August 13, 2011 Med - Mickey's Marauding Mates

[jd99]

I think we have sailed with you before... Were you one of the Nana Heads on the Western in November 08?

Yes! I thought your screen name looked familiar!

 

[Anal Annie]

Oh we have a REUNION in our merry band of peeps!! Neato torpedo!

 

[Anal Annie]

Morning bump from PAGE 3!!!

So I started questioning my choice in our return flight! I booked us on a 7:30 am flight out of Barcelona! WHAT was I thinking? This is really going to put a damper on our last night in Barcelona since we'll have to be up to go to the airport so early! Gosh! What time will we need to leave for the airport?? Do we have to be at the airport like 3 hours before international flights?! (We go back to the US via Paris.) I guess I need to contact Air France about the timing? I was reading another thread that was saying the lines at BCN can be a couple of hours long! Anybody have any thoughts on that?? Do you think earlier will be less of an issue?! OY!! What have I done?!

 

[west&east]

I am having return flight remorse too. We leave at 6:10AM on Sunday after the cruise! We had an early flight out of Orlando at the end of our Xmas trip and I vowed never again- but I had already booked the BCN trip! We are flying on miles so I suppose I shouldn't complain. We also get back to Charlotte (via Munich) at about 3:30pm which is nice but it is sure going to be a rough ending to our trip. Also having a tough time trying to decide where to stay that night- close to the airport or someplace more fun so we can fully enjoy our last day??
Our friend in BCN is helping us find some options which is good, but my head is still spinning with choices, pros and cons. Oh, my head is also spinning from cold medicine and being stuck at home with sick DS. Off to the doctor again today for her this time. This is getting ridiculous.

 

[Anal Annie]

Yeah we are with the State Department and this is our first overseas assignment. We are really looking forward to it, but these last few days are crazy! We are going to slip down for a quick trip to WDW before we leave though!

We have a hold on a reservation until Wednesday, while I express the urgency to my parents. We'll see!

Did you book, did you book?! FWIW I just looked at the availability on the Cat 5C's again - last week there were 15 available & today only 5 were coming up as open (and only the ones that slept 3, none that slept 4). Of course they could be due to holds...but it looks like we're getting some of the Sept. 3 bumps (guess they're just not on the DIS). If the ship is filling it may mean another price increase soon!!

 

[Anal Annie]

I am having return flight remorse too. We leave at 6:10AM on Sunday after the cruise! We had an early flight out of Orlando at the end of our Xmas trip and I vowed never again- but I had already booked the BCN trip! We are flying on miles so I suppose I shouldn't complain. We also get back to Charlotte (via Munich) at about 3:30pm which is nice but it is sure going to be a rough ending to our trip. Also having a tough time trying to decide where to stay that night- close to the airport or someplace more fun so we can fully enjoy our last day??
Our friend in BCN is helping us find some options which is good, but my head is still spinning with choices, pros and cons. Oh, my head is also spinning from cold medicine and being stuck at home with sick DS. Off to the doctor again today for her this time. This is getting ridiculous.

I looked again at my choices....I had to book what I did to get the price I got... AND there were only 2 other return flights...1 at 6:50 am which was even earlier and one around Noon...but which was actually a longer duration flight due to the layover time in Paris. So I guess I did OK for what my choices were.

Hope you & the kiddos are better soon...

 

[Anal Annie]

Back on page 3 again!!

 

[Kels Sem]

Back on page 3 again!!

and again...

 

[west&east]

I'm actually finding some good options for our family of four right in the heart of things in BCN. Got to coordinate with my friend and then hopefully book something. Prices aren't as bad as I first thought. Several hotels do have options for three or four people but they don't show up online. I have been so impressed with how quickly they have responded to my emails!

Also finalizing our family trip to DC for Spring Break. We were going back and forth between Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn both near the convention center. Both have very positive reviews on trip advisor. Since we are using point for two rooms (one for my inlaws) we decided to go with the Hampton and save some points for another trip. Any feedback or suggestions from you DC area folks?

