Barcelona's Not So Hidden Secret

Advantages: A beautiful setting with some amazing animals
Disadvantages: Is perhaps overshadowed by other attractions

...Whilst in Barcelona earlier this year we were looking for somewhere to visit that hadn't been on my tourist's agenda on my previous visits. Having spent a morning at the aquarium in the port are we headed for the Zoo. Located in the middle of the City it is well signposted in every direction and features as one of the main stops on all of the sightseeing tour buses routes. There are a couple of car parks located near to all of the entrances and again this is all well signposted from the city's main access routes. Over the last couple of years we've visited a few Zoos and Aquariums and it would be fair to say that Barcelona is one of the biggest Zoos. Like many Zoos these days they are signed up to the World Zoo conservation strategy and are committed to breeding programs for endangered species. Having opened for the first time in...

Andy.mack 25.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Zoo (Barcelona)

  Harvester Restaurants

Advantages: Always one close by, quick turn out, children are welcome and catered for.
Disadvantages: Toilets can be quite disturbing, not all dishes taste as good they are described.

...Harvester Restaurants Restaurant Reviewed: Stag and Hounds Winchester Road Basingstoke Hampshire (next to Comet and Home Base) The Harvester chain of Restaurants have over 2000 outlets across the United Kingdom and owned and operated by Mitchells and Butlers, who claim to be the UK's leading operator of managed pubs, bars and restaurants. Harvester claim to offer healthy eating, drinking and entertainment in one reasonably priced outlet. **** Parking and Getting a Table ***** As with most of the Harvester's I have visited, there is usually ample free parking at the rear of the establishment. However on Saturday evenings and Sunday lunch times these places are heaving with customers, so avoid the crowds, go early and if possible ring and reserve a table. The Stag and Hounds is no exception but fortunately...

mrsmopples 27.02.2007 · Read review
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Review of Harvester Restaurants

Europark Hotel, Barcelona

Advantages: Great Location
Disadvantages: None

...The Location Of Europark Hotel The Europark is a three star hotel in L'Eixample district on Arago. It is in a fantastic location very close to the Passeig de Gracia and a short walk to Las Ramblas and the Barri Gotic (about fifteen minutes walk). The metro and trains get you anywhere you want to go in Barcelona and its only a five minute walk to the nearest station. The metro and trains are reasonably priced. Metro is 1 euro per ride. Train from airport to bottom of Arago was 6.50 euros each way. Address: Europark Hotel Arago 323-325 08009 Barcelona Telephone:93 457 92 05 E-mail: heuropark@nnhotels.com Checking In Checking in was really smooth, I had booked online and been e-mailed an accomodation voucher which you need when checking in, you also need your passport which they give you straight back. We were...

debmercury 04.10.2009 (05.11.2009) · Read review
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Review of EuroPark Hotel, Barcelona

You don't HAVE to love raw fish - but it helps

Advantages: Fantastic food, subtle service, great ambiance
Disadvantages: So understated that it's easy to miss

...It's always a bit un-nerving picking a restaurant in a foreign city even if it's only for a couple of people. When you need three restaurants on three successive nights and want them to satisfy a very mixed group of people (12 to 36 of them depending on the night) then it's natural to be a bit worried because no restaurant is ever going to please them all. I just accept before I even start that someone will hate whatever I pick but if I'm paying, they can lump it. Luckily, for our recent business meeting in Barcelona, I had a secret weapon in the form of the local secretary, a woman who can be relied on to always find somewhere great. On the first evening our key criteria was to find a place that was near to the Hilton Hotel (where we were staying) and would be easy to find for people arriving late. Part of the group - those who...

koshkha 15.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Restaurant Negro, Barcelona

Hotel 1898 - Barcelona

Advantages: Location, Location, Location
Disadvantages: Bar prices and breakfast

...Hotel 1898 ? Barcelona ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Hotel 1898 is a mid priced hotel situated on the main tourist strip Las Ramblas in Barcelona?s Gothic district. Built in the former building of the Philippines Tobacco Company it has been converted to a very high standard with all the facilities you?d expect from a modern city centre hotel while maintaining the character of the pre-existing architecture. Part of the Nunez Navarro chain it is one of several hotels they have in Barcelona and like their other properties offers a high standard of accommodation geared towards the modern traveller. Location~ Hotel 1898 is sited a couple of hundred yards south of Plaza Catalunya, the dropping off point for coaches from the airport and a hub for public transport and has entrances on Las Ramblas and Pintor Fortuny. The central location means...

