Barcelona q's

Scubabe

Hi,

We're a married couple in our early 30's hoping to go to Barcelona for the first time in June to see the U2 concert. The concert will be held at Camp Nou stadium.

1. Does anyone know how long it takes to walk from Camp Nou to the city centre? Anyone know the area the stadium is in, is it a nice area of Barcelona? We'd like to stay in a hotel relatively close to the stadium so we can walk back to the hotel after the gig. But if it's in a terrible area then we'd be happy to make our way back into the city. I assume there are trains or trams or something from Camp Nou into the city, but I also assume after a concert they would be packed for hours so we might avoid those! Taxis would also be hard to hail I imagine.

2. I've read that Barcelona is an expensive city. We've not got loads and loads of cash to splash, so would it be worth us flying in to Barcelona and spending 2-3 days somewhere cheaper (we could go by coach or train from BCN) and then head back to Barcelona for just 1-2 days before the concert? If so, can you recommend somewhere else we could check out for a few days which is cheaper than Barcelona?

Thanks in advance from any Barcelona veterans!

Ness

coxy07

We went to a football match at the Nou camp a few years ago. We were staying on the Ramblas and got a bus to the ground. After the match there were special buses back to the Plaza Cataluna (main square). Maybe there will be something similar.
You could stay cheaper down the coast at Calella,Malgrat or Santa Susanna. All have an excellent cheap train line to Barcelona. There would not be a train back late after the concert though.
Travelodge have a hotel on the outskirts of Barcelona.

cardiffforthefacup

Depending on where you live Ryanair runs flights to Reus and Girona aiports which are approximately 1hour either way to Barcelona. There are quite often cheap flights out and back, and the bus from the airport is reasonable and runs a regular service, it might be worth checking out, I agree with coxy07 with regards to hotels prices are cheaper further down/up the coast and trains run both ways, through smaller areas which have cheaper prices than in the city.

dacouch

Barcelona has a good cheap tube system.

We also stayed on Ramblas which is the touristy bit, its very central with great shopping and you can walk to the beach and quay. However it is expensive expect around £100 give or take a night on Ramblas and the beer on Ramblas is about £5.50 a pint!

Barcelona is a great city you will love it, watch out for the pick pockets though

ocker107

We are goin to the concert aswell. We got flights from Luton for 40 pound each. Looked at Reus and Gerona airports. Slightly cheaper but then you have to get the bus to barca, think it was about 24euro return.

I was looking for a cheap hotel on tripadvisor. Everyone was raving about this hotel

http://www.easytobook.com/hoteldetails.php?hotel_id=1348&arrival=28-06-2009&departure=01-07-2009&city_id=11&city_name=Barcelona&city_url=barcelona&lang=en&amu=1&day_Arrival=28&monthYearArrival=06-2009&day_Departure=01&monthYearDeparture=07-2009&currency=GBP&rooms=1&prs_arr%5B%5D=2

Couldn't resist it, the roof top pool and terrace did it for me. Managed to get it for 60pound a night, which is slightly more than we normally pay, but what the hell its U2.

See you there

villajoyosa_2

There is a little hotel close to the sea called the Hotel Oasis, its quite cheap but very nice for a few days. It only cost I think 50 euros a night for two people including breakfast. Right outside there is a bus to the stadium for I think 1.20 euro. The bus drops you right at the stadium. Must warn you though that the stadium itself is huge and if it is run that same as on a match day then you can only enter via the gate number on your ticket. This means that you cannot cut through so the walk around the stadium is a long one.

Coming out is almost impossible to get your bus but if you leave by the top end if stadium and walk up through the car parks you will come to tram stop. The trams are frequent and very cheap. They will take you to the centre and from there you can either get a cab to your hotel for about 5 euros or walk to end of Ramblas turn left and walk along the sea front to your hotel. Probably twenty minute walk.

The hotel I mention gets booked very quickly because its location is fab. Get the train from the airport for 2.80 euros I think, go to the very end walk out of station turn left and left again and the hotel is there. Not as posh as some of the hotels but clean with nice staff who all speak English and are very helpful.

villajoyosa_2

Just remembered that the train is a number ten (check in case it has changed) and it goes the the Estacion Franca.

Barcelona is expensive but there are some good cheap places. Below hotel is little bar doing tapas very cheap. Go in the old Spanish places and have a go.

MrSmartprice

The Camp Nou is a hefty walk from the centre. We went to a game there last year. We got there by Metro, there are stations a few minutes walk away but on 2 different lines, so it helps to know which area of the stadium you are in. It is about a mile if you were to walk around its perimeter.

The football finished at midnight, quite usual in Spain. Unfortunately, so did the Metro, so we had to walk back to the hotel. Fortunately we were near Placa Espanya so it took about half an hour. So check times in advance.

Barcelona is a wonderful city. Visit Parc Guell, and try and see the Font Magica if you can. And don't miss the Boqueria Market just off the Ramblas. There are a couple of good places in there for a beer and tapas.

Pee

It's not expensive, it's just that at the moment with the Euro it is certainly not cheap any longer. Prices will be less than you would pay in London, and the weather will be a lot better.

I would avoid drinking anywhere along Las Ramblas - although i didn't try the market - if you head off it a couple of streets, everything is much cheaper.

The football stadium is very impressive, too.

hollydays

Hotel Senator (also called senator barcelona spa) about £60 a night-usually,or hotels in the Le corts area.

Hotel Torre Catalunya is near to Sants Station (one of the main transport hubs) and is very good quality for the money.If you go thorough Expedia you can claim on quidco.Being a large hotel they drop the room prices nearer the date.

Scubabe

Thanks everyone, sooooo much for all your suggestions. REALLY appreciate them!
Villajoyosa, I had wanted to stay at the Oasis, but they didn't have availability for our dates
Ocker107, that hotel you linked to was just the ticket!! I checked availability at lunchtime at work, and we had availability for our whole stay. By the time I got home from work to show hubby, they only had availability for the first 5 nights, not for the last night - the one of the concert! Always the way!! But I booked with their own website for the first 5 nights, and then I booked on booking.com for the night of the concert. I hope there's no problems with doing it that way!

I really can't wait now. Easyjet flights booked, hotel booked, concert tickets bought. Just need to find a kennel for the dogs to go to and then we're set!

Cheers again, that was a fantastic tip!

Ness