Category: Uncategorized

Travel to New Delhi

We flew from Manchester to Heathrow the day before our flight to New Delhi with British Airways. It is a very short flight but still it included a meal and a glass of champagne which was very nice.

The night before we flew to New Delhi we stayed at Premier Inn at terminal 4. This was a decent room for the price of £60. On the evening before our flight we decided to have a few pre holiday cocktails at the Hilton which is next hotel. It is a lovely bar where the bar tenders make all the cocktails fresh.

Our flight from Heathrow was very nice as we had business class seats which made the 9 hour journey a lot more pleasurable. The food and the drinks on the plane were also very nice. They had a really good choice on board with spirits, champagne and cocktails. After watching a few movies, having a few drinks and plenty of nice food it seemed that the flight was a lot shorter than it was.

Transfers

We had booked our transfers with booking.com as we did not arrive in New Delhi until 11.30pm and did not know how it would be to get a taxi. The driver was there with a sign with our name on it. He took us to his car which was a small car but fortunately had a luggage rack on the roof. He put the suitcase on the roof and we waited for him to tie them on but this did not happen. Fortunately the case arrived safely at our destination.

Accommodation

Our hotel was the Sky Rich International in Karol Bagh which cost £93 for 3 nights. The rooms were cleaned to a good standard. We had twin beds which had fresh bedding on each day. Clean towels were also replaced daily. The staff were very helpful and on hand 24 hours. Breakfast was basic and served in your room. It consisted of egg, toast, cornflakes, coffee and juice which cost £2.60 each. The location of the hotel is pretty good if you want to be near lots of street food and market stalls. Considering we were in Indian and what we paid for the hotel we were very happy with our stay. Of course there are hotels of a much higher standard but obviously the price reflects this.

New and Old Delhi Tour

On our first full day in New Delhi we had booked a tour of New and Old Delhi. We booked the tour through Get Your Guide which cost £16 each. This included a driver who picks you up from your hotel, a guide, a Tut Tut ride, and entrance fees in to monuments.

The driver arrived at our hotel and took us to meet our guide. He introduced himself Mayanka (not sure about the spelling). His English was ok but we struggled on occasions. We were then taken to a Tut Tut who was take to take us to our first destination.

Jama Masjid

Our first stop was the Jama Masjid Mosque. When walking up to it you can see what a spectacular building it is. When you arrive at the mosque you have to take your shoes off at the door. The entrance fee to the mosque was included in our tour but it isnt a lot to enter. Although I (Debbie) had my shoulders and legs covered I was still advised that I needed to wear what we describe as a gown. The guide provided us with information about the mosque and also about the Red Fort which could be seen in the distance. Apparently both have been built purposely of the same height.

Old Delhi Market

Old Delhi Market is an hive of activity. From the bottom of the stairs of the Jama Majid the market starts and runs down a fair distance. We didn’t walk round the market as it was not in our itinerary but we could clearly see the Hussle and bustle.

Spice Market

Our next stop was the Spice Market which covered street and streets of Old Delhi. When wandering around the smells of the spices were quite strong in some areas which was a nice smell. Delhi is the main trading place of India hence why there are so many streets of stalls selling spices. Our guide then took us to shop which sold spices at a cost which was more expensive than England. The owner of the store gave information about each spice and what it is used for. It was a bit of an hard sell therefore we think the tour guide was given commission if we bought something which we didn’t. This is the only downside to organised tours they take you somewhere where there is a bit of pressure to buy something so they get the commission.

Akshardham

Following the Spice Market the Tut Tut driver and our guide took us to our driver who then took us to Akshardham Hindu Temple. Akshardham means the divine abode of God. As you are not able to take photo’s of the Temple our guide stopped where we could have a photo with the Temple in the background.

When you arrive at the Temple you have to go through security with men in one line and women in the other. In Delhi they don’t see many westerners so you do get a lot of people staring especially if you are blonde and female. You are not able to take any belongings in to the temple therefore we left everything in the car apart from water. When at the temple you have to remove your shoes. The temple is said to be the largest temple in the world. We would say that this is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world that we have seen. The architecture, statues and colours are spectacular. Our guide was very informative about the temple. We were shocked when he told us that it was built in 2005.

Lunch

We were taken to lunch at a very nice restaurant in the Connaught Place area of Delhi. The restaurant was called The Imperial Spice. The surrounding and service at the restaurant was lovely. The food was amazing and reasonable priced for the standard of the restaurant. The meal cost £20 for both of us including soft drinks

Mahatma Ghandi’s Cremation Site

Our next stop was Mahatma Ghandi’s cremation site. This had lovely well kept garden’s as you walked up to the site. You have to also remove your shoes before going through to the site. Our guide explained things to us along the way to the actual site. At the site there are many people paying their respects and praying. The black marble square is inscribed with the words “He Ram” which are alleged to be his final words when he was shot which mean Oh God. There is also an eternal flame burning at the site.

Making of rugs

We thought we were going to see a family business with all the family making rugs as this was what was described to us but this was not the case. When we arrived it is clearly just a shop selling expensive rugs with the smallest selling at £500 and the largest selling at £2000 +. They had a what looked like an hand loom which owner of the shop stated that this is how all the rugs were made by all his family. Although the owner stated we were under no obligation to buy it was uncomfortable saying we wanted to leave at not buy anything. There were other floors to the store and we were encourage to look round which we did not really want to do. We had had booked the tour to site see not go shopping.

Sikh Temple

We were then taken to a Sikh Temple which was very busy. It was compulsory to cover most of our hair therefore a scarf which was tied around our heads was provided. Females have to ensure their legs are completely covered. Trousers are also provided if necessary. The guide explained to us about the times of worship and that food is provided for everyone following worship. He advised that volunteers work 24 hours a day 365 days a year to provide the food. We were then shown to the kitchens where all the food was prepared. It was a constant flow of curries, rice and breads. It is heart warming to see young and old working so hard to provide for the less fortunate.

The India Gate (Formerly known as the All Indian War Memorial)

Our guide explained about the British influence in India and why the memorial was erected. It was dedicated to the troops of British India who died in wars between 1914 and 1919. Our tour was shortly coming to end therefore we did not have much time to walk around the gardens manage to take close up photo’s of the India Gate. It was extremely busy and understandably a popular tourist site.

