Rainy Barcelona: What To Do On A Wet Day

So you arrive in Barcelona with your flips flops, shorts and sun hat prepared to hit the beach. But wait ; is this rain you’re feeling on your face? Oh no, certainly not! This undeniably does not fit in with your plans and you definitely didn’t pack your wellies and raincoat. What to do?

Though nothing like almost all of Northwards Europe, it does occasionally rain here in Barcelona there is however no necessity to panic as there are lots of things to do without getting wet. We have put together a variety of Barcelona’s top indoor activities to keep you nice and dry.

Train Yourself

Barcelona has so many great museums you might find it difficult to choose from them all. The most well-liked are the art museums of Dal, Picasso and Mir, as well as Barcelonas contemporary art museum, the MACBA. If art isn’t your cup of tea, then what about the fascinating Cosmo Caixa science museum, or even the Camp NOU football museum and stadium tour?

Discover The Mediterranean

If you want to explore the strategies of the sea and dive into the Mediterranean without getting wet then the Barcelona Aquarium is the place to do it. Marvel over the 450 different species of sea life, wave at the sharks thru the glass tunnel or if you are feeling brave then take a swim with them.

Self Indulge! You Are On Vacation After All!

With so many fantastic places to eat in Barcelona, its hard to resist, and so what if you do not? With conventional Catalan cuisine, tasty tapas, Paella, mouth-watering crepes, waffles and ice-cream, the diet can start next week. Sit by the window and watch the rain while you are warm and cozy.

Relax And Unwind

This is what a vacation is supposed to be all about right? Getting away from the stress and strains of day to day life? Aire de Barcelona offers thermal baths, aromatherapy, massage, scrubbing, hamman and other therapies and treatments. Sounds like perfect exhilaration to us!

Shop Until You Drop

Barcelona is a sufficiency of name brands, tiny shops and high-street chains ; so if its a new wardrobe your after, then you have definitely come to the right city. To avoid spoiling your new purchases in the rain head to one of Barcelona’s indoor shopping centers.

Lilla is located on the Diagonal and this centre is full of restaurants so you can make a day of it and savour a leisurely lunch after a hard mornings shopping.

Diagonal Mar features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, a hyper market and even a bowling alley which is another great rainy day activity.
You need to take the metro to La Maquinista as its a little bit farther from the centre. Here you’ll find the Apple store as well as many other huge name shops.
Almost all shops are closed on Sundays in Barcelona, aside from the Maremagnum mall. So if you are flying home on Sun. night and can’t remember to purchase a gift for your friend, then head down to the port area at the end of Las Ramblas for an impulse spend.

Buff Up On Your Motion Picture Knowledge

There are a massive choice of theatres all over Barcelona but if you Spanish talents arent up to very much then do not worry. Look out for V.O and V.O.S which mean the films are shown in their original language version with Spanish or Catalan subtitles. Most titles aren’t literal translations so it may be worth checking out the films preview image on the web so that you know what is what. You don’t want to watch Lord of the Rings for the third time do you? The Alexis, Cines Verdis, the Renoir chain, Icaria-Yelmo ( down by the beach ) and Imax are the key theatres offering the most recent releases in their original language.

Of course if you are determined to stick to your original plans then just grab an umbrella and don’t let the rain damage a single thing!

David Brydon has been living in Barcelona for ten years and writes about Apartments for rent in Barcelona and continually makes a contribution to this Great Barcelona Guide.
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What To Pack When Vacationing In A Vacation Home

So you’ve made up your mind to skip the crowded hotels and rent a villa rental for this year’s family getaway. But how does one pack for a stay in a home away from home?

Given that it was you who made the decision, you already know that vacationing in a private vacation villa is much different than staying in a hotel. Most vacation homes are outfitted much like your home and you will most likely have access to a washing machine and dryer. This will help cut down the amount of luggage you need to bring, because if you are like me, you always pack too much.

Let’s look at what you really need to pack for a stay in your vacation villa for this year’s holidays, with some tips from our friends at “Location Maison Espagne” …

DOCUMENTATION You will definitely want to pack your plane tickets and directions to your your private vacation villa with you. Oh and don’t forget your passport either. It is also a good idea to make photocopies of all your documents, including passports, birth certificates, ID, plane tickets, itinerary and travel insurance.

