mareeS55

We have to be in Barcelona around New Year 2015 to join a ship on January 4. We've been to the city at different times of the year, but not in the middle of the Christmas/New Year/Epiphany season. Just wondering how busy things are likely to be accommodation-wise, as we were in Spain a few years ago during Semana Santa and accommodation was very tight in some places where we hadn't booked ahead. Thanks for any advice.

Robert2533

You will need to book ahead for the busy holiday season. Note that most restaurants will be closed on 25 December and 1 January, so you'll need to plan accordingly.

mareeS55

Thanks, Robert, I thought that might be the case. The decision was to arrive before Dec 30 and have cold winter days & the bother of New Year or after Jan 1 and have fewer days in Barcelona before we sail. I really like the city, but I'm not sure I want to be there for New Year. Maybe we'll spend it in a transit lounge somewhere.

Robert2533

If you've never been in Spain for New Years Eve, it's something you might enjoy. Spending the time in Barcelona would be much more enjoyable than sitting around in a transit lounge somewhere (most close at 9:00 pm).

mareeS55

That's a goad, Robert. Now that you mention it, New Years Eve in Barcelona probably is a good idea, seeing we will be travelling from hot, summery, festive Australia to the freezer. We spent Christmas with a Spanish family some years back, via a family member, and it was a midnight-till-dawn session. New Year in Barcelona is one way to shake off jetlag, I suppose. The main thing is: good accommodation for a few nights.

Robert2533

The weather should be mild. The last time we where there for the New Year, it was clear and sunny and 16ºC.

JulieVikmanis

We have traveled many places for New Year and love Barcelona. Unfortunately we were not as happy with Barcelona for New Year as we expected to be. Celebrations were disjointed and a bit scary--folks pulling champagne bottles out of manholes where they'd stored them and rowdy, roving thugs, one of whom tried to manhandle my husband until our son joined the fray and made the odds a bit more even. We found New Year in Salzburg, Garmisch, Rome, and even Acapulco (admittedly many years ago) much nicer than in BCN--unfortunately.

Robert2533

Sorry you didn't enjoy Barcelona on NYE. I guess it was more akin to being in Ft. Lauderdale during Spring Break. True, Barcelona can be a bit testy, but overall, NYE in Spain is so much different, and better, than in the States. It's second best to being in Paris on NYE.