Parliament Buildings

Our final stop was the Parliament Buildings. It was very difficult to park anywhere near the buildings due to security. Our driver was told to move on on more than one occasion. We did get chance to get out of the car and take some photo’s. The guide advised us that the presidents house is the largest house in the world. Having googled this it does not appear to be true.

Summary of tour

Apart from the times we were taken to buy things we did not want the tour is definitely worth doing. Our guide had a lot of knowledge about the sites we visited. It was interesting listening to some of the facts he informed us of. We would recommend this tour.

Trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort

Again we booked this prior to travelling to India through Get Your Guide. The travel to the Taj Mahal cost £20 each. We were picked up at our hotel by the driver at 6am as we were advised it is best to go there in the morning. Our driver explained to us that our guide would meet us in Agra. The journey from Delhi to Agra is approximately 4 hours. On the way there we stopped at the equivalent of our motorway station and had some Indian coffee. This was a lot sweeter and more milky than our coffee which we did like.

When we arrived in Agra we were taken to the office where our guide would meet us. We then headed to the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

The driver dropped us off at the gate to the Taj Mahal which is located on the banks of the river Yamuna. There is a walk up to the main entrance where women have to queue in one line and men in another to go through security. The cost of entering the Taj Mahal is approximately £13. You can wander around the lovely gardens and admire the architecture of the buildings as long as you want. The Taj Mahal is far more spectacular and beautiful then any of the photo’s we have seen and on TV.

The Taj Mahal was built in 1632 to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. There are many buildings with in the Taj Mahal not just the iconic ivory white building. Our guide was very informative about the Taj Mahal, its grounds and various other buildings. He was also very good at taking photo’s. He tried his best to ensure that nobody else was in our photo’s which was quiet difficult considering the amount of people who were there.

When you enter the main building of the Taj Mahal you will need to put covers over your shoes to protect the floor of the Taj Mahal. These are supplied just before you enter the building. Don’t think you have to pay for these. As far as we are aware the shoe covers are recyclable. Our guide informed that in Agra the government is ensuring that Agra is environmentally friendly and has put a ban on some factories due the carbon emission.

Agra Fort

Our next destination was the Agra Fort which is also quiet spectacular but nothing compared to the Taj Mahal. The Agra Fort which is also known has the Red Fort was just a short drive from the Taj Mahal. In fact you can see the Taj Mahal in the distance from the Fort It is known has the Red Fort due to it being made from red sandstone.It was very busy around the entrance to the Fort with many people trying to sell you things. The cost to enter the fort is £7.

Most of the tourist places we had visited in Delhi/Agra we have had to remove or cover our shoes but we did not have to do this at the Fort. Again our guide was very informative and took many photo’s of us at the Fort. It was far more interesting knowing actual facts when walking round the Fort as apposed to seeing it on our own. There were other groups of people with guides we didn’t feel that they had the personal touch like we did.

We were given as much time as we wanted to look around the Fort. Every room or outside area we went through our guide gave us information about it. He also had some fun techniques when taking photo’s which are great memories.

Lunch

After seeing the Agra Fort it was around 2.30 pm at this time we were feeling quiet hungry. The driver and our guide took us to a small restaurant. We offered to pay for the guides meal but he advised that he got his free. The restaurant wasn’t of the standard of the one in Delhi but was clean and the food was nice. We ordered two mains, rice, Roti and soft drinks which cost £14 which was very good value.

Hand crafted marble inlays

Our guide informed that we would be taken to a place that sells various products of marble inlay which is all done by hand. He stated that we would be able to watch them making table tops, chess tables, place mats etc. This is a regular tourist place who are brought there by the guides. We were advised that the government states that they must bring tourists here but not sure how true this is. They allowed us to have a go at smoothing out a stone on a piece of equipment that looked quiet primitive.

We were then taking in to a room where there were some beautiful items especially the tables. The cost of the tables were £3000 plus but here were smaller items for sale for example a coaster. The work that went in to the items was evident. They showed us how many pieces went in to one flower on the coaster. Although there were beautiful items we were not on the tour to buy anything. It did not appear to be hard sell like on the Delhi tour.

Finally we were driven back to Delhi which took another 4 hours. We arrived back at our hotel at 7.30 in the evening.

Summary of tour

At the end of the tour we were taking to the office of the tour operators and asked how the tour went by the manager. We informed him this was a lovely experience and well worth the money. The guide Ahmed was amazing with his photography skills and his knowledge. Although we booked through Get Your Guide the operator of this tour was a third party. Strongly recommend this tour.

Food and drink in Delhi

The food varies so much in Delhi from street food to lovely restaurants depending where you are staying. A lot of the more up market restaurants are around Connaught Place where as a lot of the street food is around Karol Bagh. We thought that the Imperial Spice at Connaught Place had amazing food and service. There are not many bars in Delhi but there are a few. Most of the bars we went to were of a good standard and also served food. A cocktail was between £5 – £8 and a pint of beer was between £4 – £5’50.

If you are wanting street food there is so much to choose from in Karol Bagh. We dont like food on the bone but our street food came with chicken and lamb on the bone. Due to the language barrier we could not explain this.

Transfer back to airport

We had booked our transfers with Booking.com many weeks in advance. On the day of our return we were getting worried that the transfer had not turned up. Finally we got a call from the driver saying he was lost. The hotel receptionist gave the driver the directions. He turned up 1 1/2 hours late.

When the car arrived it had more dints then we have ever seen on a car. The boot was full with a large water barrel therefore no room for any cases. After the hotel staff disgusted things we the driver he put the cases on the back seat and we were on our way to the airport. We were already late and were worried we may miss our flight to Goa. As you can imagine we were very angry when he decided to stop and have a wash in a water fountain at the side of the road. We did catch our flight but just by the skin of our teeth.

Summary of Delhi

We were pleasantly surprised with New and Old Delhi. Although you do see a lot of poverty there are a lot of lovely places to visit, have a meal or a drink. The driving in Delhi is ever man for himself. Lanes on roads or motorways are pointless as nobody takes any notice of them. Everyone drives around on their mobiles. I would definitely recommend a visit to Delhi and especially the Taj Mahal. Usually we don’t have enough time in the places we have been to in order to see and do everything we want to but 3 nights in Delhi was enough. Although it was none stop fitting everything in it was worth it.