 

[jd99]

I'm actually finding some good options for our family of four right in the heart of things in BCN. Got to coordinate with my friend and then hopefully book something. Prices aren't as bad as I first thought. Several hotels do have options for three or four people but they don't show up online. I have been so impressed with how quickly they have responded to my emails!

Also finalizing our family trip to DC for Spring Break. We were going back and forth between Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn both near the convention center. Both have very positive reviews on trip advisor. Since we are using point for two rooms (one for my inlaws) we decided to go with the Hampton and save some points for another trip. Any feedback or suggestions from you DC area folks?

Would you mind sharing the names of the hotels that will allow four in a room? I know the Novotel will but wondering if anyone else does....

 

[west&east]

Would you mind sharing the names of the hotels that will allow four in a room? I know the Novotel will but wondering if anyone else does....

My friend who lives in BCN thought the location of the Novotel wasn't ideal...These hotels have rooms for 4, you may need to contact the hotel:

Hotel Intercontinental Palacete (172 to 222 euros per night including VAT depending on room size, quirky hotel with good reviews)

Royal Ramblas

Hotel Regina (149 euros a night, 10 euros more per person for breakfast) +VAT

I think I found one or two others but I can't locate the info right now. I will post if I find anything and you can do the same.

 

[jd99]

My friend who lives in BCN thought the location of the Novotel wasn't ideal...These hotels have rooms for 4, you may need to contact the hotel:

Hotel Intercontinental Palacete (172 to 222 euros per night including VAT depending on room size, quirky hotel with good reviews)

Royal Ramblas

Hotel Regina (149 euros a night, 10 euros more per person for breakfast) +VAT

I think I found one or two others but I can't locate the info right now. I will post if I find anything and you can do the same.

Thanks! We stayed at the Hotel Arts last year and they made us get two rooms for the four of us - even though the room had two big double beds and was quite spacious - very comparable to a US hotel. On the way home we were back at the same hotel and they had us in two rooms but they weren't the guaranteed connecting that we needed so they let us stay in one and refunded the other. Go figure.

 

[west&east]

Thanks! We stayed at the Hotel Arts last year and they made us get two rooms for the four of us - even though the room had two big double beds and was quite spacious - very comparable to a US hotel. On the way home we were back at the same hotel and they had us in two rooms but they weren't the guaranteed connecting that we needed so they let us stay in one and refunded the other. Go figure.

I was looking into the Hotel Arts for our last night. We probably can get a free room there, but I was concerned about 4 in the room. Maybe we should just book it with points and play dumb.

Also found Duquesa de Cardona. It is on the harbor at the base of Las Ramblas. They have beautiful looking family rooms but are 300 euros per night.

 

[Anal Annie]

Hey all!! Forget my Captain Morgan! I am feeling a martini moment coming on! I have been TRYING like HECK all day today to get DH to look at some stuff for our port excursions & he is so ummm...disinterested. It's driving me nuts. I am tooooo anal for his laid back "whatever" way of thinking. I gave him a couple of my guide books & tried to show him a couple of websites & printed out some stuff & he looks at it for all of 5 minutes & puts it down. I am OK with trying to plan Naples & Rome (I think) but I would really like his input for La Spezia. I mean Naples & Rome have their "must do's" so that's easier. For Naples I think we'll do Pompeii, Sorrento & Positano. In Rome we'll likely do the Coliseum, Spanish Steps & Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, The Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's. But for La Spezia I can't decide between trying to do Cinque Terre on our own or planning a trip to Pisa & Lucca. I am not too sure about trying to go to Florence as it's so far of a ride. But I would like for him to at least put SOME effort into the choices. I mean, they are COMPLETELY different days if we do one over the other - he could at least weigh in if he wants to do Pisa or not, right?! My BIL said Lucca is a really neat town too. I thought doing Cinque Terre on our own or even thru DCL would be a lot CHEAPER. The Limoinrome people are a lot more expensive for La Spezia...

