurants just for the kids and teens.

With all inclusive family vacations you never have to worry about cutting your children off after their 5th tropical smoothie.

All Inclusive Water Sports

No Caribbean vacation would be complete without water sports. From pool volleyball to Scuba diving, snorkeling to windsurfing it’s all included at Beaches all inclusive family vacations.

Save time… Book Online!

Planning Caribbean vacations inclusive packages has never been easier. Travelers can book online with just a click of the mouse, by going to the resorts website.  Airfare can be included as well wrapping the whole package into one upfront cost. Today with the availability of websites like tripadvisor.com, the majority of travelers are booking online instead of with a travel agent, since many are just looking for the best price, and have already done their research.

The booking process is even easier by maintaining price parity among all their travel agents, so no matter which company you choose to book with, the price will always be the same. Just another reason Beaches Resorts makes planning vacation inclusive packages a breeze.

Read our full reviews of Beaches Resorts and find the perfect Caribbeanall inclusive family Vacations
Don’t forget to read:
All Inclusive Family Vacations Kids Rave About

Article from articlesbase.com

How Plan a Cruise – Your First Three Questions

Filed under: cruise — Tags: cruise, First, plan, questions, three — libertees @ 5:02 pm September 7, 2010

So you are thinking about embarking upon your first cruise but you are overwhelmed at how much information is out there. Not only is the internet filled with conflicting information, but friends and family members all want to pitch in with their own advice. Fortunately, the best place to start is to think about the answer to three simple questions.

First, where do you want to go? Many first time cruise goers mistakenly believe that it does not matter where the ship goes, since they will spend most of their time on-board. In actuality, you will be making several stops along your way, so you will want to select an itinerary that covers a part of the world you have always wanted to see. In addition, even while on board, the weather and temperature, as well as theming and entertainment, may depend on your chosen location.

Second, what is your budget? Like any other kind of vacation, cruises are available at every price point. Often, the price is highly dependent on several factors: the type of cabin, the location, the number of days, and the cruise line. The cabin you choose is possibly the factor that will most dramatically effect the price. Many cruise lines allow you to choose between cabins ranging from a tiny room with bunks to a fully-equipped suite with balcony for six. If you are looking for a great cruise at a great price, you can often select a non-standard option, such as a “repositioning” cruise. A repositioning cruise is when the ship periodically switches between two itineraries, meaning that occasionally it will need to “reposition” itself. The cruise line usually offers these berths at a reduced rate.

Finally, what kind of atmosphere are you looking for? Do you want a formal atmosphere of luxury? Or a fun, informal atmosphere where anything goes? Another thing to think about is whether you might enjoy a theme cruise. These are great options for first-time cruise-goers because you will be assured that you will enjoy yourself. Theme and specialty cruises can be as disparate as an interactive mystery cruise, cruises for science fiction or television show fans, gay and lesbian cruises, and singles cruises.

Whatever you decide, you will be assured of having a fantastic time. Many people end up meeting lifelong friends on their first cruise, or having such a great time that they decide to cruise year after year. Cruises are a wonderful option for people of every budget who want to see the world while relaxing in a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere.

How Plan A Cruise – A cruise is a great vacation option for travelers of every budget. But if you’ve never cruised before, you may be overwhelmed at all the information that is out there. You may not be sure exactly how to get started planning your first cruise but America Cruises is a great resource to start with. With any selection of seas cruises you can be assured of having a fantastic vacation.

How To Plan A Caribbean Fun Vacation.

Filed under: cruise — Tags: caribbean, plan, vacation — libertees @ 5:07 pm July 1, 2010

Never Before Revealed Information. Discover How You Can Get A Break By Taking A Vacation In The Caribbean. Find Out How You Can Plan Your Vacation, Where To Go, What Activities Are Available, The Best Places And Time To Go, How To Save Money.
How To Plan A Caribbean Fun Vacation.

