Aer Lungus are offering flights to Barcelona and Venice for €70.00 return and I want to go to one of them for my birthday weekend in December.:cold:



Haven't been to either so any info would help make the decision.

fanku.

Barcelona. Much drier and not as smelly. :)

Barcelona. Cleaner and more to do

^ ^
And what she said. You will love the Gaudi buildings and Parc Guel is amazing. Loads of bars to keep warm in, too.

Can't speak for Venice, but I've heard it's best to go when it's not too hot as the smell is a bit strong (so December should be fine). There again, you do live with Urk. :D

Barthelona every time. The Spanish are so much more chilled than the Italians.

We've been too both places several times and to be honest, I think either would be great. If Venice attracts you, don't be put off my rumours that the place is smelly - that might have been true once, but I think the Italians have done a lot of work in recent yeards to clean the Venetian waterways. The last time we were there was 3 years ago in July on the hottest day of the year and it certainly didn't smell.

Venice is the prettier of the two Cities - lots of winding alleyways cute shops. It is also the smallest and probably the more "doable" if you are going for a relaxing weekend. St Marks Square at Christmas would be beautiful. One the downside, it is definitely the more touristy (although I doubt you'll have hoardes in December), it's pretty pricey and is prone to flooding during the winter. However, I would say that November-May is the best time to see Venice, because it's much quieter. During holiday season Venice is completely overrun with crowds.

In Barcelona you would have stacks to do - too much to manage in a weekend really. Its a really cosmopolitan City with great bars, great food and fantastic shoppping - lots to entertain. You could also be quite lucky with the weather. We were last there in early January for my birthday, and it was really sunny and on a couple of days. I have pictures of us walking down the beach and eating lunch outside at a cafe wearing t-shirts and sunglasses. In January.

Let us know what you decide. Eitehr way, I'm envious.

Fanks for all the info lads. Urk has decided he'd like to see Venice so I've booked us two flights for 30th November - hurrah...

Got to find a hotel now. Apparantly the closer to St Marks Square the dearer they are, but I don't fancy too much trekking around in the cold...

Should be quieter this time of year though.

The rooms at the Cipriani start at £700 a night.

That's a lot of washing up.

You could sing for your supper. More plates shattered, fewer to wash up.
:w00t:

Thank you Pats Dahling.:mad2:



Anyhoo - got a hotel last night. It's on Grand Canal at Rialto Bridge and costs e160.00 a night. Apparantly that's cheap for Venice....:mellow:


but it is a 4 star, full brekkie included and they throw in a free trip to Murano island where they make the luvverly glass, and a free music night with a harp and string quartet and drinkiepoos on the saturday night....

feel all classy already......


Jaykers, I'd better buy a posh dress........:laugh:

5:03pm and on the vino already ??

....... If Venice attracts you, don't be put off my rumours that the place is smelly ........

...... St Marks Square at Christmas would be beautiful. One the downside, it is definitely the more touristy .......


Yet to do Venice but done Barca several times now.

If and when you do come to do Barca you should decide before you go what you want from that trip as there is Soooo much to do. My experience is that there are in essence three different Barca's. The first trip people tend do is the 7 wonders (Gaudi buildings x4/Piccasso Gallery/Cathedral/Parc) and wander the old town in the evening. Then you have the more modern Barca of Progressive art Galleries/Beach/Dali/Shopping/Clubs etc and finally there is the been there done that trip where you tend to laze about and amble from one gastro experience to the next throughout the day.


Let us know about Venice

Will do.

Knowing us pair though we'll probably go straight for Venice No. 3!!

I'd ooooh and aaaah more over a waterfront seafood symphonie with a crisp white italian wine than at endless churches, - there seems to be a moxie load of them in Venice.

Will do the Basilica though, and the Bell tower. We'e not complete hedonists.


If they're on the way to Harry's Bar.

just got a weird email from the hotel saying we're double booked or summat.

The online booking agency has already taken my money from my credit card account.

wtf - we're off in three days time....:shutup:

just got a weird email from the hotel saying we're double booked or summat.

The online booking agency has already taken my money from my credit card account.

wtf - we're off in three days time....:shutup:

I suggest you get in touch quickly and tell them that it's not you who is double booked but the other people and that it is they that will have their plans changed

:ranting:

Unless of course they are offering you an upgrade :naughty:

WOW - what an amazing place. We had an absolute Ball!

Cream Crackered now though! :laugh:

It really was a beautiful sight waching sunsets (and a couple of sunrises :blush:) over the Grand Canal - stunning.

Hotel fab, meals out superb, people really friendly - just ace so it t'was......

Ahhh Venice...I'll get there one day I'm sure...

Glad you had a fab time...my experience of Barcalona were that of a big smelly city and a strange man with mangey looking puss cats...can't say I'll be rushing back...have always fancied Venice though...mainly because it's feature in soooo many films...I want to do the geeky movie locations thing! :kid:

it's gas - since we got back it seems that every third or fourth programme or film has at least one scene of venice - and it's so small that you recognise all of them! room for another film geek Coastie?!:laugh:

I'll send you the official movie geek hat and tee-shirt immediately...although you only normally get those when you visit places with the intention of seeing the sites you have already seen in the movie as apposed to spotting them afterwards so i'll not send you the really fab, big, badge yet!

Hey, I'm really glad you and Urk enjoyed it! Romantic, isn't it? :applause:

I'd go back in a minute K!!

I've been around a bit [ooh er] and it's one place that really made an impact on me - it's just a gem of a place......


boo - wanna go back now..:(

I'd go back in a minute K!!
(

I know exactly how you feel. I was quite envious when you said you were planning to go.

We've seen Venice in pretty much every season and although its always beautiful, in my opinion you picked the best time to go. Summer is mental with the tourist crowds - there are queues for the main sights and the atmosphere feels a bit frantic with so many people. During late Autumn/Winter it feels calmer and more sophisticated and you don't have any problems getting to see the things you want. You can just walk around the City at your leisure enjoying it's beauty without having to negotiate huge crowds.

Ahhh, you're making me want to go again.