Europe String » barcelona

Greetings from Barcelona

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:53:46 +0000

Should you be heading this way, check out the following links for some tips on how to have a great time with the Catalonians (the way I did above!) without breaking the bank:

Get a Barcelona Student JetPack
Shop at Zara and/or Mango
Follow Diego’s tips on how to find cheap accommodations in Barcelona
Avoid the tourist traps and look for cheap eats
Visit the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art on a Wednesday
Get Free Drinks at Port Olimipico
Watch Opera at the Liceu for only 50% the price
The lazy ones can take the bus

If you bump into me, make sure you say hi!

Post from: Europe String

Student Travel JetPacks Giveaway Contest

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:13:12 +0000

In time for my trip to Barcelona next week, I received in the mail a Student Travel JetPack. I will be bringing the whole package with me and will check out all its contents, whether they are indeed useful for budget travelers headed for Barcelona.

Before I have even left, I guess I can safely inform you that the function of the following items need not be questioned: the money belt, continental travel adapter plug, luggage lock and the local SIM Card with a free starter credit.

Now, the map and the “don’t forget checklist” I would have to check out. As soon as I return, I will inform you of my findings in detail.

While I am away, I would like you to please help me keep this blog busy. Leave a comment and let me know WHY I SHOULD GIVE YOU A BARCELONA STUDENT TRAVEL JETPACK. Be creative. Be funny. Be original. Just leave a comment and I will choose the one that strikes my fancy the most.

P.S. Make sure that you leave a valid email address so I know how to get in touch with you.

Post from: Europe String

Where to Eat in Barcelona

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:45:31 +0000

La Rambla is the kilometer long iconic street in the center of Barcelona. It’s usually full of tourists walking down the street, watching the street performers, stopping in cafes or checking out market stalls. Cafes and restaurants located on La Rambla are, obviously, not really budget-friendly. Most of them are tourist traps.

So when your stomach starts rumbling and your pockets aren’t deep enough for those establishments, you can:

head out to the Born market in the La Ribera district. It’s near Museu Picasso.
look for family-run restaurants off La Rambla.
head for Mercat dela Boqueria which you can find half-way along La Rambla. There are small bars where you can get cheap eats, if you are not so finnicky about eating in markets. It’s a great cultural experience, as well. Just make sure you take care of your wallet, though. Pickpockets abound.

Oh yea… if you are going to walk along La Rambla, I suggest starting from Plaza de Catalunya and walk towards the sea. The art museums, galleries will be on the right side, the Raval district. The Barri Gotic will be on your left.

Post from: Europe String

Disco at the Port Olimpic in Barcelona

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 06:54:56 +0000

You’d think that going to the stylish marina of the Port Olimpic in Barcelona will put a hole in your pocket. Well, yea but not if you know where you can go for great budget dining. But, you would have to wait until tomorrow for that.

Today, I am going to tell you about the disco row on the right most side (if you are facing the marina and your back is on the restaurant row).

Sure, you can get in for free (unlike other discos where you have to pay an entrance fee). And you know what, if you walk right, you can even get your drinks for free.

All you have to do is go shortly before the crowd starts packing it in. Walk real slow (pretend to talk to each other) and you’d find yourself facing a lady dressed in skimpy clothes asking you if you want a free drink. When you finish the vodka lemon (it seems to be their staple), you can just walk slowly towards the next disco and find yourself getting another invite. If you play your cards right, you will go home around dawn, having enjoyed yourself without spending a single euro centavo.

Post from: Europe String

Watch an Opera in Barcelona

Sun, 06 May 2007 18:33:49 +0000

In Barcelona, the best place would be in the Liceu, the city’s famous opera house, in La Rambla. Of course, it would cost you a lot of money if you get good seats. Great seats cost around 170Euros and relatively okay seats can cost around 30-40Euros.

If your opera loving persona conflicts with your budget travel plans, you need not leave Barcelona without hearing the latest performance of, say, Lucrezia Borgia.

You can… just take those 8.50Euro seats (from Zona but you would just have to use a bit of your imagination because the stage isn’t really that visible. But, you would still be able to hear the whole performance.

Or… if you really really want to watch in close proximity to the stage (zone 1 tickets, even!), you can watch during the night when the divas have their nights off. Nope, you need not watch an empty stage. Instead, you would be watching the “popular cast” — non famous performers — who perform while the big artistés party somewhere else. The performance are still great and you only have to pay 50% of the standard ticket price. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

Post from: Europe String

Entrance to Barcelona Museums

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:20:34 +0000

With the weather that we are currently having, it would be nice to spend some of our time indoors. You need not watch TV and waste precious time inside your hotel room. You also do not need to spend a lot of money just so you can see and experience more of Barcelona.

Here is a list of interesting museums — both major and minor — which you can visit at a discounted price or, even, for FREE:

Entrance to the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art is reduced to 3.50Euros (from 6Euros) every Wednesday.
Free Entrance to children and seniors every 1st Thursday of the month at the National Art Museum of Catalonia.
Free Entrance to children under 12 at the Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art.
Free Entrance to the Maritime Museum every 1st Saturday afternoon of the month.
Free entry for under 16, every Wed afternoon, every 1st Sun of the month to the Museu Federic Marés.
Free entry for children under 7 and every 1st Mon of the month to the Chocolate Museum.
Free entry on first Sun of the month to the Museo de Geologia.
Free entry for children under 7 and ever first Sun of the month to the Catalonia History Museum.
Free entry for children under 12 and first Sun of the month to the Ethnology Museum.

Post from: Europe String

Hungry in Barcelona

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:50:54 +0000

If you have a big appetite and need to get a full meal during your stay in Barcelona, it would be best if you look for family-run restaurants. Set menus, which includes a drink, appetizer, main course and dessert costs around 7euros. Just walk around the Centre – Ciudad Vella and you’ll definitely find one of the many budget restaurants located all over Barcelona. Post from: Europe String

Post from: Europe String