Barcelona and/or ??? with another family
 

Greetings Fodorites. I've been off the forum for awhile but I'd like to start planning a European trip for next summer (mid-July). The very loose plan is to hook up with some friends in the UK and Barcelona was mentioned as an early candidate (we are coming from the US).

So, where to start? There will be 7 of us all together (4 adults, 3 teens). A single apartment would be ideal. They'll probably have a week and we might stretch things to 1.5 weeks with possibly including another stop (San Sebastian?).

Would mid-July be an acceptable time to visit (school schedules are dictating this)? What area should I focus on for accommodations? Favored apartment websites?

Our friends might like to stay outside of the city (beach? other?) -- does that make any sense? (we usually stay in the thick of things).

Does San Sebastian make a decent pairing? or better first choice? We've visited Madrid (and surrounds) and Sevilla/Granada on previous trips.

Usual interests: cultural/historic sights, good food, a little R&R (not so easy in a city granted). Pretty open really -- we'll enjoy visiting with our friends regardless.

Sorry, I realize I'm a little scattered at the moment. Early days. Thanks.

With such a short space of time available to you, I think I'd keep it to one place and day trip out from there. There are lots of hotels or apartments with pools around Barcelona, both in the city and on the beach, giving you the best of both worlds and allowing for lots of choices to eat in the evenings. Here's just one booking site, other fine sites are available.

http://www.booking.com/landmark/es/b...ach.en-gb.html

Day trips might include Montserrat, San Sadurni D'Anoia (Cava), Figueres(Dali), Tossa de Mar, Bay of Roses etc. That's probably more than enough to keep you all entertained for 7-10 days, when you realise that Barcelona itself offers enough to do for a week on its own.

Take a closer look at San Sebastian, the culinary capital of Spain if not all of Europe, some of the finest city beaches on the continent, a surfers paradise, arguably the most beautiful city in the country and European Capital of Culture 2016: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/
http://www.newsweek.com/mark-kurlans...4841?piano_t=1
San Sebastian European Capital of Culture video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2zTb7Eg9Lk

About the region/the Basque Country:
http://tourism.euskadi.net/en/
http://www.euskoguide.com/

Ah, one strong vote for each. Clears that right up. :)

I'll take a look at the links. Thanks.

For Barcelona, what areas should I target or avoid for accomodations?

How old are the teens?
I'd say there is more to see and explore in Barcelona while San Sebastian should keep the food enthusiast happy.
Mid-July should be quite hot already on the Med, while the Basque Coast should have more moderate temps.
Re. accomodation in BCN: Most people seem to like to stay in the Born area, or central Eixample (what is up to a few blocks each side of Passeig de Gracia). But I find also most other parts of Eixample "acceptable" as long as you got a Metro stop in short walking distance.
Actually, in summer, I'd also be leaning towards apartments in the Zona Alta (somewhat more breezy, cooler), e.g. Sarria. But most first-time visitor may find that too far from where the action is.

When you search for apartments look very carefully at square footage - make sure if you want one apartment that it is really big enough. You may already know that room size in Europe can be much tighter than here. You will probably find larger apartments in the Eixample part of the city. The beach area, while nice, will tend to have smaller lodgings.

But the city is easy to get around by bus and metro so I wouldn't get too obsessed about location. Do be careful on the metro - many professional ne're do wells.

You can certainly stay busy for a week or more in Barcelona (with day trips) but I LOVE San Sebsatian. Truly heaven on earth for food. So if it were me, I'd be inclined to carve out enough days to do both.

SS is lovely but rather small, 3 days it was enough for us.
Also, we have found equally good
food all over Spain.
A beautiful city with splendid beaches is Valencia. It is 3 hours south of Barcelona, but as, said, there is enough in and near Barcelona to keep you busy for a week or so. It will be hot and humid.

Teens will be 16, 16 & 13

When looking at apartments, also check out the bedding arrangement. "sleeps 8" might be 3 double beds and one futon. Not sure if the teens want to be sharing beds.

Go to www.apartur.com - that is the umbrella organization for Barcelona's various vacation apartment management companies. Those companies are accredited. Peruse from there.

And look into companies that have multiple properties in the same building.

We are going to Barcelona in May and we are using www.destinationbcn.com for our apartment. Obviously, I cannot address the apartment as I haven't stayed there yet but they've been easy to deal with and have good reviews.

Thanks for the links.

Anyone have a good description of the various neighborhoods and perhaps a map?

We've used habitatapartments.com a couple times and I am presently looking at some places for next May on air bnb. Lots to choose from and they have the right accreditation listed on each listing. I always look for location, space, and lots of reviews. We have stayed 3 times in the Born, but are looking for something less touristy this trip. The neighborhood of Garcia is still very close to many sights, has great restaurants and bars and is a little more residential. Not looking for complete peace and quiet just looking for something that has residents having fun, not drunken college students. We are also looking at places in Eixample.

We have been to San Seb a few times and really love it. I think you could do both. Fly into Barcelona and then fly out of Bilbao. In Bilbao, is the wonderful Guggenheim museum designed by Frank Gehry.

A map? Google maps is all I know anymore.

I don't think you can find an apartment large enough for 7 people... Even if you do, it will be very uncomfortable (bathrooms, privacy...)... I'd choose 3 rooms at a B&B instead. If interested I have 2 very good ones I could recommend in Eixample (a really great location, yet not too busy), both at around 120 Euro with breakfast.