I had hoped we'd have more peeps on our cruise by now who would be interested in sharing a van here & there on some of these ports but that doesn't look like it's gonna happen does it. And I want to get the Limoinrome people booked before it's too late to get a spot. I see on some of the other threads where it looks like people are booking them already. When I emailed them in September they said about 6 months out would be good - and guess what?! WE'RE THERE ALREADY!!! Time to book!!

DS has a "distance meet" tomorrow morning. He is only swimming the 1000. It was either that or the 1650 which he's not done yet...but the week we had to sign up was the week after his weekend in the hospital & I didn't know how long he was going to be out & miss practices so I didn't want to put him in the 1650. I figured he did the 1000 once, on their travel meet, so he'd be OK with doing that again probably. Warm-ups are at 7:00 which means we gotta leave home around 6:10 so guess who's gotta get up by 5:15ish to make breakfast?! That is tooooo early for a Sunday!! They're alternating girls & boys heats rather than running 2 pools so it looks like he might be in like about heat 8 so he'll probably swim around 9:15...at least it will be over early & we can get home in good time. I hope anyway.

Karen - how are the kiddos doing by now? Any better!? What kind of feedback are you looking for for DC?! Aren't you hanging out with family the whole time? I don't go downtown often. When I do I use the metro. You could visit the zoo - it will likely be crowded but then so will everything over spring break in DC. If you want to go to the zoo you can get there on the metro - red line...I could meet you there for a DIS meet?! I have not heard any predictions for the timing on the cherry blossoms yet...the festival is March 26 - April 10 which usually hits during the peak bloom time...are you coming after that, closer to Easter? I have heard that the Spy Museum is awesome but we haven't been there yet. It's not one of the free ones. But most of the Smithsonian museums are free so there's always the Mall...

 

[Kels Sem]

My friend who lives in BCN thought the location of the Novotel wasn't ideal...These hotels have rooms for 4, you may need to contact the hotel:

Hotel Intercontinental Palacete (172 to 222 euros per night including VAT depending on room size, quirky hotel with good reviews)

Royal Ramblas

Hotel Regina (149 euros a night, 10 euros more per person for breakfast) +VAT

I think I found one or two others but I can't locate the info right now. I will post if I find anything and you can do the same.

It's the location of the Novotel which concerns me as well, I tried speaking to DH about it but he doesn't seem overly fussed. He better not complain when we get there..

 

[luke]

It's the location of the Novotel which concerns me as well, I tried speaking to DH about it but he doesn't seem overly fussed. He better not complain when we get there..

That's my concern too, think I would rather be nearer La Rambla as we're only there for a night at a time

 

[Anal Annie]

OK, so what exactly is wrong with the location of the Novotel? It's not in a "bad" part of town (ie seedy) is it?! It was my understanding that the Glories shopping center across the street was a nice place to pick up incidentals... I figured we won't arrive until lunchtime or so on Friday...just want to see the Sagrada Familia & maybe Casa Mila and have a place to crash & a pool to relax by before the big day... We're staying near Placa de Catalunya & Las Ramblas after the cruise...so we'll get 2 different flavors of the town I guess. But not sure what I missed about the location - I realize it's not in the heart of the action tho...but what else did I miss??

So DS gained 15 seconds on his 1000. Was hoping he could DROP 15 seconds tho. I mean 15 seconds over 40 laps isn't THAT bad but I sorta knew his mind wasn't really all there before we ever left home...he had a hard time waking up...he probably won't swim that event again until next year. The meet next week is more of a typical meet. Then they don't have any meets in March that he qualifies for...so the NEXT meet will be the first weekend in April...I don't think they have any really long distance events on that one. Oh well...

 

[mkmommy]

OK, so what exactly is wrong with the location of the Novotel? It's not in a "bad" part of town (ie seedy) is it?! It was my understanding that the Glories shopping center across the street was a nice place to pick up incidentals... I figured we won't arrive until lunchtime or so on Friday...just want to see the Sagrada Familia & maybe Casa Mila and have a place to crash & a pool to relax by before the big day... We're staying near Placa de Catalunya & Las Ramblas after the cruise...so we'll get 2 different flavors of the town I guess. But not sure what I missed about the location - I realize it's not in the heart of the action tho...but what else did I miss??

