So I'm in Barcelona again, finishing up a trip to Alicante, Valencia and then Costa Brava. Barcelona is the most convenient place to fly out of.

First the sticker shock, staying at a hotel for 2 nights and the bill will be like $520 for 2 nights. 2-3 years ago, I paid about $250 for 2 nights in the same area, near Plaça de Catalunya. I booked it in February and on check in today, they told me that since February, the city raised the tourist tax to over €7.60 a night. It was like €5.50 when I booked.

I tried to drive to the hotel to drop off my bag before dropping off my rental car about 5 kilometers away but the street my hotel is on was blocked by police. I asked later, it was some kind of protest. So I had to drag my luggage to the R trains.

I bought a T-Familiar 8-ride pass for €12.50. When I researched this trip in February, the T-familiar was said to be €8.50.

So I guess they are yielding more money per tourist who visit, as they talked about in the article I linked above.

Despite the higher prices, the streets are busy. Traffic, wasn't my preference to drive in and out of Barcelona but it took 20 minutes to drive about 4 kilometers across town because Barcelona has some of the slowest traffic signals I've seen. These aren't on big wide boulevards but narrow one-way streets.

After checking in, I got some lunch and walked around, got to the front of the cathedral. There were a lot of people, forming a circle. It wasn't the locals doing a sardana but some shirtless guy covered in tattoo yelling through a loudspeaker. Didn't stay around to find out what he was saying.

Google Maps indicates that a ticket into the cathedral would cost $18-19 so it appears to be €15-16. I've been inside a couple of times, years ago. There used to be swans in the inner courtyard.

The food prices are okay but patata bravas are about €7 and higher, tortilla omelette is €9 in most places Gazpacho is offered everywhere, even though it's not from this region. I remember paying €4 for tapas and €3 for a slice of tortilla.

I just try to eat healthy, like some salad without protein most of the time or poke bowl. These are usually chain restaurants. No more charcuterie for me, more for health reasons than price though those are probably up as well.

I was going to go to the Sagrada Familia but you have to book appointments and currently no available appointments until a week into May. I knew this but didn't really feel like booking.

There is a 50 minute tour of Palau de la Musica Catalana, which looks to be beautiful inside. It's €25 so I'm debating.

BTW, I've complained on another thread about what they charged for Casa Batllo.

I just checked and they have a range of prices from just under $30 to over $52.

La Pedrera is about $34 and a guided visit of Sagrada Familia including towers is €40.

Hotel prices soared post Covid. It isn't just Barcelona. It may be more obvious since pre Covid prices could be pretty reasonable.

See if you can buy a ticket to an event at the Palau de Musica; you'll pay a bit more but I saw an opera last month and the experience is one I will never forget. Look at their schedule for your dates.....

There is such wonderful food in all price ranges that it strikes me as a shame to eat at chain restaurants.....maybe you would like to eat inside one of the large food markets, like Mercat Ninot, Sant Antoni, or even La Boqueria. Probably about the same price as a chain restaurant and probably better, and healthier, food. It's not all jamon!

Barcelona hotels are indeed crazy expensive now. I have only been going since 2004 but eating out was always more expensive than other parts of Spain. You could still find great value though. It is hotels that have killed it, for me.

You can stay in Tarragona, just over an hour by train for way less. Not the same, I know.