TOWELS – Most vacation villas will supply towels for both indoor use and outdoor use for the pool and beaches. Contact the vacation rental owner to see what they offer. Beach towels can usually be purchased relatively cheap, so unless you have room for towels don’t bother packing them.

MEDICATION – This should go without saying, but it is paramount to pack your medication when travelling. You’ll need to plan for any delays if something goes wrong with your scheduled flight and you have to wait a few extra days to return home. Make sure you not only pack all essential medications for you and your family, but also any allergy medications like Epi-Pens. You might also want to pack the repeat prescription forms. Pack your medication with the bags you bring on-board with you, as packing it with your checked baggage could result in disaster.

OUTFITS – As mentioned, your vacation rental may come complete with a washer and dryer, so you might have the pleasure of packing light. It is always advisable before you pack to check with the owner of the vacation villa first to ensure that these facilities are available. The amount and type of clothing you pack will depend upon where you are traveling and what activities you are planning on doing while there, but remember, you’re a tourist after all and expectations are not going to be really that high, so pack for comfort, not for fashion.

TOILETRIES – A great way to save room in your luggage is to leave all non-essential toiletries behind. There is little need to drag bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, body wash and such half-way around the globe. The area you are visiting has plenty of places where you can purchase such items as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, and whatever other needs you require. If you have allergies to products and have your own specific brands you prefer, then of course bring them along. There is nothing worse than being on a family vacation and breaking out in a rash from harsh soaps that you are not used to.

HAIR DRYERS – Some people can’t live without their hair dryers. When it comes to a family vacation a hair dryer is not essential, and your hair dryer might not even work in the country you are travelling to without an adapter. Most villa rentals will supply hair dryers so just contact the villa owner before you begin packing to ensure that they do.

MUNCHIES – Many countries have strict requirements when it comes to bringing food across the border.. Most things will not be allowed in to the country, so save the space in your luggage and leave your favourite treats behind.

CASH – It’s a good idea to pack some local currency and coins in your carry-on luggage. After you get off the plane you and the kids may be hungry or thirsty and having some local currency in small dominations will help you refuel before you head off to your private villa.

EARBUDS Most airlines charge a few dollars to purchase their earbuds to be able to watch the in-flight televisions and movies. Although they are usually no more than $5 it is advisable to bring along your own if you have them.

ENTERTAINMENT – Some flights can be very long and boring if you have nothing to occupy yourself and your kids with. Some vacations can be like that, too – especially if it rains and you can relax in the comfort of your vacation villa. Pack some books, puzzles, cards, travel sized board games and handheld devices. Not only will it make your flight much more enjoyable, but it will also allow for some down-time relaxing in your villa.

Just remember, whether your plans are at Costa Blanca Villa Location or elsewhere, you are only going away for a small amount of time, so try not to over pack. As the semi-famous saying goes, pack light enough to travel.

Things To See In Barcelona

Restricted time in Barcelona? Spend it wisely!

So if you are planning a short journey to Barcelona, the chances are that you wish to see more things than you actually have some time for. So to be sure you get the maximum from your trip to the city with minimum effort, the nice people at Oh-Barcelona have created a catalogue of must-sees for first time visitors to the city. Enjoy

Sagrada Familia Gaudis last church: really is a complete must see, whether or not you dont go inside.

Park Guell, another gem of Gaudis: this park mixes nature and architecture completely.

Las Ramblas: Overcrowded and over-rated but you’ve got to see it at least one time. Pop a coin in a statues hat and see it move.

Casa Batllo & La Pedrera: More spectacular Gaudi Works, but definitely not overkill. Both are really wonderful buildings.

Ciutadella Park: We like this place! Hire a rowing boat for a half hour, spy a woolly mammoth or visit the zoo to see some of its living relatives.

Sorcery Fountain: You have got to see it to believe it, this fountain gives a music and light show at weekends.

Camp Nou: A Mecca for football fanatics. Well say no more.