Things to do

• Try the street food
• Visit the Taj Mahal
• Visit Akshardham
• Visit Agra Fort
• Visit Jama Masjid
• Take a Tut Tut ride
• Visit the spice market
• Visit Mahatma Ghandi’s Cremation Site
• Visit a Sikh Temple
• Visit India Gate

Top Tips

• Do not book transfers in the Uk. It is cheaper, easier and more reliable getting the taxi at the airport and getting the hotel to sort it on your return.
• When booking your hotel ensure you look in to the area you are staying and the standard of the hotel. Area’s that are recommended for Western tourists are Connaught Place, Karol Bagh and Aerocity
• Both men and women are advised to cover their legs in Delhi. Women are also advised to cover shoulders.
• Be prepared for people asking to have their photo’s taken with you as they do not see many westerners.
• Be prepared to see a lot of poverty and people begging.
• Book tours in advance which will help you to make the most of your stay if staying for short time.
• Take plenty of mosquito spray
• Take plenty of hand sanitizer
• Check out weather below for best time to visit New Delhi
• Following UK government advice when travelling to Delhi https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india
• Check out other places with have visited in India. Click on the following links Mumbai , Goa
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	18	23	28	36	39	37	34	33	33	31	27	21
Low Temp	7	11	15	22	28	27	27	26	24	19	13	8
Rainfall	23	18	13	8	13	74	180	173	117	10	3	10
Number of days	2	2	1	1	2	4	8	8	4	3	0	1

Travel to Martinique

We arrived in Martinique on the 10th January 2023 on our cruise ship Marella Explorer 2. There is a lovely walk way from the ship. At the end of the walk way there were men, women and children all dressed in white greeting us off the ship. They had flowers and chocolate to give to the cruise guests. This was a lovely touch and made us feel quite special.

Island Tour

We hadn’t booked an excursion as all the other Caribbean islands had tour guides selling them a lot cheaper than Tui. We wasn’t disappointed either as we were approached by a tour guide offering an island tour for $20 US dollars.

The guide escorted us to a mini bus where there were already a number of people waiting. The mini bus did not set off until it was completely It wasn’t long before it was completely full and we were on our way.

The guide on the bus was very informative. Throughout the journey he spoke about buildings, areas, plants, wildlife, culture and tourism.

Eglise Sacre Coer church

Our first stop was Eglise Sacre Coer church which is just a short drive from where we were picked up. The church is on top of hill with spectacular views. It is a beautiful church in a quite a remote location. We were given around 15 minutes to look around and take photo’s. Although the church is relatively small it is lovely to walk around it. There is also somewhere to buy souvenirs, have a toilet break and get a drink her

River in rain forest

After the church we were taken to her river in the rain forest. Although the river looked like any over river the surroundings were spectacular with lots of different species of vegetation and a mountainous background.

Saut Gendarme Falls

Our next stop was the water falls. Again we were given a short time to wander around and take photo’s. There is a short walk from the road to the waterfall which is steep in some areas. We would advise not to wear opened toed shoes as it can be quite slippy. It wasn’t the best of days as we encountered some rain. The falls were nice to see but not breath taking as some other falls we have been to. We like to get in to the water and go under the falls but we were unable to do so as there was nowhere to dry our selves and we needed to get back on the mini bus.

Rum Distillery

Next on to the Depaz Rum Distillery which we were looking forward to. There is a lot of history surrounding this distillery dating back to 1917 when Victor Depaz started up this distillery. This was only 15 years after the Mount Pelee Volcano eruption which killed over 30,000 people.

When we arrived we were taken to the shop selling the Rums we were given a taste of 2 different Rum Punches (Coconut and Tropical). Both of which were very nice. Then we were given the opportunity to buy some Rum if we wished to do so. There was no pressure to buy any and we were able to look around at our leisure with nobody trying to sell anything. We bought the Coconut Rum Punch which does not taste very strong but it does pack a punch lol.

As nobody was rushing us we were able to walk around the grounds of the distillery. in the grounds you can see the large stills (We think that what they are called) of various rums.

Banana Plantation

We were due to go and see the volcano but as the weather wasn’t too great we went directly to the banana plantation. Here we were given a guided tour and informed of how the banana’s taste better than some due to them being organic. We were given 1 or 2 banana’s each to taste. They did taste very nice but not sure if they tasted any different to other banana’s.

Plage Beach

Our final destination was Plage Beach. We were able to go in to the sea if we wanted to do so. As we had brought our snorkels we decided to do so. The sea wasn’t as clear as we had expected or what we had experienced at other Caribbean islands. As the day wasn’t really beach weather not many people got in the sea (only 2 of us from the mini bus).

Where we stopped there was a little stand selling drinks and food. Most people just got a drink and a bite to eat before we got back on the mini bus and headed back to ship.

Summary

As with most islands we have visited on the cruise there is never enough time to do all you want to do. The island tour was worth every penny. We seemed to experience so much in one day. It is a shame the weather wasn’t too great though. The guide and the driver were excellent. The driver did not speak much English but the guide obviously did. There are some lovely beaches in Martinique which we did not get a chance to see. We would also have liked to have a meal and some drinks of an evening too but unfortunately we were limited for time. Martinique is a beautiful island and well worth a visit

Images

Things to do

• Visit the Rum Distillery
• Visit the Banana Plantation
• Spend a day at the beach
• Visit Mount Pelee
• Sample the local cuisine
• Visit Saint – Pierre
• Do an island tour
• For history and culture visit Les Troisllets

Top Tips

• The currency in Martinique is Euro but they except US Dollars.
• If on a cruise ship the tours are cheaper with the local tour operators.
• If you have limited time plan your day in advance.
• Carry a rain coat as we had quiet a bit of rain whilst we were there.
• Check weather below best time to visit Martinique.
• Official hurricane season is June – November
• Check out government travel advise when visiting the island https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/martinique
• Check out other destinations in the Caribbean we have visited Jamaica , Mexico , Cuba , Barbados , St Maarten, Antigua , Dominica ,
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	27	28	28	28	29	31	31	31	32	31	30	27
Low Temp	22	22	22	22	24	25	24	24	24	23	22	22
Rainfall	100	80	60	70	70	140	170	200	220	230	200	150
Number of days	11	19	18	15	16	20	22	22	20	20	21	20

Arriving in Barbados

We arrived at Barbados on the 8th January at the cruise port of Bridgetown on the ship Marella Discovery 2. Considering it is Barbados we expected the port to be nice but it wasn’t as nice has other cruise ports we had been to in the Caribbean.

