Just back from Barcelona with teens and a 9-year-old
Aug 2nd, 2006, 08:02 PM
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Just back from Barcelona with teens and a 9-year-old
Thanks to everyone who contributes to this site - it was very helpful in planning our trip to Spain, as were Maribelīs guides. Her tips were absolutely invaluable.
I was in Barcelona earlier this month with my 16-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son. My 18-year-old son joined us with a few of his European friends. We stayed at a hotel (with very much appreciated air conditioning.) The boys were nearby in a much warmer youth hostel.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Lodging:
We were at the Hotel Pulitzer, which rates very high on the ultra-cool scale. The decor is cutting edge, service exceptionally helpful and friendly, location right off the Placa de Cataluyna. The rooms were small but comfortable, the light switches baffling but eventually manageable. Iīd stay there again in a minute, even despite some early morning noise from the construction site across the street.
The boys were at the Sant Jordi Youth Hostel at Roger de Lluria 40, half a block off the Gran Vía for about 24 Euros per night per person. It was clean, well-run, with a kitchen. Right in front of the hostel was a first class supermarket where we all stopped in frequently to buy snacks.
Entertainment:
The walk to the Sagrada Familia was a bit much from the Placa de Cataluyna in the heat, but once we got there, we were all impressed and glad we had done it. Shouldnīt be missed.
We loved Gaudiīs Casa Milá house, spent hours there and then bought most of our posters, t-shirts and gifts from their gift shop. The view of all of Barcelona from their roof is particularly impressive.
We ended up not going into the Casa Batiló because the line was long, the admission fee was 16.5 Euros, and the kids had seen enough Gaudi at that point.
Everybody loved the Palau de Música and the Picasso Museum. The 9-year-oldīs favorite was the Museu de Xocolat. He could have spent the entire afternoon there.
The teen boys invited us to the beach one day on the train, which we took from the Placa de Cataluyna. It was a very pleasant, easy-to-manage, half-hour ride. The beach itself was not too crowded and the water was fine. There were no trees or shade, but we found outdoor showers to rinse off before returning home, and there were plenty of snack shacks with bathrooms.
Food shopping:
We visited Papabubble, an handmade hard candy factory on Ample 28, a block off of the waterfront. You can watch the candy being stretching and then chopped up.
The chocolate shop, Cacao Sampaka, at Consell de Cent 292, right off of the Rambla Cataluyna, was worth several visits. Itīs owned by the famous chef Adriá Ferráīs brother, and is so innovative and attractive that it makes you want to buy everything in sight.
The best local candy shop, however, was Planelles-Donat, which is in Maribelīs guide. Port dīAngel 7, near the Corte Inglés. The turron is good, but the white, candied pine nuts are immediately addictive. It would be worth a return trip just to buy a few more bags of them.
Food:
The kidsī favorite place by far was the fairly new Camper Food Ball, c/Elisabets 9 in Raval, about a block off of La Rambla, on the way to the MACBA. Everything is organic and rolled into a ball, and you sit on jute mats to eat it. They would have returned three times a day if I would have let them. Our favorites were the paella balls, chicken and just plain white rice.
We snacked a lot at the Boqueria market. The fresh-squeezed juices, fruit and nuts were so delicious. There is also a good-quality cookbook store in the market with a good selection of Catalan and Spanish cookbooks.
On Passeig de Gracia we liked Txapela for tapas, but it was usually crowded and service was slow. Nonetheless, itīs helpful that you can see the pictures of the tapas on your placemat (copies of which are on the kidsī walls now.)
When I got to choose we went slightly more upscale. One of our best choices was the Taller de Tapas at c/de līArgnteria 51. The gazpacho and pimientos de padron were excepcional, as were the fried fish and eggs with chorizo. We demolished the profiteroles for dessert.
Our favorite tapas bar, however, was El Xampanyet, at Montcada 22, the same street as the Picasso Museum. We arrived at the afternoon closing time but the owners served us an incredible meal anyway and didnīt hurry us out the door. The stuffed peppers and tuna tapas were soooo good, as were the slices of manchego cheese.
My 9-year-old couldnīt pass up any Farggi ice cream shop. The Crema Catalan was my favorite, but he usually ordered the Cookies and Cream and never complained.
Transportation:
We took the Aerobus to and from the airport. It is easy and cheap, although a bit of a hassle if you have heavy bags to schlep on. If itīs crowded you may end up sitting on the suitcase in the aisle.
I was in Barcelona earlier this month with my 16-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son. My 18-year-old son joined us with a few of his European friends. We stayed at a hotel (with very much appreciated air conditioning.) The boys were nearby in a much warmer youth hostel.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Lodging:
We were at the Hotel Pulitzer, which rates very high on the ultra-cool scale. The decor is cutting edge, service exceptionally helpful and friendly, location right off the Placa de Cataluyna. The rooms were small but comfortable, the light switches baffling but eventually manageable. Iīd stay there again in a minute, even despite some early morning noise from the construction site across the street.
