Barcelona - tips please.

I understand that one of the biggest problems in Barcelona is theft of mobiles; the thieves ring premium cost lines which they presumably own and there have been articles in the press about a teacher who is fighting Vodaphone ( those upright tax payers) over a bill of several thousand pounds. I would love to visit the city and will plan my visit with no phone and no credit cards on my person, only cash, saves being tempted to spend too much as well! Glad you had a great trip.

Yes we had heard so much about it and I was quite nervous but we took steps e.g. only took out enough money for one day at a time and left the rest in the safe in our room; I carried a cross body bag with inner compartments and DH always carried his wallet in his front hip pocket where he can keep a hand on it and as he is an old 70s dude he still wears fairly close fitting jeans so even he struggles to get his wallet out. I left the big jewels and tiara at home too! LOL. We didn't see or hear of any problems whilst there.

Maybe we just all panic more about pickpockets when we're out of our own country? London is full of pickpockets but everyone seems much calmer about that. I've spent time in most European capitals and had no problems ... but maybe being quite scruffy helps as no one would think I had anything worth stealing.

Yes we did ducks and geese in the cloisters! tube was easy - like London with different names.

Did you go to the Cathedral that has ducks in it? There was a wonderful antique market when we were there. Barcelona is 'unfinished business' for me. We never got our heads round the tube and kept travelling around for ages and popping up in the same place ....

Just got back and apart from coming back with a cold (that's just my poorly functioning immune system reacting to the air con on planes) we had a very nice time if quite tiring. We took the bus tour £27Euro each from the tourist centre in Place De la Catunya to see the Gaudi architecture and the Parc which was lovely. The next day we bout a £10 euro tube ticket and travelled all over the city starting with the Sagrada Familia which was every bit as beautiful as I had been led to believe- the maths behind the architecture is amazing. Next the Cathedral with wonderful fifteenth centre religious art and artefacts. The last day was strolling through the many small shops and then the port and the beach. Lovely seafood restaurant for my birthday dinner. We walked 17 miles in three days so had sore feet. Full praise to Easyjet holidays- slick and good value. Glad to be home though-missed Gransnet!

We had a brilliant couple of days, and no trouble with any sort of crime. Sounds as if we might have stayed very near where jingl did. This short guide was useful.

numberplease... a hair raising drive indeed up to Montserrat. My ex DH was driving and the edge of the road is very nerve wracking - especially when we had to pass a bus.
My visit was slightly tormented by the thought of the drive back down. But the visit was so definitely worth it.

Did you know there's a chocolate museum there.

Sorry, repeated myself!

It`s a hair raising drive up to Montserrat, but well worth it. There was a wedding when we were up there. We took some lovely pics up there.

It`s a hair raising drive up to Montserrat, but well worth it. There was a wedding when we were up there. We took some lovely pics up there.

Sorry it's spelt Montserrat.

I lived in Barcelona for a year, many years ago. We had driven through Scotland, England, France and into Spain, with a few household bits of stuff filling the car, even around my feet. (passenger)
Barcelona was lovely, the underground/metro easy to manage, and we had no bother for the year we were there.
First month was spent half board in a very cheap hotel on the Ramblas while we found an apartment. Every night there was soup for starters... green or brown!!

One place worth a visit is the Monserrat Monastery. A day trip from Barcelona, high high up. And a wonderful change from the bustle of the city.
It is an incredible place and such a bonus of you hear the choir which I think performs daily.

It's a great place to visit. The airport has a bus that drops you right in the central square. If you stop to look at a map make sure your back is against a wall, we used doorways, no pick pockets can come from behind or the side!
I didn't carry a bag at all. DH had trousers with concealed pockets and we only took out the money we needed and left everything else in hotel safe.
The two circular tourists busses were great, you buy a couple of days passes and hop on and off. A lot is easily seen by walking.
Don't stop if asked for directions etc by con men. Be a real tourist, pretend yup don't understand and keep walking!
Have a lovely time! X

Son has had his faith restored today. Dining in a nearby tapas bar and mentioned they are on honeymoon whilst chatting to the barman. They were given a free bottle of Cava and a round of applause from the customers

numberplease Yes. Must do some homework before I go.

I'm calling in in December, one day only while on cruise

I`m off to Barcelona in October and planning to do the same things as you Sue will be keeping my across the shoulder bag close to my chest and wobetide any thug who tries to take it!!!!

Would that be inspired by C J Sansom Jingl?
It`s a long time since we visited Barcelona, one thing I remember with pleasure was the mini cruise around the harbour there, it was lovely. Didn`t care overmuch for the city itself, apart from the Sagrada Familia, but got very frustrated trying to get a photo of it, never did manage to get it all in!

Madrid next for us. In October. Looking forward to that.

Oh gosh yes! Fly. Don't drive all that way. A taxi into the city from the airport is reasonable.

Didn't have any bother with cars. Though taxi drivers seemed to push their luck a bit.

I did see that you had been there and had a wonderful time, and meant to ask if maybe the cars were perhaps the biggest problem, as apart from one, all the problems I have heard of have been car-related. I would love to go, but maybe we will fly rather than drive down through France.

janerowena Don't be put off. We walked around till very late at night and no sign of any trouble. (Except for the police trying to catch the fake handbag sellers on Las Ramblas. Which was very funny)

Just heard from my son. Spanish police told him young men are the biggest target group and pickpockets concentrate on restaurants, bars and clubs where they can jostle them going in and out of exits, toilets and suchlike, especially if they have been drinking. Son was quite merry when he discovered his wallet had gone as he went to pay their restaurant bill. Friends on a recent stag do have said on Facebook (where the crime was announced) that 12 out of a group of 20 were pickpocketed. Dear me!