October 20, 2009
The Best Way to Book 6 Nights in Barcelona
If you'd prefer an apartment to a hotel, you can find one through Spain vacation-rental specialist Mary Vaira of El Sol Villas. The red arrow points to an apartment she represents in Barcelona's Gaudi-designed La Pedrera building.
A question has come in from reader Ira Kaplan:
"Having trouble finding the right travel agent for a family trip to Barcelona in fall 2010, and I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction. We are four adults - A mother and father in their 70s and a brother and sister in their late-40s/early 50s - looking to spend around 6 nights in Barcelona. This is a bit harder to book than your typical trip because three of us are leaving from Minneapolis and one from NYC; we want to also hit Amsterdam for 2 nights, either on the way to or from Barcelona; and we ideally are looking for an apartment (although two hotel rooms would do). What we don't want are any kind of tours (we like doing our own thing) or ultra-expensive, lap-of-luxury accommodations. It seems we fall into that great middle between a trip that we can book by ourselves and those complex, tour-filled trips I see being pushed on so many travel agent websites. I've e-mailed a couple of travel agents and gotten either an unsatisfactory or no response, and I'm wondering where to turn. Hoping you can help."
If I were you, I'd book the airline tickets and Amsterdam hotel on your own and then book the Barcelona portion of your trip either through a Spain specialist who knows the hotels well and negotiates special rates -- have you tried Virginia Irurita of Made for Spain? I've booked two separate, affordable hotel stays in Barcelona through her -- or via a Spain vacation-rental specialist such as Mary Vaira of El Sol Villas, who does have a few Barcelona apartments in her portfolio.
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Specifically for Barcelona, we have used http://www.bcn-rentals.com on two occasions with the family and as a couples getaway. They have licensed apartments in great areas, and their customer service was excellent and very responsive - taxi transfers arranged by them, etc. Both apartments had lifts and all the mod cons. Might be worth a look?
David.
Posted by: DavidB | October 21, 2009 at 04:10 AM
Hello, I´ve been twice this year to Barcelona, one time with my 32 years old daughter, and the other with my twelve years old granddaughter. We stayed at a very well located Bed and Breakfast, full of works of art, ruled by a nice young man named KIKO (for Francisco). Well decorated, shared bathes each two rooms (perfect for a family), good breakfast, and good taste. See them at http://www.barcelonabb.com/
Have a good trip. Mónica.
Posted by: monicabg | October 21, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Hello, I´ve been twice this year to Barcelona, one time with my 32 years old daughter, and the other with my twelve years old granddaughter. We stayed at a very well located Bed and Breakfast, full of works of art, ruled by a nice young man named KIKO (for Francisco). Well decorated, shared bathes each two rooms (perfect for a family), good breakfast, and good taste. See them at http://www.barcelonabb.com/
Have a good trip. Mónica.
Posted by: monicabg | October 21, 2009 at 09:20 AM