Ah, Spain. What could be better? There is the rich history to enjoy, a bustling city life, amazing weather, beaches, attractions, and even fun sporting events to fill your days with. If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Spain, then Barcelona is the place to be. It is one of the most visited cities in the Mediterranean! Plus, while it is now the capital of Catalonia, it was once under Roman rule. With so much to culture to experience, it is more important than ever to plan your vacation properly. Here is how you can do it…

Research The Best Flights and Hotels

Ready to plan your best trip yet? Then you’ll need to think about a few of the essentials, like your airfare and accommodations. Worrying about the cost? You don’t have to. There are plenty of flights available for any and all budgets. The key is to shop around online for great deals or try to snag a last-minute flight. Your planning should also include research into the best available accommodations. A little digging can help you find discount codes, cheaper options, the most centrally located hotels, and so on. The city offers plenty of incredible places to stay, including HCC Hotels in Barcelona. So, it won’t be too hard to find a hotel to relax and unwind in after a long day of sightseeing.

Choose The Best Time Of Year To Visit

Whether you’re looking to make the most of the warm weather or just save a couple of dollars, it is important to think about when to plan your visit. For instance, the summer months are always a good idea! August is the most popular, thanks to the incredible beach weather. To save some cash, though, you may want to consider the off-peak season instead. During the winter months, it doesn’t get too cold and the sun is still shining! The most ideal time to travel to Barcelona is in the fall, between September and November. The weather isn’t too humid and stays comfortable all day long. Plus, the amount of tourists in the city tends to drop off around this time.

Decide How You’re Going To Get Around

Anytime you travel, you will need to spend a little time thinking about transportation. Will you drive? Take a bus? Cab? It is always a good idea to plan ahead. That way you can budget your time and money accordingly. During your stay in Barcelona, you can make the most of their metro system, the buses, trams, bikes, scooters, and even the railway. There are many different ways to get from place to place. Before you go, be sure to make some decisions and stock up on any information you’ll need.

Create Your Vacation Itinerary

Chances are, your time in Barcelona won’t be nearly long enough for you to see everything you want to. That is why it is so important to plan out your itinerary! Have you been dreaming about The Temple of Augustus or La Sagrada Familia? Then add them to your must-see list. Whether you want to hang out on a secluded beach or fill up at the most notable restaurants, you’ll need to do some planning. By creating your vacation itinerary, you can experience as much as possible.

Every great vacation requires a little bit of planning. Make sure that your trip to Barcelona, Spain is everything you hope it will be…and more! With these travel tips to get you started, it won’t be hard to do.

Europe is home to some of the greatest and most attended street festivals in the world, with people flocking to cities to celebrate art, literature, culture and music in their droves. Street festivals make for great entertainment for families, art enthusiasts and young party goers alike, and can also be incredibly culturally rewarding. Here are some of the best street festivals Europe has to offer.

Notting Hill Carnival, London

Arguably one of the most famous street festivals in the world, and the biggest street festival in Europe, London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival is always one to remember, and is guaranteed to make many happy memories. Taking place every August Bank Holiday, the festival sees the capital forget all its worries and really let loose for an entire weekend, wreaking havoc on the upmarket and normally quiet West London Notting Hill district in a celebration of life, music and culture. The Caribbean carnival, consisting of floats, loud sound systems, exciting cutting edge DJs, alcohol and eclectic food stalls, sees not only half of London take to the streets but also attracts millions of tourists from overseas who are keen to observe the madness and join the party.

Distortion, Copenhagen

Taking place in Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen at the beginning of June, Distortion is a weeklong street festival and party that needs to be seen to be believed. There are few sights more astounding and few experiences as exciting as this to be had, with an estimated 90,000 people taking part in the seemingly endless rave. This is a celebration of club life, partying and music, and gets pretty wild, with dancing, flash mobs, loud music and drinks flowing in abundance, though there is something for everyone, not just the youthful, high on life ravers. If you are planning on going on a 72 hour bender, it could be worth checking your travel insurance policy before heading out to make sure you are covered for any loses or injuries.

Festa Major de Gràcia, Barcelona

Around one and a half million people head to Barcelona in August for the Festa Major de Gràcia, a free street festival taking place in the height of summer. Everyone knows that the people of Barcelona know how to party, but you haven’t seen Spaniards really get wild till you attend this explosive festival that combines partying with a celebration of culture, art and music, with exhibitions, live performances and family entertainment on offer as well as more than enough crazy to keep the enthusiastic ravers busy. It is a street festival full of surprises and unexpected events, and literally anything can happen. This is a great opportunity to truly immerse yourself in Spanish culture and enjoy the spirit of Barcelona.

If you’re fed up with the winter weather, you may be planning a getaway. Or perhaps you already have a holiday booked. Either way, lucky you! The Caribbean is a safe bet for sunshine, and there’s always plenty to do.

You may be worried about the cost of your stay. Luckily, holidays to the Caribbean are luxurious and affordable at the same time, if you plan ahead and look for budget-friendly deals. The region does have the advantage of a stable currency, and there are plenty of activities that won’t eat deeply into your travel money.

Explore Barbados

For instance, stay away from the south and west coasts of Barbados, and as well as saving on accommodation, you’ll discover hidden churchyards, old colonial buildings, and local markets with authentic food and crafts. Join free hikes by the Barbados National Trust, for access to tropical rainforests, cane fields, gullies and coastal communities.

Rainforests in Dominica

Large parts of Dominica are covered by rainforests, making it a hiker’s paradise. Or try canyoning, which involves climbing up waterfalls and across rivers, in a harness and wet suit. Dominica is also popular for kite boarding and wind surfing, and whale and dolphin watching.

Underwater in Antigua or the Caymans

The warm clear waters of the Caribbean are ideal for snorkelling. Equipment hire rates are reasonable, but bring what you can in your suitcase. Choose an island with sheltered bays for this, such as Antigua. Diving allows you to see more at deeper levels, but involves greater expense, so a package may be the best option. Dive around the Cayman Islands at night to catch sight of underwater orange ball anemones and basket starfish. For a complete change, fit in a game of tennis during the day!

St Lucia and more

St Lucia’s volcano is no longer active, but steam still shoots from the ground among the sulphur and mineral pools, so it’s worth a visit. You can also go ziplining on a wire through the extensive rainforests. Who knows, you may spot the endangered St Lucia parrot. If you want more, Jamaica is the place for river tubing or paddle boarding, or nautical types can get away from it all by sailing off the British Virgin Islands.

After all that activity, you’ve earned the right to chill out on a beach. Most are free, but transportation and extras aren’t, so negotiate with your taxi-driver, and sit on your towel! Alternatively, book a sea front hotel with its own stretch of sand and amenities, and make the most of that sun.