Important Considerations in Planning a Trip to Barcelona

Why millions of people from all over the world head to Barcelona every year no longer comes as a surprise. With such a beautifully unique place that boasts a culture so well-preserved, a buzzing metro teeming with colors, peoples, and sounds, it’s difficult not to be enthralled by this Spanish knockout.

Barcelona, Spain is definitely one of artists’ favorite travel destinations what with its undeniably bizarre art scene and architecture. It’s also a great city to experience the slow, living-in-the-moment lifestyle — partying late and sleeping at the beach all day.

But just like planning for any other vacation, your Barcelona trip still needs to be carefully put together regardless of how “laid-back” you expect the experience to be. Remember, you are still in a foreign place and because of that, certain considerations have to be made to ensure that you get back home content and happy of your sojourn, and more importantly — safe and in one piece.

Here are some of them:

1. The safekeeping of your valuables during your stay there.

Sure, you have heard of the rampant theft going on in some of the districts in Barcelona, so ascertain that you do something to address this even before you get there. Have your traveling documents photocopied, and make sure to ask your hotel if they have a safety deposit vault in the room where you can leave the original copies. You may even purchase some of those anti-theft satchels for some trusty all-around bag during nights out in Raval or Born.

2. The wardrobe you pack.

Generally, the lifestyle in Barcelona is easy-breezy so unless you intend to go on fancy dinners and snazzy events throughout your vacation, pack lightweight clothes in which you’ll be comfy during daytime walking tours. It can get really sunny especially during the summer, so a bottle of sunscreen would come in handy. During the dry, mild winters, soft cotton jackets will do. It rarely ever snows in Barcelona, so you don’t really need those thick layers even in winter.

3. The type and location of accommodation that you book.

This city is one of the most vibrant and rowdy cities there are in the world — even after midnight! So if you fancy a hotel or apartment that’s located in one of the party districts and you are unfortunately a light sleeper, make sure that you bring ear plugs with you. Better yet, book elsewhere that’s more quiet and peaceful. You also have to choose an accommodation that’s suitable for your length of stay; are you staying for an entire month? A few weeks? There are short-term and long-term vacation rentals that you can book to help cut back on costs. Check out http://www.shbarcelona.com for rates and availability.

4. Your itinerary.

If it’s your first time in Barcelona, then whether you like it or not you have to see the places and landmarks that it’s known for; otherwise, you’re missing out on a quintessential aspect of the city. If you have more time in your hands then you’ll be fortunate enough to explore the off-beaten paths or the less “touristy” areas and experience Barcelona like a real Catalan.