Caravanning in Barcelona - HELP!
Hi, I want to drive to Barcelona in August and spend 2 weeks on a caravan site. I have made a couple of enquiries and so far, they tell me they don't accept reservations. This could be a problem due to the length of the journey and not being guaranteed of
a place to stay.
Does anybody have any experience of driving to Barcelona (I'm okay with being up to 15km out of Barc). I would really appreciate any recommendations too.
Many thanks : )
Steve
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There are lots of sites immediately north and south of Barcelona, some of them near the railway for direct access into the city. Its over twenty years since we were last there but wonderful City.
David
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Have a look
HERE. If you want to visit Barcelona there is a bus stop right outside the gate.0 -
Hello Stevenw, just to let you know that our nearest sites to Barcelona are Vilanova Park or L'amfora.
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/sites/spain/camping-vilanova-park
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/sites/spain/camping-l'amfora
Hope that helps.
Jacci
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I would second Vilanova Park,although to be fair I have only been there off season when it is quiet. It is a very big site, but clean, well organised, excellent facilities and all you would wish for without leaving the site. Even their supermarket is good.
To get into Barcelona you have a choice. The site runs a bus from the campsite gate into Barcelona, or you can get the local bus, again right outside the gate, into Vilanova town and catch the train there.
Vilanova y la Geltru is a nice little resort, super beach, good restaurants and shops and a first class railway museum.
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We stayed at El Garrofer in 2006 and it was disgusting just like a Refrugee Camp my OH went to inspect the Looes/Showers and came back saying "Don't Go"
It may have changed since then but I do not know but I would never recommend it to anyone.
DianneT
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We stayed in El Garrofer in 2015, the shower block that was in operation was fine no problems at all, clean plenty of hot water etc. seperate facilities for men and women and even smaller toilets and washing facilities for children, so must have been re-furbished
since Diane's time. The other block on site was in the throws of re-furbishment.I would agree with Deleted User User that there are many Spanish weekenders on the site but we had no problem with them as it was May when we visited. I would also agree that Sitges is a lovely place, plenty of restaurants and the beaches are wonderful. The bus
still runs from just outside the site right into the centre of Barcelona. The railway line does run along the back of the site but it didn't bother us in anyway, most sites on this coastal area have the railway line so it pretty difficult to avoid.The site when you go in is under tall trees and does resemble a car park type area. We however went to the back of the site by the rail line and the pitches there are under smaller trees and are marked out pitches with water taps between every 2 pitches
and EHU, this area IMO is much better than at the top (entrance to the site)I have not stayed at Vilanova so cannot compare but from recommendations I do believe it is more of a holiday type site than La Garrofer, which I would discribe as a couple of nights for visiting Barcelona type of site.
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We stayed at El Garrofer in 2006 and it was disgusting just like a Refrugee Camp my OH went to inspect the Looes/Showers and came back saying "Don't Go"
It may have changed since then but I do not know but I would never recommend it to anyone.
DianneT
Dianne, as I commented above I'm pretty sure the facilities must have been re-furbished since your visit. I'm really fussy and have left a few sites in my time after looking in at the facilities (Les Pommiers at Ouistreham being one of them) but I can honestly
say the facilities were fine, the site was fairly busy with tourers and there were a fair few long termers staying aswell but they were always clean and fresh. I would recommend this site for short stays to visit Barcelona and Sitges.0 -
Hi Steve, we always stay at Vilanova Park. Great site but the ease of getting into Barcelona is a big bonus. We always go by train, its very cheap and the bus from the site takes you to the station. Also Vilanova is a very nice place,lovely beach and great
outdoor and indoor markets.BasinWP
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Hi,
Would agree with recommendations for Vilanova,stayed Sept 2014, and is a lovely site but if we use again we would try get a pitch away from the boundary next to the sawmills.
Facilities are very good and one of the main factors was the bus service to Barcelona as we did not wish to use the car and were with friends with a motorhome.
We used the service twice and it was excellent and,as I drive 20000 plus miles a year a very pleasant change.
It also means that I could enjoy the wining and dining without worry!The bus timetable is available on the sites website and is;
http://www.vilanovapark.com/resources/contenidos/14-monbus2015.pdfI note that it apepars it is not,as I thought, a year round service so if staying in the off season may be that the
train will be a better bet.We also thought Sitges very nice and it was still busy in late September whereas Vilanova was quite deserted
and, we thought, a bit lacking in character. We visited three times, including a day on the beach and if staying again at Vilanova this would probably be our default trip out from site.If you do visit Sitges try to spot a plaque on a wall in front of the Church on the seafront to indicate where a sea battle took place
with the English!0 -
We have stayed at Vilanova Park and I would agree about not getting a pitch near the sawmills. The site seems to direct British caravanners to that part of the site so you will need to ask not to go there. We prefer the area near their zoo.
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I would certainly recommend you widening your search from 15 km but making sure you are near public transport , the trains are frequent and cheap .
We were in a hotel a few years ago in a resort called Santa susanah about an hour from Barcelona .There was a sight close by .they had a few pitches right on the beach but mostly quite shady .a Dutch run sight and the only number plates we spotted were
obviously Dutch ,Spanish and french .The resort was nothing special (one of those perpose built places) but as I say the trains are frequent and cheap
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Hi, we went to Villanova park in August 2014 great site excellent pitch. Went to Barcelona twice once by train and once by car and had no problems with both. Driving through barcelona with caravan was easy on motorway. We booked through vacanseil holiday
company in January.0 -
We stayed at the ACSI registered 3 Estrellas campsite which is south of the city and quite near to the airport. Access to the site is very good and it is a beachfront location. The facilities are brilliant and almost all of the staff speak English. It has
a shop and a very good bar/restaurant that is "Open all hours." VERY cold beer!Depending on the wind direction, the planes taking off from the airport can be noisy, but no more than many of us are used to in England.
There is a very cheap bus service into Placa Catalunya, right in the centre of Barcelona, every 30 minutes from a stop quite close to the site entrance. Be sure to buy a T-10 transport ticket as this will save you mega Euros.
We had a wonderful time in Barcelona and will definitely go back and stay at the same site. It is a very big site, without the rah rah of one, and I would be amazed if it ever got full, even in the high season.
One extra item, if you want to see the Gaudi Gardens, Sagrada Familia or other sites, book on-line. You will avoid the stupidly long (And to my mind artificially created) queus and enjoy your visit so much more.
Hope this helps.
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We stayed at El Garrofer in 2006 and it was disgusting just like a Refrugee Camp my OH went to inspect the Looes/Showers and came back saying "Don't Go"
It may have changed since then but I do not know but I would never recommend it to anyone.
DianneT
Dianne, as I commented above I'm pretty sure the facilities must have been re-furbished since your visit. I'm really fussy and have left a few sites in my time after looking in at the facilities (Les Pommiers at Ouistreham being one of them) but I can honestly
say the facilities were fine, the site was fairly busy with tourers and there were a fair few long termers staying aswell but they were always clean and fresh. I would recommend this site for short stays to visit Barcelona and Sitges.So pleased to hear that Tammygirl as it was an ideal situation for travelling to Barcelona and we loved Sitges. We stopped right at the back of the site too and it was April time.
DianneT..
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