Some Of The Major Tips To Follow While Traveling Abroad With Children

The concept of the family vacation has continuously been a strong concept in relation to family bonding. The family trip has traditionally been held in shut proximity to home, whether it’s represented in taking the family camping, going on a fishing trip or visiting the native mountains to ski. There has been a drastic amendment with regard to the destinations of these trips, whereas the thought of the family vacation is still strong in society.

The need to travel abroad has grown exponentially in adults and that want is usually transferred to their children. When considering your own families long vacation travel it’s important to hunt the travel advice of people who have expertise connected to the current venture in the concept connected to travel abroad.

The first plan that involves mind when the concept connected to travel abroad is introduced is that if there is air travel associated to the trip. For a private traveling this could be a straightforward task except for a family there is a great deal of questions of safety to consider. Now problems such as correct packing, airport etiquette and child management are obvious to any parent. One topic that’s frequently overlooked is with reference to the protection of the plane and their seating options. Seats on a plane are like the seats during a automobile, designed for an adult and not child safe and this desires to be kept in mind. Take the travel advice of experienced parent travelers and convey your car seat if a kid is but forty pounds. Doing thus will help defend your child throughout travel abroad and assist in identifying a secure place for a young one in the strange environment of a plane.

Traveling from one location to a different in the shortest time attainable is the concept of air travel. Although the value related to this travel could not be in the simplest interests of a family. By visiting a bordering country quite often travel abroad will be represented. Many families are selecting to cross borders utilizing their own kind of transportation as a approach of saving the vacation dollars.

Road travel might appear easy since several families drive every day however there’s an amazing distinction between vacation driving and daily driving when you incorporate time of travel. The first bit of travel advice to remember is that though you’re packing the vehicle for an extended trip, a roomy vehicle is that the key in preventing child cramping and grumpiness.

Consider the trip expertise just of travel a portion of your vacation in association with any style of traveling when you travel abroad.  The most effective method to assembling bonds and maintaining the peace during travel is providing entertainment for both adults and children. Activities help hang around and distract people from the less exciting portion of their vacation.

To discover additional helpful tips associated with travel abroad and overseas travel visit www.triphip.com.

Cruise Deals: Little Known Ways to Save Big on Your Vacation

You might not think you could actually save money by cruising on your next vacation, but with some careful planning, you can do just that! Special packages can take you on a three-night cruise to some sunny locales for under $200 a person. (Of course airfare is separate and prices are based on adult double occupancy.)

Check out some of these specials:

A three-night cruise out of Miami, Fla., with stops at Cococay and Nassau, both in the Bahamas, for just $169 a person.
A four-night cruise out of Miami, stopping first in Key West, Fla., and then on to Cozumel, Mexico, for $179 per person.
Go a different direction with a seven-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean for $675 a person. It leaves from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and stops in Bridgetown, Castries, St. John’s, Philipsburg and St. Croix.
For still another direction, how about a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera, starting at $499 a person? It leaves out of San Diego, Calif., and stops in the Mexican ports of Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

These are just a few of the discounted cruise deals that can help you save money on your next vacation. Almost all of the major cruise lines offer some kind of discount package. And once you’re onboard, relax and enjoy all the amenities – from activities for the children to world-renowned dining to nightly entertainment. And don’t forget, once you drop anchor, get off the ship and explore the ports of call.

One word of advice – space on these discounted trips is often limited. You need to plan in advance and see what is available. And once you’re booked, try not to change the date as most cruise lines will charge a change fee.

Special packages are not the only way to cruise for less. There are other tricks for traveling in style and for less.

