We will be driving from Nice through Catalunya to Barcelona in May--we plan to do a round trip and get back to Nice. This is out first venture into Spain and want to enjoy the Catalunya area interests being cultural/historical and food especially sea food--we have a week and plan to spend time along the way.. Since this will also be our first visit to Barcelona we will do just the main things... my question is, since we have a car we usually stay outside a big city and take public transport in--we usually stay in B&Bs. Would this be a practical idea and where would be a good place or any recommendation for a good B&B. Girona? or should I look closer to Barcelona? We like to stay in the Euro 100/night double range? I see one Paradore listed outside Barcelona--we have stayed in the Pousada's in Portugal and I have mixed feelings about them but would consider them--prefer B&Bs. If we were to decide to drive into Barcelona I think some hotels have parking at Euro 25 or so per night. Any hotel recommendation in Barcelona with parking? We don't need luxury...a place to sleep mainly..

hi Letha,

How many days do you want to spend IN Barcelona - as in visiting there?

Girona, I think, is about an hour from Barcelona and I think it could be a good base to visit Barcelona - if you wanted to just go to Barcelona for a day. Otherwise I would try to stay IN Barcelona but I am not sure I would want to do that with a car. Girona seems like a great base to explore the region, and we are renting this place which is not a B & B but a nice-sized condo and it is definitely within your budget:

Rose Condo

I am also planning a trip to Catalonia and there is so much to see! You will be there before we will, so I can't wait to hear about your trip.

There's a lovely seaside town called Sitges which is just south of Barcelona. The town has loads of nice hotels and restaurants etc and it's only a 30 min train ride from the centre of Sitges to the centre of Barcelona. Sitges is just of the main coastal motorway and so is easy to get to as well.

Thank you Shanon and Scriv; we are certainly planning to stop at Girona and yes I had been looking at Sitges too and wondered if it would be too touristy (we are not beach bums but we love sea food :-)

Shannon I too have been following the PBS spain road trip series but decided way back that I could not afford their travel or life style; the tips on the food are great though and I can't wait to get my teeth into tripe...just kidding, I had it in portugal and it was not my favorite...

Re Barcelona, we are not big City people either (we like rustic and historical) but Barcelona is a must see for us so probably a day to see the main stuff and then we will go back a second day if we want more... the rest of the time we will explore the region North of Barcelona (hence the car)...

So sound like Girona and/or Sitges is where we should park ourselves and take the train to Barcelona...

As usual ST helps to get things in perspective and fall into place as I plan

Letha, here is a blog for you to check out. It is written by the owner of the Rose Condo and it has a lot of good info on it. I am definitely going to make a trip to the town of Camprodon because of it.

gironaj blog

I am looking forward to hearing more about your plans.

One of CNN's headlines few days ago said 'Cheap is Chic in a Recession'... We travel economically at the best of times and in the current economic climate my motto is to see how much I can curtail and still enjoy ourselves so we can continue to follow our hearts passion for travel. So I have been improvising and cutting corners as I plan and here is where we are; critique welcome...and thanks of course for all the inputs from the ST family--this time I am also going to closely track our total expense for future planning purposes in light of the changing economic times :-)

1. Friday 8th May: Leaving San Francisco noon—AA/British Airways to Nice via New York and London--using Frequent Flyer--first time using AA FF miles to Europe and pleasantly surprised at how nice the ticketing agent was and how easy it was to get dates and connections all the way to Nice.

2. Saturday 9th May Arriving Nice 5:00PM—initially we were planning to spend the night in Nice and have dinner with our friends on Sabbatical from India but for various practical and economical reasons we have decided to head out west in the direction of Spain straight away and visit with them for three days on our return to Nice.

Rent a car at Nice Airport (to be done AutoEurope has some good prices…) and drive for an hour or two max and stop for the night, good nights sleep—will find a hotel close to the highway in Salon-En-Provence (we have visited these areas before so this is just a night stop and would prefer not to navigate into towns/villages at that time of the night after a long flight).