Cruise Port

The port itself has duty free shops has you would expect at a small airport. Outside of the shops the area looks like it is in a commercial area next to a container port.

It was extremely busy with many people not from our ship but had come to the cruise terminal from other ships wandering around with suitcases and looking for transport. It appeared that a lot of people were on there way home.

Swimming with Turtles

Prior to going on the cruise we had read about swimming with the turtles and this is something that we had wanted to do. Therefore we contacted a tour operator called Viator who had offered this at £25 per person.

After going through security we made our way to the boat which was around 25 minutes walk away. Fortunately we had downloaded the map of the island prior to leaving the ship.

It was a Sunday when we were in Barbados therefore all the shops apart from the shops at the port were closed and all businesses. Looking at the buildings alone the way to the marina it was clear that there was a colonial influence.

Marina

We walked to the boat which was moored in a lovely marina with various other private and commercial boats. It wasn’t a big marina but did have a few boats. There are little bars and restaurants near the Marina but unfortunately they wasn’t open as it was a Sunday.

Beach

As we were a bit early we walked along the lovely golden sand of the beach. The sea was a lovely turquoise colour. There were two men throwing water over two horses in the sea. We assumed this was to cool them down. The horses were lovely and appeared well cared for. The beach had what you would expect sunbeds, places to buy food and drink etc.

When we arrived at our boat which was run by Tranquillity Cruises we were advised that we needed to remove our shoes before boarding the boat. The boat was lovely and well maintained. Ourselves and another couple had the full top deck to ourselves which was nice. They were staying in an hotel not far from the Marina. They advised that the hotel was lovely but not much around it.

We set off to where the turtles are usually seen but had to pick up another two guests which were waiting on the beach. It seemed a bit strange that they had to actually swim to the boat.

Turtles

Finally we arrived at the area where the turtles were usually sighted. In Barbados there are 4 different types of nesting turtles. There were many other boats with people in the water also looking for the turtles. The boat crew supplied guests with snorkelling equipment and life jackets. We had brought our full face masks as we preferred them to the snorkel and mask separate.

Getting close with the Turtles

Once in the water the guides were looking for turtles. Once they saw any they directed passengers people from our boat to the area. We saw many turtles at the bottom of the sea which originally we found a bit disappointing then turtles were swimming up to the top of the sea directly in front of our eyes. One turtle came that close it hit its shell on the snorkel mask.

As there were a lot of people in the water at the same time you had to constantly look to ensure that you stayed with the right group and did not get hit by other incoming boats. The guides were very conscious about ensuring we all stayed together. The sea was very calm and with our life jackets on it made snorkelling very easy and enjoyable.

They took us to a ship wreck where there was hundreds of lovely coloured fish. After a short while the numbers of fish diminished. Not sure if they had fed the fish before we had arrived either way it was a lovely experience.

When we returned to the boat we were able to have some free time sliding down the slide which was attached to the boat which was great fun.

The whole experience on the boat was brilliant. All the staff on the boat were very friendly and had great senses of humour which added to the great day.

Summary

Unfortunately with visiting places on a cruise you do not get to see enough of the island but on the plus side it gives you a taste so if you do decide to go back for longer you know this is an island that you want to spend more time on. A lot of people on our ship went around the island and stated out beautiful it was. We will definitely go back to Barbados whether that be on another cruise or a beach holiday as we would love to see more of this island

Images of Barbados

Things to do

• Swim with the Turtles
• Tale an island tour
• Spend a day on the beach
• Visit St Nicolas Abbey
• Visit a rum distillary
• Visit Queen’s Park
• Sample the local cuisine
• Have a horse ride in the sea

Top Tips

• If on a Marella Cruise book your island tour with the locals as their much cheaper
• If booking with Tui book in advance as the excursions get booked up.
• We booked the swimming with turtles and the shipwreck with Viator at a cost of £25 each but had to get our own way there.
• If time is limited plan your itinerary to ensure you see as much as possible.
• Barbados currency is Barbados Dollars (BBD) which are worth a lot less than the us Dollar (USD). Ensue you are aware when paying for something.
• Check out UK government travel advice before going to Barbados https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados
• Check out weather below for best time to travel to Barbados.
• Hurricane season is officially from June to November
• Check out other places we have visited in the Caribbean Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico , Dominica , Antigua , St Maarten
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	28	28	28	29	29	29	30	30	29	29	28	28
Low Temp	23	23	23	24	24	24	24	25	24	24	24	24
Rainfall	66	28	33	36	58	112	147	147	170	178	206	97
Number of days	13	8	8	7	9	14	18	16	15	15	16	14

Travelling to the cruise

We flew to Barbados on the 1st January from Birmingham Airport. The night before our flight we had booked in at the Holiday Inn Express which also included parking for the duration of our holiday (15 nights parking). This package also included breakfast. The package cost £78 with Holiday Extra’s which was really good value. The hotel is a taxi ride away from the terminals at a cost of £15 each way.

Next door to the hotel is a lovely little pub called Little Owl. As it was New Years Eve we decided to go in to the pub and have a few drinks but not stay too long due to the flight the next day. Unfortunately a few drinks turned in to a few more drinks. We saw the New Year in and then went back to the room at this point it was 2am. The following day we were a little worse for wear but very excited about the Caribbean Cruise.

Executive Lounge

At the Airport we booked in the Aspire executive lounge as this was the only one available. The lady behind the bar serving drinks was very helpful and polite. The food was appalling to the point it was inedible. The sausage was so hard you couldn’t even bite into them. We reported this to a member of staff who gave us a glass of prosecco. Having not had breakfast at the hotel due to being booked in to the lounge we were very disappointed that we had to board the plane not having anything to eat. This was also reported to Holiday Extra who did not have the courtesy to respond.

Flight

On the flight with Tui to Barbados we were given a meal and a snack. Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks were also included. Although the flight was 8 hours and 50 minutes the time past very quickly.

It was a bit worrying when we looked out of the window and could see what only can be described has Duck Tape all over the wings of the plane.