The boys were at the Sant Jordi Youth Hostel at Roger de Lluria 40, half a block off the Gran Vía for about 24 Euros per night per person. It was clean, well-run, with a kitchen. Right in front of the hostel was a first class supermarket where we all stopped in frequently to buy snacks.
Entertainment:
The walk to the Sagrada Familia was a bit much from the Placa de Cataluyna in the heat, but once we got there, we were all impressed and glad we had done it. Shouldnīt be missed.
We loved Gaudiīs Casa Milá house, spent hours there and then bought most of our posters, t-shirts and gifts from their gift shop. The view of all of Barcelona from their roof is particularly impressive.
We ended up not going into the Casa Batiló because the line was long, the admission fee was 16.5 Euros, and the kids had seen enough Gaudi at that point.
Everybody loved the Palau de Música and the Picasso Museum. The 9-year-oldīs favorite was the Museu de Xocolat. He could have spent the entire afternoon there.
The teen boys invited us to the beach one day on the train, which we took from the Placa de Cataluyna. It was a very pleasant, easy-to-manage, half-hour ride. The beach itself was not too crowded and the water was fine. There were no trees or shade, but we found outdoor showers to rinse off before returning home, and there were plenty of snack shacks with bathrooms.
Food shopping:
We visited Papabubble, an handmade hard candy factory on Ample 28, a block off of the waterfront. You can watch the candy being stretching and then chopped up.
The chocolate shop, Cacao Sampaka, at Consell de Cent 292, right off of the Rambla Cataluyna, was worth several visits. Itīs owned by the famous chef Adriá Ferráīs brother, and is so innovative and attractive that it makes you want to buy everything in sight.
The best local candy shop, however, was Planelles-Donat, which is in Maribelīs guide. Port dīAngel 7, near the Corte Inglés. The turron is good, but the white, candied pine nuts are immediately addictive. It would be worth a return trip just to buy a few more bags of them.
Food:
The kidsī favorite place by far was the fairly new Camper Food Ball, c/Elisabets 9 in Raval, about a block off of La Rambla, on the way to the MACBA. Everything is organic and rolled into a ball, and you sit on jute mats to eat it. They would have returned three times a day if I would have let them. Our favorites were the paella balls, chicken and just plain white rice.
We snacked a lot at the Boqueria market. The fresh-squeezed juices, fruit and nuts were so delicious. There is also a good-quality cookbook store in the market with a good selection of Catalan and Spanish cookbooks.
On Passeig de Gracia we liked Txapela for tapas, but it was usually crowded and service was slow. Nonetheless, itīs helpful that you can see the pictures of the tapas on your placemat (copies of which are on the kidsī walls now.)
When I got to choose we went slightly more upscale. One of our best choices was the Taller de Tapas at c/de līArgnteria 51. The gazpacho and pimientos de padron were excepcional, as were the fried fish and eggs with chorizo. We demolished the profiteroles for dessert.
Our favorite tapas bar, however, was El Xampanyet, at Montcada 22, the same street as the Picasso Museum. We arrived at the afternoon closing time but the owners served us an incredible meal anyway and didnīt hurry us out the door. The stuffed peppers and tuna tapas were soooo good, as were the slices of manchego cheese.
My 9-year-old couldnīt pass up any Farggi ice cream shop. The Crema Catalan was my favorite, but he usually ordered the Cookies and Cream and never complained.
Transportation:
We took the Aerobus to and from the airport. It is easy and cheap, although a bit of a hassle if you have heavy bags to schlep on. If itīs crowded you may end up sitting on the suitcase in the aisle.
Aug 3rd, 2006, 06:35 AM
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Thank you so much for the trip report. We will be in Barcelona in March, my daughter is 14 and son 11.
The Hotel Pulitzer is on my short list so glad you liked it. I can not find a direct e-mail for them on their site. Do you happen to have one among your papers?? My big concern is that everyone says the rooms are small. We would get two rooms, just how small are they?
As Missypie asked, any other tips or places to go?
The Hotel Pulitzer is on my short list so glad you liked it. I can not find a direct e-mail for them on their site. Do you happen to have one among your papers?? My big concern is that everyone says the rooms are small. We would get two rooms, just how small are they?
As Missypie asked, any other tips or places to go?
Aug 3rd, 2006, 01:02 PM
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To answer a few of your questions:
- You can contact the Hotel Pulitzer directly through their website at www.hotelpulitzer.es or e-mail: [email protected] Everyone there was at least trilingual (Catalá, Spanish and English.)