Question: Has anyone stayed at these Formula 1’s or Premier Classe hotels —they sound like the US Motel 6 chains to me and priced that way too?

3. Sunday 10th May: It is about 5-half hours drive from Nice airport to our destination in Catalunya so if we drive for an hour or two on Saturday we just have 3 hours on Sunday (we are not fond of continious long drives and like to linger…). So head out in the morning to our vacation rental: Vacation Rental in Catalunya where we have rented the one bedroom apartment. The place is listed on various UK/European vacation rental sites but I booked directly with Denis who is very prompt with e-mail responses any time of day or night--I suspect he/she does not sleep considering the time differences. We should be there by late afternoon.

Monday 11th May to Thursday 14th May: This will be our base for the next 5 days and we plan to radiate out from here on day trips to Barcelona (by train from Girona), Girona, Cadaques (will reserve the Dali House visit), Figueres and other attractions in the radius and hopefully a small hikes into the Pyrenees (I am of course believing what the website says about some of the smaller hikes here being easier than the Alps…..the focus will be relaxation and sea food/cava

Friday 15th May: Start heading back to Nice, spending the night somewhere along the Cote D’Azur..

Saturday 16th to Monday 18th—3 days in Nice (will return car when we reach Nice on 16th); this is our 2nd visit to Nice and 3rd visit to Cote D’ Azur— but never enough and we will relax with our friends and of course head back to Nice old town and other neighboring haunts, I have booked at this budget hotel - Hotel Comte de Nice - which has mixed reviews but is half a mile from the studio apartment our friends are renting—we are familiar with and liked the area last time we were here, a bit away from the promenade but very close to the station etc. Lots of nice bakeries/delis etc on Rue Gambetta as I recall and a Provencal market on a parallel street, It so happens that we always hit Nice during the Monaco car race and/or Cannes Film festival so I went ahead and booked this hotel through hotels.com before they hiked the prices…in fact we lucked out because his prices go up from 19th May as the weekend is the Monaco car race…I got double rooms for $72/night and at that price I suspect it won’t be a room we will want to spend too much time in, but meets my new ‘curtailed travel comforts’ motto…will certainly curtail on accommodation to spend on food…

So that is where we are and it is always exciting as plans fall into place...

{edited to fix link}

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shannon,

Hello Letha,

I would second that Sitges is a lovely town but even when we were there in early December it was quite busy! I guess it might have a lot more non-Spanish tourists (I never mind tourist nationals in a place as they 'blend' nicely ) by May. There are yards and yards of seafood restaurants along the front.

Have you looked into renting a car from Holiday Autos? I nearly always find they are cheaper than AutoEurope and the latter once charged us some huge disproportionate amount for not being able to find a petrol station to fill up at the airport... but perhaps they all do that.

We have stayed at both Formule 1 and Premier Classe hotels many times. Formule 1 was marginally cheaper when we last used them and I preferred it because the shower etc. was part of the room in Premier Classe and didn't work well that way. The showers and loos at Formule 1 are top class although of course you have to leave your room. The bedrooms in both are pretty basic and they both really are just somewhere to put your head down for the night - I wouldn't want to be spending time in a room there. We had one bad experience on the outskirts of Paris where the Formule 1 seemed to be doubling as the local brothel Both used to have quite restrictive checking in and out times as they run on a shoestring as regards staffing but I think you can enter on an automatic system now, even if you haven't booked in advance (recommended at busy times like bank holidays).

Have a great trip!

Letha, I haven't stayed at Formule 1 or Premier Classe hotels, but we have stayed several times at Ibis and ETAP hotels at the Marseille airport. The chains are part of the Accor hotel group, which actually owns Motel 6 in the USA. The ETAP is a place to sleep, very tiny. We stay there when we're with our daughter because their rooms are triples (a single bunk overhead)-- and cheap. I think the IBIS is actually decent for an inexpensive overnight, and they have a grill restaurant that's fine for a meal. You might look into these as options as well.