We were surprised to hear that when we got to Barbados we would not be collecting our suitcase these will be taken straight to the ship. Another surprise was that we never had to go through customs in Barbados. From the plane we were directed on to mini buses which took everyone to the ship which was around a 30 minute journey. We never actually went in the airport.

Check in

When we arrived on the ship we were directed to the show room for a safety briefing which was around 20 minutes long. Once we had watched this we then had to go and show our passports and were given our room allocation as we had not booked this prior.

It was several hours before our cases arrived at our rooms but this was not an issue as were free to use the facilities on the ship. Therefore had a few drinks and a bite to eat. Although it wasn’t ideal being in the clothes that we had travelled in we still enjoyed the evening. Due to having a long day and a late night on New Years Eve we had a relatively early night.

Cabin

Our cabin was on deck 10 with no windows. The cabin’s are quite small but enough for everything you need. We kept the beds as single as this worked for us. There is plenty of wardrobe space and draw space to keep everything in. The bathroom was quite small but adequate with a small corner sink and a small corner shower. Not having a window did not bother us as we were not in there very long. The only downside was that you struggled to dry swimwear as there was nowhere to hang them to dry. The staff that clean the cabin’s were brilliant as it was immaculately cleaned everyday. Towels left in the shape of animals and chocolates left on the pillows which was a nice touch. There is also a turn down service.

Pool Scene

Having been on one previous Marella Cruise around the Mediterranean we expected this to be very similar but it wasn’t. On the previous cruise it was more of a party atmosphere around the pool. The pool was also designed different with places to sit in the pool around the edge where you were sat in a few inches of water to keep cool. Whilst saying this the entertainment staff are brilliant and try to get people involved in various activities around the pool (Trivia quizzes and music quizzes etc.). On most days there was live entertainment which was usually low key as opposed to the other cruise which was very upbeat.

One of the things we did not agree with around the pool was that on occasions they showed movies and gave people headsets to listen to the movie but turned all music off for other guests who didn’t want to watch the movie. Totally agree with people spending their holiday how they want and if watching a movie in the sunshine is there thing then that’s great but there are others who like to have music. Not sure why we couldn’t have both as they had headsets on. There are many area’s on the ship where you can lie in the sunshine and have quiet time.

Food and Drink

There are many places to eat on the ship some of which you have to pre book and are chargeable.

Market Place

Located on deck 11 it Is the usual buffet style restaurant with added bonuses. There is a deli that serves freshly made sandwiches and hot panini’s during the day. Also there is an afternoon tea serving from 3pm. We never tried this but when passing through it always looked lovely. Of an evening regular theme nights which cover cuisine from around the world, including Mexican, Chinese and Japanese. We didn’t eat here much as we found it a bit café like and we wanted more of a dinning experience especially on an evening. .

Nonna’s

This is an Italian restaurant on the pool deck which is open for lunch. You are given an order sheet where you pick either your pasta dish or pizza. There are then choices to add to your pasta for example sources, herbs in the form of tick boxes. There is also a help yourself salad bar. We ate here a couple of times and the food was ok but a bit bland for our taste. It is a small restaurant but there are also seats outside in the shade where you can eat. It is located on deck 11

Snack Shack

This is also on the pool deck and is open during the day from 10 -6. It serves chips, burgers, hot dogs and fish. There is a small selection of salad to add. To one side to the Shack there is a fridge that has freshly made sandwiches and salads. The fish bites here were so nice therefore we ate them on many occasions. It is located on deck 11

Kora La

This is an Asian restaurant which does charge extra. You also need to book this in advance. Unfortunately it was fully booked during our stay therefore we can not comment on the food or service. Guests who had managed to book stated that it was worth the extra.

Latitude 53

We ate regular at this restaurant as you can have waiter/waitress service for every meal (Breakfast, lunch and evening meal). Unfortunately some lunch times it was closed which we found disappointing as we liked to have lunch here.

Breakfast

At breakfast there was a range of options from traditional English to Delhi of the day. Service was usually very good. Food was of a good standard and was served with juices or coffee and tea.

Lunch

Lunch was 3 courses but you could add extra sides should you wish to do so. The menu did change on a regular basis with some items staying the same. The gourmet burger was one that did stay the same each day which we really enjoyed and had this on more than one occasion. During the day this restaurant is pretty quiet therefore service was very efficient.

Evening meal

On an evening this restaurant could get really busy therefore they would give you a buzzer so you did not wait in the queue which was great as you could go and get a drink. The buzzer would let you know when your table was available. The menu did change daily slightly. Again you can have 3 courses should you wish with added sides. The menu has a good choice with fish, meat, vegetarian and vegan choices. The food is always well presented. Even when it is very busy the service is good considering the amount of people that are dinning here.

Vista

On the lower floor of the Latitude 53 this is an Italian restaurant on an evening. We ate here on many occasions as we liked the food here. Although it is Italian you could also have steak. The food changed slightly each day but not enough. Again you can have 3 courses and additional sides should you wish to do so. Our favourite was the Carbonaro which has an additional charge of £4.99 which was definitely worth it. One of the waiters mixes the pasta with the cheese at your table. The deserts are to die for too. If you are on the premium package they offer desert cocktails too. If you are not on the premium package these are chargeable. We strongly recommend that you give these a try especially the Tiramisu Martini

Images of Vista restaurant

Surf and Turf

Prior to going on the cruise we managed to book in to this restaurant. There is an additional charge of £37 per person. Our starter was a sharer starter of sausage, BBQ spareribs and garlic bread. We had surf and turf and a sirloin steak for our mains which was all cooked to perfection. We also had various sides to accompany the meal (onion rings, chunky chips, sauteed mushrooms, mac and cheese). Our deserts were also lovely ( Profiteroles and cheesecake). Throughout the meal the waiters are constantly topping up the wine. Finally we had our dessert cocktails which were even nicer than the ones in Vista. The whole experience was lovely both food and service.

Images of Surf and Turf restaurant

The only downside was that we had booked a time to eat but there was a member of staff that had come on the cruise and was wanting to book. She obviously did not want to book through the usual channels as the guests and thought she was superior. She was also getting cross with the lady who was front of house at the restaurant. We have no problem with this apart from we were stood in a queue for sometime which was getting longer by the minute. Many of the other guests in the queue were also getting cross. In the end we spoke to a member of staff and asked to let us in for our meal and deal with her booking afterwards which they did. This did not give us a good start to the meal.

