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Barcelona, Spain


Learn how to travel as an independent woman with Dr Mary Travelbest. I want you to become the very best at travel. So please join the conversation. Ask a question, learn about a destination, laugh at my mistakes and take the travel tips with you, on the journey. Go places.

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In this episode: we’ll talk about how many reservations are the right number when you travel, air, hotel, and more; Barcelona is the destination, and today’s mistake was not slowing downhill. The tip has to do with Online Travel Agencies for multiples.

FAQ How do you balance between planning and making reservations verses spontaneity and being open to what comes up?

This is a very important question for independent travel, or for any travel, really.
The times that I really want a reservation are for the holiday travel dates. It’s good to book flights several weeks ahead of your holiday travel, and really consider the consequences of playing loose with your arrangements.
Last month, I had an AIR BNB all set for me in Savannah, Georgia, but when I got there, it was not welcoming at all. In fact, I was scared as I was greeting by really loud barking dogs and no human interaction.
Most of the time, I book flights round trip, and mostly I do have a backup reservation. But it’s also very exciting to be driving across the country, or even another country, and not know yet where you’ll be staying. If you have young children, that may not be so fun, though. Restaurant reservations are always based on advice from the hostess, so check ahead of time.
Here are my factors:
Holiday
Children
Language
Distance
Population
Pricing


Today’s Independent Destination- Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region of Spain, so it’s not really “Española” that they speak, it’s Catalan. It’s known for art and architecture. The famous Sagrada Familia church and other buildings by Antoni Gaudi are all over the city. Museo Picasso and Fundacio Joan Miro feature modern art. The history museum, MUHBA has several Roman archeological sites, and the outdoor markets are so special to taste the culture and current wares of the day.
I noticed a lot of protests going on when I first arrived, but that seemed almost normal to the residents. The 92 Olympics were here and the grounds are still available to visit. Some say it’s better than Madrid to visit since there is more to do here. I got wrapped up in dancing outside a church in a plaza with total strangers, holding hands in a circle and having so much fun.
What is the food there like? Well Paella, of course. Bombas, and plenty of other Catalan tastes to enjoy the palate. It’s a coastal city, with a beautiful harbor, convention center and neighborhoods you will love to walk through. The subway system is really easy to navigate, even with a suitcase.

Today’s Mistake
One of my really big mistakes was going downhill on a bike too fast. Even though I was on my brakes, I was going too fast for conditions. I was in Torrey Pines State Park, and the huge Torrey Pines tree had a big shadow over a tree root. And there were a lot of people walking uphill as I was going down. I flipped, and don’t remember much more until I was sitting up and unable to walk. Yes, I broke my hip. The thing that saved my life was my helmet. So don’t ride without one.

Today’s Travel Advice
When buying airline tickets for two people, you may end up paying more. Best to purchase them one ticket at a time, I found, on the Online Travel Agencies. When I only book for one person, the trip was about $50 less than when I booked for two. I think the algorithm is set to increase the price as you have more people on the same itinerary. Has that ever happened to you, too? I’m still gathering data on this one.

Today I want to bring meaning to your travel

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