I've been looking for an apartment in Barcelona for 3 couples (3 bedrooms) and I've got a lot to chose from and I've seen plenty with 4 bedrooms. You just need to get something picked soon.

A couple of central and nice Barcelona neighbourhoods:

Medieval and vibrant El Born: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

Modern, more upscale and more tranquile Eixample: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...barcelona.html

hi indy_dad - Nice to see you back here! how's the family? are you sure that if you bring them back, they won't get too homesick for Europe and want to come back for good?

anyway, to address your questions, i think that I would try to arrange a few nights in San Sebastien as well as Barcelona if at all possible. We found that 3 nights in Barcelona were enough [we discovered that we are not great fans of Gaudi and the crowds were oppressive] and even with day trips, 5 nights would do it for me.

I know that we're probably in a minority in our view about Barcelona, but knowing how you are all interested in food [in the nicest possible sense] I would have thought that SS was a must for you.

On our last visit to Barcelona we stayed in the more modem part of the city, north of the Olympic village
The beach is still there, the area is upscale with many parks and restaurants .
We used Selva del Mar metro to get to the centre .
As Cowboy said , one does not have be right in Born or central Eixample ..., actuality, in July
it might be better to stay in an area less crowded.

Agree with Annhig about Barcelona and Gaudi, but if it's a first time for you and friends, I suppose you should have a look. SS or someplace on the Costa Brava could be combined with it.

Thanks, all. I really appreciate the input. As can be expected, this will be tricky to meld the interests, availability and budget for two families (and 7 people). It's difficult enough when it's just me, the benevolant dictator (planner)!

Hi annhig! The family certainly have a love for the UK and Europe but realties will keep us rooted in the US for awhile!

Inspired by Kwoo's trip report (that I just topped), I'm intriqued by tacking on some days in Costa Brava (and the Pyrenees?) to our Barcelona stay. Personally, I'd like soem non-city time. We'd save San Sebastian for another time.

Main question is the time of year (mid-July). Too hot? Too late (already booked up)? Thoughts?

Mid July is basically too crowded for me, but since you have school age children, you gotta do what ya gotta do ! That said, my daughter wants to go to Spain (Mojacar where we lived for many years) for the month of July so we've been looking at rental houses. A lot are still available, but this morning's chore is to convince her to change the trip to June or September.

Tarragona has terrific Roman sites, is very lovely on the sea, has medieval walls and sites too and very walkable. (and best chocolate shop I ever found!)

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ly-for-him.cfm

Our time in Spain, as described in trip report above, was dictated by attending a WRC rally, but you might glean a few ideas, esp. if you are interested in Tarragona. I couldn't really recommend where we stayed in Barcelona--we had free room on points and it worked out fine, but wouldn't be my preference.

For some perspective, perhaps?

I was in Barcelona for 6 nights in September. I traveled alone, and I am the type who hits the ground running relatively early and goes nonstop except for meals. I had a list of things to see, prioritized but as usual options for me to attempt to visit, or not, as time allowed. I had day trips on my option plan, UNESCO sites outside of the city, etc etc.

I ran out of time before I ran out of things to do, even on my high level prioritized list - and the only place outside of BCN I was able to visit was Sitges.

If you are 7 people, you will automatically see fewer things than I was able to see if for no other reason you will have to muster everyone together each day and decide what to do and see. And that's fine. But I would suggest perhaps to not add another destination. Barcelona is a treat and their bars and cafes rival Paris.

I will say that based on September weather that July will be even hotter, which will also tend to slow you down somewhat - it would for me.

I really liked the Eixample as an area to stay. I very much liked my B&B:

http://www.barcelonabb.com/

Contact them, even if a given room is not enough for 7 people. Their B&B rooms are within a few blocks of each other and you could probably split into three groups and be close enough that it won't affect your daily planning. You could probably still do breakfast together, for instance.

I was in Barcelona mid-July a couple years ago, that's a fine time to go. Because it's on the coast and farther north, of course, it isn't that hot in summer. I mean, of course it is hot but it's not unbearable like you might be in southern Spain or even Madrid. It's similar to where I live in US or a lot of other places in Europe in July. I like traveling in summer because I like that it stays light late and wearing light clothes, and eating in outdoor cafes, etc. A couple sights were a bit crowded meaning there was a line (some of the Gaudi buildings like Casa Battlo, mainly, and Parc Guell was for a park, anyway). NOthing else I went to was that crowded that it was bothersome in any way (naval museum, Miro museum, museum of Catalonian Art, Catalonian history musuem and a few other things).

I agree with flygirl. This city is amazing and has SO MUCH to offer. We stayed in 2 B&Bs in the Eixample and both had between 4 and 8 units to offer.

I have been to Barcelona eight times and have never run out of things to do.
There is much more to see in and near Barcelina than Gaudi.
Depends one's interest., of course.
Good idea to skip SS... ,,...beautiful but the crowedes in the summer in such small place must be
hard to awoid.

I also was impressed with Barcelona, I've been there twice as I liked it so much. The first time I went, I hadn't realized how much there was to do there, actually.

Re flygirls comment, weather in Barcelona actually isn't that different in July vs September, they are about equally hot (around 75-80 in afternoon, down to maybe 65-70 at night). August is a bit hotter there than July.

Thanks for the additional comments. Leaning towards Barcelona + Costa Brava over 10-11 days or so. Took a break over this past week -- need to get back to it.