Ryanair – ‘Direct from Larnaca to Barcelona for Only €8’!
I didn’t really believe it when I was told about it and when I read the news feature it did state that Barcelona was not on as a special offer. However, a direct flight from Cyprus to Barcelona was something that was definitely interesting to me so I decided to check it properly.
New Years Eve in Barcelona was the aim so I went online to check and found the flights that were suitable. Flying out on Wednesday the 29th and coming back Sunday the 2nd seemed perfect. The outward flight was a bit late at night but not too bad and the total cost of €429 .14 (including one piece of luggage @ 15 kilo) was no where near the original €16 suggested, but it was still good value so I booked it.
Next was the hotel, and I wanted somewhere decent in the City so started checking a few sites only to find that there were cheaper places to book than Tripadviser and expedia, I got an excellent deal through Yeego.com that was €100 cheaper than another discount site! I did make sure it was the same hotel I selected as I have had experience of hotels having the same name but being very different!
All in all I had spent a lot more money that I wanted to but I was happy as we had always wanted to visit Barcelona but we never managed to get there in the past.
My wife was delighted to be going and immediately checked a few things online, pointing out that the ‘Barcelona’ flight from RyanAir that I had booked lands in Girona, over 100km away from where we wanted to be! So if the flight is actually on time we will arrive at 22.25 and hopefully be out of the airport before 23.25 with 103 km to go to Barcelona. Not something I would have planned to do and I do feel more than a little misled by Ryanair’s newspaper description of flying direct to Barcelona!
We boarded at Larnaca and as it would happen we did get to sit next to someone who claimed they paid €8 for their flight, so it would appear that if I had taken the risk and waited we could have got there for next to nothing!
Full marks to Ryanair for getting us there on time and despite the distance, the bus was a smooth and comfortable way to get the rest of the way to Barcelona, it leaves the airport very regularly and it took about an hour. No problem with the taxi to the hotel, they have meters that work! (forget the Metro, it finishes at midnight)
We stayed at the NN Barcelona Universal Hotel, it was well located but our first room was a bit noisy as we were on the main road side. I asked to change rooms and the receptionist was very pleasant and moved us with apologies. The next room was nice and quiet except that it suffered the same as the first one, mattress protectors that creaked every time I moved, if you’re a light sleeper you may have problems, but if you’re incontinent, this is the place for you.
There’s plenty to do and see in Barcelona so you may find yourself walking a fair distance, so take some comfortable shoes. If you are going to visit Gaudi’s Park Guell and decide to go by Metro you have to walk the last 200metres up a very steep hill, and if you are not in peak condition it could be dangerous so check your medical insurance!
Coming back to Cyprus was uneventful, taxi to the bus station and then straight to the airport by bus, but make sure you don’t try and get on the bus with your hand luggage, the driver wouldn’t allow it.
The airport proved to be a complete shambles, first they got everyone queueing at the wrong gate, so when they finally changed it all those at the front ended up at the back of the new queue. They then split the queue into two and expected everyone to remain in their line as they opened only one gate, didn’t they realise we were flying to Cyprus?
Anyway, we made it back and were on time again!
Verdict
Barcelona – Well worth the effort and we didn’t see or hear of any of the famed pickpockets or handbag snatchers!
RyanAir – would have been better if they had mentioned they had moved Barcelona but I would use them again, especially if I was booking last minute and could get a really low price. I would pay the extra for priority boarding on the way back as it was not well organised at the airport. Great value.
NN Barcelona Universal Hotel – despite the creaking mattress covers I would stay there again
Subscribe FREE to Expat Informer Cyprus and receive regular Newsletters with articles, stories and reviews written by Expats for Expats.
.
