Barcelona up and coming festivals update

In a previous blog we shared with you some of the summer festival events hosted in the Catalunya city of arts Barcelona.

In this update we want to highlight the next festival events so you can plan your trip in advance.

During these festivals accommodation prices in hotels sky rocket – but our apartments, guesthouses and B&B’s are offering affordable self-contained accommodation, but you need to book in advance to be assured of accommodation!

Festival highlights:

(1) Festa Major de Gracia (The Gracia Festival) is a wonderful and colourful street festival in the picturesque Gracia neighborhood of Barcelona.

It runs from the 15th till 21st of August.

Papu still has accommodation available in and around the Gracia area – but rooms are limited so if your interested please email us now; info@paputravel.com

(2) Barcelona La Merce Festival

Barcelona La Merce lasts for around 5 days and is a festival held in honour of Mare de Deu de la Merce, the Patron Saint of Barcelona.

The festival, which officially first took place in 1902, bids goodbye to the summer with a bang and welcomes in the cooler months of autumn.

This year 2010 there will be hundreds of different activities taking place in the city.

One of the festival highlights is the Correfoc (Fire Run)

If you are going to experience the Correfoc it is highly advisable to take protective clothing because often powerful sparkler fireworks are sprayed into the crowds. People should bring hats, protective glasses and thick long sleeved tops that will protect you from the flying sparklers.

There is normally 2 types of Correfoc on the same evening. One of them is for the children and is a lot more tame than the "adult" Correfoc which happens later on in the evening

The Correfoc event takes place at dusk. Normally along and around Via Laietana. The road will be closed off and then opens to "The Devils" .

Additional festival info:

Around 24 September, once again Barcelona will celebrate its Annual Festival. The last blast of summer before the autumn starts, La Mercè is the festival of festivals, where, in just a few days there are hundreds of activities like these:

 • Barcelona Acció Musical (Barcelona Musical Action): to hear new sounds

• Barcelona Street Arts: artists performing amongst the public

• Festival of tradition: human castles, bigheads, giants and all the festive beasts of the city, accompanied by guests of the Mediterranean

• Festival of the sky: acrobatic meeting of jets, balloons, ultra lights, etc.

• The Fire Festival: all kinds of sparks from the musical fireworks to the Fire Run...

With a long etcetera of more than 500 activities to everyone’s taste. La Mercè is the festival of a thousand faces.

Website for more festival information: http://www.bcn.cat/merce/en/sobre-merce.shtml

Accommodation bookings can be made via our website: 

Barcelona a shopping Mecca just waiting for you!

 Barcelona is on its way to becoming a top shopping capital of Europe!

Everything you can imagine or dream of buying is available in Barcelona from books to jewels, haute couture (both local and international), designer furniture, wines, cava and much more.

Barcelona offers around 35,000 shops. In contrast to London, Berlin or Amsterdam Barcelona is not only fashionable and trendy but also offers reasonable prices.

Typical shopping hours are 10:00 am and close around 8:30 pm from Monday to Saturday. Small shops still have a "siesta" (rest) in the afternoon from about 2:00 pm until 4:30 pm. All trades are allowed to open on 11 Sundays per year. However, most of the shops on Las Ramblas are opened throughout the week, seven days long.

There are different rates of sales taxes in Spain and, of course, in Barcelona. For shops it is mostly 16 %, on selected items 4 or 7% and for restaurants and hotels the rate is 7%.

The summer sale period is currently on with discounts between 20-50% off!

Some bargains can be had for up to 70% off.

Now that you know shopping is good value, why not chat with some friends…get a group of girls together and come and visit Barcelona. For your stay Papu Travel has great B&B’s, guesthouses and a wide range of very affordable self-contained apartments right in the shopping area or within a few minutes walk.

Take a look at this great 2 bedroom apartment for your next shopping trip to Barcelona - http://www.paputravel.com/index.php/accommodation-finder/109-passeig-de-gracia-delux-apartment.html

Barcelona central apartment for holiday rentals

Papu Ramblas Plaza Apartment is a brand new modern 2 bedroom spacious apartment located in the centre of Barcelona itself, within the Gothic Neihbourhood. This is the centre of town from shopping to eating, sightseeing or being seen (you have to take a walk up and down Las Ramblas to be seen in Barcelona). The apartment features exposed beams, high ceilings, balconies and much more.

Papu Travel has a wide range of studio apartments, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments for holiday or for business traveler rentals.

Papu Ramblas Plaza Apartment is just one example of our apartment range for Barcelona accommodation.

Barcelona accommodation offers for August

1) Barcelona Beach view apartment, available for rent in August & September, priced from €60 per night – click link to view property
http://www.paputravel.com/index.php/accommodation-finder/179-lukes-beachview-apartment.html

(2) Barcelona Las Ramblas apartments, available now, prices from €110 per night – click link to view properties

http://www.paputravel.com/index.php/accommodation-finder/185-papu-born-apartment.html


(3) Barcelona Gothic area apartments, available now, prices from €120 per night – click link to view properties

http://www.paputravel.com/index.php/accommodation-finder/189-papu-ramblas-plaza-real-apartment.html

(4) B&B Guesthouse accommodation Barcelona, rooms available, prices from €28 per night – click link to view properties

http://www.paputravel.com/index.php/accommodation-finder/153-casa-diagonal-guest-house-.html

Papu Travel offer apartments all around Barcelona from city centre to beach locations…you can even stay next door to the FC Barcelona football stadium and take in a football game or two. After all we are all in celebration fever following Spains World Cup 2010 win! Now is the best time to visit Barcelona and Papu Travel have the best guest houses, rooms to rent and apartments at the right prices for friends, families even groups.

Rent an apartment, B&B or Guesthouse by the Beach in Barcelona

Since the massive clean-up operation of the Barcelona beaches and nearby Olympic marina village undertaken for the 1992 Olympics, this area has become a magnet for Barcelonans and visitors alike. A lot of effort goes into maintaining the cleanliness of both sand and sea, which is tested daily, and all beaches have disabled access, lifeguards (in season), sun lounges and showers.

Let us highlight two of the gorgeous beach areas of Barcelona for you.

Nova Icaria
Closest to the Olympic marina, and therefore always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There are three spotless beach bars, two immensely popular restaurants on the promenade behind (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and countless bars and restaurants off the Port Olímpic just a short stroll away.

There are plenty of budget (cheap) through to high-end apartments available for rent at reasonable prices and throughout the year in Nova Icaria and its surrounds.

Barceloneta

Very wide and long and fringed by wooden decking along which lies a series of American-style eateries(pizzas and Tex-Mex mostly) plus the busy Catalan restaurant Agua. Somewhere along its length, the beach becomes San Sebastian (Metro: Barceloneta), a traditional and popular stretch with locals and consequently crowded, noisy and very jolly.

Barceloneta is not far from the old city area (Gothic area) with La Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya. Strolling along the boardwalk, passed cafes and shops towards the city centre is a lovely way to spend your afternoon and get out and about with the Barcelona people at large.

There are 1 bedroom apartments, studios even 2 bedroom apartments available to rent in and around Barceloneta.

There is one apartment we know you beach goers will love because it has stunning views of Barceloneta beach – Lukes Beachview Apartment!

Lukes Beachview apartment sleeps up to 4 adults and prices start in low season for €60.00 per night + taxes and service charges.

Having your own apartment rental within walking distance of one of Barcelonas most famous beaches at an affordable price means couples, families and friends can visit Barcelona take in everything this city of love has to offer including sightseeing, museums, eating out, nightlife and the best part of all – relax on the golden sands and bathe in the warm waters everyday in summer.