Indigo Bar

This bar is a late bar of an evening. It is also the venue for some live bands. There is a DJ until the early hours on some days. The music which was played ranged from the 70’s to present. Whilst we were there it didn’t get overly busy but that had its advantages as it didn’t take long to be served. This bar served some great cocktails especially the smoking ones which looked quite impressive. We visited the Indigo Bar on a number of occasions which is not a good thing when you have an early start the next day.

Squid and Anchor

This bar is allegedly to be designed like a modern British Pub. It looked nothing like a British Pub but it did not stop anyone from having fun. Here they host game shows like Mr and Mrs, quizzes and Bingo. It is good fun to watch or join in. As usual there were people complaining that it was more like Butlins than a cruise. There are so many bars on the ship if they didn’t like then they should have gone else where. A lot of people stated that this was their favourite bar.

19th Hole

This was a lovely bar that served great cocktails. As the name suggests this was designed in a golf theme with seats in the shape of golf carts. We liked to have a drink in here each evening as it was a bit quirky. If going on this cruise visit this bar. A lot of people completely miss this bar as it is not stated in the Tui information. We stumbled across it by accident.

Aperitif

This bar is situated directly outside of the Surf an Turk and the Kao Lak. It is a great place to have a drink or two before dinning. An extensive cocktail menu is another reason why this is such a good bar to visit.

Flutes

Flutes is a quieter bar with piano music playing in the background. This bar has a good range of Champagne and Prosecco. So if this is your thing than this is the bar to be in.

Entertainment

Unfortunately we can not comment on any of the shows as we didn’t see them. We did however go and see some of the specialist singers which were amazing. A lot of people commented on a comedian/magician which they said was fantastic and well worth seeing. The entertainment staff work tirelessly day and night to keep everyone entertained.

Itinerary

The itinerary for the cruise was as follows:-

Day 1 – Arrival – Bridgetown, Barbados

Day 2 – Roseau, Dominca

Day 3 – St Johns, Antigua

Day 4 – Basseterre, St Kitts

Day 5 – Philipsburg, St Maarten

Day 6 – Road Town, Tortola

Day 7 – At sea

Day 8 – leave/second week of cruise- – Bridgetown, Barbados

Dominica

Please see separate Information on Dominica which includes tips, things to do and weather. Please click on the following link Dominica

Antigua

Please see separate Information on Antigua which includes tips, things to do and weather. Please click on the following link Antigua

St Kitts

We hadn’t booked any excursions for St Kitts therefore just had a wander around for short time. There were many local tour guides selling island tours at around $20 – $25 USD when you get off of the ship if you did want to book an excursion last minute. As we had done the first two days with activities we felt that we would just have a relatively relaxed day. There are many shops to look around just in the port including duty free and some designer shops. Other guests on the ship had seen more of the island and said it was beautiful.

St Maarten

Please see separate Information on St Maarten which includes tips, things to do and weather. Please click on the following link St Maarten

BVI (British Virgin Islands)

Again we didn’t book any excursion and just had a short wander around the town. There isn’t much to see or do when walking around but we did come across some lovely churches and an extremely small prison compared to the ones in the UK. You were able to go in and look around parts of the prison. We were informed that if you visited anyone in prison on the island that it was compulsory to dress smartly in a suit.

There are many colourful buses offering tours of the island which are around $20 – $25 US dollars which seems about the average cost of a tour on many of the Caribbean islands. At the port there is a lovely little portable bar called the Crazy Coconuts. This bar served the most amazing rum punch which were in as you would guess coconuts. After only one it felt like it had gone to our heads.

Images of BVI

Weather in British Virgin Islands

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	29	29	29	30	30	31	32	32	31	31	30	29
Low Temp	24	24	24	25	26	27	27	27	27	27	26	25
Rainfall	70	50	50	60	105	75	85	110	145	145	130	80
Number of days	11	8	8	9	11	9	10	12	12	14	13	12

Summary

This cruise was amazing as we managed to see so much in such a short time. Everyone of the staff we came across were wonderful. The cruise was excellent value for money as we paid £1580 for two weeks. We did another cruise after this one called Taste of the tropics. Considering what we had paid the standard of the food and drinks was excellent.

Things to do

• Try the crazy golf.
• Watch the shows
• Watch a movie on deck on an evening.
• Go to the BBQ
• Eat at the specialist restaurants.
• Try the many dinning options on board
• If you like to party try Indigo Club.
• Join in the quizzes around the pool on a day time
• Try the cocktails
• Visit the Islands
• Visit the many bars on ship
• Try the silent disco as it is hilarious.

Top Tips

• Check out the drinks menu before you book to see if it is worth the upgrade. We felt the upgrade was worth it but it depends on what you like to drink.
• Book Al a Carte restaurants in advance as they get booked up.
• Check out destinations and if an excursion is necessary. Most of the destinations had people selling island tours a lot less than Tui $20-$25 US dollars.
• If booking an excursion with Tui book in advance as these get booked up too
• Do research about the destinations you are wanting to see as time is limited when you are there.
• There is a dress to impress night so take your glad rags.
• There is also a white night which is when everyone dresses in white
• Check out temperatures and weather before booking.
• Pack waterproofs just in case as many of the Caribbean islands have a lot of rain in certain months.
• The official hurricane season is from June to November.
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Travelling to St Maarten

Arrived at the cruise port of Philipsburg which is the capital St Maarten on 5th January 2023 on the Marella Explorer 2. When you get off of the ship there are people selling excursions which is around $20 – $25 US dollars.

Taxi’s

There are also many taxi’s waiting to take you to Maho beach. We didn’t book any excursions in St Maarten as we wanted to go to Maho beach which is not far from the port. We knew it was just a short taxi ride away.

You need to queue for the taxi which are mini buses. They will fill the mini bus up before setting off. Everyone who is in the queue is going to the beach. Our taxi driver was very informative about the island and advised that both sides of the Island live independently with their own hospitals, schools, government etc. He was born on the Dutch side of the island which he informed is where there is more work and appears to be financially better than the French side. There were many Casino’s on the Dutch side but not any on the French as it is illegal to gamble there.

The beach is around 20 minutes away from port . Where the mini bus drops you off is where they will pick you up again.

Maho Beach

The beach itself is just a couple of minutes away from the car park. There is a small bar which sells food and drinks on the way to the beach. There are also many people walking around the beach selling cold drinks.

