Thursday, 14 February 2008

Weather


As many other European regions, Barcelona has well defined seasons in which temperatures and general weather are fairly predictable. Being a coast city, the relative humidity level is very high, always around 70%.

The weather in Barcelona is pleasant most of the year round. However you'll experience the absolute best weather from May to the end of July. September is also a good month.



The warmest season is between June and August, with temperatures that sometimes can go higher than 30 degrees (Celsius), perfect for a holiday close to the sea, holding on to the beaches and pools, walk the city wearing light clothing or just relaxing and having a cold drink at the various terraces available in the city.

August can be hot during the day (sometimes peaking around 34°C, 95F ) so if you love saunas then this is the time of the year for you!


The weather in October and November is still pleasant but starting to get a little cooler (21°C down to 15°C, 69 to 59F). You won't find sunshine every day though, so be prepared for days when it could be overcast with a little rain.


Remember these are only guidelines and the weather can vary somewhat from year to year. Especially in the last few years there has been some fluctuations from the norm.


Climate in Winter
From November to February the temperatures are cooler averaging around 12°C or 53F. It doesn't tend to rain a lot here in Winter so even though it may be cooler, often times you'll have some sunny days too. But do be prepared for some overcast and rainy days. It's all the luck of the draw!

Gayxample



Gayxample is the gay area in Barcelona in the elegant neighbourhood of Eixample, one of the busiest areas in Barcelona with also an incomparable architecture.


Around the blocks between Calle Comte d'Urgell and Rambla Catalunya, Gran Via and Calle Provença, the Eixample stands out for its vibrant gay scene. It is full of fashionable clothes shop, bars, restaurants and cafés.


Gayxample also has a super selection of night clubs, hairdressers, saunas, etc., and all without having to set foot outside this diverse and cosmopolitan area.



You can rent a nice apartment with a lovely terrace just next to the Plaça Universitat where the Gayxample begins. The location of this gay welcome apartment is in a pedestrian street where there are many fashion shops and with the mix of tourists and Barcelona's own folk, gives a cosmopolitan and multicultural feeling, typical of the "old town" of Barcelona.


Interested? Book it now!

Reus Airport


Reus Airport is approximately 106 km from Barcelona city centre and approximately 15 km from Tarragona.


Reus airport offers good access to Salou, Port Aventura theme park, Cambrils and Tarragona and the beaches of the Costa Dorada.
Some Low cost flights arrive to Reus Airport.

How to get to Barcelona city center from Reus Airport

Bus
There is a public bus that leaves from Reus airport to Barcelona. It leaves from directly outside the door of arrivals at Reus airport. It’s operated by the company Hispano Igualadina, and you can buy tickets in the ticket office in the arrivals terminal.

The journey time is one and a half hours, and it costs 11 euros for a single ticket and 18 euros for a return. The bus travels to Barcelona Sants bus station. The time table is adapted to coincide with flight arrivals.

Car Hire
There are various car hire companies at Reus airport and they offer some competitive deals. The advantage of hiring a car is that you can enjoy your holiday at your own pace and explore areas of the coast not served by public transport.

Girona Airport



Girona Airport is 103km (64.2 miles) North East of Barcelona or about 1hr 20 mins train ride from Barcelona centre. Some budget airlines mention "Barcelona" in their descriptions of Girona airport so that you know when you fly to these small airports it's possible to make a connection between the airport and your ultimate destination - Barcelona. One other point to note is that Girona is often spelt with an "e" Gerona. Both names are correct but one name is in Spanish and the other is in Catalan.

Most "Low cost" flights from Ryanair flight to Girona Airport.

How to get to Barcelona center from Girona Airport?

Bus

The Barcelona bus is probably the most convenient method of transfer between Girona Airport and Barcelona city centre. The bus service is run by an independent company and has no direct business association with Ryan Air. However Barcelona Bus arranged its times of departure and arrival to co-incide with the arrival and departure of Ryan Air flights.

When relying on the Barcelona Bus to transfer you to Girona Airport on time for a flight, it's worth remembering that the Barcelona Bus and Ryan Air are separate companies.

The bus stops right outside the airport and will take you to Estacio d'Autobuses Barcelona Nord (Barcelona's main bus terminal) in Barcelona city centre. From there you can catch the metro underground system to take you to your final destination. The nearest Metro stop to the bus station is Arc De Triomf (Red Line, L1) Make sure to leave at the exit called Sortida Nàpols. The metro stop is only 5-10 minutes walk from the bus station.

Important: Also be aware that there are 2 different Barcelona Buses which are both operated by the same company. Make sure to catch the right bus! One bus leaves Girona Airport and goes directly to Barcelona (and vice versa) the other bus only leaves from Girona centre and goes to Barcelona (and vice versa) make sure you're catching the right Barcelona Bus.

Buses timetables : click here.