We stayed at the Novotel last summer and the area is clean and I felt safe walking around with my girls, it is more a residential area not the middle of the tourist area, so you will be fine for 1 night.

The metro is close, and easy to use, we took it to Park Guell and that took about 20 minutes at the most. The Shopping Centre was nice, we went over for dinner and then stopped at the grocery store to get snacks for the flight home.

 

[Kels Sem]

OK, so what exactly is wrong with the location of the Novotel? It's not in a "bad" part of town (ie seedy) is it?! It was my understanding that the Glories shopping center across the street was a nice place to pick up incidentals... I figured we won't arrive until lunchtime or so on Friday...just want to see the Sagrada Familia & maybe Casa Mila and have a place to crash & a pool to relax by before the big day... We're staying near Placa de Catalunya & Las Ramblas after the cruise...so we'll get 2 different flavors of the town I guess. But not sure what I missed about the location - I realize it's not in the heart of the action tho...but what else did I miss??

So DS gained 15 seconds on his 1000. Was hoping he could DROP 15 seconds tho. I mean 15 seconds over 40 laps isn't THAT bad but I sorta knew his mind wasn't really all there before we ever left home...he had a hard time waking up...he probably won't swim that event again until next year. The meet next week is more of a typical meet. Then they don't have any meets in March that he qualifies for...so the NEXT meet will be the first weekend in April...I don't think they have any really long distance events on that one. Oh well...

Hey Annie, I was just a bit concerned about being a bit further out from the centre of things and having to rely on the metro/tram for all our travelling. I haven't heard any bad reports about the area or anything. You've also got to remember that I booked to stay there the 2 nights post cruise as well. I'm totally happy with the hotel especially for the night pre-cruise. I think it will be handy having the shopping centre across the street to stock upon a few snacks and things if I need to.

Jeff has recommended that we organise a private transfer from the port instead of waiting in long taxi queue. I was thinking since we're going to share the private transfer to the port how about on the way back? I was going to email the company and ask them if it's possible to do 2 hotel drops and the cost. I won't do this until I know you're on board and what hotel you book. Also I don't intend to book anything until after I have the cruise balance paid!

Kx

 

[Anal Annie]

Hey Annie, I was just a bit concerned about being a bit further out from the centre of things and having to rely on the metro/tram for all our travelling. I haven't heard any bad reports about the area or anything. You've also got to remember that I booked to stay there the 2 nights post cruise as well. I'm totally happy with the hotel especially for the night pre-cruise. I think it will be handy having the shopping centre across the street to stock upon a few snacks and things if I need to.

Jeff has recommended that we organise a private transfer from the port instead of waiting in long taxi queue. I was thinking since we're going to share the private transfer to the port how about on the way back? I was going to email the company and ask them if it's possible to do 2 hotel drops and the cost. I won't do this until I know you're on board and what hotel you book. Also I don't intend to book anything until after I have the cruise balance paid!

Kx

Private transfers DO sound like the way to go...and I'm super glad we can buddy up on the way TO the port but we're not staying at the Novotel afterward...I didn't realize you were doing both before & after there! Actually, I don't think I knew WHEN you were going home! Anyway, we're going to the Hotel Jazz for 2 nights afterward...not sure if they'd be willing to drop you then us or vice versa...or how much time that would add to either...but you could always ask I guess if they could do 2 drop off points?! Could probably work for both of us if they're willing!! UGGG on the cruise balance!! I have that money STASHED but it's all the OTHER stuff that's piling up on us now!! (DLP and the other hotel in Paris etc.)

Still working on planning out our shore excurions too... ChaCHing!!

(PS) what time do you ARRIVE in Barcelona?! Guess there's no chance we arrive at the same time is there?! LOL... We are scheduled to land at 11:15....