How to meet people in Barcelona?

This question can be a challenging one for newcomers who aren’t familiar with using social networking, and here at SuiteLife we understand what it’s like to arrive in the city and only know a few people, which is why we are constantly suggesting using social media to meet people in Barcelona. If you read our blog “7 Tips for Effective Social Networking in Barcelona, Spain” then you already know the importance of “liking” things on Facebook, and “following” people on Twitter, to get your name and face out there and begin connecting with others. Here in the digital age, using social media has become increasingly important as people are less likely to go out and strike up conversations with strangers. It’s intimidating, especially when a language barrier exists (all of you gifted socialites can just ignore this generalization. By the way, I hate you). I’ve personally used CouchSurfing, Meetup, and LoQuo Intercambios successfully to meet people in Barcelona and you can too! I recommend joining a few clubs or activities and attending them regularly. Make yourself a familiar face and you’re guaranteed to stay busy and avoid the newly relocated, loneliness bug.

Sad Clown, Has No Friends

Couchsurfing Events

One organization I have found particularly useful in my travels is Couchsurfing. Couchsurfing’s mission “to create inspiring experiences” is achieved by connecting people in over 230 different countries using profiles, and providing various levels of affiliation with the site so that members can be verified and vouched for. Unlike LoQuo.com where you meet absolute strangers, you can really get a sense of who someone is by reading their CouchSurfing profile, and unlike Facebook, the point is to connect with people you DON’T already know!

Barcelona has one of the largest and most active CouchSurfing communities and there are events nearly every day of the week in different parts of the city. The latest event I attended was a language exchange at a coffee shop near Parc de la Ciutadella. There were about twenty people there from all over the world; and I spoke to people from France, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It’s likely that if you go to a CS meeting you won’t be the only person who hasn’t learned their way around Barcelona just yet, so they’re an exciting place to meet other explorers and tourists. So how do you get started? Simply login to the website, set your location, search for events whatever area, and you’ll start to meet people in Barcelona! Insider tip: When you start building a profile for yourself, try to be as detailed as you can. Other CouchSurfers will read it and with prompts like “Personal Philosophy,” and “Types of People I Enjoy,” it pays to be true to yourself. After all, there is no point in meeting up with people whom you have nothing in common.

Map of Worldwide CouchSurfers

Meetup Activites

If you’re the activities type, Meetup is one website that will undoubtedly inspire you to get up and go meet people in Barcelona! After you sign up, Meetup asks you about your interests and matches you to groups and activities in your area that cater to things that you like, everything from Salsa Dancing to Photography, to Nightlife, to Day Trips from Barcelona.  They will send out invites and newsletters to let you know what’s happening so you don’t have to do the work of searching and reading through tons of pages. I signed up for Yoga Challenge in Barcelona and Vinyasa Flow in English and the instructors of each contacted me with a welcome and some inside info about upcoming classes. The best thing about Meetup, in my opinion, is the minimal role that the site’s administrators actually play in organizing activities and contacting members. It is more of a forum for people to stumble through events that are already happening with or without the extra online advertising. Read: You didn’t necessarily have to find out about these through the internet! Hehe, if you’re like me you tend to downplay the importance of the net in finding stuff to do. Another great thing about Meetup is the multitude of outdoor/physical excursions. It’s even easier to converse with people with an activity at hand, as you can get past the obvious “What do you do in Barcelona?” and “How long have you been here?” questions and get right down to the nitty-gritty.

The only downside to Meetup is that there are a lot of events that cost money but this is to be expected if you want to go out and do things. If you’re looking to only spend a few Euros on an excursion I’d recommend grabbing a coffee or tea and linking up with this next suggestion.

Bicycling Group

Intercambios on LoQuo

Is your Spanish challenged? Yes, read on. No…Well, what about other languages? Have you ever thought about learning French or Italian? Many people in Spain are multilingual and it’s good to keep an open mind when it comes to enhancing your linguistic abilities. LoQuo.com is a vital source, not unlike the United States’ Craiglist, which can hook you up with jobs, apartments, free stuff, and much, much more. I recently discovered the Intercambios section of the website and have been using it to meet with people one-on-one to practice my Spanish. I placed an ad several weeks ago and in a short time had dozens of responses from people who wanted to trade their knowledge of Spanish with my knowledge of English. What a great way to meet people in Barcelona! I met several of them with mixed results and friended a few people on Facebook who I’ve been chatting with as well. The great thing about LoQuo is that the responses are immediate and you can be specific in your ad about what you want to learn or get out of the exchange. The downside is that people e-mail you individually and your inbox might actually get flooded with people looking to meet you! Crazy I know. The other negative is that before meeting a person off LoQuo you only have an e-mail exchange to go from. I usually ask for a Facebook or Skype account to chat with the person first and make sure they are who they say they are. It sounds paranoid, and perhaps it is my Western upbringing, but before meeting someone offline you should always tell a friend where you’re going and who you’re meeting. Just in case.

