June 8, 2013 Mediterranean Magic!!

[DisneyHelen]

I booked this week for three adults myself,DH, and DD. This is our third cruise after the Wonder and Dream from Port Canaveral. We are looking forward to Barcelona and the ports of call.I am trying to find as many previous med trip reports as possible

[MrsKP]

Got my invoice and travel info from TA today. Started our excursion fund @ the credit union last week. I cannot wait to officially start planning this trip!! as of right now we just have ideas.....

[DisneyOHFan]

I just booked our pre-cruise hotel stay at the Hilton Diagonal. DCL has used this hotel on previous cruises, so I am hoping that they will again. I wanted to use our Hilton Honors points so we didn't have to pay for the hotel, but I was floored when I found out that many of the rooms using points were already gone. So others are obviously planning ahead.

Now to wait for the airlines to bring out the airfares.

[DisneyHelen]

I bought the book by Rick Steves on Mediterranean Cruise ports. It is very good and has a section on Barcelona.

[DisneyOHFan]

Fabulous. I will check it out.

[MrsKP]

Originally Posted by DisneyOHFan

I just booked our pre-cruise hotel stay at the Hilton Diagonal. DCL has used this hotel on previous cruises, so I am hoping that they will again. I wanted to use our Hilton Honors points so we didn't have to pay for the hotel, but I was floored when I found out that many of the rooms using points were already gone. So others are obviously planning ahead.

Now to wait for the airlines to bring out the airfares.

Have you stayed at this hotel before??

[MrsKP]

Originally Posted by DisneyHelen

I bought the book by Rick Steves on Mediterranean Cruise ports. It is very good and has a section on Barcelona.

What other ports does it have?

[DisneyOHFan]

Originally Posted by MrsKP

What other ports does it have?

No, but I hae been told that Disney has used this as a pre-cruise hotel in the past and it did get good reviews. And again, I wanted to use our Hilton Honors points, so for us, it was a win-win.

[MrsKP]

Originally Posted by DisneyOHFan

No, but I hae been told that Disney has used this as a pre-cruise hotel in the past and it did get good reviews. And again, I wanted to use our Hilton Honors points, so for us, it was a win-win.

I was just looking at their rooms. Gorgeous!! However the deluxe king room which sleeps 3 is $451 a night. I got a little sticker shocked wondering if all area hotels are like this?

[DisneyOHFan]

Originally Posted by MrsKP

I was just looking at their rooms. Gorgeous!! However the deluxe king room which sleeps 3 is $451 a night. I got a little sticker shocked wondering if all area hotels are like this?

Here is the trick. I called Hilton 4 times until I finally got someone to call Spain and conference me in. We booked the Standard King with a comment to bring in a cot. There is a trick that most reps don't know about that permits 3 to stay in a standard king (I have no idea what that trick is). I figured if we feel cramped in the room, we really aren't going to be in it for that long anyway and when we are, we will be asleep. AND it is getting us ready for the size of a cabin on a ship

[MrsKP]

Originally Posted by DisneyOHFan

Here is the trick. I called Hilton 4 times until I finally got someone to call Spain and conference me in. We booked the Standard King with a comment to bring in a cot. There is a trick that most reps don't know about that permits 3 to stay in a standard king (I have no idea what that trick is). I figured if we feel cramped in the room, we really aren't going to be in it for that long anyway and when we are, we will be asleep. AND it is getting us ready for the size of a cabin on a ship

Good to know! I have been researching other hotels from the various trip reports. There are more affordable options out there. For the night before I think I will worry about price. For the nights after location and comfort will be the driving factor.

[DisneyOHFan]

We might fly in 2 days in advance since airfare leaving on a Wed may be the cheapest option. And it will give us a couple of days to see Barcelona and get our times adjusted.

[MrsKP]

Originally Posted by DisneyOHFan

We might fly in 2 days in advance since airfare leaving on a Wed may be the cheapest option. And it will give us a couple of days to see Barcelona and get our times adjusted.

Our last day of school is June 7th! The last 3 days are half days but they insist 8th graders will take final exams those days. So when we fly out will be driven by how many teachers let him take his exams early. Would love to fly out Wednesday night overnight and get in Thursday morning. I have been told there are never exams the very last day just parties. Worst case we fly out Thursday afternoon.

[DisneyOHFan]

Originally Posted by MrsKP

Our last day of school is June 7th! The last 3 days are half days but they insist 8th graders will take final exams those days. So when we fly out will be driven by how many teachers let him take his exams early. Would love to fly out Wednesday night overnight and get in Thursday morning. I have been told there are never exams the very last day just parties. Worst case we fly out Thursday afternoon.

Yep, that is our issue too. My son will be a Freshman in HS so we aren't sure what the situation will be yet. Where are you flying from? We are flying out of OH.

[MrsKP]

Originally Posted by DisneyOHFan

Yep, that is our issue too. My son will be a Freshman in HS so we aren't sure what the situation will be yet. Where are you flying from? We are flying out of OH.

We are in SC but our airport is small. More than likely we will fly out of Charlotte NC about 1 1/2 hrs from our house.