Barcelona

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Barcelona, Spain

 

• The second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is home to almost two million people. Its rich history dates back in 2000 years ago.
• The city of Barcelona is in fact a collection of diverse cities. It preserves its culture and history but presents a modern as well as enterprising city,

The Life:

• Barcelona is filled with outdoor markets, dining areas, shops, museums as well as churches. The city is ideal for walking with its extensive and dependable Metro system.
• August is a very busy month for the city. Some shops and restaurants are closed during this time as owners go for vacations. US tourists may find this month an ideal time to visit with availability of cheap accommodation cost.

 

Cost of Living:

• Cheap and decent hostels and guesthouses are available in the city. Expensive five-star hotels are also options.
• Costs can vary from $35 to $295 for 3-star hotels. Four-star hotels range from $68 to $552 and $133 to $412 for five-star hotels.
• Fast food meals cost $9 each while a sit down meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs about $16. A meal for two which includes three courses costs $66.

 

Poker:

• There are several casinos which offer poker in Barcelona but may be a somewhat different than the ones played in the US.

 

Internet Access:

• The city offers free internet service but is terribly slow. There are other free internet cafes but connection may not be reliable.

 

Weather:

• The weather is favorable almost all throughout the year in Barcelona. But the best time to visit the city in terms of its weather conditions is during the months of May to July.
• August is typically hot and humid while October and November are pleasantly cold. Winter starts in November and ends in February. Rain doesn’t come so often in winter so there are sunny days during this time as well.

 

U.S. Visa/Entry Difficulty Level:

• US tourists are allowed to stay in the country up to 90 days without visa. A valid passport plus travel documents needs to be presented.

 

Banking:

• Barcelona is well-equipped with ATM centers. These ATMs provide a range of services – withdrawals, transfers, ticketing and mobile credit recharges.
• Using the ATM requires precaution to avoid being the target of crimes.

 

Language:

• The two main languages in the city are Catalan and Castillan Spanish. English is understood in many attractions.

 

Language Schools:

• There are opportunities to learn Spanish in the city. Language schools offer different courses and in various price ranges.

 

Food:

• Food quality may not be consistent in the city yet good food exists, oftentimes priced reasonably. In order to save money at the same time get better food, US tourists must search for places where the locals are frequently eating. Restaurants in tourist areas tend to be very expensive.
• If seeking budget meals, restaurants which offer ‘meal for the day’ recipes are great to try. But before leaving the city, US tourists must try the Catalan food.

 

Recreation:

• There are several museums in Barcelona but it is recommended that US tourists take an ‘articket’ to save money with at least eight museums to visit.
• Strolling to the famous cities is a wonderful recreation. Some of these streets consist of La Rambla, La Plaça Catalunya and El Portal de l’Àngel.

 

Safety:

• Barcelona is the pick pocketing capital of Europe. Being careful and alert, especially in crowded areas is strongly recommended. People asking to change money and similar tactics should be ignored.