Post #97645 by Formikahini on Mon, Jun 21, 2004 9:19 PM

Hey Jab-

Good advice from all so far. I'll add that you should at least check out the possibility of flying into one city and out another - sometimes it's NOT more expensive.

Also, the train ride from Barcelona to Madrid is great. Spain's RENFE, the national train system, is usually wonderful. You even get free earphones for the music system (like an airplane's). By day, it's a total Clint Eastwood treat out the window, with gorgeous oceanscapes to boot. But, if you do it by night, DO get a sleeper car. The "seats that fully recline" are a joke: they do fully recline, but when they do, they touch the seat across! Fine if there are only 3 of you in the car, but if there are 6, you're gonna be smelling feet at your face!

Metros are wonderful and easy in both Madrid and Barcelona, but they close at 2:00 AM, at least on weekends, which I found out the hard way. (Maybe earlier on weekdays? Can't remember.) Buy a day-pass and go everywhere for dirt cheap. Forget the rental car, I say.

Yes, much better tiki in Barcelona than in Madrid, and I didn't even see the best - the Kahala. But DO NOT limit your trip to great Spanish tiki!!!! Barcelona's architecture is only beaten by Prague (in numbers of cool buildings), but as far as individual edifices, you will never find better than Gaudi's mind-blowing creations. Never. And don't even get me started on the museums.

I also HUGELY recommend Rick Steve's travel book, "Spain and Portugal." I was never mislead, and he told of the coolest, cheapest, most interesting everything! I am still enamored of my hostel in Madrid, super-close to the Tio Pepe sign in the Plaza del Sol, THE center of Madrid in terms of fall-into-fun-at-every-corner terms. I think it was The Veracruz II. Cheap, super-clean, super-convenient. Our 3 bed room came to $17 per person per night in 2000. No hour restrictions about coming in, private shower, maid service. How it was a hostel and not a hotel, i don't know! I guess that it didn't serve meals. Found it thanks to Senor Rick, as we came to call him and his great guidebook. There are much cheaper spots, even across the street, but those particular ones were over a disco, which Steves made clear. He really does give great advice.

Warning: The Euro is SO strong compared to the dollar now, so be prepared. It's pretty brutal. But you can still have a great time cheaply. Most lunches and dinners, we did the tapas (or "raciones") thing. Several yummy small dishes, until you're full, all while drinking cheap sangria or a cerveza. And it's true about the free drinks thing. Many times, I found that I paid for 1 outta every 4 drinks I drank! The bartenders will often buy your whole gang the next round, and then a round of shots. And maybe another. 'Course, I was with Spaniards, so that helps.

And remember that the tiki bars only take cash!!!! Bring enough!!!

Dang, now I wanna go!