A few Spain Questions.....

Since I don't know your exact travel dates, I'll assume you have between 5 and 7 days clear....that doesn't count the day of arrival (when you'll be jet-lagged) or your day of departure, which usually happens before 1 in the afternoon. With that amount of time, you've really only got a chance to see Barcelona and one other city. And yes, discount airlines would be the best bet for your limited time frame. Check whichbudget.com, flylc.com, and skyscanner.net for cities that would interest you. Go to their websites once you find a good flight...don't book thru flylc's booking engine. Be aware of all the baggage and check-in restrictions. From Barcelona, you could pick from dozens of cities. But you'll have to book soon...and your destination may be limited by what cheap tickets may still be available only a month in advance. Personally, I would take Madrid, a fascinating city with day trips possible to Toledo and Segovia,among other spots. Train travel is fast Barcelona-Madrid, but it is very expensive, and I hear American credit cards won't work to take advantage of special fares on the RENFE national rail website....so flying is the best way to go here, too. As for hostels, many offer private rooms. I review the hostel booking websites to see which ones are rated as party sites, or ones with "fun" activities and avoid those.';) In Spain, you might also want to consider "hostals," two-star hotels which are usually family-run and provide great value. Another option is the Ibis or Etap hotels from the Accor hotel chain, which can be inexpensive as well.

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I will be in Spain from 3/19 - 3/26. Will probably spend a few days somewhere else. Madrid is a good option. Any tips on what to do/see/eat in Barcelona? I am also a bit nervous as I am a young woman travelling alone- any safety precautions I should keep in mind?

I was in Barcelona in April 07. Pickpockets are a huge problem there. So make sure you have a money belt. The Ithaca hostel was a GREAT hostel. Very centrally located. You can book it through hostel world. Park Guelle and all of the Antoni Gaudi stuff is great. There is a great hop on hop off bus that you can get at the Paca de Catalunia. There are like 3 different bus routes so you can get off one to see a site and then get on anther. You can by a 1 day pass so if you don't see everything you can finish it the next day. Have fun in Barcelona. It is a great city.

Jaime,
If you have survived 30 some years in the City, than you don't really need safety precautions about Barcelona -- they would be the same as for NYC.

My two day tour of Barcelona map is here: http://quia-absurdum.com/barcelona/two_days.html

Let me know if you have specific questions or need a hand with something.

Saludos

IMO, being from NYC doesn't give anybody an advantage. Pickpockets go after people carrying the most amount of cash and those least likely to testify in a court trail: tourists. A New York City pickpocket doesn't target a local, instead they go after European, and Japanese tourists. How much cash do you typically have on you when you're commuting to work vs. when you are out of town on vacation?

Thanks so much for the helpful information. Yes, being from NYC has an advantage in the sense that it forces you to get used to large, touristy crowds but I've never been worried about being pickpocketed here. I have only been to Europe a couple of times and didn't have any issues with that. I just feel more vulnerable since I will be travelling alone.

Michael,
I respectfully disagree. Security, in any scenario, mostly depends upon preparedness and situational awareness. So, just as a native of East Podunk will be safer in a rural environment (take care not to step on the rusty rake, snakes, etc.), a person accustomed to navigating the Big Apple while avoiding the occasional worm will have a degree of "street smarts" that will stand him in good stead in any major city in the world. Obviously, a tourist will stand out as an easy mark for pickpockets, muggers and the like, but by the same measure, the bad guys are more likely to stand out to someone with urban experience. Additionally, the "spider sense" that an urbanite may have will lead him to avoid problematic situations which somebody from a small town might not even perceive. By the same token, although an older person may be less physically intimidating a target than a college kid, age (hopefully) will have provided a degree of experience and prudence. As the saying goes, "The devil knows more because he's old than because he's the devil."

The moral of the story is not to do things while abroad that one would consider stupid at home.

Generally speaking, I don't carry much more cash while on vacation than at home. Since there is an ATM on just about every corner, it doesn't make much sense to carry a bunch of bills in my wallet.