stevefrat

Hi - my wife and I are planning a trip to Spain in early March. Can anyone give me an idea what airfare should cost from either Philadelphia, New York, or Newark to Barcelona? Also, when would you recommend we purchase our tickets? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve

Mary_Fran

Right now, on Travelocity, I find a $518 British Airways fare roundtrip from Philadelphia, with taxes and fees included and only one stop at Heathrow. That's for a departure March 6, returning March 27. Living as I do on the west coast, I am green with envy. If it were me, I'd jump on a fare that good. Sigh ...

If you want to hide and watch for a while, you can set up a "Fare Watch" on Travelocity, and you'll receive e-mails when fares go below a target level you can select.

Voyager2006

I found the British Airways fare on Onetravel.com but it was $533.00 Using Mary Fran's dates.

From New York the fare was $486 on Air France and $501 on Iberia.

Mary_Fran

Of course, if you will be traveling to other cities in Spain, you'll want to check open jaw rates. However, when we visited Spain last fall, the best open jaw rate I was able to find was significantly more than the roundtrip fare in and out of Barcelona, so we booked the round trip, coupled with a very cheap intra-Spain flight, Seville to Barcelona, SpanAir, to hook up with our homebound flight. I'm thinking the SpanAir fare was under $50.

Regarding the "flexible dates" option, even if your vacation dates are pretty much fixed, you might want to check out the flexible dates option to see if you could save a bundle by leaving or returning a day later or earlier.

Robert2533

All of the airlines have raised their up-gradable fares by at least $250 to Europe and have added additional pricing levels in economy class. US Airways (Philadelphia) offers prices as low as $394.00 on the 6th, 7th 8th and 9th of March, with a return date no later than the 30th, but there may not be any seats available at that price by the time you decide to book. Flights during the Easter break are not available at this rate.

If you check Iberia.com, you find some very attractive rates for flying in country. The flights can be booked on-line as e-tickets. We booked a flight in late March from Madrid to Vigo for 14 euros/each + tax and fees (42 euros per person/one-way).

stevefrat

Here's a little more information on our itinerary (if it helps). We're flying out of Philadelphia on Thursday, March 2 to Barcelona. We will spend about 5 nights in Barcelona, then take a flight to Sevilla. We'll spend 3 nights in Sevilla, then take the AVE to Madrid for 3 nights. We'll fly back to Philadelphia from Madrid. Any other thoughts? Thanks.

Robert2533

It sounds like a very doable itinerary. The only thing I would advise is to book your flights now instead on waiting. You should book your hotels as soon as possible. There should be some good deals available during that time at some of the better 4 and 5-stars.

You shouldn't have any problem waiting until you're in Barcelona before booking the AVE from Sevilla to Madrid. You can do that at the station or through one of the travel agencies in Barcelona.

You can also download copies of Maribel’s Guides to Barcelona, Sevilla and Madrid to help with your planning.

Mary_Fran

Stevefrat, using a departure date of March 2 phl to BCN and a return date of March 14, MAD to PHL, I find a US Airways fare of $575, with travel times of 9:00 and 9:55

If the shakey financial status of US Airways makes you nervous, you can pay $612.80 for a Lufthansa flight to and from the same destinations. However, your travel time increases, to 11:50 and 12:30. Worse yet, you'll have a stop in Frankfurt. On our trip last fall, we connected in FRA on our way back from Madrid, and it was a zoo. The connection we had to make seemed like miles away, upstairs, downstairs, with goofy, lengthy security in between.

Finally, you could change the order of your plans, flying into Madrid and out of Barcelona, and you could get a Us Airways flight for only $467.50, with travel times of only 7:15 and 12:20. The trip to Madrid is nonstop and the return from BCN has a stop at BCN.

When I travel, I like to save "Best for Last," so if Barcelona is the place you're most excited about, this cheaper arrangement would be ideal.

