Question about timing extras
I will be on the Northern Spain: Barcelona to Porto tour next week. I would like to schedule some private tours after we have had the local person and bus trip around Barcelona (also a visit to Sagrada Familia). How can I find out when that tour ends so I can schedule my own tours of Gaudi houses or museums?
I sent this email to Tauck and received a generic answer. Is there somewhere else I can ask? "Northern Spain: Barcelona to Porto SN xxxxxxx, Arriving April 22. Can you tell me approximately what time the walking/driving tour of Barcelona will end on the 23rd? I would like to schedule tickets to see other buildings and everything is timed. Also, how will St. Jordi Day affect the tour?"
0
Comments
You can call Tauck and they'll have the daily schedule with the planned times. Planned as in the way they hope it will go. Dozens of things can cause changes once on tour so if you book additional activities there is some risk you will miss them and lose money. No idea about St Jordis day but large crowds, blocked off streets, etc can cause changes the TD will do their best to deal with. No way for anyone to tell you exactly how as TDs have a lot of latitude to manage the tour once it starts.
When I took that tour, there were no timed tickets needed for Palau Guell, which is a few blocks from the hotel. Actually, the hotel gave me a free pass to that museum when I checked in.
i hope you get the same enthusiastic guide we did. We took this tour last year. To be honest, after your walking tour I would skip the rest of the Tauck tour. The drive through with a group photo isn't worth it and takes up too much time and there is little time spent at the Sagrada. If you leave the tour the Picasso Museum is fairly close, although I would go to Palau de la Musica Catalana (really recommend that tour - get timed tickets if you can) + go to Sagrada Familia and from there walk up the street for a few blocks to St Pau Hospital (fabulous World Heritage site - incredible buildings + small museum to explain). Park Guelll is great but a bit out of the way. Some of the Gaudi buildings are fairly close to one another and doable. Casa Vicens is the latest restored one, opened last year. We really liked it.
You might get a city map to figure out a good way to visit the places you are most interested in. For example, you will see that the Miro Museum is just down the road from the Catalalunya National Museum but I would skip them with limited time. With so many tourists in the city you will probably be able to see just a few places. St Pau and Casa Vicens you can just walk into but the popular Casas Batlo and Mila can be a long wait. I like the Gothic area but if museums are more important to you you might even skip that, too, in order to get in more of what you want to see.
If you skip, have the hotel get a taxi for you first thing in the morning before the crowds start. maybe go to the Sagrada first and work you way back. The streets are a mess right now with much construction. But, you could use the subway, if necessary.
Have a great time!
Received and answer! “
You will arrive back at the hotel at approximately 1pm.”
This is another reason I choose Tauck.