Rome or Barcelona....HELP PLEASE!

frugle

Hello, Thank you for all your advice it is really appreciated and apologies for replying so late.

I am concerned by the crime in Barcelona and to be honest it has kind of put me off going, I have been looking on other sites aswell and they all mention the high crime rate, I was considering Barcelona because it was new and close but I think I might give it a miss.

I took my BF to Paris for his 30th and we had a fantastic time taking in the city and the mini adventure and wanted to do something exciting like that again, thats why I thought Rome! But as you mentioned can we do Rome in a long weekend when there is so much to do? Hmmm decisions, can anyone suggest anywhere else to go for the weekend that would be an experience like Paris but on a budget.

We are based in the Southwest so flights are limited on where to fly, we like visiting historical places and dont mind being on the go, we dont really drink and we are not into clubbing etc and are quite happy to grab food on the go. Any help appreciated.

Does anyone know of any hotels in Rome that are about £60-£80 a night.

Thank you!

pippy100

I love Barcelona,we have been a couple of times and will go again! I love Paris!!
We are off to Rome this week so i can report back in a weeks time.We are staying at the River Palace Hotel
As other people have said about pickpockets etc, i would say you have to be aware of them wherever you go London, Paris etc.(Mother-in-law was targeted in Paris) but my own personal experience when in Barcelona was i never felt threatened in any way.
Also with you going in January it won't be quite as busy as other times of the year and the crowds won't be so intimidating.
As long as you are aware, i wouldn't let something that 'might happen' sway your choice.
I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself wherever you go

geri1965_2

I love, love, love Barcelona - been there 5 times and would like to go back soon. I did get robbed one time but it hasn't put me off at all.

Would also love to go to Rome as well but I think I will have to save up for that as it sounds more expensive. We find Barcelona to be very cheap compared to the UK.

frugle

Oooh let me know how you get on it Rome that would be great to find out how you get on as I havent been since about 10 years ago and it might of completly changed. I'm still so undecided its so hard to choose, think I need to give it some more thought. Thank you everyone for your help.

Wellery82

Ive been to both Barcelona and Rome in the last couple of years and both are really different. Both were great cities though and you will have a great time at either i am sure

For me Rome had more sites of interest to visit, Barcelona obviously has many attractions but they aren't as famous or desirable in my opinion as the likes of the Colleseum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican etc. Its general way of life however seemed more interesting to me, sitting on the Ramblas with a drink is a great experience with all sorts of life and characters around you, there is a beach within walking distance and great nightlife. Rome has its Piazzas and obviously the food although i did find it even more expensive than Barcelona.

A hotel i stayed in when in Barcelona was nothing special but its location was brilliant, and for the price i thought it was a great deal. It was called Hotel Lloret and was situated on the Ramblas street. I have checked trip advisor and the reviews are somewhat negative which surprised me as personally i thought for the price and location it was a lovely hotel.

It all depends what you are looking for i guess - nightlife, sightseeing, relaxation, day trips etc

lilian1977

Please don't be put off by the reports of crime in Barcelona - I've been around 10 times and never had anything stolen, most of those times I was a lone traveller as well. I think as long as you have your wits about you, don't wander round holding out maps etc then you'll be fine. You could pretty much say that for any city really.

Needless to say, I love the place. It's so full of character, you can have as busy a time or as relaxing a time as you want. If you're going in January then the weather won't be brilliant but there are still lots of things to enjoy:

If you like art and culture then the Modern Art Museum and Picasso Museum are well worth a visit.
Sights-wise, the Sagrada Familia cathedral is amazing and it's worth going inside for a visit if you have a head for heights!
Football - I haven't been on the tour but I believe the Nou Camp tour is very good; or you can go up Montjuic mountain to the Olympic Stadium and the sports museum.

As for somewhere to stay, we normally ignore the hotels and get apartments, you can get a lot for your money and it means you can cook your own meals if money is tight or the weather isn't good enough to venture out. Try GoBCN.