brereton66 27.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Hotel 1898, Barcelona

The Sacred Heart Church, Tibidabo, Barcelona

Advantages: Beautiful church, great views of Barcelona below.
Disadvantages: None

...the case at all. You hardly notice the funfair from the church and it did seem very peaceful and quiet, despite the amount of visitors it attracts. A cafe/restaurant is also situated near the church and funfair entrance. We reached the top of Tibidabo by coach. On the way up, our guide pointed out the Collserola Telecommunications Tower, also situated on Tibidabo. The tower was built to transmit the Olympic Games of 1992, and also has a viewing platform. Another building located here is the Planetarium, and there are also restaurants giving spectacular views across the city. I must admit it was very steep in parts when travelling up Tibidabo, and I could not look out of the window! However, once off the coach and standing on the ground I was fine, and enjoyed the panoramic views of Barcelona below. It is also possible to reach the summit via...

JEFFJEN 20.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Sacred Heart Church, Barcelona

Lewd and Lurid in Barcelona

Advantages: Fab cinematography, great performances from Cruz, Bardam and Rebecca Hall
Disadvantages: All a bit lewd and lurid

...If you remember in 2007 we saw Javier Bardam, a ferocious villain, wearing a bad haircut, roaming destructively around the county of Texas in the film 'No Country for Old Men.' He played the role of one of the most frightening men in the history of film. In Woody Allen's new comedy, 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Bardam has a new hairstyle and is wearing some trendy and very stylish shirts but I still find it difficult to blot out the vision of that indelible and formidable performance. Even in Allen's new film, Javier is still playing a rogue. His good Latin looks are impressive but this time he is even more scary. He plays the role of Juan Antonio, a stylish dressed, Lothario, who has women falling at his feet. Whether they are women of a promiscuous nature or have high morals and are principled, they are seduced by him and he teaches...

Praski 08.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Vicky Cristina Barcelona (DVD)

He's from Barcelona

Advantages: Everything you want on a city break
Disadvantages: Too many things to do

...Barcelona ^^^^^^^^^ Barcelona is one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe, and for several very good reasons. It is only a short flight from the UK and with budget airlines can be very cheap to reach. Being a coastal city the climate is not too oppressive for our sensitive natures and there is a little bit of everything available to keep just about any kind of visitor entertained. There are bars, restaurants and night life if that?s what you?re after. There are museums, galleries and spectacular architecture if that?s your bent and there are beaches, parks and shopping to fill in the gaps. Whatever type of break you?re after; chances are you?ll find it in Barcelona. Having recently spent four days in the city what struck me most was just how much there was to do and how much I?d left undone. I?ve been on several...

brereton66 20.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Barcelona (Spain)

Not All Secrets Are Worth Knowing

Advantages: Creative decoration and some good dishes
Disadvantages: I wouldn't squeeze 22 five-year old around the table they gave us

...Da Greco came with quite a recommendation; our big boss had been twice and had apparently liked it very much. And he's Italian ? so the local guys figured it must be a good Italian restaurant if Marco liked it. So when the monthly business review meeting went to Barcelona, the locals booked Da Greco (well the results hadn't been great in January so thet thought they'd better give the boss his favourite restaurant!) Finding It We all hopped into taxis and headed into the city. Da Greco has a great location on the Passeig de Gracia (although their business card says Paseo de Gracia). From the outside I would never have guessed there was a restaurant behind the blanked out windows. For all we could see it could have been a shop, an office, or anything else inside. To say it's discrete and unassuming would be fair ? if you didn...

koshkha 28.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Da Greco Restaurant, Barcelona

I was tickled pink on the outskirts of Barcelona

Advantages: Fantastic rooms - they thought of almost everything
Disadvantages: A long way from the centre of the city

...with and generally slowing things down even more than before. When I looked directly at her, she just shrugged and said there were only two computers and then carried on disturbing everyone. Check out took about 10 minutes from joining the queue to leaving the desk. Other facilities The hotel also offers a gym and a squash court, a business centre and 8 meeting rooms, a sauna, several restaurants and parking. Details Frederic Mompou 1 08960 Sant Just Desvern Barcelona Spain I paid 105 Euros per night, excluding breakfast...

koshkha 01.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hesperia Sant Just, Barcelona