Book it now. If you’re on a cruise and you’ve had a great time, you can realize significant savings by booking your next cruise right there on the spot – or right there onboard. You won’t necessarily need to commit to the location, but the cruise line will be looking for a deposit to hold your place on your next cruise. If you’re not sure where on board to conduct this business, ask if there’s a cruise consultant or booking agent who can help you plan your next trip.
Repeat business. Some cruise lines reward their repeat customers with incentives or room upgrades. If not those perks, they may reduce the amount of your deposit or offer you onboard credits.
Transfer the booking. Even after you’ve booked a cruise, don’t think you’re locked into it. Often, you can transfer your booking to an online discount agent. These sites are able to help you monitor your booking, make changes and sometimes even find additional offers or savings. It’s nice to have someone on your side.
Cabin guarantee. When booking a cruise, you can sometimes get a cheaper price or a discount if you go with a cabin guarantee. This means you will be guaranteed to get a cabin in a certain category – inside, outside, with a verandah – for a cheaper price. In exchange, the company gets to select which particular cabin you’ll get – whether it’s midship, low deck, high deck, etc.
Get a consultant. If you’re new to cruising or you’re not sure what kind of cruise you want to take, where you want to go or what’s the best price available, contact a travel consultant. These are experienced travelers with an expertise in cruises. Let one of them help you arrange a floating family reunion, a quiet getaway for you and your spouse, or maybe a special group trip. Consultants can also help you make plans to fly into the port city and find you a hotel to stay in after you dock, if that’s what you want.

If you’ve not taken a cruise before, be good to yourself and make this the year you step out and step onboard!

Hal McDougal is a freelance writer who writes about several topics including cruise deals.

Plan Your Complete Vacation Book Phuket Hotels Online

The Phuket hotels and resorts guide provides a brief summary, customer ratings and reviews for hotels or resorts. Patong is the largest beach resort on Phuket, and is mostly made up of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and various tourist attractions. Our great rates on Phuket hotels will leave you with more money to spend on having fun during your beach holiday. View each Hotels Phuket page to find guest reviews, pictures and photos and to do searches for hotels in Phuket. For others types of rooms, please use the search box and check rates for Phuket hotels. Our guide to Hotels Phuket provides a wonderful directory for helping make decisions on choosing accommodations.

Hotel Bangkok Thailand Phuket thailand hotels resorts hotel resort phuket thailand hotels resorts hotel resort , excellent accommodations, quality price. You may see below comprehensive listing of Phuket hotels sorted by price. You may also view Phuket lodgings and hotels alphabetically or Phuket hotels and rooms sorted by price. For a quick summary see the list of hotels and resorts in Phuket.

Book Phuket hotels online, plan your complete Phuket vacation or custom build your vacation package. All prices are slightly higher than in Phuket Town, and most of the hotels are quite expensive. However please note that the use of other Laguna Phuket hotels sports and leisure facilities may be restricted or subject to a charge. Read Phuket hotels descriptions, reviews by former hotel guests or place your own Phuket hotels review. You can begin browsing for hotels in the Greater Phuket area by selecting one of the links shown below. We felt that by doing some solid groundwork on phuket hotels we would eventu

ally source a fine phuket hotels provider … Agents rates for on-line bookings at international class hotels in Phuket. Features Phuket hotel rates and discount hotels and vacation packages in Phuket and surrounding areas. Popular with tourists there are many bungalows, resorts and hotels in Phuket so you will never be short on accommodation.

http://www.phuketdiary.com/

Suwat Munpan is The Webmaster Of Plan Your Complete Vacation Book Phuket
Hotels
Online – Quickly and Easily! http://www.phuketdiary.com/

How To Do Useful Travel Research

A lot of people simply avoid thinking about other aspects than passports and plane tickets when going on an international vacation and such an approach is not correct. Any international vacation will require a lot of research in order to have a healthy and safe trip and you do not want to forget anything so that your trip will be perfect.


First off we would like to emphasize on the fact that you need to be informed when thinking about health. You could start with looking at the Center for Disease Control web site to see if there are any disease or outbreak problems you should be worried about. Any doctor in your area could help you in getting the right prescriptions and immunizations you might require. Always know what you need before actually talking to the doctor. The same thing goes for any possible social or civil problems in the country you are visiting. We do not want there to be any conflicts that could put you at risk so tourist guides and the Department of State are also places you need to put on your prior to the trip research list. Combine this with a good knowledge of the location’s customs when talking about dress codes and legal problems.


