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From Atlanta to Catalonia: Exploring Barcelona’s Hidden Gems this Xmas

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When you think of Barcelona, what images does it conjure up?

The fairytale wonders of Park Güell? Gaudi’s stunning architecture at Sagrada Família? The funfair at Tibidabo? Picking up a bargain at Las Ramblas? Lionel Messi?

Admittedly, Spain’s second largest city is as famous for its architectural triumphs and sporting heroes as it is for its position as one of the major cultural and economic centers in Europe.

It’s a wonderful city jam-packed with things to see and do, which is why we recommend swapping Atlanta for Catalonia this Christmas and jetting off to Barca for a holiday with a twist.

But first …

Flying from the world’s busiest passenger airport can throw up its own challenges, so to make sure your journey from Hartsfield-Jackson gets off to the best possible start, we recommend pre-booking a parking spot using the Atlanta airport parking comparison service Looking4.com.

Not only will this save your blood pressure, it’ll save you time circling the airport trying to find a parking spot—and you can even opt for a meet and greet service, which means you can drop your car off at the terminal. Magnífico! (as they say in España).

Now … on to the other important stuff …

Poblenou Cemetery

Fair enough, it’s not the cheeriest start to your trip, but the stunning architecture of Poblenou Cemetery is enough to raise your spirits (no pun intended). Located in calle de Taulat, the first cemetery here was opened in 1775.

Check out the two sections of the cemetery, with egalitarian burial niches at the front and monuments and mausolea at the rear, reserved for Barcelona’s wealthier residents to erect expensive reminders of where they lie.

Dine in the Dark

Unless you’ve been kidnapped, held hostage and blindfolded, it’s doubtful you’ve spent much time eating your meals in darkness.  However, at Barcelona’s Dans le Noir, you can break with tradition and engage your other senses as you sit down to some expertly prepared food.

Embark on a sensory journey as your perception of taste and smell are flipped on their head, with a unique atmosphere radiating through the restaurant. If it sounds odd, that’s because it is, but it’s an intriguing way to dine out for the evening.

Enjoy a Sub Zero Drink

Ever dreamed of sipping tasty cocktails while temperatures dip between -2°C and -10°C? When you get to Barcelona, you can make that dream a reality thanks to Icebarcelona. Located in the Condal City, it offers the world’s first ice bar situated on a beach.

Designed by internationally renowned artists, this extremely cool hangout is frequented by locals and tourists alike. The experience lasts for around 45 minutes, which is plenty of time to take a few snaps before checking out the shores of the Mediterranean.

Now it’s over to you …

Do you have any unusual attractions you’d like to visit when you head to Barcelona? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.

3 Travel Tips That’ll Help You to Relax on Vacation

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After a year spent on the grind at work making money for yourself and your family, all you want to do is relax on your vacation. This, however, is easier said than done. Chilling out and enjoying your time away from home is not as simple as it may seem — if you’ve been on vacation before, you can probably attest to that fact. Something just always seems to get in the way of you and a truly relaxing break.

You should stand for this no more, however, as the three travel tips found below can and will help you to really enjoy your next vacation.

Get the important stuff sorted in advance

It’s quite simple; if you get the important stuff regarding your travels sorted before you set off on your adventure, you won’t have to worry about organizing anything while you are vacationing.

In this instance, you should seek to get your transportation, your restaurant options, and your money estimates sorted well in advance of your departure date. As soon as you know where you will be heading on your holiday, you have to check out cheap car rentals near me to ensure that you know where the nearest place to pick up your rented vehicle is going to be situated; you have to make sure that you know where the most suitable restaurants can be found; and you have to bring out the exact amount of money you think you’re going to need to cover your expenses for the duration of your stay.

Don’t pressure yourself to enjoy your vacation

When you build an event up so much, chances are, you’re going to ruin it. This happens when you put pressure on a Friday night to try and make it as fun as it can be, and this happens when you put pressure on yourself to enjoy your vacation. Simply, lay off the pressure and allow yourself to go with the flow instead.

