<p>Thanks everyone. I will definitely write down many of the suggestions. </p>
<p>We are going in mid July. We have our hotels booked and plan to get some tickets ahead (for the Alhambra for instance). We plan to travel between cities via train. Or should we rent a car? </p>
<p>We enjoyed our train ride. One thing I would suggest is do not try to fly out of those cities (Granada, Seville) back to US on the same day. Iiberia airline sucks. We missed our flight from Madrid to NYC because the Granada flight was delayed. I would make sure to get to Madrid or Barcelona the night before your flight back to the US.</p>
<p>If you are traveling on one of the fast trains, it definitely makes sense to take the train. Barcelona to Madrid is much faster via train than car, as is Madrid to Seville. We drove from Seville to Granada, took a couple days and enjoyed seeing the white towns of Andalucia. I gather Cordoba is not on your itinerary – the Mezquita there is probably the most awe-inspiring place I saw in all of Spain – I was more impressed by that than the Alhambra. If you are driving – we took a hike at a national park not too far from Granada called the Torcal de Antequera – very cool. We stayed in Ronda between Seville and Granada – the canyon there is impressive.</p>
<p>We booked train tickets following the detailed instructions on tripadvisor. The RENFE website is not the easiest to figure out.</p>
<p>Having lived in Spain and visited most of the major art museums in the word, I would say that the Prado is not to be missed-providing that interests you! Much attention is paid to the framing and display of the works, which makes it a treat. If your time is limited, arrange a tour so that you can see the highlights of the collections, which will seem like your Art History books have come to life.
Taking the AVE between Madrid and Barcelona is a great experience- you’ll see the remnants of old farms and stone walls and dozens of large windmills which (attempt) to generate power for the country. It’s super fast and runs on time, and be sure to purchase transit passes in the cities you’ll be visiting. If you buy a 10 trip pass, you can use it for more than one person- each time you run it through just subtracts a trip from it. The maps in stations are color-coded and easy to follow. It will be warm, and even quite hot, although Barcelona can be cooled by the sea breezes. Light dresses are fine and comfortable shoes are a must- leave the flat sandals and high heels at home. Nothing is funnier than watching a woman trying to walk on cobblestone streets with the wrong shoes! The Americans wear white sneakers and the Germans wear Birkenstocks with socks (and the latter are usually brightly sunburned too, as are the Brits!), Don’t wear a fanny pack, I beg you, as those mark you as a tourist and that’s not a terrific label. Watch your purse, keep it in front of you and men, put your wallet in your FRONT pocket. I’ve seen bands of gypsies surround unsuspecting tourists on the Metro and lift wallets before the victim was aware of what was happening. The band exists at the next stop and usually only keeps the cash from the wallet, tossing it in the nearest trash can. Do not worry about covering up even in the churches; Spain is not Italy and the reverence for the Catholic Church pretty much died after years of Franco’s domination. Only the little old ladies attend mass regularly and observe old protocol with veils and scarves. Tucking a scarf in your bag is useful if you’re in a place with active A/C though.
Make sure that your bank is aware of where you will be and if possible, use a bank card that doesn’t charge for withdrawals in other countries (the only reason that I’ve kept an HSBC account for decades). Dinner is late in the evening and smaller stores and businesses close between 2 and 5 for siesta (it’s also when employees do their own errands such as banking!). Everything is much slower paced than in the US.
If anyone has any questions about specifically about Barcelona and/or Ibiza, PM me!</p>
<p>I was in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago. I had been there once before. It is my favorite city. The cathedral is not to be missed. Also Parc Guell and the Guell Palace (down off of Las Ramblas). Shopping near the catherdral is great. Cava sangria is also great. Go late one night (it can be after 10 pm) to the Magic Fountain. Fun scene. The Sagrada Familia is fabulous, even if you’ve been before. Apparently there is a good source of funds now, so they are making significant progress on the building. </p>
<p>As for attire, lots of sundresses on the women. I think the only thing that will make you self conscious is if you are not slim…seems like everyone is slim but the tourists. </p>
<p>We spent a great morning on the beach. We got there at about 9 am and by 11:30 it was very crowded. So go early. Prepare to see topless women. </p>
<p>A guy we know couldn’t find his wallet after his first day in Barcelona. Was convinced he had been pickpocketed. Later that evening he received a call from his son at home. He was on another line with the Barcelona police. The guy had dropped his wallet, someone turned it in to the police, the police called the contact number in the wallet, got the son, etc. etc. The guy went to the police station to claim his wallet, and nothing was missing. Can’t guarantee you will have the same good luck in Barcelona (or anywhere!) but I thought I’d share.</p>
<p>We were in Granada, D1 left her credit card in a store after she made the payment. Next day she couldn’t find her CC, and that was when she realized it was missing. She called the store to see if it was there, fully expected them to say no. The store owner said it was there and not to worry.</p>
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<p>That, or snoozing during the afternoons in deserved siestas, and discovering Spain in late nights and early mornings. The weather charts do indeed indicate it gets warmer than I ever experienced. </p>