"Really? You like drinking coffee?! Me too!!!"

I hope these three networks can be of assistance to those of you who are looking to meet people in Barcelona.  Useful as they may be, remember not to get caught in the online loop, pull yourself away from Google, get out in the world, practice your Spanish, and SMILE!  You’ll be glad that you did.

Cheers,

Kathy

SuiteLife Barcelona now an Official Member of AICAT Real Estate Registry

But… What is this AICAT thing you’re talking about?

AICAT is the official registry of real estate agents in Catalunya.  Any professional or company that wants to act as a real estate agent in Catalunya must be part of the registry.  And now, as of September SuiteLife is very proud to be the registry’s newest addition! Most importantly we want to explain to you what the registry is and how it benefits the house hunter here in Barcelona.

How the AICAT Registry Helps You

The registry acts to protect the consumer. It requires agencies to have either over 4 years experience in the market or to have completed an exhaustive real estate class (SuiteLife has both).  It also requires that the agency hold civil responsibility and liability insurance and bank guarantees to demonstrate the company’s solvency (SuiteLife also has this).  The registry also serves to regulate and provide guidelines, a professional code and procedures that agencies must follow.

Before the Registry

In 2001, the real estate industry in Catalunya was de-regulated.  The barriers of entry dropped to almost nothing, and basically anyone with a mobile phone and a laptop to call themselves an ‘agent’.  In the last 10 years the industry became somewhat of a Wild West.  There were very little rules, and cowboy agents could run around the city wheeling and dealing with little regard to their responsibilities to their clients. Those days, thankfully, are quickly coming to a close.

Why you should only use an agency that is part of the AICAT registry

We can’t stress enough the importance of only using an agency that is part of the new AICAT registry.  If you are involved in a costly real estate transaction you will certainly sleep better at night knowing that the agency you’re dealing with is not only officially recognized by the Catalán government, but also that they are adhering to the policies and guidelines setup by the government in order to protect property renters/buyers.  When you use an agency that is not registered, you are really leaving yourself open to a plethora of possible problems, and with an investment so large, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks to all our cherished SuiteLife clients and fans.  We are very excited to be in the AICAT registry!

Cheers,

Benny

Or how to avoid getting robbed in the historical city of Barcelona?

A question, which all tourists and people who plan their future asks from google, or other search engines. Because they know everything, right? Amen. Well, im no Google, but I do know some stuff which I would like to share with you guys.

Safety in Barcelona is unfortunately not as bright as the Sagrada Familia by night. Let me give you a piece of advice folks: always have eagle eyes around you! It’s hard to decide who is the bad guy and who isn’t, but as a starter, keep an eye on your stuff and don’t act like a tourist, come on. I mean of course, take pictures and stuff, but tourists tend to not to care about their belongings, while seeing breathtaking sights of the city. Pickpockets in Barcelona have never had an easier job than nowadays: since there are so many easy “targets”, Barcelona is heaven for them. Starting on the Ramblas, then Casa Battlo also is an ideal place for pickpockets all the way to the Gothic neighborhood, then the La Sagrada Familia area, then the famous beach, Barceloneta … I could just go on and on and on… And what can Barcelona police do about this? Their hand is pretty much tied, since there are so many people, it’s just impossible to catch them all … and if the thief ran away, there’s really nothing you or they can do..

Check out my list with all the important things you have to or should know about safety in Barcelona, and please, feel free to add more if I forgot something.

1. Pickpockets in Barcelona are everywhere – and they don’t make an exception with you, they just haven’t found you yet.
2. You can’t judge a book by its cover, as you can’t judge a pickpocket by color – it can be a group of young girls, guys, man wearing suit, white, brown or green, whatever… the sky is the limit.
3. If you see someone getting robbed, please, please don’t just stare; give a hand to the poor person! There’s nothing more annoying, when someone gets robbed, and other people, instead of helping, start staring. I have personally experienced this the past Sunday on Barceloneta beach. I’m telling you people – not funny!
4. Don’t expose your belongings to everyone’s sight! A nice Canon can be very tempting for pickpockets, right?
5. Only take the amount of money with you what you actually need! Having more money in your pocket can be unpleasant when losing it, and, why carry so much stuff – kills your pocket! J
6. If you are not sure of your physical well being, better take a taxi than trying to fight the circulation of the earth!
7. When in a restaurant, keep your stuff in your bag, and attached to you! It’s well known that pickpockets in Barcelona are not ashamed to rob you while consuming your meal or coffee!
8. Taking the metro can be very dangerous sometimes – it’s one of the hotspots of the pickpockets – so keep your bag to the front of your body, and please, put your stuff somewhere deep, where it is hard to reach!
9. Nothing is more obvious to the pickpockets than someone who is staring at a map of Barcelona. If you really need to do so, find a spot (a restaurant or café) where you can find your destination without being worried about being robbed!