I'm going to link this discussion to the France forum as well, since you're discussing traveling in Spain and also France.

Sounds like a great trip... hope you'll continue to pass on some of your budget travel ideas.

Kathy

Letha, I can't get your apartment link to work. Is it just me?

quote:

I have booked at this budget hotel - Hotel Comte de Nice - which has mixed reviews but is half a mile from the studio apartment our friends are renting—we are familiar with and liked the area last time we were here, a bit away from the promenade but very close to the station etc.

I thought this looked a little familiar. We have actually stayed at this hotel but it was ages ago (June 1996). It was part of a package that we booked through Wagonlit in Holland. Those were the early days of our travel in France and did not really know what to expect of hotels in France.

We were disappointed with the hotel. It was clean but very spartan. It was basically just a bed with white linen in a stark white room. I looked at the current pictures and I'm glad to see that they have put some wooden tiles up on the walls to add to decor. I don't remember if our room had air conditioning or not. My husband remembers it being hot so it may not have had any air. The staff was friendly.

We also found it a rather long walk from the Promenade up to the hotel. Back in those days we did not enjoy the walk up Jean Medecin and beyond past the area of the train station to return to the hotel after spending an evening in Vieux Nice.

Recently, I spent about 7 weeks in Fall 2007 in the Nice area and much has changed since 1996. I see that there is a tram station right near by which will be very convenient to get to Vieux Nice. I've also found the street life much nicer now. I haven't walked back up Jean Medecin since there was still considerable amount of tram construction going on when I was there but never felt unsafe walking alone around the Vieux Nice and the area of Rue Massina.

I think if you are looking for a budget hotel that is not one of the chains and aware of where it is located, it will be fine. We've been doing budget hotels recently and it doesn't look bad. You got a pretty good price considering the season.

Please report back. I'm curious to know how it has changed.

Shannon,

The Can Cruyanes direct link has been giving me trouble off and on too--sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't but I can usually get there from one of the agent links when the direct one fails. Try this one:

Alternate link to Can Cruyanes


Marta thanks for the detailed feedback on Comte de Nice; forewarned is forearmed so I will lower my expectations even more and then maybe I will be pleasantly surprised... We were in the area two years ago and all the tram construction was going on (locals told us forever!) but I hear the trams are now open--we did use the buses last time and walked Rue Gambetta and Rue Massina and in aroundthe station, Rue Thier a lot....

Will certainly post a review on both Can Cruyanes and Comte de Nice when we get back.

If you are travelling with a car and also want just somwehere to sleep then why not choose a camp site near Barcelona. That way parking will be no problem and accommdotion will be very cheap. You can then very easily drive into the city in the daytime.

quote:

You can then very easily drive into the city in the daytime.

?

We have a similar trip planned for Aug 09. We are spending Aug in Provence and will travel to Cadaquez, north of Barcelona and near where you are considering. It's beautiful! Anyone know of an interesting/affordable place to stay for 1-2 nights for family of 4.

-Katie

Hi Katie,

I had looked at the Hotel Playa Sol when we initially thought of staying a day or two in Cadaques. It is mentioned in this Trip Report in ST and also has good reviews in Trip Advisor:

Trip Report

Letha

quote:

Phelan

Letha
I am traveling to Barcelona and environs and have enjoyed reading your emails and others responses. I will have about 5 days at the end of my trip that are currently unplanned and am looking at possibilities, some of which have been mentioned here. I will definitely be watching this thread and want to read any of your reviews and/or trip reports before I go.

Hello:
I just put in a hotel report for Niu del sol in Palau Severdera (about 18kms from Cadaques, 15 from Figueras)
From our point of view this place offers exceptional value and personal service. Don't know the "in season rates" but would recommend it highly

It is inland so not for beach holiday types but excellent for walkers and cyclists.