<p>I love food markets. In Barcelona, visit the Boqueria market off Ramblas. Get cafe con leche or a beer at the Pinoxto bar stand along with tapas. It was written up in the New York Times. Get a coveted seat at the counter ask for suggestions or check out what others are having. If the older gentlemen is working, he is pretty awesome at suggesting plates. Checking out all the food was fun. We took some back to our apartment for evening snack. The market does close early and on Sundays though. In Madrid, there is a similar but smaller market, San Miguel behind Plaza Mayor. That one is open later. You can get sangria and walk around and try tapas as you go.</p>
<p>As others mentioned, it is extremely hot in the summer.</p>
<p>Oh and do the train. It is pretty comfortable and fast. We took the AVE from Madrid to Barcelona. The website to buy tickets is a little tricky with US credit cards. There is a lot of information on tripadvisor on purchasing the tickets online. </p>
<p>I am in Spain now. Have been here for just short a week. Have been to Sevilla and Granada. Arrived in Barcelona today. Love re-reading all the posts. </p>
<p>It is true, it doesn’t seem to matter what you wear in most places. (We have not been to "dress"required restaurants.) Dress comfortably and wear shoes that are appropriate for what you are doing. If you are touring the Alhambra, do not wear heals, flip flops, etc. </p>
<p>Someone said not to wear USA attention getting attire. Why not? Everyone here does. I am having a blast watching what locals (or folks not speaking English to the people they are with) are wearing. Don’t come down on me. About every fourth or fifth person it seems is wearing something USA oriented. 9 out of 10 are not speaking English. So my point is, what difference would it matter? I do not happen to wear anything with words on it other than the tag that says size and washing instructions. Feel free to wash my clothes and ignore the size. It’s not what I want it to be no matter what it says.</p>
<p>It has been hot. But a 100 degree dry hot is better than a 80 degree humid hot. And Spain’s hot is dry.</p>
<p>Food is a bit of a challenge. That’s another entry. </p>
<p>But love Spain.</p>
<p>I’m glad you’re having a good time! My husband and daughter had a FABULOUS time. DH loved hearing DD speak Spanish so fluently. They had only two minor hiccups - as soon as they got off the ferry in Morocco, they were besieged by locals trying to “help” them. It was overwhelming. They ended up taking the next boat back to Spain. I tried not to think about the cost of the trip! Then in Valencia, DH thought he had parked the car correctly, but I guess it was sticking out by a few inches, and it got TOWED! Over $200 to get it out! </p>
<p>In Barcelona, they loved the Cuban jazz concert in a small venue. Before the concert started, a girl came up and said, “Hi, DD!” It was another student from DD’s exchange student program! They went through orientation together and traveled to Spain on the same plane. Talk about a small world. This was past the official end of the program, so it’s amazing they ran into each other.</p>
<p>DH could not get over how friendly people were, and how important FAMILY is in Spain. He said that DD had to go around and say goodbye to everyone in her host parents’ apartment building, because she had gotten to know all of them!</p>
<p>The hardest things for her were: The lack of internet access, the lack of staples such as Skittles and root beer, and at times the sternness of her host parents. But the students had been warned about the host parents ahead of time, so she was prepared. And she had to make up her bed every morning, horrors! DH said she continued to do that in the hotel rooms during their trip.</p>
<p>My D was competing in Spain with a US sports team. At the time there was anti-American sentiment in Europe. The organizers in Spain were the ones who recommended that the kids not wear their US team uniforms or other identifying clothing when they were sight seeing. It was for their safety. </p>
<p>Perhaps that was why people suggested you not wear stuff that immediately identifies you an American?</p>
<p>Bumping this thread as I just returned from Barcelona, and found the tips provided here helpful.</p>
<p>BUY TICKETS ONLINE, I cannot emphasize that enough. I went to Sagrada Familia stupidly thinking I’d just walk up and buy a ticket. The lines were 2 hours long. I bought online for the next day and waltzed in with a 5 minute wait. You can also buy online for Casa Pedrera, Casa Batllo, and the Picasso Museum. If you don’t want to plan too much in advance, you can always buy the night before and ask your hotel to print out hard copies of the tickets.</p>
<p>The guidebooks make it seem like it’s an impossible distance between Eixample / Passaig de Gracia and the Rambla / Barri Gotic, but it’s a 20 min walk as far as I’m concerned. I walked pretty much everywhere. Even Sagrada Familia isn’t really that far. Walking around Barri Gotic was a pleasant afternoon stroll - the Rambla is a little touristy for my taste.</p>
<p>In addition to the typical sites, I enjoyed Cathedral Santa Maria and Barcelona Cathedral (Cathedral de la Seu), which are near one another (basically in between Picasso and the Rambla). I also liked Palau Guell (right off the Rambla - Guell was Gaudi’s patron), and saw “Los Miserables” at the Teatre Liceu (their opera house). The Boqueria (food market) was enjoyable as well. </p>
<p>JHS, thanks for the suggestion for the Ciutat - I did pass by there, and it looked interesting, but my opera tickets were calling so I didn’t have time to do it.</p>
<p>The only thing I can’t really advise on is the tapas, as there’s so much seafood and I’m unable to eat it due to a food allergy, so I stayed away, and actually ate 2 dinners at an excellent Indian restaurant, Bembai, a few blocks off the Passaig de Gracia. I also ate at the Hotel Pratnik bakery, in between Casa Pedrera and Sagrada Familia.</p>
<p>But overall a very fun city!</p>
<p>Thanks for the report. We also enjoyed Palau Guell, which was not open when we were there 7 years ago.</p>