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9 ways to stretch your sterling on aBarcelona Break

With the referendum vote just under 40 days away, British summer breaks in Europe

will be more expensive this year than last. In the days before the market anxiety

about a Brexit, when the pound was stronger against the euro, escaping not from

May 17th, 2016 Author: RSS-Feed

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Europe, but to the continent was measurably more economical, although that

needn't necessarily prohibit a well-deserved sunny escape to Spain these days.

Barcelona can be a brilliant budget destination for those seeking to mitigate the

poorer currency conversion rate from the pound to euros. Have a look at a currency

converter and you’ll see the disparity from last year’s rate that’s driving up the cost of

a European holiday this year. £5,000 converted to €7,100 in 2015 whereas in 2016 the

same exchange has been reduced down to €6,350. With €750 less in your pocket

we’ve no doubt you’ll find these money-savings travel tips timely whether considering

a weekend break or week long holiday. Either way, enjoy the sunny saving side of

Spain!

1.Barcelona is a natural choice for a budget beach city getaway boasting cheap

airfare, due to the healthy competition between six airlines in London alone that offer

direct routes. A mere two-hour flight away, the Catalan capital of cool comes with

the built in virtue of easy and affordable accessibility, flight-wise. For even more

savings, those with credit cards and travel mile airline programmes that offer reward

points may find they can take the 717-mile flight free by cashing in their pot of earned

reward miles.

9 ways to stretch your sterling on aBarcelona Break

What happens to the Brazilian Realafter Rousseff’s Impeachment?

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2.Carefully consider where to get the best rates on travel money when planning any

trip abroad, especially when the exchange rates are already pinching the pound. One

golden rule is to never consider exchanging currency at airport bureau de change

agencies where the worst rates are to be had. Foreign currency exchange rates vary

depending on the fees and rates specialist companies charge, so compare, for

instance Post Office rates with those offered by currency companies that also deliver

holiday money. It’s not necessary to have lots of cash on hand, just a few hundred

euro will do so you can dine, shop and explore the city with ease.

3. The best way to budget a holiday is by loading Sterling onto a Travel card and

there are plenty of highly recommended cards to choose from. You’ll lock in the

current exchange rate when you load a card-which is another potential savings if the

Sterling slips further against the Euro. Naturally most cards are accepted almost

anywhere abroad and are far safer than carrying large amounts of holiday cash. Aside

from helping you budget, travel cards save you money over most credit cards that

apply fees of around 3% each time you use them abroad while also making poor

exchange rate conversions. If the merchant should ask whether you’d prefer your

travel card be charged in pounds or euro, choose euro because the local currency has

already been calculated at the best rate of exchange.

4. Forget what you recall about hostels and consider a hostel-hotel hybrid. EvenPDFmyURL lets you convert a complete website to PDF automatically!

those with families are able to find affordable accommodation in urban Barcelona

where excellent value and great location comfortably coexist. Family rooms (or

dorms, for budget singles) and two person rooms that include breakfast, facilities like

gyms and swimming pools have rates that start at €20 a night and don’t go higher

than €60, even at the height of the season. High tech is the new norm and rooms

feature ample charging points and chic lobbies with large touch screens that allow

guests to leave tips and messages for friends and guests. Most are walking distance

from the metro, and buses, making them a fine way to get from the airport to the

beaches and all across this Mediterranean city by the sea.

5. With 32km of white sand coastline, Barcelona’s blue flag beaches are within easy

reach of the city. By bus, metro or simply strolling down the city’s tree-lined streets,

the traveller to Barcelona really does have an affordable beach escape with the

bonus of a cosmopolitan cultural city backdrop. Few destinations blend the beach and

bustling city so delightfully. Those finding the nearest beaches a bit too crowded will

prefer heading north up the coast to small bohemian towns like Sitges. A laid back

place worth visiting for its own charms including the autumn film festival, Sitges is

only a half hour away by train . Those seeking exquisite views of fishing bays and

hillsides dotted with whitewashed homes will want to take the train up the Northern

coast where the most independently minded (they had their own referendum last

year, opting to stay with Spain) Spaniards populate the Catalunya region.

