Barcelona, Ibiza, Amsterdam and Berlin-Too much?
Jan 20th, 2012, 03:53 PM
#1
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Barcelona, Ibiza, Amsterdam and Berlin-Too much?
Hello! I am a 32 year old female heading to Spain with a good girlfriend the last two weeks of July 2012. Barcelona and Ibiza are a must for us and we are considering both Berlin (I hear Mette is a good place to stay) and Amsterdam.
Neither of us have been to any of these countries so we have a lot to see. We love nightlife (bars, dancing, lounges) Shopping (farmers markets, fashion, food, souvenirs) but also want to experience culture (museums, neighborhoods, historic monuments) and love meeting new people. Is our itinerary too ambitious? Should we take out one country? I know both Amsterdam and Berlin have great nightlife and culture. Money is a factor but seems as though one country is not too much more expensive than the other. We want to end our trip in Ibiza since we may not want to travel after Ibiza's nightlife.
Proposed Itinerary:
LAX-Amsterdam-3 nights in Amsterdam
Amsterdam-Berlin-3 nights in Berlin
Berlin-Barcelona-3 nights in Barcelona
Barcelona-Ibiza-3 nights in Ibiza (We plan to rent mopeds-good idea?)
Ibiza-Barcelona-LAX
I have looked into both EasyJet and RyanAir, both seem fairly inexpensive however I don’t have experience with either. Reviews show EasyJet to be ok, just to watch out for luggage size and to have ticket stamped prior to boarding. It looks like we can get airfare from Amsterdam-Berlin-Barcelona for less than $150US. I found a flight from LAX-Amsterdam Barcelona-LAX for a decent price, but still shopping around.
Housing will be next but need to get a plan first!
Thanks in advance for any input!
AP
Neither of us have been to any of these countries so we have a lot to see. We love nightlife (bars, dancing, lounges) Shopping (farmers markets, fashion, food, souvenirs) but also want to experience culture (museums, neighborhoods, historic monuments) and love meeting new people. Is our itinerary too ambitious? Should we take out one country? I know both Amsterdam and Berlin have great nightlife and culture. Money is a factor but seems as though one country is not too much more expensive than the other. We want to end our trip in Ibiza since we may not want to travel after Ibiza's nightlife.
Proposed Itinerary:
LAX-Amsterdam-3 nights in Amsterdam
Amsterdam-Berlin-3 nights in Berlin
Berlin-Barcelona-3 nights in Barcelona
Barcelona-Ibiza-3 nights in Ibiza (We plan to rent mopeds-good idea?)
Ibiza-Barcelona-LAX
I have looked into both EasyJet and RyanAir, both seem fairly inexpensive however I don’t have experience with either. Reviews show EasyJet to be ok, just to watch out for luggage size and to have ticket stamped prior to boarding. It looks like we can get airfare from Amsterdam-Berlin-Barcelona for less than $150US. I found a flight from LAX-Amsterdam Barcelona-LAX for a decent price, but still shopping around.
Housing will be next but need to get a plan first!
Thanks in advance for any input!
AP
Jan 20th, 2012, 04:12 PM
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A bit rushed, but you probably noticed that yourself already.
You picked the right places for nightlife - but if you are really into the club and bar scene you should keep in mind that most action starts around midnight and lasts till the morning. While there is always going on something, the "in" clubs and discos don't get really busy until 2am, especially in Spain.
In Barcelona you should check the dates for the famous summer beach parties in nearby Sitges or BCN proper. I think they are only on weekends.
Assuming that you need at least a few hours to recharge your batteries, nightlife sure takes its toll on what you can visit during the day. At least I am not able to get up before noon when I get home around 7 in the morning.
Taking one destination out could help to get all your planned activities squeezed into 4 days at each destination. Just don't ask me which one lol. Well, maybe Ibiza as it is more limited to beaches and parties while Barcelona has those, too, plus the culture, shopping, etc.
And while Ibiza sure will keep you up all night, the average age of the clientele will be more in the 18-25 age bracket.
And there is no need to backtrack between Barcelona and Ibiza those last two segments. You should be able to get nonstops from Berlin to Ibiza. Try whichbudget.com for low cost airlines. There are many more than just Ryanair or Easyjet, and many don't have those hidden fees for this and that.
You picked the right places for nightlife - but if you are really into the club and bar scene you should keep in mind that most action starts around midnight and lasts till the morning. While there is always going on something, the "in" clubs and discos don't get really busy until 2am, especially in Spain.
In Barcelona you should check the dates for the famous summer beach parties in nearby Sitges or BCN proper. I think they are only on weekends.
Assuming that you need at least a few hours to recharge your batteries, nightlife sure takes its toll on what you can visit during the day. At least I am not able to get up before noon when I get home around 7 in the morning.
Taking one destination out could help to get all your planned activities squeezed into 4 days at each destination. Just don't ask me which one lol. Well, maybe Ibiza as it is more limited to beaches and parties while Barcelona has those, too, plus the culture, shopping, etc.
And while Ibiza sure will keep you up all night, the average age of the clientele will be more in the 18-25 age bracket.
And there is no need to backtrack between Barcelona and Ibiza those last two segments. You should be able to get nonstops from Berlin to Ibiza. Try whichbudget.com for low cost airlines. There are many more than just Ryanair or Easyjet, and many don't have those hidden fees for this and that.
Jan 20th, 2012, 04:44 PM
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The above is absolutely correct. (Not from me but from my 19 year old daughter.) Ibiza especially is mostly college students who head out at midnight and party all night. In your age group you will probably find more contemporaries in the other cities. (To 18 and 19 year old guys a 32 year old woman is - how shall we say "mature")
I know here in NYC when my daughters go to trendy dance clubs women 30 up aren;t at the front of the line unless they are a name. And men over 35 better have cute young women with them - or be ready to spend several hundred for a bottle and table - or, again, a "name".
Don;t misunderstand me - there are plenty of places for 30 somethings to go - just not the same places.
I know here in NYC when my daughters go to trendy dance clubs women 30 up aren;t at the front of the line unless they are a name. And men over 35 better have cute young women with them - or be ready to spend several hundred for a bottle and table - or, again, a "name".
Don;t misunderstand me - there are plenty of places for 30 somethings to go - just not the same places.
Jan 20th, 2012, 05:10 PM
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Interstig
A couple I know went to Barcelona on their honeymoon just last July.
..both 33 years old.
The idea was to relax by the pool during the day and party at night
Their verdict.:,
" the clubs were full of 20. something, we felt like an old married couple"
A couple I know went to Barcelona on their honeymoon just last July.
..both 33 years old.
The idea was to relax by the pool during the day and party at night
Their verdict.:,
" the clubs were full of 20. something, we felt like an old married couple"
Jan 20th, 2012, 05:24 PM
#5
Not me -- but children of friends have been to Spain to party the last two summers. Not meant to be snarky - but unless you look quite young for your ages you might be on the old side for the club scene there.
