Day Trips and Barcelona
 

I'll be going to Barcelona in two weeks with my mother. My daughter is studying abroad in Germany and will be flying from Frankfurt to meet us. I have a zillion questions and have never been failed by the Fodor's community.
1. My mom and I are flying British Air. We will be connecting in London. I read today that BA cancelled half of their flights to Barcelona. We will be flying stand-by so hearing this leaves me concerned. I wouldn't mind being stuck in London though flying stand-by makes me worry that stuck means sitting in an airport waiting for a flight and not out seeing sights.
2. My daughter will be flying Air France, with her connection in Paris. I read today about an Air France strike and air traffic controllers in France being on strike. Will my daughter be making her trip?
3. If and when we get to Barcelona we plan on doing a hop on/off bus the first day. We also are planning a day to go to Montserrat. I'd like to do the cable car and the train. Anyone who has done this? Any tips or tours you'd recommend? I saw one with a vineyard as part of the trip.
4. Are there any day trips that are a must?
5. My daughter and I would like to convince my mother to take a flight to Morocco for a day or overnight. How is that now for three American women? My mother has been several times and said the last two times things have changed a lot. I don't expect much goodwill with our new president's recent travel ban.
6. Any other places that would be quick and inexpensive to visit?

I appreciate any and all thoughts. Thank you!

Good luck getting to Barcelona ! You didn't say how long the trip will be, but I wouldn't bother going to Morocco for such a short time. You may find it so interesting that you won't want to return to Barcelona !!

I think your daughter should be fine-the strike is announced only between Monday March 6 and Friday March 10th. We are flying during that time so watching British Airlines announcements and they are already saying you can re-book for any time after the 10th, so I am guessing she will be fine out of Paris if it is after that.

Thanks both! Bedar, I am afraid of loving Morocco that much as well! Our trip will be short, unfortunately. We will be there for 6 days and I think we will love Barcelona, but wondered if there was anything we should do while there as far as a day trip.

Getting to Montserrat is easy and does not require a tour. I found the information on this web-site particularly detailed and accurate:
https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide....ontserrat.html
Do try to hear the boys' choir! You might even consider an overnight -- both sunset and sunrise can be stunning from Montserrat. :-)

IMO, nothing is a "must" -- it all depends on your interests. You definitely have multiple day trip options, all of which will be described in any decent guidebook. And please, do get a good guidebook or two -- the cost will be nugatory in comparison to the cost of your trip, and you will learn things that you don't even know you should be asking.

Personally, I wouldn't try to make a day trip to Morocco -- too much travel and expense for too little pay-off. There's MORE than enough to keep you happily busy in / around Barcelona, and IMO, Morocco really deserves more than a part of a day. JMO.

You might find some useful ideas in my trip report. The section on Barcelona is near the end; several of the places I visited in the days before I got there could easily be seen as day-trips from Barcelona. The report is long, but it is searchable.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-catalunya.cfm

Good luck with your trip and your flights!

Same. Morrocco deserves more than the limited amonut of time you'll give. Waste of money imo.
An easy daytrip from Barcelona is Sitges, with a great beach and fantastic gay bars - and I'd say gays are very tolerant in Sitges... after making the fool of myself cracking jokes about homos without, as usual, noticing I was surrounded with gays.

Thank you both! kea, I am buying more than one guidebook and scouring the internet so thank you for that advice. And I'm looking forward to your trip report. WoinParis, Sitges was on our list. My mother has been to Spain before, but not Barcelona, and that was one of the places she mentioned.

kja, funny but I found your report earlier in the day before posting this so thank you again. It has great information about Montserrat. Did you choose the cable car or the train? I'm leaning towards the cable car even being terrified of them. The views have got to be worth it!

As I recall, I took the train both ways, but just because the timing worked better for me.

I'm sure you know that the best way to overcome a fear is to confront it, so if you think you would enjoy the views from the cable car, I would encourage you to go for it! If you allow it, the views should provide a wonderful distraction from any anxiety you feel. But truth in advertising, I have no fear of cable cars, and so might not be the best person to help you choose. You'll get there either way, and -- weather permitting -- you'll have some stunning views either way. :-)

Enjoy!

Thank you! I agree about confronting the fear so hopefully in a few weeks you'll see amazing photos from inside the cable car! Thank you for all of your advice!

I highly recommend a "day-trip" within the city itself to Montjuic (Jewish mountain). Close to the city center, fabulous museums, theaters and Olympic sports arenas, great greens and the best views of both the city and the sea from the Castell on top. And speaking of cable cars, you can take the Teleferic up here: https://www.telefericdemontjuic.cat/en/welcome

About Montjuic: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montjuic.html

Two of the Montjuic museums; The National Art museum with the slogan "One museum, a thousand years of art": https://www.timeout.com/barcelona/mu...catalunya-mnac

And the Fundació Joan Miró totally blew my mind a couple of years ago: https://www.timeout.com/barcelona/mu...acio-joan-miro

And you can have tapas with the locals before and/or after in Poble Sec at the foot of Montjuic: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...to-bodega.html

Or have lunch in La Perla, close to the so called theater city in Montjuic, as Barcelona as it gets, expensive and worth every penny (and lunch only): https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...Catalonia.html

Thank you Kimhe