Maribel

I've never felt the need to purchase the fairly expensive Barcelona card (or any Spanish city card for that matter), as I just won't make good use of it. Yes, you'll still wait in line (it's not a "skip the line" card). You would have to rush around quite a lot to hope to get your money's worth out of it.
Some museums are free with it, but for the Moderniste sites (Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller, la Pedrera, Sant Pau Recinte Modernista) you only receive a discount.

I really don't think you'll need to use much public transport in 3-4 days. If you do use the metro, however, be very, very, careful with your belongings (thefts there do occur, and the thieves are quick and skillful, professionals).

Do you have reservations for visits to specific wineries on (or most likely near) the Costa Brava? The Castell de Perelada is a beautiful spot, but I don't know how far it would be from where you're staying (are you staying in Roses? If Roses, it's a half hour drive)

jgrynol

Thank you Mirabel. I tend to agree that we’ll have a hard time getting our money’s worth from the BCL Card. I think we’ll just get to the places we want and pay as we go, especially since we already have a couple of things booked that the card doesn’t cover. Yes, I’m looking at booking in advance one or two winery experiences while in the CB. We’ll be staying closer to the Begur area so looking near there - many good choices!

jgrynol

We’ve decided to look at staying a night in Girona while in the CB for 6 days. The hotel that caught my attention in an earlier search, Hotel 1801 Nord, is unfortunately booked or the rooms left are too costly. Does anyone have a hotel they can recommend in Girona? A nice 3* is fine.

Maribel

Will your Girona night coincide with the May Flower Festival , Temps de Flors, May 11-19?
How about the Hotel Històric?

jgrynol

Thank you for your reply Mirabel, and the hotel recommendation. However, still no vac or only expensive rooms left. That’s ok. We can keep Girona as a day trip while in Begur or store our bags and spend a few hours before our later train back to Barc. Yes our time there coincides with the flower festival Is it safe to store bags at the train station?

KarenWoo

Oh, that's too bad the Hotel Historic is full or only expensive rooms are left. We stayed there and loved it. I think Mirabel may have recommended it to us back in 2010.

Maribel

No, there is no baggage storage at the Girona train station or at any train station anymore for that matter. Near the station perhaps but not IN the station.

Luggage storage in Girona: Try RockNRoll Lockers nearby at Carrer Barcelona 31.

jgrynol

Thanks Mirabel. Lock n Roll seems to be an option.

jgrynol

Good news! With a small itinerary “tweak” I was able to book for one night at Hotel Historic in Girona ( thanks Karen Woo and Maribel). I’m glad about this, but it means staying only 2 nights in Valencia (instead of 3). Our itinerary now looks like this:

-Arrive Barc - stay 4 nights
-Fast morning train to Valencia ( 3 hours, arrive by noon) - stay 2 nights. Do a paella cooking class, bike tour, spend time at the beach, and visit the art gallery. ( which is free and not busy).
-Leave Girona by fast train late afternoon, arrive in Girona by around 9 pm, have a late dinner, stay 1 night.
- Explore Girona for most of the next day
- Pickup rental car and drive to Begur. Spend 6 nights. Explore CB while there, and hopefully relax!
- Train back to Barc for last 2 nights.
-Fly home.

I’m wondering now if going to Valencia for only 2 nights is worth the travel time? It occurs to me that we could add a night to Barc and visit Montserrat, or go to Sitges, or maybe add a 2nd night in Girona. However, Vlc looks nice and we’re looking forward to doing the things mentioned above, likely warmer temps, as well as the train trip along the coast. We also have what looks like a lovely accomodation there ( Valencia Arthouse).

My question is do I just leave our itinerary as is ( keep 2 nights in Valencia) or take Vlc out and add things closer to Barc? Is it worth going to Valencia for 2 days?