Yours,

E

Carrer Montcada (Placeta Montcada) Barcelona Street Profile #7

Carrer Montcada is a beautiful historical street in the heart of the trendy neighborhood El Born. It can be seen as a connection between the two busiest streets in El Born, Carrer Pincesa and Passeig del Born. Being home of 4 museums and several little art galleries, Carrer Montcada is one of the most important arts streets in Barcelona.

Museums in Barcelona – Carrer Montcada is the street to go!

1. Picasso Museum / Museu Picasso

One of the most famous museums in Barcelona is the Picasso Museum on Carrer Montcada. The museum is open from 10 am to 8 pm from Tuesdays to Sundays the entire year. They offer guided tours through the collection of the famous Spanish artists. There isn’t really a good time to go there, since there’s always a queue. Nevertheless, the museum is worth visiting. Check out their website for further information or recent exhibitions and events.

2. Museu Barbier-Mueller / Museum Barbie-Mueller

The Barbier-Mueller museum is another historical part of Carrer Montcada. Located opposite the Picasso Museum, the collection deals with most of the styles that exist in the pre-Hispanic cultures of Meso-America, Central America, Andean America and the Amazon region. Go on a journey back to a time when the understanding of the world was completely different. Check out their website for further information, exhibitions and events.

3. Museo Del Mamut / Mammoth Museum

Discover everything about the lesser known animals which lived in the Ice Age. The museums offers a different kind of experience and is the place to go for either specialists or people who have less knowledge about the Mammoth. Check out their website for further information.

4. Hub Disseney Barcelona

There are two Disseney’s in Barcelona. One of them is located on C/ Montcada. Hub Disseney (DHUB) is a mixture of a museum, a centre and a laboratory directed at promoting an understanding and proper use of the design world. Natha recently blogged about this interesting institution. Check out her blog and their website for further information.

Besides the interesting museums on Carrer Montcada, there are several small galleries or art stores. In order to give you an impression, I took photos of some of the stores.

Eat Tapas on Carrer Montcada / Lonja de Tapas

Lonja de Tapas is a typical Spanish Tapas restaurant, offering all kind of tapas and different wine. This restaurant on Carrer Montcada is one of the better Tapas Places in El Born. It belongs to a restaurant group (LT Group) which includes the following places: Lonja de Tapas on Pla de Palau, Lonja de Tapas on Montcada, Celler de Tapas and Celler de la Ribera. All the restaurants offer high quality food. For openining hours and locations, check out their website.

Buy Tea on Carrer Montcada

On of the few great opportunities to buy tea in Barcelona is on Carrer Montcada. The chain “Tea Shop” offers all kinds of tea from all over the world. The company spends a great deal of time on social media. Check out their website.

In addition to the places already mentioned on Carrer Montcada, there are tons of more interesting things going on along this beautiful street. Due to it’s proximity to El Born’s main streets, you have everything you could want nearby. I discovered a small bar at the end of Carrer Montcada called “Bar del Pla”. It looked really cool and I will definitely check this place out during the weekend. Also, there is a store which specialises in selling all kinds of chocolate products. I didn’t go in, but the chocolate things looked amazing. Last but not least, one of El Born’s best Tapas places, “El Xampanyet”, is located on Carrer Montcada aswell. Check out our Tapas Tour Guide of El Born.

What to you think of this historical street in Barcelona? Did we forget to mention any places to go on Carrer Montcada? If yes, let us know and we’ll add them.

Cheers,

Alexander Kolb

Do you want to move to Barcelona? We’ll show you how to rent an apartment in Barcelona

Accommodation in Barcelona – One of the few issues you have in this rather relaxed city.

When it comes to apartments in Barcelona, we recommend that you see the place before putting down a reservation payment. One option to give you time to look at flats, is to stay at one of the hostels in Barcelona. If I say a hostel in Barcelona, one specific one comes to mind.

