Barcelona Stag Do
Discussion
First thing is to hand out cheapo PAYG phones to all involved for emergencies, and leave the proper phones in the hotel. One of you will get pickpocketed, best to leave the scrotes with a £10 Nokia.
Definitely visit the Sagrada Familia, it's amazing. I'd also definitely pay the Camp Nou a visit. We were lucky when we went because Barca were playing the bottom team in the league while we were there so we got to go and see a game. We were sat three rows from the back, And Messi was about this big. ---> .
Other than that, the Mercat de la Boqueria on the Ramblas is great for spending an hour just wandering around and eating.
Definitely visit the Sagrada Familia, it's amazing. I'd also definitely pay the Camp Nou a visit. We were lucky when we went because Barca were playing the bottom team in the league while we were there so we got to go and see a game. We were sat three rows from the back, And Messi was about this big. ---> .
Other than that, the Mercat de la Boqueria on the Ramblas is great for spending an hour just wandering around and eating.
davepoth said:
. One of you will get pickpocketed
Vouch for this, from a party of about 12-15 (while back, so hazy) two got their pockets emptied.Perhaps they were a little less careful than most (won't bore you with details) but from our non scientific survey of several European cities, Barcelona is the only place any of us have had things stolen.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Answered this a few times...
There is a link in this thread to another thread. I was back in BCN in Jan and this also applied
Answered this a few times...
There is a link in this thread to another thread. I was back in BCN in Jan and this also applied
vladcjelli said:
Vouch for this, from a party of about 12-15 (while back, so hazy) two got their pockets emptied.
Perhaps they were a little less careful than most (won't bore you with details) but from our non scientific survey of several European cities, Barcelona is the only place any of us have had things stolen.
Wish I'd also known this before going over for a fairly low key stag do, the groom wasn't big on drinking. We'd arranged to go sea fishing the day after we got there which involved getting a metro train down the coast by a few stops. I stupidly left the hotel in the morning with my wallet with everything I'd normally have in it. I've travelled a fair bit and generally know better, i.e. only take with you what you need, leave the rest in the safe, but not that day.Perhaps they were a little less careful than most (won't bore you with details) but from our non scientific survey of several European cities, Barcelona is the only place any of us have had things stolen.
The train was crowded on the way back from the fishing trip but something didn't seem right, to much jostling going on. It was when I got off I realised. Wallet gone, all credit/debit cards, at least £100 in Euros and another £50-60 in sterling, and the ultimate insult my bus ticket back to the stupid airport Ryan Air use which is miles from Barcelona. Lucky still had my mobile and passport (had seen sense to leave that at the hotel). Frantic few hours after that phoning up and cancelling all my cards and then the remains of the weekend feeling like a right tw*t borrowing money off other folk on the stag do. The enjoyment went out of the weekend at that point and I couldn't wait to get home
I echo the pick pocket statements. One of our guys lost 200 Euros. We did the stadium tour and also went to see them play Lavante (who were near the bottom of the league at the time.) It was good to see Eto, Messi and Ronaldinho play the game as it should be played.
I hope you have better luck finding the nicer places. We didn't do our research and struggled to find many decent bars.
I hope you have better luck finding the nicer places. We didn't do our research and struggled to find many decent bars.
I lived in Barcelona for nearly 4 years and you have to be careful on trains/metro and Las Ramblas. They target large groups who typically will have been drinking.
- Wallet in front pocket
- only take what you need e.g. no passport
- Anyone with a coat over their arm.... keep away from, especially on trains
- Stand in the middle of the carriage on a train... pickpockets like the doors
I was never targeted as I looked like I belonged there, but if you draw attention to yourselves, then it's pretty common.
Barcelona is an amazing city, full of fun, culture and great food (as long as you keep away from the tourist areas)
- Wallet in front pocket
- only take what you need e.g. no passport
- Anyone with a coat over their arm.... keep away from, especially on trains
- Stand in the middle of the carriage on a train... pickpockets like the doors
I was never targeted as I looked like I belonged there, but if you draw attention to yourselves, then it's pretty common.
Barcelona is an amazing city, full of fun, culture and great food (as long as you keep away from the tourist areas)
2 words: Zorb Football 
Most fun sport I've ever played.
https://youtu.be/M2UjsVZBl90
https://youtu.be/e4wk32z4jlI
In terms of nightlife, Opium was pretty cool although it was filled with mostly expats/foreigners. Most of the strippy offer erm... additional services.
One of us did get pickpocketed, there was a group of beheadscarved gypsies who pushed their way out of the train just as the doors were closing, taking a wallet in the process.
Most fun sport I've ever played.
https://youtu.be/M2UjsVZBl90
https://youtu.be/e4wk32z4jlI
In terms of nightlife, Opium was pretty cool although it was filled with mostly expats/foreigners. Most of the strippy offer erm... additional services.
One of us did get pickpocketed, there was a group of beheadscarved gypsies who pushed their way out of the train just as the doors were closing, taking a wallet in the process.
Went on my brother in laws stag do, over in Barcelona, about 7 years ago.
Have to admit that I found the place a bit of a s
t hole and was very disappointed; we stayed just off Las Ramblas, generally I found that area of the city was dirty and smelt of sewers and fresh piss.
During the day, Las Ramblas was just a tacky tourist destination with stalls and sellers to match, at night it was populated with beggars, homeless people and prostitutes who weren't shy in plying their trade.
The iconic Cathedral was interesting to see, however is ruined by the massive cranes that are up to continue with the building of it, we did an open top bus tour of the city which was interesting.
I don't remember much of the clubs as I got hammered; god knows how I ended up back at the appartment safely.
