Survival & Maintenance
Dress codes – to Bling or Not to Bling?
“Ladies like to dress up ‘n look good!”
The paseo is alive and well in Barcelona, as in the rest of Spain, and looking good is a lifestyle thing. The only downside is the humidity, which makes it a frequent Bad Hair Day.
“Revealing” is very OK. And smart-casual is a necessity by day, losing the casual by night.
Great choice of beachwear in El Corte Ingles on Placa Catalunya (for those coming from Northern Europe in particular, where the choice is less wide…). Also check out the boutiques along the Rambla de Catalunya, in spring/summer. (“The sea is closer than you think…”)
Fitness
Good Gym
Hotel Claris
150 Pau Claris,
+ 34 934 876 262
Running route
Along the Carretera de les Aigües on Tibidabo
Alternative diversion
The Barcelona Rollerbladers Club skates around the city in a big group, with police approval, every Friday night. It meets at 22.30 at Moll del La Marina. Guests are welcome.
www.patinar-bcn.org
Hair & Beauty
Anglada Peluqeria, Pau Claris 126 - 08009, Barcelona Tel. 93 488 28 44 E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Web: www.anglada.com . timings 9-19h; Saturdays 9-12.30h
Philippe Sand on Enrique Granados, 56 with Provenca, if you want a French touch to your hair do (and who doesn’t?). Tel 93 451 6414.
Traveller Tips:
People eat late – lunch from 13.30to 15.00; dinner from 21.00 to 23.00. Some restaurants serve food all day long.
Tipping is normally 5-10% of the bill.
At bars, prices vary depending on whether you drink at the bar, sit at a table inside, or out on the terrace. Outside on the terraces, there are usually waiters who will come and take your order – so don’t order yourself at the bar to then drink outside.
Banks are open Monday to Friday from 08.30 till 14.00. Some open on Saturdays from 9.00 to 12.30
Shops are usually open Monday to Saturday 9.30/10.00 to 13.30/14.00 and then again from 16.30/17.00 till about 20.30. Most shops accept credit cards; some will deliver to your hotel.
If you have only hand luggage, take the airport bus which goes every 15 mins from Placa Catalunya, outside El Corte Ingles. It takes about half an hour, and costs under 4 euros. A taxi to the airport will be about 20 euros, depending on location, and suitcases are charged extra (about 0.90 euro), and like most European cities, night fares and holiday fares are extra (1.40 euros), as is ordering a taxi by phone (3.60 euros extra). Maximum 4 people per taxi excluding driver.
There are 5 underground lines, and the metro remains open Sunday to Thursday from 05.00 to 23.00/24.00 and Fridays, Saturdays and on the eve of holidays, till 02.00am.
Underground and bus tickets can be bought in kiosks, underground stations, lottery stalls. T10 tickets - ten rides by bus or underground. Tdia ticket – unlimited travel by bus or or underground for one day. To pay on a bus, introduce your ticket or Tdia pass into the machine at the front of the bus, or buy a single ticket when you get on. If you are staying near Passeig de Gracia, take the Renfe from Gracia metro station.
Renfe train information +34 902 24 02 02
Airport information + 34 94 298 38 38
Taxis 93 357 77 55; 93 300 11 00; 93 225 00 00
Limousine Rental
+ 34 902 372 000
http://www.limorent.com
Interesting Links
A great website for the city that ChI enjoys is www.barcelonastyle.com
Also check out www.coolhunting.com for true consumers; http://www.gridskipper.com for hot restaurants (in addition to ChI’s tips), hotels etc; and http://www.i-escape.com for hotels, neat deals, etc - (this does not make you a tourist, just a savvy Insider!)