The next step would be talking to people about your trip. There is a big chance that you will find someone that was already there. You can obtain email addresses or telephone numbers and you can ask various questions about what you might want to know. Word of mouth travel advice is invaluable when talking about any trip and learning stuff from people that were already there once. This is because these people have already been there and they can tell you what is relaxing and what is not, what is thrilling and what is not and so on!


Think about what you need to know when linked with your personality and plan your trip according to what you like doing. If you are a thrill seeker look for attractions you would love and would get your adrenaline levels to skyrocket. If you are fond of shopping look for the best shopping hot spots and so on. It all depends on the individual or the group of people that is going on the vacation. Make sure that there is a bit of everything for everyone so that the trip will provide a good setting for every single person and this is how you should do useful travel research.

Article first written for the Travel Facts blog. Get the Travel Advice you need for a perfect vacation!

Go for Cruise Vacation to Rejuvenate Yourself!

If you are planning a cruise vacation, you can be sure of having a splendid vacation. Sailing in the ocean could be the best thing that your body and soul might be demanding at this point. Then serve your body and your soul. Best service you can give to them is taking a voyage. Both your body and mind look for coming out of the narrowness of life. Cruise vacation provides ultimate sense of freedom to your tired body and restless soul.

Before you plan to go for cruise vacation, you can travel around on the Internet and take a tour to all the useful websites which contain all the relevant information on cruise vacation. The online cruises is very useful medium for you to get your cruise ticket done. The online cruise tells you about all the top deals, while highlighting the most popular cruise destinations, sailing dates and ships. There are thousands of discount cruises and cruise deals from all major cruise lines. In fact several cruise companies offer exclusive bonus extra amenities like onboard spending cash, free cabin upgrades, and more. The online cruises give you information about all this.

Cruise vacation is like spending holidays on a floating hotel, with a complete hospitality staff in addition to the usual ship’s crew. Most modern cruise ships feature the facilities like casino, spa, fitness centre, shops, library, theatre with Broadway style shows, cinema, indoor outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, buffet restaurant, lounges and gym. Everything inclusive in your cruise vacation package! Hence cruise vacation turns out to be much cheaper than other kinds of vacations where you pay separately for travelling, accommodation, food and entertainment.

Take advantage of the best deals being offered by different cruise companies and get your ticket booked today for a much awaited cruise vacation.

Cruise Holidays is associated with cruiseholidays.ie, offers you world class cruise ship deals, cruise holidays & offers. Book your ireland cruises, cruise deals, caribbean cruises, cruise ships, cruise holiday with us at an affordable rates.

Rental Car Vs. Traveling by Bus in Costa Rica

One of the most often asked questions from travelers about Costa Rica besides “How much does it rain in the rainy season?” is: “Do we really need a rental car?”. The answer depends very much on you, but by describing a bit more the conditions I can make the decision easier for you!

Driving in Costa Rica is not as difficult as it seems in some frightening reports. Nevertheless it is true that the Costa Ricans that are known for a laid-back and calm attitude seem to get into a hurry as soon as they sit behind the wheel of a vehicle. They are not alone on the planet with this particularity, the only difference is that in many other places the people seem to be always in a hurry.

The roads in Costa Rica are famous for their potholes and some destinations can only be reached on a gravel road. If you plan only to visit San Jose and Jaco you may be fine with a sedan, but it is highly recommendable to rent a 4×4. In the rainy season you will even have to cross some rivers. Even some of the main attractions for tourists in Costa Rica are only accessible with an all-terrain vehicle. The road to Monteverde is not paved and there are no plans for doing so. The local community wants to protect this unique place and does not want that to make their place accessible for huge tourist buses.

The big advantage of renting a car in Costa Rica is, that you are independent and can make a stop whenever you want. Fruits and crafts are sold along the roads, this is always a good opportunity to have some small talk with the locals.

You better get up early in Costa Rica, because the sun goes down around 6 pm. Driving at night in Costa Rica can be dangerous and is not recommendable. Most of the roads don’t have lights and road marking mostly exists on the main roads.