The rooms are long and narrow, with little space to stretch out in. There is one comfortable chair, one less comfortable one, a writing desk that folds out, plus a small balcony.The closet, on the other hand, is big enough and the mini-fridge is set into the wall in a very clever way. The TV is a flat screen and hung from the wall so it didn't take up any space.
We're fairly small people so the small space didn't matter to us, but whenever the older boys dropped in it felt crowded.
Having said all of the above, the public spaces at the Pulitzer are so generous and welcoming that nobody ever got claustrophobia. The rooftop deck is very nice at sunset, and I often slipped down to the lobby in the morning to read the papers while the kids got ready.
Other activities: The kids also liked the Parc Guell, the Cathedral, the Aquarium, the MACBA (which currently has an album cover exhibit), and the momument at the waterfront to Christopher Colombus, who returned there the first time from the New World.
Their favorite thing to do, however, was just to hang out on the streets and watch people. (One day we were slightly shocked to see a completely naked man eating a yogurt on La Rambla. The police walked by and didn't even blink!) We liked the older, small streets and their twists and turns. Sometimes we sat in plazas or watched the skateboarders do stunts outside of the MACBA.
The teen boys went out more at night than we did. They liked one jazz club in particular and found a place to play pool, but mostly they enjoyed going to the beach every day.
The shopping, was indeed, the highlight for our 16-year-old. The corner of Bergara (where the Pulitzer is located) and the Placa de Cataluyna has a FNAC bookstore, and a small indoor mall with mostly international stores like Adidas and Sephora. On the Placa itself there are a few clothes stores and a Corte Inglés, but the better shopping is between there and the Casa Milá on the Rambla Cataluyna.
There is a small shopping arcade off that Rambla that has a very cool hair barrette shop called La Peineta. We bought a few things there, then realized at home that they were actually made in France.
On our next trip to Barcelona we will definitely take more day trips, starting with Figueres and the Dali house there.
- We were in Madrid for a little more than a week and in Barcelona for six days. Our flight schedules dictated our stay. I think that five days in each would have been enough if you can get the kids out of bed early each morning and doing activities by 10 a.m., and then have them go on to about 10 p.m. But since our kids prefer a slightly slower pace, we really appreciated the extra time. They can't wait to return.
- You can contact the Hotel Pulitzer directly through their website at www.hotelpulitzer.es or e-mail: [email protected] Everyone there was at least trilingual (Catalá, Spanish and English.)
The rooms are long and narrow, with little space to stretch out in. There is one comfortable chair, one less comfortable one, a writing desk that folds out, plus a small balcony.The closet, on the other hand, is big enough and the mini-fridge is set into the wall in a very clever way. The TV is a flat screen and hung from the wall so it didn't take up any space.
We're fairly small people so the small space didn't matter to us, but whenever the older boys dropped in it felt crowded.
Having said all of the above, the public spaces at the Pulitzer are so generous and welcoming that nobody ever got claustrophobia. The rooftop deck is very nice at sunset, and I often slipped down to the lobby in the morning to read the papers while the kids got ready.
Other activities: The kids also liked the Parc Guell, the Cathedral, the Aquarium, the MACBA (which currently has an album cover exhibit), and the momument at the waterfront to Christopher Colombus, who returned there the first time from the New World.
Their favorite thing to do, however, was just to hang out on the streets and watch people. (One day we were slightly shocked to see a completely naked man eating a yogurt on La Rambla. The police walked by and didn't even blink!) We liked the older, small streets and their twists and turns. Sometimes we sat in plazas or watched the skateboarders do stunts outside of the MACBA.
The teen boys went out more at night than we did. They liked one jazz club in particular and found a place to play pool, but mostly they enjoyed going to the beach every day.
The shopping, was indeed, the highlight for our 16-year-old. The corner of Bergara (where the Pulitzer is located) and the Placa de Cataluyna has a FNAC bookstore, and a small indoor mall with mostly international stores like Adidas and Sephora. On the Placa itself there are a few clothes stores and a Corte Inglés, but the better shopping is between there and the Casa Milá on the Rambla Cataluyna.
There is a small shopping arcade off that Rambla that has a very cool hair barrette shop called La Peineta. We bought a few things there, then realized at home that they were actually made in France.
On our next trip to Barcelona we will definitely take more day trips, starting with Figueres and the Dali house there.
- We were in Madrid for a little more than a week and in Barcelona for six days. Our flight schedules dictated our stay. I think that five days in each would have been enough if you can get the kids out of bed early each morning and doing activities by 10 a.m., and then have them go on to about 10 p.m. But since our kids prefer a slightly slower pace, we really appreciated the extra time. They can't wait to return.
Aug 3rd, 2006, 07:39 PM
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llopez- Thanks so much for the additional info. and the details on the Pulitzer. My kids also just enjoy just hanging out when we travel and my 14 y.o. daughter LOVES shopping so thank you for the tips.