Montjuic Take: a wire automobile to the top of this mountain and lose your breath over its views.

Last, but not least, are Barcelonas beaches and there are many to choose between. There are lots of hostels near beach in Barcelona if you are a sun searcher or lover of water based sports.

Whatever time of the year you opt to visit Barcelona, the metro is an inexpensive and handy technique to get around. For brief journeys, we suggest getting a T10 ticket for 8.25 which gives you ten metro journeys and can be shared between buddies and family. Or, you can always grab a taxi or explore the city by foot. Or if you are feeling adventuresome then you can always go by bike, skateboard or rollerblades.

Have a great time in Barcelona and if you need to be close to all of the action then there are lots of hostels near Plaza Catalunya Barcelona.

Chloe
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Rain In Barcelona

When we travel we want good weather so we will be able to make all kinds of activities without having to stress about anything, just enjoy. In Barcelona, you can do many activities, when it is a sunny or a stormy day.

There are times when the rain becomes our companion on our journey. This is what happens now in Barcelona. Catalonia is experiencing a rainstorm, which will last all week. But still there are things to do in Barcelona, and we have got the chance to practice the slow travel.

We always have to extraordinary care if the weather becomes terribly black, attempting to find what the forecasts say, and then plan the day. Also having planned the place where you’ll sleep, find all you need in Hostales Barcelona.

Here are some ideas for one or two days in Barcelona when the weather isnt the most favourable for this :

- You can visit museums and exhibitions, for example the CCCB, the Picasso Museum, the Museum of History, or enclosed places such as La Pedrera, Casa Batllo, or La Sagrada Familia.

- You may spend the day shopping, but rather than going shopping on the highways of Barcelona, it is more a good idea to go to big stores like El Corte Ingles, La Maquinista, Gran Via two.

- And Taste the delicious Catalan dishes in some of its many bars and cafes.

Never forget to be well kitted out to not get wet and be cold. Dont forget to have a good hotel to choosed, and spend the evening watching the rain. Have a look to Hostales Barcelona Centro, and find your perfect accommodation.

After all this tips, all you need is to enjoy the trip and make sure you make a large amount of pictures to have a dazzling memory and can show everybody how gorgeous Barcelona is.
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A holiday rental is a better option than a hotel!

The lives we are leading these days are not all healthy and that is one of the reasons why there are lots of diseases in very early age.  We don’t get to enjoy life to the fullest. We live very dull and boring life. The most important thing that I have to mention here is that, apart from the sedentary and boring life we lead, we don’t get to spend time with our family and friends as well. To make your life more meaningful and healthy, start enjoying life. There is nothing special than enjoying a trip out with all your loved ones, spending ample and quality time with them. And please note to make it a more pleasurable and relaxing stay opt for a vacation rental and not a hotel.

Whenever we plan for a trip, the first thing which comes to our mind is, where are we gonna stay?  Generally anyone will prefer a very calm and comfortable place to stay over, a place which is pleasing and clean, where all the family members can have a very relaxing and enjoyable time. This can happen only in a holiday cottage.

It is a stress free option, where you will have a very nice time, from the time you check in and check out, you will have your own space. If you go for hotels, the amount of comfort they give will be nowhere near the comfort which you can find in a holiday rental for the same tariff.  For The amount you spend in a hotel, you can take a luxurious villa, with all the comfort under the sun, whereas in a hotel you will have to just sit inside the four walls and watch the idiot box all the time.  When you hire a cottage, you will have lot of open space, parks, pools and so on; you can get to be amidst nature and enjoy its beauty.

As said earlier, there are lot more amenities which a cottage can provide you, when compared to a hotel. They will make you feel your home away from home. If you hire a rental you get six to seven bed rooms which mean that each and every person will have their own space, if you have come with a huge crowd, this is a very good option to have some privacy. You can enjoy with everyone at the same time you get to have your own space when you really need it. All this is definitely not possible, so what we generally do is, we just take our family and go for an outing, it is no fun, it will be enjoyable trip only when there are lotta people to chat and have fun. They provide you with all the comfort you will have, when you are in your house, and also a step ahead of it.

Source: Florida Villas