The alternative to renting a car is to travel with the extensive bus system. This is a good way to see the country and meet the Ticos. There are buses going almost everywhere in Costa Rica, connections between outlying areas are limited. The capital San Jose is the major transportation hub of Costa Rica, sometimes it is necessary to return and switch the bus here. Before you buy a ticket for the bus ask precisely if this bus really goes to the destination where you plan to go. There are several towns in Costa Rica which share the same name! You can assure going to the right Playa Hermosa by mentioning the Province where you plan to travel. There is a Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste and a Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas. There are several other examples like Naranjo and San Isidro.

Traveling by bus is certainly cheaper than renting a car, but is most often slower. There are several hundred bus companies operating in Costa Rica and unfortunately they don’t always work together. This can result in an unplanned overnight stay at a place where you missed your connecting bus.

So the decision is still up to you, but it should be easier for you take it now

Serchenginenews

Beautiful Barcelona – Easy Travel Guide

Filed under: travel — Tags: accessories, Accident, action, advice, Afford, agra, air, airport, airports, allow, amazing, american, amp, ana, ancient, annual, apartment, architecture, around, art, aspects, attractions, Auto, Avoid, away, back, barcelona, bars, beach, beaches, beautiful, become, before, best, bog, Border, born, budget, Build, Building, built, bus, buses, but, call, camp, car, Cars, center, Century, Charge, cheap, Cheaper, chic, choice, choices, choose, christmas, cities, city, colorful, come, comfort, complete, Cost, costa, creation, cruise, cruises, cultural, culture, da, day, days, deal, Design, destination, die, dining, direct, discount, dive, does, drive, Drop, during, early, easy, Eating, eco, Egypt, end, europe, european, eve, event, Every, everyone, Everything, exciting, exclusive, Exotic, Extra, extraordinary, families, family, famous, fare, farm, features, february, festival, festivals, fill, final, find, fish, flight, Flow, fly, food, forms, fort, four, free, Freedom, friendly, friends, fun, galleries, gaudi, going, good, Grand, great, group, guide, Hall, harbour, has, head, here, high, historic, historical, history, home, hopping, hot, hotel, hotels, house, household, ice, idea, ideas, important, inc, Include, increase, information, inn, install, international, jewel, journey, Just, la, land, largest, las, last, le, lead, Leading, leads, Leisure, Less, life, light, line, lines, list, live, local, long, look, looking, lose, lottery, low, mad, magnificent, Major, mane, many, maps, markets, master, may, Mediterranean, men, million, mini, minute, modern, monument, mount, mountain, much, museum, museums, name, nation, new, night, not, ny, offer, offers, old, only, Option, Order, pa, pack, packed, palace, park, part, pass, passion, perfect, PERFORMER, person, plan, plane, popular, Port, ports, Price, progress, quality, quick, rain, rains, range, rate, red, rent, rental, rentals, resort, resorts, rica, ride, right, river, roman, rose, rover, safe, sale, san, sand, sea, seas, seaside, season, see, Sell, Selling, ship, Shop, shopping, Shore, sight, sights, sightseeing, site, sites, Size, sky, small, Source, south, Southwest, Souvenir, spa, space, Spain, spanish, special, spectacular, spring, Star, Start, Still, story, street, Streets, style, Stylish, success, summer, sun, sure, System, taking, target, Taxis, temple, ten, thai, than, thing, things, three, through, Ticket, tickets, time, tip, tips, top, tour, tourist, tours, town, Tradition, traditional, traditions, train, trains, transport, travel, traveling, travellers, trip, two, Under, unique, up, usa, Used, using, vacation, valid, villa, village, visit, visitor, visitors, waiting, war, way, ways, weather, weekend, weekends, welcome, Well, Western, where, will, win, winter, Wish, wonderland, Works, world, year, Years — libertees @ 5:00 pm June 17, 2010

.Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of the city dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the Visigoth’s capital city, and then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions and occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city has always played an important role in political and cultural life of Spain and it is well reflected in the variety and quality of historical buildings, museums, many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most diverse European cities with unique culture and rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of the traditional things and the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being acknowledged worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. Barcelona’s organization of the 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST – La Ramble is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buckers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jeweler. Pavement cafes and stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teeter del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colorful parts of La Rambla’s mosaic. La Rambla ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on the right hand side of the La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is home to much of the city’s nightlife. La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks. The life’s work of Barcelona’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are four towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there are the towers of the four Evangelists, and the tower over the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, the last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour the building and go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi’s work. Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, its main attractions are the Olympic installations, the Spanish Village and the hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is the most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of the whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a family fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around the city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries. Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain. Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks The Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.


MUSEUMS – The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of the finest of its kind and gives visitors an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions and prestige publications. The exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations. Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, the Palau is the flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso – is Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up the permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and this collection, is particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of the architect. Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art.


BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava and Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there are also several nice beaches over 4 km long within the city boundaries, we will list just several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There are three perfect beach bars and two very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and countless bars and restaurants are just a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is twice the length of adjoining Nova Icaria and fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading and cycling. Three large informal restaurants on the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – good for a picnic or siesta under the trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, a traditional and popular stretch with locals, crowded, noisy and very jolly.


WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring and early autumn, when the weather is still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot and humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid the “dead” month of August, when many shops, bars and restaurants close for the month as many local inhabitants head out of the city. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy.


GETTING THERE AND AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European city from almost any major airports in the world. The highest fares are from May to September, the lowest in March-April, October-November and December to February (excluding Christmas and New Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you can also chose train, bus or car, though these take much longer than a plane and often work out no cheaper. Many Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call.


ACCOMODATIONS: We can offer you a range of choices. You can choose vacation rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125 USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you can opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accomodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady all-season flow of visitors to this extremely popular tourist city and surrounding resorts.


DINING: Besides restaurants you can eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- three or four chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar option can be a lot more interesting, allowing you to do the rounds and sample local specialities. Generally, the average cost for a meal consisting of two dishes and dessert would come to about 25 Euros. Travellers on an extremely limited budget can do well for themselves by using the excellent markets, bakeries and delis and filling up on sandwiches and snacks. Decent restaurants and cafes are easily found all over the city, though you’ll probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in the old town, particularly around La Rambla and in the Barri Gotic. Look for the best and most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, a seaside neighbourhood. Gothic Quarter neighbourhood is home to some of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in the city. Gracia is a very popular area among young people during the weekend, it leads the way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Thai etc.).


TRANSPORT: Barcelona has excellent transport system comprising the metro (subway), buses, trains and a network of funiculars and cable cars. You can find a link to transport maps at the end of our guide. On all the city’s public transport you can buy a single ticket every time you ride, but even over only a couple of days it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – a discount ticket strip. The T-10 targeta is valid for ten separate journeys on the metro, buses and trains. These tickets can be used by more than one person at a time. The metro is the quickest way of getting around Barcelona. For black-and-yellow taxis there is a minimum charge of $ 2 euro. You’ll obviously have a great deal more freedom if you rent a car . Major roads throughout the city are generally good, and traffic is generally well behaved, though Spain does have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of the lowest fuel prices on the continent.


SHOPPING: Barcelona, one of the most stylish cities in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes and accessories to household items. You will find the city to be quite cheap for a lot of items, especially if you coincide with the annual sales ( rebaixes in Spanish) lasting from mid-January until the end of February, and throughout July and August. The best shopping areas in Barcelona are the old streets off the upper part of the Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold in the streets around the cathedral; leather goods; city’s delicatessens, particularly cooked Catalan meats and sausages; a porron (the long-spouted glass drinking jar); CDs and tapes of Catalan rock and pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of the best hunting can be found in the shops of any of the city’s museums, where you’ll find reasonably priced and unique examples of Catalan disseny (graphic), and other original items ranging from postcards to replica works of art. We wish you a nice and safe trip!


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