Maho beach is renowned for how close it is to the airport and how low the planes come in to land. There are many signs stating how dangerous it is to get too close to the fence of the airport. Although there are Tiktok and Youtube video’s of thrill seekers clinging to the fence when jets are taking off.

The Power of the jet planes

We witnessed a jet take off and people, hats, shoes, towels all getting blown in to the sea. The beach has a very steep incline from the sea. There were people literally rolling down the beach. It was funny to watch as nobody got hurt thankfully. The beach did clear around that area just in case another plane took off but it wasn’t long before other unexpecting people came and sat in the same area in the path of the jets.

Planes taking off and landing

It is really busy with flights coming in to land every few minutes. Most of the planes were smaller planes from other Caribbean Islands. The smaller planes and the propeller planes did not have the same impact as the larger jets when they were taking off. It was quite safe on the beach when they took off or landed.

When the planes are landing it really does feel that you can reach up and touch them although not advisable to even try.

The Beach

The beach itself has lovely soft sand and crystal clear turquoise sea. The sea was so pleasant to swim in with its warm temperature. There were many people swimming in the sea but the main attraction is the planes flying in and out.

After a few hours we then went back to get a taxi to the ship. Again there are many taxi’s lined up to take you back.

Summary

We did not see much of the island therefore can not comment on what it is like to stay there or to have visited other places of interest in St Maarten’s other than Maho Beach. What we did see of the island was beautiful even though in parts there was still evidence of 2017 hurricane Irma . Although being on the cruise allowed us to see many destinations in a short time but the downside is you don’t get enough time to really explore the island. It would be better to visit less places and have more time in them.

Images

Things to do

• Visit Maho Beach
• Visit one of the Casino’s
• Visit Fort Louis
• Visit the Zoo
• Have a go on the ziplines
• Do an island tour
• Visit Fort Amsterdam

Top Tips

• If going to Maho Beach ensure you are not sat inline with the runway of the jets
• Follow the safety advice
• Ensure you have what you need for the beach (Towels, sun cream, drinks, swimwear, hats etc) as we didn’t see anywhere to buy these items.
• Island tours are cheaper from the local operators
• Although this is a Dutch/French country everywhere excepted US dollars.
• Check out the temperature and rainfall for best time to visit the island. Be aware that the hurricane season officially runs from June to November.
• Check out other destinations we have visited in the Caribbean. Please click on the following links Mexico , Cuba , Jamaica , Antigua , Dominica
• Check out UK government safety advice before travel St Maarten https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/st-maarten
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	29	29	29	30	30	31	31	32	32	31	30	29
Low Temp	23	23	23	24	25	26	26	26	26	26	25	24
Rainfall	65	50	45	65	95	60	70	100	140	115	150	95
Number of days	12	9	9	12	10	8	12	14	14	14	15	13

Travelling to Antigua

We arrived in Antigua on 3rd January 2023 on the Tui Marella Explorer. The cruise port was in Antigua’s capital St John’s. Please see for full details of itinerary of cruise.

This is where you disembark the ship there are several people wanting to sell you excursions which are between $20 and $25 which is a lot cheaper than Tui. Also there are also many duty free shops selling alcohol, perfume, tobacco, jewellery etc.

Prior to the cruise we had looked at excursions in Antigua. When deciding what to do on an excursion we like to do something that is unique to the country/island or that we may never do it again. The one that caught our eye was Sting Ray City. There are some people that do not feel that the stingrays are not treated very nice. But they are in their natural habitat and are free to swim away if wanting to do so. Although we were not 100% sure if this was the right thing to do we decided to go ahead and book the excursion and see for ourselves as many other people had advised it was a great experience and the Stingray’s were never treated badly.

Stingray City

As we had booked our cruise with Tui we looked at their excursions but unfortunately they didn’t do it. Therefore we looked at other tour operators who were also booked up. We contacted Stingray City direct who advised that they had capacity for us on the day we wanted to go. Although we were advised we had to make our own way there which cost $40 each way. Stingray City cost $50 each which is around £146. Many taxi’s are available as soon as you step off the ship.

Travel to Stingray City

The taxi took about 30 -40 minutes to reach our destination. On our way the driver informed us of various landmarks and information regarding the island. He explained that he was conscripted to the military for 2 years but then became a lorry driver. He advised that to be a taxi driver you have to not only have a license to carry passengers but you have to return to education.

When we arrived at our destination he advised that he would wait for us as the experience was predicted to last approximately 2 hours. We were a bit early for our slot of 11 am therefore had to wait for more people to arrive.

Disclaimer

When more people arrived we were taken to a shaded area where we had to sign a disclaimer. Following this we were put into lines for the boats that take you to where the Stingrays are. They cram as many people as possible on to the boats. Be prepared for the water to splash up the sides of the boat and hang on to your hat.

Floating Island

The boat takes you to a floating island where the sea around it is crystal clear and turquoise in colour. As the boats do not leave all belongings can be left on the boat. Snorkelling equipment is provided if you want it. We prefer the full face masks therefore brought our own. Many people were nervous about getting in to the water with the Stingray’s but the guides reassured people that it was ok. Although there were many people that watched from the floating island and did not go in the water.

Interaction with the Stingrays

The guides throw squid in to the water to attract the Stingrays and soon there were a lot of them swimming around. It was a bit a nerving to begin with when the large Stingrays were brushing past us but soon we felt comfortable with them. They were very tame and did not appear to mind being stroked. The guides encouraged people to have photo’s with the Stingrays which had been mentioned by other people that they did not agree with this. We were also given squid and were able to feed the Stingrays directly. Stingrays such there food up like a vacuum so it is a good idea when feeding them not to let any digits get in the way. The guides show you the correct way to feed them to avoid any injuries.

When most of the food had gone a lot of the Stingrays swam away but there were a few that continued to swim through the crowd looking for food. We never witnessed anything which we feel would warrant anyone to say that they are mistreated. We suppose holding them is not natural to them and this is something that should not be done. When we held one it was very calm as we had been shown the correct way in order not to distress them. The stingray did not even swim away when we finished holding it. The stingray continued to swim around people.