By the way, my son was in Barcelona recently and spent a couple of days at Stiges, where he learned the joy of swimming in the Mediteranean and, as he says, "losing 115 lbs. of ugly fat in an instant." I'll have to try that next trip. Beats the heck out of all that tiresome exercise and diet my doctor recommends.

NEDSIRELAND

<< Here's a little more information on our itinerary ... We're flying out of Philadelphia on Thursday, March 2 to Barcelona. We will spend about 5 nights in Barcelona, then take a flight to Sevilla. We'll spend 3 nights in Sevilla, then take the AVE to Madrid for 3 nights. We'll fly back to Philadelphia from Madrid. >>
Flying midweek (Thu) is a good idea especially if you have a midweek return

I agree you should make your flight arrangements ASAP: early March should be good; but they're not going to get any cheaper. MaryFran researched a good deal for you.

Iberia probably has 'no change of plane' flight JFK to BCN; they may even have one that flies direct to BCN. If you take US Airways from PHL or Continental from EWR, you may have to clear Immigration / Customs in MAD and make your way to Terminal 2 or 3 for continuing to BCN on another airline. Does US Airways have flights that continue on to BCN??
BTW
You may be in Barcelona for Carnaval, but Spain's best Carnaval happenings are in the Canarys or in Cadiz.

You can fly Barcelona-Sevilla pretty cheap, but you might consider the all-Preferente overnight 'sleeper' that departs Barcelona Sants around 22:30 and arrives Sevila Santa Justa 08:30 the next morning. There are 2-person compartments and it's very quiet (i.e., no 'clikety-clack like the old railroads).

Mary_Fran

I meant to say that the bargain US
Airways return flight home from Barcelona has a stop at Madrid (not BCN, as I mistakenly said).

Unfortunately, I think Carneval ends March 1. Correct me if I'm wrong, Ned, but it looks to me as if it runs February 1 to March 1.

lincasanova

i believe there is a new non stop to phili from bcn.

stevefrat

Thanks very much for all your suggestions. Can any of you recommend hotels in each of the cities in our itinerary? We're hoping to keep the price, on average, at under a 100 euros per night (if possible). We're also considering an apartment in Barcelona since we'll be staying there longer, so any recommendations along those lines are much appreciated. Also, if you had to pick one restaurant in each city to eat, regardless of price, where would it be??? Thanks again, Steve.

Mary_Fran

Steve,

In Madrid, we stayed at the Palacio San Martin. Terrific location, and an incredible bargain for a hotel of this quality. It's reviewed here on Fodors in the Hotels:
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...erty_id=366610

That link will also have a link to the hotel's website. Fodors says the prices are $150+, but we got a fabulous room well under that rate last fall.

In Barcelona, we found the Regencia Colon to be a bargain, but, again, it may be a little over your price limit. But it's in a great location kitty-corner from the Cathedral. We loved dinner at the Colon restaurant across the street.

Can't help you in Sevilla. As I recall, our hotel there was overpriced and unmemorable.

If you really need to stick to a budget, check out www.madridman.com's forum. Lots of helpful, good stuff there.

Mary_Fran

Oops. Forgot the link to the Fodor's review on the Regencia colon:

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...erty_id=180863

Room 261 has an incredible one-of-a-kind balcony/terrace, accessible through french doors outside the lovely bathroom. Great room!

lincasanova

in barcelona.. don't miss HOFFMAN , cooking school restaurant for a true culinary experience.

Madrid.. the CASINO ( not the gambling one outside of town)is a lovely palatial building, semi private club, with restaurant open to the public, i believe. it is worth it just to climb the staircase.. even if you don't have a drink nor eat there.

for some hotel deals check out www.gtahotels.com, and www.bancotel.com to compare prices among the other well known ones.

NEDSIRELAND

Mary Fran: You are right! Carnaval ends 28 Feb (1 Mar is Ash Wednesday).

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Bancotel Vouchers: March should still be 'Off season' so more hotels wil accept them than during peak season. Check their website.