Paris vs Barcelona

Piggy-bank_2

hiya,

if you decide on Barcelona and are definately flying to Reus, then there is a caoch service which is timed to meet up with the ryanair flights (not to be confused with the blue airport bus someone else mentioned - that's to Barcelona City airport). IIRC, its 11e one way or 18e return (just dont loose your ticket!). It stops at Sants train station.

If you are considering other hotels than the Hilton for better value/location, then I would use this site to find good prices: http://www.hotelscomparison.com/
(although bear in mind, the prices may not include IVA (vat) so may be an extra 7%).

The only thing I'd say is that when you add the bus journey from Reus to Barca, is a *long* way to go for one night!

HTH!

pbright

Thanks that is a good site!! Is there any better sites? The princess hotel is great, be good if i could bring it down to a £100 though! If we would be going to Barcelona we would go for 2night and if it were Paris it would be 1 night but would leave me more to spend on Paris that night!!


Im still in two minds! I like the idea of a hotel with an outdoor rooftop swimming pool...is their any hotels in Paris with this??

So for those that have been to both Paris & Barcelona. I can go to Paris for 1night with lots of money or Barcelona for 2 but will still have the same budget as Paris. We are in our early 20's and looking to party....yes Barcelona has better nightlife, thats clear from here...but if i go to Paris i would have more money to try and have a top night(ow the person the best night in their lives).....so were is it.


Paris or Barcelona???

just_looking_2

You'll need more cash for Paris! Absolute rip off.

barcelona, stay at Hotel Ronda, CityPark Pelayo, or Hotel Ateneas (Sp.?) google these. Last one has a roof top pool, but requires tram to Plaza Catalunya. None of these are top drawer gaffs, but are nice, clean and comfy. I wouldn't recommend the ateneas hotel but only because I was on a stag do, and got out of a taxi at about 7am, to find two girls slumped outside the hotel, I helped one of them up to try to get them into hotel and she puked all over my shoes and down my mates' back!!

Magic nightlife around the olympic port new bit. You walk across a little bridge if i recall correctly, and there are a few clubs all along a line on a promenade type thing!

Laze by the beach during the day, can't be faulted. Go into gothic quarter if its too hot, streets are narrow and surrounded by tall buildings, so shaded.

Personally I would think that for girls, its ideal- shops, beach, bars- can't compete with Paris for that sort of trip in my opinion.

Yes there's pickpockets, but there are everywhere. Just don't leave your common sense on the plane like so many people.

If you fancy a true booze fuelled holiday- stay at lloret de mar, closer to airport, and very very british!!!! Cheap hotels, with pools, booked through alpharooms to here once, and paid about 15 a night, half board, although food was truly rank and we ate out every night, but for that price- so what!

briona

Hi there

I haven't been to Paris so apologies in advance because you seem to be a bit short of info on that! But I just got back from a week's hol in Barcelona on Saturday. LOVED it.

Note: If you do fly with EasyJet [which I did], you'll end up at the main airport, and the Aerobus which can be found outside the airport is just EURO 3.75 single per person and will drop you off right in the centre of town [Placa Catalunya].

I stayed at Hotel Constanza [EURO110/£70 approx per night for a single room] which is just a five minute walk from Placa Catalunya, the main square in Barcelona through which all the airport buses run.

http://www.hotelconstanza.com/

Yes, my guide books warned of pick pocketing but I had no problems whatsoever, even on Las Ramblas [the main touristy area]. Take exactly the same precautions as you would at home and you'll be fine.

Things to do... well if you've only got two or so days, you'll want to see the sights in as easy a way as possible. Buy a T-Dia travel card on the metro for EURO 5 [approx £3]. It's a daily travel card which allows you as many journeys in one day on the metro, buses, trams and all public transport throughout the whole of Barcelona. Many metro stops are placed right in front of the main sights, e.g., Sagrada Familia etc so you can whizz round the sights, jump back onto the metro and get to the next and all for a cool EURO 5 per person per day. The metro is super easy to use with the direction that the train is travelling clearly highlighted along the platforms and inside the carriages. You really can't go wrong.

Being a single girl on my own I really didn't sample the nightlife suffice to say that everyone else I spoke to really enjoyed it. Check out the link below for a FREE travel guide...

http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/

Sorry I can't give an more objective view, but Paris isn't on my list of to-dos just yet... Don't mind being a single girl but don't intend to be a single girl in the city of lovers!!!

Briona

Lady_E

Barcelona wins every time with me .

Went to Paris in my 20s (some time ago ) and I was bored rigid, wont be going there again .

Went to Barcelona and loved it . Paris is for romance and slush and all that stuff , Barcelona is for party time and enjoying yourself whatever age you are !!

Go for it !

Piggy-bank_2

pbright wrote:

Thanks that is a good site!! Is there any better sites? The princess hotel is great, be good if i could bring it down to a £100 though!

well I'd started by using Venere, but the comparison site shows their prices anyway, and others which are cheaper.

Occassionally it can be cheapest to book direct with the hotel - which was the case for us. After ploughing though loads of review sites, we stayed at the Hotel Apsis (or Aspis?) Gran Ronda (not to be confused with another Gran Ronda, which isn't an Apsis chain one. Apsis have a number of hotels in the city.

I think it's only a 3* so maybe not as "posh" as you want, but it's less than a year old, has flatscreen TVs, safes and resonably priced mini-bars in all rooms, was very clean, and was decorated in a good modern style. It's located just a 5-10 minute walk from Las Ramblas/Placa Catalunyaon Ronda St Antoni, near 2 metro stations . Would definately stay there again, even tho we had one of the "inside" rooms that overlooked the glass roofed atrium and lifts rather than windows/balcony onto the street.

HTH!

pbright

Thanks. Barcelona is a must for the future, but the flights(& this is with ryanair) are going to cost £80 each more to fly to Barcelona than to fly to Paris. Would have preferred Barca...and if it was affordable or becomes affordable then is a go getter but because of the budget i am going with Paris. Hotel and flights are sorted cheaply thanks to ryanair/tesco hilton vouchers....i just now need to find out about the Paris nightlife for partying...where to go and when etc. Also taxis in Paris...are they expensive and plentifull. Is the metro slow?? Time is of the essence.

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Have a look at the parisinfo website, loads of stuff about nightlife/wining/dining/dancing, and which bars are best for what etc etc. The metro is brilliant for getting around, only a couple of minutes between stations, easy to negotiate, faster than ploughing through heavy traffic in a cab, and runs very late.

pbright

Winner :PARIS


Barcelona was clearly the better city for what we are looking for, and its a definite option for the future but as money is on a budget and its considerably cheaper to fy to Paris i have decided on going there for a quick jaunt. I know ill probs find it boring but it will be one day of sightseeing and one day as Dinseyland(or parc asterx: see my thread "disneyland paris vs parc asterix). The also big decision maker was to make it cheaper we were likely going to be staying at the Paris or Barcelona Hilton as i have vouchers for them(through tesco deals) & the Paris Hilton looks alot more nicer and accessibile than the Barcelona Hilton in the finance district! So now the only thing to do is sort transfer as quikly as possibile from beauvais to disneyland(or parc asterix) & where to go at night to party(bar/clubs etc). I have never been but lsites are suggesting the latin quarter for bars and clubs....anybody got an other info/advice with this???????????

Thanks for all your advice!!!!