Here is the website: http://www.nidus-costabrava.com/ .Merce the owner has El Cau (a tourisme rurale and Nui in the same building so it comes up el Cau but the information email is the same for both.
Highly recommended.
Dennis

Slightly off topic now but.... I have read all the threads regarding cell phones for France/Nice. We do have a GSM dual band phone and will only need the SIM card; we don't need to use the phone heavily either in France/Spain or to call US, so it is mainly for travel convenience... I think a Euro 10 to Euro 15 SIM card with its starter airtime is plenty for us. Nomally we manage this kind of trips without cell phone and get a phone card, so getting a SIM is only because we have the phone

Two questions:

1. Anyone with recent experience on a good deal?
2. Since we will roam between France and Spain anything specific but economical to look out for. Although we have more time in Spain, I suspect we may have more calls in Nice since we will be with friends
3. Does it make a difference (other than convenience and having the phone ready to go when we arrive) if we get it here, or just pick it up there.

Thanks

Letha, I hope I do this right. This is the first post I have made on this site.

We may be driving from Montpellier to Barcelona in April, so I was looking for some of the same information as you.

Last year we stayed in Castelnous at La Figuera and loved it! The village is enchanting and La Figuera was a lovely Gite within the village. Here is a link.
www.lafiguera.com/english/principal/principal.html

I think it was a reasonable price and they had a hearty breakfast.

We toured other villages at the base of the Pyranees, all interesting and charming - they were:
Les "Plus Beaux Villages de France" en Pays Catalan.

On the way to Castelnou we stopped in Collioure we were impressed with how clean it was for a beach town, and picturesque. I think you would enjoy it, also. You can stroll around the town and then be on your way.

We are late planning our trip this year so we have no reservations for Barcelona so far.

We drove from Nice to the Bouche de Rhone in 1985 before heading up to the Loire Valley and Paris. We stopped in St. Paul de Vence, Grasse, Avignon, Aix, and Orange. All were wonderful places to visit. You have so many choices on the way! Of course in 1985 the dollar was strong so it was a whole different ball game. Last year the places we visited in Provence were
Cassis and Isle Sur la Sorgue, which is loaded with antique shops, but we drove back to Montpellier to stay at night.

I'll be interested in the answers you receive. Have a wonderful trip!

I tried to edit the link for La Figuera but it didn't work. There is a - between la and figuera. la-figuera.com

www.la-figuera.com/english/principal/principal.html

Sorry about that.

Tante Anne, welcome to Slow Travel. I don't think there anything wrong with your link. It may well be that they have some website maintenance, or some local comm problems.

There is additional information on Google if one searches "La Figuera Castelnou", including contact information.

I am not sure if you would be interested in this, but we drove from Nice to Barcelona last fall and we love a luxury 5 star campsite near Barcelona that you might want to check out.



It is easy to catch a bus into Barcelona or where ever you want to go and they have nice rentals that will be cheap and uncrowded because you will be off season. We have been to this campsite 4 times for up to a month, so know it well.

We are usually there in spring and fall because we winter in Andalusia.

They have 3 pools, including a wonderful indoor one with the most fabulous jacuzzi that no one is in and is a wonderful way to relax after touring. They have a nice restaurant and the best croissants in Europe! The pastries are terribly tempting too and there is even zoo on premise along with tennis courts and full gym.

It is basically empty during the week, a few more regulars on nice week ends.

There is also a terrific campsite with bungalows in Nice ( both have great wifi by the way) with great croissants for breakfast too and an indoor pool ( many Brits winter there).

If you are looking for frugal and fabulous, I highly recommend this place in May!

Hi WT,

Am I missing the actual name of the campsite? I was curious to checkout the cost of the cottages..I did not realize that campsites around there had cottage options too--like Yosemite I guess...

Tante Ann, I have Castelnous on my day trip list. On the French Riviera/Provence sie, we have spent two vacations driving around and yes it is beautiful and it was tough deciding whether to go back or venture into Spain--finally Spain won...

Sorry about that, letha. The name is Vilanova

Almost all campsites in Europe have bungalows and or mobile homes to rent. Some of the bungalows are really spectacular ( I have seen some made out of stone in a 5 star Tuscany one!) and often they have different levels from the simplest to the most elegant.