Visited the Camp Nou and watched Barcelona play, we were right up the top, it pissed with rain and I hate football; having said that it is an impressive stadium and the atmosphere was electric, particularly when Ronaldinho came on the pitch.
Given that almost everyone on here has mentioned that they have been pickpocketed or one of their party had been; we weren't and we weren't particularly careful either.
In short, I was disappointed and I know others who have been and have felt the same; it is a tick on my places I have visited list but I won't be going again.
Have to admit that I found the place a bit of a s
t hole and was very disappointed; we stayed just off Las Ramblas, generally I found that area of the city was dirty and smelt of sewers and fresh piss. During the day, Las Ramblas was just a tacky tourist destination with stalls and sellers to match, at night it was populated with beggars, homeless people and prostitutes who weren't shy in plying their trade.
The iconic Cathedral was interesting to see, however is ruined by the massive cranes that are up to continue with the building of it, we did an open top bus tour of the city which was interesting.
I don't remember much of the clubs as I got hammered; god knows how I ended up back at the appartment safely.
Visited the Camp Nou and watched Barcelona play, we were right up the top, it pissed with rain and I hate football; having said that it is an impressive stadium and the atmosphere was electric, particularly when Ronaldinho came on the pitch.
Given that almost everyone on here has mentioned that they have been pickpocketed or one of their party had been; we weren't and we weren't particularly careful either.
In short, I was disappointed and I know others who have been and have felt the same; it is a tick on my places I have visited list but I won't be going again.
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 24th April 07:51
HTP99 said:
Went on my brother in laws stag do, over in Barcelona, about 7 years ago.
Have to admit that I found the place a bit of a st hole and was very disappointed; we stayed just off Las Ramblas, generally I found that area of the city was dirty and smelt of sewers and fresh piss.
During the day, Las Ramblas was just a tacky tourist destination with stalls and sellers to match, at night it was populated with beggars, homeless people and prostitutes who weren't shy in plying their trade.
The iconic Cathedral was interesting to see, however is ruined by the massive cranes that are up to continue with the building of it, we did an open top bus tour of the city which was interesting.
I don't remember much of the clubs as I got hammered; god knows how I ended up back at the appartment safely.
Visited the Camp Nou and watched Barcelona play, we were right up the top, it pissed with rain and I hate football; having said that it is an impressive stadium and the atmosphere was electric, particularly when Ronaldinho came on the pitch.
Given that almost everyone on here has mentioned that they have been pickpocketed or one of their party had been; we weren't and we weren't particularly careful either.
In short, I was disappointed and I know others who have been and have felt the same; it is a tick on my places I have visited list but I won't be going again.
My experience was exactly this. I've loved all of the city breaks I've done (Tallinn, Krakow, Bruges, Berlin, Hamburg, Budapest, etc, etc.) for many different reasons but Barcelona was the only one I came away from feeling very flat and dissapointed.Have to admit that I found the place a bit of a s
t hole and was very disappointed; we stayed just off Las Ramblas, generally I found that area of the city was dirty and smelt of sewers and fresh piss. During the day, Las Ramblas was just a tacky tourist destination with stalls and sellers to match, at night it was populated with beggars, homeless people and prostitutes who weren't shy in plying their trade.
The iconic Cathedral was interesting to see, however is ruined by the massive cranes that are up to continue with the building of it, we did an open top bus tour of the city which was interesting.
I don't remember much of the clubs as I got hammered; god knows how I ended up back at the appartment safely.
Visited the Camp Nou and watched Barcelona play, we were right up the top, it pissed with rain and I hate football; having said that it is an impressive stadium and the atmosphere was electric, particularly when Ronaldinho came on the pitch.
Given that almost everyone on here has mentioned that they have been pickpocketed or one of their party had been; we weren't and we weren't particularly careful either.
In short, I was disappointed and I know others who have been and have felt the same; it is a tick on my places I have visited list but I won't be going again.
Edited by HTP99 on Friday 24th April 07:51
I know people who have been and loved it so I put it down to us not doing our research properly and not getting the best from the area.
the ramblas is full of st empty tourist bars, tourist tat shops and prostitutes/ne'er do wells of an evening. There are tons of squares off in various parts of the city where there is a far better experience, and there are a few nice bars on the seafront (opium particular, did i mention that one... yes i did). However, after having been to Barcelona maybe 5 times over the years, i am still unclear about where the real action is. You can have a really st night out very easily.
t empty tourist bars, tourist tat shops and prostitutes/ne'er do wells of an evening. There are tons of squares off in various parts of the city where there is a far better experience, and there are a few nice bars on the seafront (opium particular, did i mention that one... yes i did). However, after having been to Barcelona maybe 5 times over the years, i am still unclear about where the real action is. You can have a really st night out very easily. 
Bottom end of the ramblas where the St columb statue is, do a dogleg left then right to an area called Barceloneta (also a metro stop of same name there) and head along past the bars/restaurants with the small port/yacht club in front there was some nice boats in last week and a couple of lamborghinis and Ferraris knocking about, very busy trendy bar at the end just by the end where you turn left onto Barceloneta beach, plenty of beach bars to sit and take in 'the views' and you may get a game of volleyball in 
http://tripadvisor.com/2645511?m=19907
http://tripadvisor.com/2645511?m=19907
toon10 said:
My experience was exactly this. I've loved all of the city breaks I've done (Tallinn, Krakow, Bruges, Berlin, Hamburg, Budapest, etc, etc.) for many different reasons but Barcelona was the only one I came away from feeling very flat and dissapointed.
I know people who have been and loved it so I put it down to us not doing our research properly and not getting the best from the area.
+1 I was underwhelmed recently tooI know people who have been and loved it so I put it down to us not doing our research properly and not getting the best from the area.
Every street looks the same
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