I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

Maribel

I love Valencia but I personally would want more time there. If it were my trip, and it isn't!!!, I would concentrate on Barcelona (with day trips to Monserrat or Sitges or Vic, or Penedès), and add another night to Girona.

jgrynol

Thank you Maribel and everybody else who responded to all my questions. We’re back to 3 nights in Valencia, day trip to Girona while in CB. Yes, Maribel, perhaps concentrating on Barc and CB with a night or 2 in Girona would be the way to go. I don’t feel like canceling accommodations at this point, and we’re actually looking forward to Valencia. I’m super excited about the trip I’ve appreciated this forum and great advice one can find.

Maribel

Have fun! The weather should be lovely in May.

jgrynol

Hello Fodor Friends ( I feel like you’re friends though we havn’t met!). After reading ekscrunchy’s wonderful trip report detailing lots of food experiences in Andalusia, I thought I’d reach out and ask about notable restaurants in the Costa Brava. My daughter ( in her 20’s) and I will be there for a week in May. We’re staying near Begur and will have a car. So far I have Sa Rascassa on my radar as a great place for lunch or dinner. We’ll be exploring from Tossa to Roses, Banyoles, Pals… We’ll be in Cadaques but probably won’t have time for lunch as we’ll have a return boat to catch. I’m under the impression we’ll have lots of choices in the area, but if anyone has a restaurant recommendation (great food, view or fun/unique atmosphere), I’d be interested. We prefer veg and seafood, but like everything. Thanks!

Maribel

Please do NOT miss Toc al Mar directly on the beach below the Aiguablava Parador!! and Sa Racassa in Aiguafredda. There's also Hostal Sa Tuna for their excellent rice dishes in the Sa Tuna cove plus Mas Comangau on the highway just outside of Begur, plus in Calella de Palafrugell you have Sa Gambian and in Llafranc, Casamar in town and above the town near the lighthouse, the hotel restaurant El Far de Sant Sebastià.
Vicus in Pals is a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

If you do have time for lunch in Cadaqués, the place to dine is COMPARTIR.

About 20 minutes east of Banyoles, you have another Bib Gourmand, Can Boix, in the village of Vilamarí.

So much great dining in the northern Costa Brava!

jgrynol

Amazing, Maribel and all duly noted. Thank you!

jgrynol

Ok we’re organized for dining in the Costa Brava ( thanks Marbel Does anyone have a recommendation for mid-priced, good restaurants in El Born and/or El Poblenou districts? We’ll be in Barc only 4 days, and thinking we’ll book one resto, maybe two at most. Thanks!

Maribel

in El Born, we like the very mid-priced Asturian-Catalan hybrid, TABERNA LLAMBER, always lively and very reasonably priced for Barcelona. They have a sister restaurant, El Chigre 1769.

In Poblenou (I assume you're staying there? maybe at the Hilton Diagonal Mar??), my friends like the very traditional Els Pescadors on Plaça de Prim, 1, but I've never been.

My friend Marta, the director of Forever Barcelona, has written up this list of her favorites.
https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/pob...nts-barcelona/

jgrynol

Thank you again Maribel! Your friend Marta’s list is just what we needed

jgrynol

Thank you Mattcastell for your response.
Now I have a logistical question about the Dali Castle in Pubol. The most convenient time for us to visit would be when we’re returning to Girona and onto Barc ( after several days in Begur). I’m concerned about leaving our bags locked in our rental car, however. I see the parking is right by the castle, and the visit is about an hour. Can we visit the castle confident that our things should be safe, or should we make a point of visiting another day while staying in the area? Maybe I’ve just lived in a big city too long lol, but thought it was worth asking. Thanks!

Maribel

I suppose it really depends on your comfort level.
We often stop to sightsee when moving from one Spain destination to another, but usually in cities where we park our car in a pay underground garage and back into the parking space, leaving no valuables visible. But this is an outdoor parking area, and inside the castle the left luggage facility is closed.

On the Costa Brava we've only done day trips to the Dalí triangle from our base, so someone who has stopped at Pùbol to visit while in transit could better advise you.