It is not unusual to find even things like wine tasting or horseback riding available. There is not a city or site in Europe that does not have a campsite nearby. some how it is a frugal option that most Americans miss, which is too bad as it is one of the best ways to meet people and have a great experience on little money.

Hi WT,

Interesting input...

I checked the prices for the Bungalows/cabins/mobile homes at El Delfin Verde:
Eldelfin Verde
the campsite between Girona and Barcelona...they are not very cheap--Euro 55 to 83 per night shoulder season and Euro 130 to 165 in summer--there are some outside the campsite that are marginally cheaper. It does sleep 5 and comes with kitchen/dining etc. (no sheets provided). If you are 5 people and want to be by the beach it sounds like a good deal.

I'll keep this in mind for the future, it may be an option depending on the kind of vacation--for two people for a week it is expensive. The campsites itself are very cheap off season--Euro 14 and then go to Euro 43 at peak with additional Euro 5 or so per person.

I think it makes sense for people in the neighborhood or on a long haul vacation (like lucky you!) but those of us flying in and out on our two week vacations, it may be something we would have to work through but certainly worth exploring; thanks for the input...

Just a quick note to say we are back from Catalunya and Nice, and thanks to everyone on this board things went as planned or better and we had a good time. I will work on a trip report and some reviews over the upcoming three day weekend including Comte de Nice--Marta being forewarned, we were prepared for the compact room which was actually bigger than the Premier Classe Hotel where we stayed a night enroute--since we were there only to sleep it was fine; traffic around the bed is 'one-way' only at a time. The bathrooms at Comte de Nice have been done up and were great; and the location was excellent for us with our friends staying in an apartment two blocks away; with the tram line stop just round the block, and armed with a book of tickets, getting around Nice was very easy; it was great walking down to the bakery at the corner, picking up bread and sitting down in the cafe across from the 'liberation' tram stop and having coffee and people watching--many would get off the tram and stop for coffee too. And the best part for our new 'economical' travel style was to wheel our bags all of 8 minutes from the hotel to the #23 bus stop outside the station and catch the bus at 5:45 AM and get to the airport by 6:15 AM for a 7:30 AM flight...all for one Euro each--....of course we spurlged on dinner the night before in anticipation of the 'saving'. The airport bus 99 that comes to the same stop does not start till after 7:00 AM and the other airport bus #98 starts from Gare Routier (bus stop) which was also doable since you could take the tram to that bus stop

No sign of any swine flu concern anywhere and the only place we saw anyone wearing masks were a group of Japanese tourists at the Salvador Dali museum in Figueres and later a group of Taiwanese tourists at London Heathrow. The former invoked some light ribbing amongst the groups of local school kids at the museum who would all break into fits of false cough in unison as soon as they caught sight of the masked group :-)

More in my report

Great to get a taste of your trip. Really looking forward to your report. I go to Catalunya in Sept/Oct 2009!
Ruth

Letha - Thanks for reporting back in. I am glad to hear that the hotel worked out for you. I think the neighborhood is much better now especially with the tram and bus access. It is also good to hear how the hotel has improved. Man... how I would like to be Nice right now.

I am looking forward to hearing more about your trip in your report. Welcome home.

Add my voice to the chorus - looking forward to your report Letha! Glad you had a great time.

Darn....now I am committed to doing that report :-) Seriously though, I started it the day before we left and intended to do it every night or morning but you know how that goes during vacations especially with the Spanish lifestyle of dinner starting after 10:00 PM and ending well after midnight (more of that in my report--once you fall into the rythm it has its merits. For the first time I did keep fairly detailed account of out expenses and completed it yesterday. I can share that after the report so you can see what it cost us to do what we did; I am pleasantly surprised since among other things we wanted to reassure ourselves that we could still afford two vacations, our style in these changing and unpredictable economic times, not to mention that the Euro got stronger as we were travelling...

The trip report is on the top of my list of chores for the memorial day weekend...