Spain Thread 1

[m_lim]

^thanks sis! my SIL suggested Royal Ramblas Hotel, mas okay ba yun? dulo na daw kasi yang Hotel Jazz. considering we only have 2 full days.

[wokwhiskyarn]

can you please suggest a hotel in Barcelona for a family of 4. Budget hotel lang po like ibis. Ang importante ay:
- location (malapit sa lahat: train, kainan, supermarket, plaza, etc..)
- clean rooms with hot water sa bathroom
- free wifi
- can comfortably accommodate a family of 4 (kids age 11 and 5).
- family friendly

thanks!

[bagaholic_chewy]

In Barcelona, we stayed before in Hotel Colon and Hotel Regina Colon. Tapat lang sya ng Cathedral, very near La Ramblas.

[summer888]

naku! kami nito lang last week of november muntik na kaming ma pick pocket. as in pagbaba pa lang ng taxi in front of the hotel. sinamantala yung ang dami naming bagahe then nakita kase nung nag bayad kami ng taxi so alam nila kung saan ang wallet. 3 sila yun 2 look out. kunyari nag aalok ng tickets buti na lang aware talaga kami na maraming ganun dun. sinigawan ng brother ko kase naramdaman na niya yung kamay sa bulsa niya then tumakbo paalis.
ang advise sa amin nung mga nakausap namin dun basta attract attention kapag napunta ka sa ganung situation kase takot rin naman daw yung mga iyon.
yun naman sister ko, they came a day earlier sa amin habang naglalakad daw sila sa la ramblas, may isang babae nag selfie then biglang hinablot yun cellphone niya. kaya ayun praning tuloy kami the whole time na nasa europe kami especially in barcelona.

[m_lim]

noted mga sis!

iniisip ko tuloy paano kami magpapa picture ni Hubby. baka itakbo ang cellphone!

btw, sa Royal Ramblas Hotel na kami. sa strip mismo ng Las Ramblas

[wokwhiskyarn]

We plan to spend Holy WED to Good Friday in Seville on March2016. My husband would like to see the parades. My concern is, hindi ba sobra matao and touristy that time? Will prices go up too high? How about restaurants/groceries/shops, will they be closed? If ever we change our plans, how is the train schedule, nagiiba ba ang schedule nila during this time (shortened or close). Thank you!

[kobekitten]

Reviving this thread after almost a year! Just booked RT tickets to Madrid for early July next year. Honeymoon for 10 nights

First time in Europe for us both so I wonder if we can do this by ourselves or should we join a tour? Been eyeing Trafalgar's Spanish Wonder (8nights) - but tours like these are big and feel rushed..

From my research so far, it seems like we shouldn't miss Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona, Montserrat. Ok na ba yan for 10 nights, or kulang? 

We are not big on museums, but we like to see beautiful architecture, eat good food, go shopping and enjoy the nightlife.  Suggestions are most welcome!

[xtine]

Is it safe to say that we can almost speak espanol and we can roam around freely in ES without any language barrier?  Unless they speak really fast.

Because we can count and some filipino words are espanol like cuchara, tenedor, caballo (kabayo), plato, platito, carne, etc.

[cosmochick]

I'm planning to travel solo in Spain this February. My Itin is 5 days in Greece, 5 days in Barcelona and 6 days in Madrid.

Are the days enough for both Barcelona and Madrid? or should I leave out Greece na lang?

And is it possible to go to Toledo in the morning and just come back to Madrid at night? and do the same thing for Avila?  I don't want the hassles of transferring hotels kasi especially that I will be traveling alone.

[Chili1113]

^Yes you can go to Toledo, Avila , and Segovia for the day from Madrid. Segovia is just lovely. Avila is OK if you are a devotee of St. Therese. Be sure though to visit the walls of Avila too.

Greece is nice! But 5 days is too much. I suggest you visit some islands although it will be off peak season. Otherwise 2 whole days in Athens is enough. 1 day to visit the Parthenon and the museum near the  site, and another day to go around the city a bit more.

[darkchoco]

I recommend Seville din.  I like the cathedral and love Plaza de Espana. Ang ganda din when the orange trees are in bloom! There's also the Real Alcazar (aka Dorne sa Game of Thrones). If you're not going to see the Alhambra in Granada, ok din yung Alcazar.

[cosmochick]

Thanks sis. I guess I'll have to drop Greece for now. I'll spend 7 days each in Barcelona and Madrid.

[kobekitten]

^ cosmochick are you joining a tour? or just DIY travel?

My fiance and I are spending 5 nights in Madrid and 5 nights in Barcelona in July.

[Chili1113]

^^Whaaaa sis you're dropping Greece? =(  Anyway there is always a next time. I super love Santorini kasi hehe which is why I would always want to go back to Greece.

As for Spain kasi, it isn't one of my favorite countries. In 2015 we spent almost 3 weeks in Spain and well--- it was OK. I actually don't like Barcelona so much even if I am a Gaudi fan. As for Madrid, I only liked it because of all the day trips from there.

My favorite by far in Spain is Granada and Seville!! Also--- If you have time check out the smaller villages and towns. Ronda was just so pretty too!!

[cosmochick]

sis Kobe, DIY lang siguro... Just want this travel to be relaxing. How about you sis?

Sis Chili, why it isn't one of your favorites?  Ok lang ba 7 days each in Barcelona and Madrid? Hindi naman boring?

[Chili1113]

^Hi sis! I don't know. But for some reason I just did not enjoy Madrid and Barcelona all that much. BUT don't worry sis, it isn't a boring destination. I just didn't enjoy it as much as other cities in Europe hehe and I wouldn't go back there na siguro if I can help it.

I am sure you will enjoy sis! After all, they are one of the "great" European cities, so to speak. Youll enjoy shopping too!! Stores like Zara and Desigual are super cheap there.

[cosmochick]

^thanks sis Chili! I love Zara so it would definitely be in my itinerary. Excited na nga ako to shop there sis!

Changed of plans actually.. I will be going to Athens and Santorini Greece na lang then Prague, Madrid then last stop Barcelona. I'll be traveling na this 1st Feb for 20 days. I figured, since I'm there na, make the most of my Euro trip na lang.  This is my 2nd time pa lang in Europe ,by the way and hopefully not my last since I would love to go back visit Budapest, Amsterdam and Austria next.

This is actually a spur of the moment decision so wala pa rin akong prepared itin until now. haha.. I would just print all of your suggestions here.

[Girltalker2]

Is it safe to go to Spain at this time?

[ava_chic]

Is it safe to go to Spain at this time?

I have a co-worker that just got back from Barcelona. They left just when the demonstration just started. There's a lot of blocked roads.  I think it's better to wait, you might get stranded in there. As of today, the US department updated the travel advisory to level 2:

On October 21, 2019, the U.S. State Department updated its Level 2 ?Exercise Increased Caution? Advisory regarding increased civil unrest in the city of Barcelona and the greater Catalonia region.

[goddessella]

we stayed in an Airbnb in la rambla mismo sa barcelona.

we took the HOHO bus, kasi makakatipid ka sa transpo if you do that. Barcelona is lovely. i want to go back. :C