Instead of looking for everything to be perfect, allow things to go wrong on your vacation from time to time. Instead of only finding enjoyment in the big activities and excursions that you take part in, try to find pleasure in the smaller things, such as a nice meal or a good conversation. When you take the pressure off yourself in these kinds of ways, you will be far more likely to have a relaxing vacation.

Take a ‘decompression’ day

In the essence of truly taking the pressure off, you should ensure to take a ‘decompression’ day at some point on your vacation. Rushing around and trying to pack everything into every single day will just wear you out, and that’ll only ever lead to more stress and more fatigue on your part. Taking time to decompress, be it a whole day or just an afternoon, will see you unwind and give you the chance to reorganize yourself.

By putting the three travel tips above into practice, your next vacation will surely be the most relaxing of your life.

Top Reasons A Rental Cottage is Better Than A Hotel

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Whenever you plan a vacation, you get options for accommodation. The first one is a hotel and the second one is cottage rentals. These days, people mostly prefer rental cottages because of cost-effectiveness and privacy factor. Not just this, there are many other reasons owing to which luxury cottage rentals are considered better than a hotel.

Do a rental cottage is really better than a hotel? If you are still confused let’s have a look at the reasons that’ll make you plan your next stay in one of the beautiful cottage rentals.

In Terms Of Privacy

This is one of the greatest factors that’ll make you choose cottage rentals over a hotel. In cottage rentals, you’ll get complete privacy with your family. You can also spend quality time with your family near the poolside area or in the hot tubs. No other stranger will interfere in your private moments. Sometimes, in hotels, it is a bit difficult to enjoy with your family in the pools with other people also.

More Space Than Hotel Premises

If we’ll talk about space then rental cottage is a better option. With a hotel, you’ll get only one room and bathroom facility. With rental cottage, you get extra space for children playing and roaming. Along with this, there’s a facility of car parking, dining area and kitchen area.

Offers All The Comforts of Home

Here comes the other reason for choosing a rental cottage. These rental cottages give all comforts of home to the people be it dining or cosy bed. Along with this, rental cottages give open plan living for comfort and enjoying your vacation to a great extent. Right from enjoying the flat screen TV & comfortable sofa set to underfloor heating, everything is available in the cottage rental to make your stay comfortable as you’re in your own home.

Gives You Opportunity To Explore The Views And Nature

Luxury cottage rentals also offer the perfect view of the incredible countryside that you’ll never get to see with a hotel. You can enjoy the entire view with your morning cup of steaming coffee.

Excellent Amenities

If we’ll talk about amenities then without a doubt you’ll get a long list of facilities and amenities in the rental cottage than a hotel. Amenities & facilities provided by these rental cottages include a kitchen area, microwave, dining area, furniture, underfloor heating, hot tubs, Wi-Fi, telephone, flat screen TV, comfortable beds, cosy armchair and many more.

Perfect For Kids

Rental cottage is perfect for kids as they get enough space for their enjoyment. They’ll get extra space for their mobility and games. Along with this, no will complaint about baby cries and their shouting. Isn’t it great!!

Rentals cottage is perfect for making your vacation luxurious, peaceful and full of comforts. Right from offering excellent amenities to more space, there’s a long list of reasons that can make you choose these rental cottages over a hotel. Not just this, these rental cottages are specially designed keeping the kid’s mobility & comfort in mind.

5 Essentials To Sort Before You Go Away

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When it comes to going away, it doesn’t matter whether it’s for a long weekend or a month sabbatical; there’ll be a few essential things to consider and organise before you set off. You don’t want to be caught out while you’re away by frustrating issues you could have prevented by thinking ahead. Read below to get an idea of where to start so your next trip can be as relaxed as possible.

