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Book Ahead Suggestions for Barcelona /Rome/Florence?

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Book Ahead Suggestions for Barcelona /Rome/Florence?

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Old Jul 21st, 2015, 05:11 AM
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Book Ahead Suggestions for Barcelona /Rome/Florence?

After lots of research and much valued input from posters on these boards, the itinerary, flights, and hotels are booked. Pheew! We leave for three nights in Barcelona on August 18th (we miss Real Barcelona by a day apparently. Drats!) and then will have four full days in Sorrento (side trip to Pompei) and four full days in Rome (one day we will probably take the train to Florence for old time's sake).

I'm wondering if you will be kind enough to suggest what attractions/outings etc you think I should book from here in NYC, particularly in Rome and Barcelona. To avoid things selling out, waiting in lines etc. Usually I like to wait until I arrive to a place and take the weather into consideration (one of the reasons I have not yet booked the full day boat charter in Positano) but I am thinking I should probably do some things in advance from here.

Thank you, as always, for sharing your travel planning prowess with me
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Old Jul 21st, 2015, 07:19 AM
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In Barcelona I'd book Sagrada Familia, Palau Musica and any of the Gaudi residences you want to see beforehand.

See this trip report to read of sailing past the long lines

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...spain-2015.cfm

Also Parc Guell.

In Rome any/all of the Vatican tours you're interested in.
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Old Jul 21st, 2015, 07:42 AM
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Same advice for Florence - Accademia/Uffizi if interested
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Old Jul 21st, 2015, 02:28 PM
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In addition to the things Elizabeth_S mentioned, I would add the Borghese in Rome.
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Old Jul 21st, 2015, 04:07 PM
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Everything Elizabeth and kja mentioned or you risk long lines or even the possibility of not getting in.
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Old Jul 21st, 2015, 11:35 PM
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We didn't book for Parc Guell in Barcelona, just arrived at opening time (9am? from memory). Even the taxi driver assured us it wouldn't be open that early, but I had checked on line the night before.

It was wonderful to wander and take photos of the structures without other people being in the way. By the time we were leaving a couple of hours later, the crowds were really building up and it was much more difficult to get the over-all effect of the place. Di
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Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 02:30 PM
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@ Di -- weren't you there in mid-September? That could make a HUGE difference to how crowded Parc Guell might be....
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Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 02:42 PM
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Yes, kja, we were - but we've found the 'arrive at opening time' trick to work on many occasions, even in mid-tourist season in a variety of European cities.

Even tour buses don't manage to get there quite that early, so at least the early parts of a visit are crowd free.

We generally arrive at our top-of-the-list venue slightly before opening time, and quite often don't have to share it with anyone!

Di
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Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 06:01 PM
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kja
 
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@ Di -- thanks for clarifying that! It seems that you were traveling just outside the height of tourist season. I think the OP is planning to be there in the height of it. I could be wrong!
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