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6. One of many free outings is the El Ravel Street art tour. Graffiti is celebrated in

this colourful and trendy heart of the city where Barcelona Street Style guides are

happy to spend an afternoon showing off their urban artistic masterpieces. Guides

offering daily tours in English, accept donations as they welcome visitors to the newly

trendy Ravel district. For a low down across town, follow the red umbrellas seen all

over the city for free city walking tours given by lively local guides with Sandeman’s

New Europe. Working hard in hopes of tips, they showcase bustling streets while

stripping away the modern views for unique insights of their Spanish city’s rich

history.

7. Barcelona abounds in verdant parks; with 68 to choose from, the visitor looking for

leisure in the shade of tropical trees is rather spoilt for choice. Renting boats, bicycles

and taking picnics as well as swimming in the many public pools are all economical

ways to savor the real city away from the pricey tourist traps. One of the most

beautiful is Parc de Ciutadella, once the only park the city featured. Built in the late

1800’s, the 44 acre sprawling greenspace is home to the zoo and features cascading

fountains tucked into the wandering paths. Those seeking some exercise will want to

climb Montjuic hill and set aside a day to explore the castle at the summit as well as

The Magic Fountain, Olympic stadium and the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

Also on the hill is Fundacio Joan Miro, one of the world’s largest museums with over

225 paintings and 150 sculptures by the famed Spanish surrealist artist.PDFmyURL lets you convert a complete website to PDF automatically!

8. With plenty of theatre events year-round to purchase tickets for, two locations,

however have free day and night opportunities to enjoy theatrical mayhem. The first,

the Boqueria Food market is best seen before noon when the magnificent jumble of

fresh goods is rushed past diners and shoppers alike. For the price of a coffee, the

visitor can ogle the dizzying variety of favourite foodstuffs from snails, tripe and pig’s

trotters and purchase the freshest fruits and veg. And for those seeking evening

entertainment Las Ramblas is ready with an eclectic array of street performers. The

city’s most famous street runs right through the heart of the city centre, from the

Port all the way up to Plaza Catalunya and is pedestrianized, allowing plenty of time

to take in the weird and wonderful shows. Expect plenty of human statues as well as

musical acts and dancing with plenty of fruit and flower stalls and small pet shops

selling bunnies, snakes and chirping birds lining the street.

9. Dine at mid-day to take advantage of the ‘menu del dia’. Especially in the city

centre, restaurants offer their best meal at the lowest price following the local

philosophy that every man and woman deserves one affordable meal a day. A three

course set menu including bread and a beverage are offered at very reasonable

prices. Little wonder the locals prefer snacking on small plate delicacies for their

evening meal. The traditional Basque tapas are called pintxos, bite-sized tastes

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served atop slices of bread, they go down very nicely with the local cava or vermouth.

Eaten with toothpicks, the price of the meal is calculated by the number of toothpicks

used at the end of the night. Popular pintxos include chicken tempura laced with

saffron mayonnaise and melted provolone with mango and ham. Each bodega

featuring their own tapas, house vermouth and traditional fare, Barcelona takes pride

in their may y mantagna-or sea and mountain, affording the local bounty of dining

specialties from fresh seafood to fruit and veg and meats and cheeses raised on the

rolling mountains. Truly a foodies’ destination, Barcelona boasts a wide range of

cheap eats that make staying within a budget deliciously easy.

Make note of the local version of Bon Appetit: Bon Profit, when considering the

gastronomic delights that can be had at excellent value in Barcelona. This

international city is an excellent destination, full of diverse cultures and historical

splendor that can be enjoyed on a shoe string by savvy travellers. For good profit- see

sunny Barcelona and save yourself some hard earned Sterling.

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