valencia or barcelona?

allypally_2

hi,
want to go to one of these cities for a week-end in november.........with the children(13,11,9). i went to barcelona too many years ago to remember, the rest of family hasn`t been to either so i am in a quandary. i hear valencia is the new hip spanish city and am rather down on barcelona for its tales of crime etc, i want to feel relaxed not looking over my shoulder all the time(had a great week-end in madrid in june with no probs whatsoever so maybe barcelona is just getting a bad press)........anyway where should i go!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for your comments,

tonyfaestoney

allypally wrote:

hi,
want to go to one of these cities for a week-end in november.........with the children(13,11,9). i went to barcelona too many years ago to remember, the rest of family hasn`t been to either so i am in a quandary. i hear valencia is the new hip spanish city and am rather down on barcelona for its tales of crime etc, i want to feel relaxed not looking over my shoulder all the time(had a great week-end in madrid in june with no probs whatsoever so maybe barcelona is just getting a bad press)........anyway where should i go!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for your comments,

It's not as bad as you hear. I would say it is concentrated to one area 'Las Ramblas'. It is so busy there and if other cities had an area like this they too would have the same problem with publicity, it is more scattered about in other cities.

If you have your wits about you will be fine in Barcelona. It is such a beautiful & diverse city, I wouldn't let the stories put you off.

Can't comment on Valencia as have not been, been to Barcelona several times and plan to keep going back.

I am sure either would be a good choice, enjoy.

PabloNeruda

Definitely Barcelona. Valencia is very small and frankly a little shabby. I think you would be disappointed. Give me the Gaudi architecture of Barcelona anyday.

richardw

Valencia is great for a weekend. Barcelona you need longer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciutat_de_les_Arts_i_les_Ci%C3%A8ncies
and in November the hotels will be cheaper than Barcelona.

easyJet from gatwick or Iberia from heathrow

Cazzywazzywoo

I have just been to Barcelona -what a fantastic city -so much to do.
If you have football fans then the Nou Camp stadium would be a hit and reasonably priced.
If you haven't been for a while I would go there as I am told that it has undergone a transformation over recent years.

Had a brilliant time
Cazzy

C_Ronaldo

ive been to barcelona and not had any problems with pick pockets

djl

been to Barcelena for 3 nights a good trip plenty to do and see

averi

Went to Barcelona last summer for a week.It is a lovely place and beach is good . Pickpocketing is a problem in La rambla and also one has to be watchful on the beach.

madduck

Been to both cities and they are both charming. Valencia is much smaller and perhaps will have less going on for your children.

Barcelona is buzzing and more than enough to keep you entertained for a weekend. Re crime - every big city has crime - you just have to be careful and not make yourself a victim. Don't wander around with large wads of cash/cards, don't wander about map/guidebook in hand (pretty much with the words 'tourist - rob me' around your neck), make sure that you know your way to your destination at night, etc.

Only ever been robbed once in my travels (touch wood) - in Manchester. Bit ironic since I was only staying there overnight on my way back home from a flight from Naples.

Go to Barcelona and have fun. Catalans are lovely people.

sallysaver

Hi,
I'm disappointed in Pablo Neruda's post as I'm off to Valencia on Wednesday. I love Barcelona too just thought we'd try Valencia for a change. Small and shabby!!! - we're there for a week as well. Perhaps its a case of what suits one doesn't always suit the other. - sallysaver

Party_Animal

I agree to a ceratin extent Sally, but as for Barcelona, I just love the place, and you won't find many people who don't like it. I've never had a problem with pickpockets. I don't use a bumbag, keep my money in a zipped front pocket of my shorts, and just generally keep my eyes open as you would in any big city. Can't speak higly enough of Barcelona.