Amount of time in the water

Not sure how long we had in the water with the Stingrays but it seemed long enough. We were taken back on the boats to where we started. Here we were given a cup of Rum Punch and given the option to purchase photo’s. The Rum Punch was very strong and went straight to our heads lol. We bought the photo even though it was not very flattering at a cost of $15 dollars.

Our taxi driver was waiting for us to take us back to the ship. On our way back he appeared to take us a different way which was through the streets in the centre of Antigua.

Summary

Antigua is a beautiful island. The people are so friendly and helpful. There is a lot more to see and do than what we had the time for. We would love to come back to this island and spend more time here. Maybe another cruise or a holiday who knows time will tell.

Images

Things to do

• Swim with Stingray’s at Stingray City
• Visit Shirley Heights
• Visit Nelson’s Dock
• Visit the Brid Sanctuary
• Visit a beach
• Taste the Rum Punch
• Take an island tour.

Top Tips

• If wanting an island tour go to one of the local operators when you get off the ship if on a cruise. Prices are $20 – $25 which is much cheaper than Tui, Cruise Ship excursions. It also benefits the local people.
• If wanting to go to Stingray City book before you go on the cruise, holiday or if you are just visiting the island. Stingray City gets booked up pretty quick. We booked direct with Stingray City. We emailed them on stingray@candw.ag
• If time is limited as we were plan your itinerary before you go. If where you are wanting to go is not on one of the local island tour let them know as they will always try to accommodate. Having a private tour of the island, seeing what you want to see and going where you want is relatively cheap just ask for a price from one of the local taxi’s/tour operators.
• Do not confuse the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) with the USA dollar, The XCD is worth a lot less. At the time of our travels 1 USD was 82p and 1 XCD was 30p.
• Please click on the following link for general travel advice Travel Tips
• Check out other Caribbean destinations we have visited Cuba , Mexico, Jamaica , Dominica
• Check out government information regarding safety https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/antigua-and-barbuda
• Check out our general travel tips. Click on the following link Travel Tips

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	27	28	29	28	29	30	31	30	30	29	30	29
Low Temp	22	22	23	23	24	26	25	25	25	24	24	23
Rainfall	21	41	30	27	56	62	72	75	87	101	88	63
Number of days	18	16	14	12	13	14	18	18	16	16	17	17

Travel to Barcelona

We visited Barcelona as it was part of our itinerary on our cruise. Please click on following link to find further information regarding the cruise and all the destinations we visited Highlights of the Mediterranean Our ship docked at Barcelona port on 15th July 2022. We were then taken to bus to the centre of Barcelona which was arranged by the cruise ship. There was a small fee to use the bus 7.50 euro’s return.

Hop on Hop Off Bus

We decided to get on the hop on hop off bus rather than a guided tour. There are two different hop on hop off bus routes around Barcelona (West – Orange route and East – Green Route). You may need to use both of these routes to see the sights that you want to (we needed to). We originally got on the West Orange route as one of the sights we wanted to see was Camp Nou home to FC Barcelona and is only on this route.

When you get on the bus you are given headsets and plug them in at the side of the seat. There is a button to change the language in to English if it is not already on this. The information provided is extremely interesting with facts about each destination, places of interest etc on the route. You can just stay on the bus all the time until the end of the journey or you can get off as and when you chose. Each route takes about 2 hours to complete if you remained on the bus.

Destinations – Orange Route

We got off the bus at stop 5 which is Camp Nou. Camp Nou translates to new field. This was a very popular destination to get off at as most of the bus got off at this point. Some people had booked tours of the stadium but has time was limited we were unable to do this. We wondered around the outside of the stadium along with lots of other people as this is obviously a main tourist destination. We took several photo’s and then got back on the bus. The buses run every 15 minutes to each stop on the route.

Our next destination was Casa Batilo which was 2 stops away from Camp Nou. Casa Batilo is sometimes known has “the house of the dragon. Casa Batilo is a building in the centre of Barcelona. It is a bit strange to see it surrounded by designer shops and chain fast food places. It is a very interesting building and nothing like anything we have seen anywhere in the world.

We decided to plan where we were going to go to next therefore we stopped and had a bite to eat and a cold drink. Temperature was already 39 degrees at 1pm. In these temperatures drinking a lot of water is essential.

Destinations – Green Route

We decided to walk to get on the East – Green Route to go to Basilica de a Sagrada Familia which is a large unfinished church. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Barcelona. When you get off the bus you can see how popular it is as it is very crowded but still well worth the visit. If in Barcelona this is a must see. Although it is still unfinished even though it was started being built in 1882 it is breath taking. We took a lot of photo which we have looked back on and even now see something new as there is so much detail gone in to this church.

The queue to get back on the bus was very long but it did go down pretty quickly. We got on the bus to the end of the line and then decided to walk down the Las Rambles the most famous boulevard in Barcelona. It is lined with nice bars, restaurants and street sellers. It would have been nice to have had a drink and a bite to eat on Las Rambles but unfortunately did not have enough time as the last bus back to the ship was 5.30pm.

Summary

Although we did not get off at many stops we did manage to see a lot of the sights of Barcelona. Barcelona is one of the trendiest cities in Europe. It has something to offer everyone of all ages. We would have loved to have had more time in Barcelona. To have time to visit the beaches and have a Sangria and some Tapas in one of the traditional bars and Restaurants. There was so much more we wanted to see and do. We think you need at least a few days in Barcelona. We will definitely come back to Barcelona.

Images

Things to do

There are so many places of interest in Barcelona the hop on buses take you to all the sites. There are 2 routes Orange and Green.

Top Tips

• If you only have a short time in Barcelona plan what you want to see (Route maps of hop on and off bus can be found on line)
• Ideally spend a few days in Barcelona.
• If on a cruise get on the earlier coach to the centre of Barcelona therefore giving you more time.
• The designer shops are cheaper than in England so bag yourself a bargain.
• Plan time out of your day to sample the local cuisine.
• Check out the festivals in Barcelona – La Merce Festival in September is a large street party. There are a lot of other festivals but this is the biggest.
• Check weather below for best time to visit Barcelona. These are averages therefore

Weather

Temp – Celsius Rain – mm	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High Temp	13	14	16	18	21	25	27	28	25	22	17	14
Low Temp	6	6	9	11	14	18	21	22	19	15	10	6
Rainfall	33	41	33	37	54	11	25	64	75	87	34	35
Number of days	3	5	4	5	5	2	2	5	5	6	4	5