Any details would be great! I didn't really get an answer, but did some searching. I think it will be cost prohibitive for us, but if I get a better idea, I can give my sister more details.
My sister arrives Weds afternoon, and the rest of us on Thursday morning, so we would have to do a tour from the hotel to get all of us together. I think I found it would be about $85/pp for a 4hr tour, or $150 for an 8hr tour. I would rather save that money, do the HoHo bus on Thursday then revisit any areas on friday.
Here's the info I gathered from 2010. We ended up with 12 people from various DIS families. Like I said earlier, it was a decent introduction to the city.
Remember...this info is from 2010! Needless to say, some of this has been subject to change. We actually need to reach out to them for this trip, but I don't have updated info just yet.
Contact Info
Sharon Amor
Barcelona Day Tours/Top-Day-Tours Group
Tel: +34 637 799128
Fax: +34 933 728413
Email:
info@BarcelonaDayTours.com
Helene Tovdal, Managing Director
Mobile: +34. 637.799.128
Mobile: +34. 637.799.127
Email:
helene@barcelonadaytours.com
www.SpainDayTours.com
Ensure an English-speaking guide is requested.
Airport Pick-Up
You will provide flight information to them so they can keep track of your flight(s) for any delays. They will arrange to meet you one hour after scheduled flight arrival. You meet at the point after you clear customs (after the baggage claim). Barcelona Day Tours will be waiting holding a sign marked with the name of a person in your party.
Of course if airport pickup is not what you need, they'll pick you up wherever you are in Barcelona.
Itinerary
The following locations will be seen during the standard four-hour tour itinerary, although since this is a private tour, you can customize the tour to your liking, which includes adding/removing destinations. As you drive through the city, the tour guide points out architecture, iconic buildings, and cultural information. I’ve noted the locations were we got off the bus.
• The Olympic Ring Stadium - see where it all happened in 1992; I think there was a small gift shop here (exited bus and entered portion of stadium)
• Montjuïc Castle Area - lots of history and great city views including the Mediterranean Sea while overlooking the cruise port; little snack bar was available here to grab a snack or a drink; craftsmen sold items in one small area on the sidewalk (literally on the sidewalk) with no pressure (exited bus)
• La Sagrada Familia - monumental church and world-famous architectural masterpiece; we do not go inside for a tour, but we do walk around the entire block to get an external tour of the huge church; went to a gift shop across the street that had a model of the church the guide used to explain the design at a high level before walking around the church; gift shop is a good place for purchasing post cards (exited bus)
• Parc Güell - Gaudi's greatest park with beautiful city views and mosaics; we had skip-the-line admission included (exited bus)
• Passeig de Gràcia - Barcelona's most expensive & magnificent Avenue
• La Pedrera (Casa Milà) - Gaudi's most famous building in Barcelona
• Casa Batlló - Gaudi's most astounding contribution to Modernisimo; part of the trio "Apple of *******"
• Casa Amatller - building that is part of the trio "Apple of *******"
• Casa Morera - building that is part of the trio "Apple of *******"
• Plaza España - most impressive plaza in Barcelona leads to Montjuïc and the Font Màgica (Magic Fountain) that has a really nice (free) nighttime light show
• Palau Nacional (The National Palace) - a very impressive site with great views; location of National Art Museum
• The Columbus Monument (Monument a Colom) - the world-famous explorer, Christopher himself
• Port Olympic - built for the 1992 games; marina, shops, art sculptures, monuments, & more seen as we pass through
• Plaza Catalunya - the famous plaza in the heart of Barcelona; city's most important streets and avenues meet at Plaça Catalunya; home of Europe’s largest department store (including groceries), El Corte Inglés; reasonable walking distance from Praktik Rambla Hotel
You will spend 5-30 minutes at the various points of interest to tour or get a picture of the point of interest. They will be flexible on length of stay based on your desires, although keep in mind the tour is still 4 hours. This itinerary does not stop anywhere that has an admission price. If you want to go into a location that has a fee, the fee is not included in your tour price.
Drop Off
Barcelona Day Tours was accommodating to accept three of our drop-off hotel locations in 2010 as they were all in the same general vicinity.
Buses, Pricing, and Payment
They can accommodate 12 people in an air-conditioned mini bus that fits up to 12 people. The mini-bus is similar to the size of a car rental company’s bus but with comfortable seating like you would see in a coach bus. Luggage is held under the bus. If there are more than 12, you need more than one mini-bus. No child car seats are permitted for use on the buses.
Here are price quotes received in 2010, regardless of age for a private tour:
- • 12 people sharing the tour = 37 Euros per person
• 11 people sharing the tour = 39 Euros per person
• 5 people sharing the tour = 59 Euros per person (they do not use a mini bus for this small of a group)
Payment Info:
Extracurricular Activities
Barcelona Day Tours also reserves tickets for dinner with Flamenco dancing show at the Tablao Cordobes for anyone interested with no commission or extra fees. They said they have the lowest prices you can find.
Visit
http://www.spaindaytours.com/flamenco-barcelona.html for more information.
They can also arrange shore trips in Cadiz, Malaga, Almeria ,and Lisbon.
Here is a very helpful explanation of the postcard and recipe exchange that Val posted on Facebook at the beginning of May -- it really is up to each person what they want to exchange. I think I am planning on giving a couple of postcards of local places that special to me to each person -- and one or two recipes as well -- I think I'll write messages on the cards and include the recipes separately -- but I have not really decided yet. I bought my first batch of postcards this past weekend.
As Val said -- I don't think you can get it wrong on this exchange and to me it is the thought that counts.
I am looking forward to seeing the postcards from various places and having an extra memory from the trip.
