So, there's much discussion on the boards about Barcelona already: When to arrive, where to stay, what to do! Here's my take on what we did and what I'm likely to change this time:
As we drove down to CA from WA with our cats so my dad could cat-sit while we were gone, we ended up flying out of San Francisco. I booked tickets on Swiss International Airlines because at that time, you could check 2 bags in coach! If you've looked yet at international 2nd bag charges, you know that's huge! Sadly, they have since changed that and now you can only check the standard 1 bag. As we got to the ticket desk, they were offering upgrades to business class for $600/ticket. After going thru security, we went back and took advantage of this!
We got to go to the lounge before boarding! See the wine? I'm a nervous flyer and I figure it was medicinal, right? Anyway, our flight departed at about 7:30pm, if I remember correctly. We connected in Zurich with about a 1hour 50 minute layover (I think) which was plenty of time for us to get thru their customs. We landed in Barcelona the next day (we left 8/15, arrived 8/16, the cruise began 8/18) about 8pm local time. We took a taxi (easy to get and plentiful, different options for larger parties, cost about $40 E, I think), and checked into Le Meridian (one of
DCL's hotels, but booked on our own to a HUGE savings...) for 2 nights. This was our room:
I wouldn't stay there again, for a few reasons. One, it's pricey. Two, it's right on La Rambla. Isn't that good, you ask? Well, sort of. La Rambla, while nice to see, is loud and VERY VERY crowded. It was great at 5am, but at 8pm it was chaotic and overwhelming. When you see locals guarding their possessions.....the long and short of it is to go prepared. Three, the food options at the hotel were $$$$$. All our grand ideas of trying tapas bar after tapas bar went out the window when out then 7 year old was tired, cranky, and not in the mood to try anything. The night we got there we ate at the Corte Inglas (sp?) department store, where the food was recognizable to a 7 y/o's palate.