In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics—but the country’s love for sports and outdoor activities runs far deeper than that. As much as 25% of the city’s large population is involved in a sport, and the city government is doing its best to promote sports at all possible levels by constructing facilities and making its streets and walkways “Exercise Friendly”. Barcelona is full of parks and well-lit streets where you are encouraged to take a leisurely stroll or a brisk morning jog. The beaches are ideal for outdoor fun, from swimming to beach volleyball to sailing.
But by far the most popular sport is soccer. Many people believe that Barcelona is Spain’s best soccer team. Called the “Barca” it has a very successful record and in fact holds the world record for the highest number of victories. Ironically it is also the only European Team to have qualified for the European Cup ever since the tournament was established n the mid 1950’s. As for the Copa del Rey, Spain’s national soccer tournament, the Barcelona team is the indisputed “team to beat” and holds the distinction of having the most number of golds.
The Barca team inspires great loyalty among Barcelona citizens, and during games the entire city is decorated in the team colors of gold, royal blue and maroon. Everyone wears Barca shirts, waves Barca flags, and even carry the Barca theme song in their mobile phones. They also make sure to keep updated on the games, and will follow news announcements on their mp3 players radios and even their phones.
Visitors can see this loyalty and pride for themselves by visiting the football museum, the largest in the world, and one of the most visited museums in the region. It is also possible to get tickets for the games. Be sure to get a Barca shirt a souvenir, or buy one of the car stickers or flags. Soccer fans can also buy get lots of commemorative booklets and pamphlets, or watch interviews of their favorite players on TV. The players are treated like celebrities in Barcelona and are given a hero’s welcome when they win.
Thousands of hotel accommodations. Hundreds of websites competing for your business. Promos left and right, discounts and freebies. With all of this, it can be difficult to choose where to stay during your trip to Barcelona. Sure, you can find hotel deals—but how do you choose which one is best?
Identify What Matters to You
Something must’ve prompted you to choose Spain as your destination. Are you a beach lover who wants to be near the sun and sand, and get full service pampering while you’re there? Realistically you know that you’re not going to spend a lot of time in the city. You’re happier with getting a tan. If that’s the case might as well splurge on the hotel amenities since you’ll be spending most of your time there.
That changes if you’re an art enthusiast who really wants to see the Prado Museum, or the 50 other museums in the area. You probably wouldn’t want to rush looking at the collections. In that case it may be more important to you that you are able to stay longer in Barcelona. You may be willing to get cheaper hotel accommodations and sacrifice some amenities just so you can afford a longer vacation.
Itinerary / Duration of Stay
You also have to think about whether or not you will be going around Spain. Is Barcelona just one of your stops? Will you be heading towards Madrid, Seville, or the Canary Islands? If that’s true than you would probably want to save on your hotel accommodations. Maybe you want to stay in an affiliated hotel so that you can get one of those package discounts, or you should talk to a travel agent who can negotiate this deal for you.
Time of Year
You should also look at when you are planning to go on a trip. This will affect the rates of the room (peak season means higher rentals. The hotel prices increase dramatically during May to September, considered to be the summer months. But you can go there during another month and have more leeway to negotiate for a lower rate.
1. When can I get a hotel in Barcelona?
Usually the hotels and other tourist accommodations are open during the summer, and will start to accept reservations at the start of May. They close after November. However larger establishments are open the whole year and will even give discounts during off-season.
2. How can I make a reservation?
The most convenient method is to book a hotel through the Internet. However, you can also call the hotel directly (the long distance phone bill may come as a surprise to you, though) or course it through a travel agent. Most hotels also have emails where you can send inquiries.
3. What if I need to cancel a reservation?
Usual hotel policy is to set a cut off period where you can cancel a reservation without having to pay a penalty. This can range from 72 hours before the date to as far back as two weeks before the date, especially if you booked during the peak season.
4. Where can I get really cheap accommodations?
Some residents will rent their homes out to tourists. There are also hostels or school dormitories that will rent out rooms. One way of getting cheap hotels is to book during the off season.