Insurance

Travel and health insurance are certainly essential to sort before you go away. Even though you may be on holiday, anything can happen, you don’t want to find yourself in a nightmare situation of being in an accident or sustaining an injury, and finding you are not covered. These sorts of costs can add up astronomically, so sort insurance well before you go, and make sure the group you are with do the same.

Car Rental

Organising your transport should also be done before you set off. Although organising a rental car when you arrive is an option, this can be a pricey and drawn out process, so beat the queue and the pressure by booking your rented transport long before you fly. You can get ahead by clicking here to sort your rental car quickly and easily at the touch of a button.

Accommodation

The type of accommodation you choose will be dependant on the group you’re with and the budget you have. Ideally, you’ll be spending a minimal amount of time at your accommodation; you want to be exploring your destination and having fun! Options such as Airbnb, hotels and home-swaps provide plenty of options, so do your research so you find the best deals and the perfect pad for your trip.

Travel Essentials

Travel essentials are more of a last-minute essential to think about, but are important all the same. This list includes travel adaptors, travel pillows, the appropriate currency, as well as any bags you might need. You don’t want to leave it until the night before to find out your old trustful suitcase has a broken zip. In the weeks leading up to your trip, get your thinking cap on so you aren’t caught out and experience the all-too-familiar ‘last-minute dash.’

Everything you leave behind

If you are going away for a particularly long period of time, you will want to have sorted any loose ends at home. This includes any pet care; will you need to book a kennel for your dog, or rely on a friendly neighbour to feed your cat? Locking up the house, and asking neighbours to keep an eye, and collect any mail can help keep your mind at ease. You will also need to inform your bank of your departure, so they don’t freeze your account due to suspicious activity abroad. Consider roaming charges on your phone, too, and inform family of your flight times and schedule so they are also aware of your whereabouts and can check in with you if necessary.

Are You Travelling Abroad – Things To Keep in Mind

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Going abroad is not a problem these days anymore. Be it for your job, business or leisure, travelling abroad is of fun and excitement. It is only a matter of few essential tips to follow while you go out of your country.

Here are some of the important things to keep in mind before you travel abroad.

Local Language

No one asks you to be a pro of the local language of the place you are visiting. But it is only logical to learn a few necessary things. Go beyond the usual ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’ and learn some useful things that may help you if you face any troubles in a foreign land. Also if you learn wrong things it could get you in trouble too. So make sure you learn the right words. One cannot master the language overnight. So get yourself accustomed with the common local phrases and words before you reach your destination.

Document Safety

This probably, is the most important part to remember. You cannot lose your documents as while you are abroad, they are your life. Make sure you have more than one copy of your passport and other necessary documents. You must keep one set with yourself always and leave another set where you will stay. Along with these, you need to keep a small notepad with you where you should keep all the emergency numbers. You must not rely on your phone’s notepad, as the battery may run out.

Culture Factor

Many countries follow certain strict cultures and dos and don’ts. So if you are to stay in a country where local cultures and traditions matter, you must research on it beforehand. Take time to read the official tourism page of the country you are visiting and read necessary articles to avoid unwanted problems..

Pack Light

Just thinking about abroad makes many of us do overpacking. It is because of the fear of running out of essential things. But a small step can help you out. After finalising your plan of travelling abroad, you need to make a list of items that are very important to take. Then list the items that are required for daily use. Always do separate list for clothing, toiletries and other things. Pack casual and formal clothes as well as inner wears in different sections. But the most important thing you must take into account is your cabin bag. You need to learn about the appropriate weight you can carry in-flight.

Gadgets And Accessories

No matter where you go, you need to take a travel power adapter with you always. Be it your tablet or smartphone, you must charge them to let them function properly. Apart from a charger, an MP3 player, noise reduction headphones or a camera (if you need to do photography) need to find place in your luggage. But make sure that your cabin bag is light and your gadgets must not make it overweight.

So if you are planning to travel abroad, follow these tips to enjoy an easy travelling experience. Be a smart traveller!