Now, Rome. I've also been to Rome a few times, 3 I think, and while it's an amazing city it can be hard work what with all the sights as you really want to feel like you've got your money's worth. The Sistine Chapel ceiling at the Vatican is worth a look but if you're pushed for time I'd recommend not going through the whole Vatican museum but taking the shortcuts to the Chapel as it takes ages otherwise. Then there's the Coliseum which I think is less than impressive after it's build up in school history lessons! Also the Trevi Fountain where you can throw a coin in, the Roman Forum which is interesting but it depends what you like, you might just see a load of old rubble Aside from the Sistine Chapel these are all outdoor sights so again, it depends on the weather. Again, we stay in apartments so I can't recommend any hotels.


So, to sum up, if it was me I'd choose Barcelona every time! Enjoy wherever you choose x

poet123

frugle wrote: »

Hello, Thank you for all your advice it is really appreciated and apologies for replying so late.

I am concerned by the crime in Barcelona and to be honest it has kind of put me off going, I have been looking on other sites aswell and they all mention the high crime rate, I was considering Barcelona because it was new and close but I think I might give it a miss.

I took my BF to Paris for his 30th and we had a fantastic time taking in the city and the mini adventure and wanted to do something exciting like that again, thats why I thought Rome! But as you mentioned can we do Rome in a long weekend when there is so much to do? Hmmm decisions, can anyone suggest anywhere else to go for the weekend that would be an experience like Paris but on a budget.

We are based in the Southwest so flights are limited on where to fly, we like visiting historical places and dont mind being on the go, we dont really drink and we are not into clubbing etc and are quite happy to grab food on the go. Any help appreciated.

Does anyone know of any hotels in Rome that are about £60-£80 a night.

Thank you!

Of course any big city has crine problems, but you can usually count on the police to try to minimise the trauma, In Barcelona they add to it by the way they treat the victims of crime. There was ayoung lad in front of me in the police station and he had had passport, money, flight ticket all stolen, they didn't give two hoots. All his mates wre flying home that day and he was stranded....he got no help from them, other tourists rallied round and helped him.

pippy100

O.k just come back from Rome and had a brill time. Admittedly very tiring and very hot!
We stayed for 5nights and it still wasn't long enough to see everything.
Rome is a lovely place, full of history and not something i thought would excite me but the Ancient City and the Colosseum etc was amazing.
The italians are very friendly.
The down side was it was busy, hot and full of graffiti but other than the graffiti you can't blame the Italians for the crowds or the weather.
Would i go back? I'm not sure, as much as i enjoyed it i think Barcelona edged it for me but there are many other places i would visit first.
The only bit of advice i would give if visiting Rome is book any tickets,excursions etc online(which thankfully we did) to avoid the queues as they were huge.
As someone has previosly said two different cities so i don't think you can compare.
In fact why not go to both!!!;)

lulubella89

iv been to rome twice in the last couple of years, the first time we went for four nights in February, and the second time 6 days in september. both times were absolutely fantastic and i would recommend rome to everyone! when we went in february it poured it down and my shoes broke so we trawled the streets looking for a cobler! even though my feet were soaked it didnt spoil the holiday at all cos there is just so much to see! Rome can even be done quite cheaply if ur happy not to go inside some of the biggest attractions (the colloseum is quite expensive and not that impressive compared to other sites). The vatican is well worth a visit, and st.peters square is the perfect place to immerse urself in the beauty of rome.
If you want to visit the vatican museums you MUST book, people start queing hours and hours before it opens, even when it was torrential rain and people had no umbrellas, so by booking ahead u can get in without waiting.
Rome also has quite good public transport, the metro is reasonably placed and quite easy to use.
We didnt see any crime when we were there, so I think as long as you are vigilant and dont carry too many valuables around you should beok, its no different from any other city in europe.
If you do choose to go to rome theres loads to keep u busy, but be prepared to do lots of walking because it is often the easiest and cheapest way to get around.

Ponkle22

It really is down to personal choice. I'm a huge fan of Italy and was really excited to go to Rome but I was disappointed when I got there. It was too hectic, too big, too expensive. However other people say the opposite! If you liked Paris maybe you would prefer Florence for a weekend. Go at your own pace and the entire city is walkable.

Crime is found in all major European cities. I would say there are just as bad as each other. Just be aware where your valuables are and who is around you.

To be honest, until you visit both Barcelona and Rome you are not going to know if you like it or not.

Hope this helps.
Ponkle22