Tickets cannot be reserved in advance and cost 12 Euros for a single and 21 Euros for a return.
You can also call the Barcelona Bus information line - they have an operator that speaks English:
Barcelona Bus Information Tel: (0034) 93 593 1300

Taxi
This is an expensive option and will cost you around 120 Euros for a one way trip. A better alternative may be to stay in Girona overnight and use public transport the next day, you will also get to see a little of Girona that way.

Car Hire Girona Airport
If you are not in a rush, an attractive option could be to hire a car from either Girona airport or from Barcelona city centre, and drive along the coast. You can then make a detour to one of the many beaches on route along the Costa Brava. When checking for car hire companies it's best to compare a few for prices - you'll be surprised at the difference in rental rates and also to check whether you can pick the car up at one airport and drop it off at the other if you intend to make a one way trip.

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

Book a cheap flight


1) Book your flight with a "no-frills" budget airline
We've listed all the budget airlines flying from the UK below. Some of these also fly from European cities to Barcelona but you'll have to check which because their schedules are always changing.

"Since the success of EasyJet many other airlines decided to get on board offering a "no-frills" flight service"

To reduce overheads and keep ticket prices low, these airlines only offer bookings through their on-line web sites or by a telephone reservation system. This means you won't be able to book these flights through a travel agency or 3rd party company like expedia or travelocity.
It's important to check their terms and conditions before you book as most of these airlines will not refund your ticket if you change your plans.

2) Book well in advance.
You're most likely to get a low-cost ticket if you book at least a few months in advance of your trip. The Budget airline seats fill up quickly and as they do prices go up.

3) Make mid-week bookings
Bookings made for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are often the cheapest tickets.

4) Take a late night or early morning flight
These flights are always more economical.

5) Consider a different airport
If you can't find any cheap flights to Barcelona International Airport consider flying to Girona Airport instead. Girona is only 1 hour 20 mins north of Barcelona by train.

Barcelona Airport


Barcelona International Airport, also known as El Prat, is the main airport serving Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is located 10 km away from the centre of Barcelona, in El Prat de Llobregat.

The airport is the largest in Catalonia and Spain's second largest behind Madrid Barajas International Airport. It is a main hub for Vueling Airlines and Clickair, and a focus city for Spanair, Air Europa and Iberia Airlines (until spring 2008). The airport mainly serves domestic, European and North African destinations, but Singapore Airlines offers destinations in Asia . US Airways, American Airlines (beginning May 1, 2008), Continental airlines and Delta Airlines in the United States. Aeroloneas Argentinas, Aeromexico and Avianca also offers non-stop destinations to Central America/South America. The airport is undergoing expansion with the construction of a new south terminal, expected to be finished in 2009.


How to get to the city center from the Airport

From Barcelona Airport, you can take the train, a shuttle bus or a taxi to reach the city. The best option is to take the taxi. Costing between 20 and 25 euros and, if you are a group of 3 or more, is the most economical. The other option is to take the “Aerobus” (blue bus). The bus arrives at “Plaça Catalunya” one of the most well-known plazas in the city.

Taxi

A Taxi offers a low-cost and convenient way to get to the city centre - the fare is around 25 euros and the journey takes around 25 - 30 mins (depending on traffic). The best option if you are a group of 3 or more.

Aerobus
The aerobus service is a shuttle bus service that links Barcelona airport to the city centre. This service runs every 15 min's as follows: You can catch the Aerobus from the airport and you have stops either at Placa Espana or Placa de Cataluna in the city centre. From there you can catch the metro.

Monday - Friday
Barcelona Airport to Plaza Catalunya - 06:00 to 24:00
Plaza Catalunya to Barcelona Airport - 05:30 to 23:15

Weekends, festivals and public holidays
Barcelona Airport to Plaza Catalunya - 06:30 to 24:00
Plaza Catalunya to Barcelona Airport - 06:00 to 23:20
Ticket Price 3.90 Euros for a single

Train
The RENFE train will take you from Barcelona airport to the city centre where you can change for the metro system at either Barcelona Sants (Sants Estacio) or Passeig de Gracia stations. Tickets 2.60 euros. Journey time is about 25 minutes.

Car Hire
Cheap car hire is available from Barcelona airport terminal B. This page lists all the main car hire rental companies at Barcelona airport with contact information.

Energy Forum 2008 - April 15-18, 2008


European Energy Institute will hold in Barcelona the III Edition of European Energy Forum

Given the success of the two editions of Energy Congress exhibition and conference sessions, the European Energy Institute has again chosen Barcelona to be the place to consolidate this event and become an international point of reference for the energy sector. In 2008, the major international players will gather together to exchange different points of view, innovations and projects, taking advantage of the current importance of the energy sector throughout the world.


European Energy Forum ends its first edition (2006) with a high level of participation: 400 attendees to the congress and more than 2,000 visitors. For three days, the major players in the sector got together to exchange ideas, new technologies, research and development, and also to favour relations between different countries, given the significant international participating level.


You are attending the congress and you need an accommodation in Barcelona? Click here.