The best hostel in Barcelona is definitely the one on Passeig de Gràcia. It is called “Hostal Casa Gracia” (website) and, apart from the amazing location, is a really modern, clean and cheap opportunity to stay for a couple of days, while searching for the apartment of your dreams.

I did exactly the same thing and it was totally worth it. The website is in English, which is really helpful as my Spanish isn’t too good. Also, I was really suprised by the quality of the rooms and the really friendly staff. Sidenote: you should call us before starting that never-ending-apartment research as we will have some awesome visits scheduled for you the second you get off your plane at one of the airports in Barcelona.

Things you should know/specialities about “Hostal Casa Gracia”!

- They only offer 20 guestrooms, which means that you should reserve a room in advance
– Hostal Casa Gracia is the place to find cool people. There are several modern community rooms, where you can watch a movie or play games with other hostal guests or friends
– There is a cool terrace for relaxing in the sun and having a cold beer
– They offer art shows and live music during the evenings
– Hostal Casa Gracia offers mostly private rooms
– Average cost is 28€/night

As you can see, Hostal Casa Gràcia offers everything one could expect from a nice hostel. Even if you are staying over the weekend Hostal Casa Gràcia is the place to stay.

- Blog for further info:

 

Get in touch with us:

By the time you arrive in Barcelona, you should have already contacted us in order to arrange some visits. Beside our prompt and friendly service, we offer tons of cool flats in Barcelona. Don’t be afraid to contact us. We speak Spanish, English and German. Just have a look at all the flats we offer and setup a visit right after you have landed in Barcelona. We are keen to make your stay in Barcelona as comfy as possible. This is how it works:

If you follow these few steps, the hunt for the perfect flat is can be enjoyable rather than stressful.

Just get in touch with us, book the hostel and we’ll help you find the apartment of you dreams as quickly as possible – without any bad surprises!

Do you know of other ways to find an apartment in Barcelona? Have you had any bad experiences you want to report about?

Please let us know!

Cheers,

Alexander Kolb

APARTMENT IN BARCELONA FOR RENT

SuiteLife proudly presents “The Gracia Bliss Flat” – an amazing designer apartment to rent in Barcelona. This gorgeous flat maintains original features like traditional wooden-beamed Catalan ceilings and exposed stone and brick walls. It is highly modern, however, and renovated to a very high standard.

This stylish apartment is 80m2 with a sunny 15m2 private terrace. It’s located in the heart of one of Barcelona’s best neighbourhoods: Gracia. It is very close to the Fontana metro and FGC ferrocarril train services, the Verdi Cinemas, and of course, many of Gracia´s wonderful bars and restaurants.

The flat feels very open with a fully equipped American style kitchen and large living area which leads onto the terrace. The double bedroom is raised on a mezzanine level and the twin headed shower is one that you will want to get up earlier for just so you can have longer showers!

The apartment’s living room has a flat screen TV and internet adsl and is the perfect place to relax. There is beautiful hardwood flooring throughout this apartment and both air conditioning and heating.

This unique designer apartment is available now.

What do you think of it? Is this an apartment you would want to live in?

If you want more information, don’t hesitate to contact us: info@suitelife.com

Are you looking to do some social networking in Barcelona and meet new peeps?

Justin Timberlake promoting the Spanish version of the Social Network, La Red Social

Arriving in a new city without knowing very many people can be daunting. If you are anything like me, you may have only known a handful of people upon arriving in enchanting Barcelona. If you are lucky enough to come as part of a study abroad program, you’ve got a head start. But even for students or newly-relocated young and sophisticated professionals, making friends with similar interests, and social networking here in Barcelona can be a surprisingly complicated process to figure out.

I should also add that this was the approach that I used with great success. My focus is learning to use resources, mostly online, effectively. If you are a bit gauche, and I doubt that you are, you may have to work a tad harder on refining your personal social graces and tact.

Tip 1: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone & Meet the Locals

You’ve taken a huge step by moving to a new city on your own. That certainly takes courage. Now, keep that momentum going. When you first arrive, it truly is important to connect with any and all contacts that you may have. This isn’t the time to be radically selective about the company you want to keep. You need to let people know who you are, why you are here, and that you are looking to make new friends, meet new people, play sports, advance professionally or what have you.

Embrace as many opportunities as you can to meet that “friend of a friend” for a cafecito or cervecita. In my case, I met with fellow Cornelians, professors and past travel buddies. Make sure to ask these people about clubs or networks that they are members of. It is through these initial contacts that you will most probably make many of your primary contacts and friends. More than anything, your initial contacts and friends are invaluable sources of experience and information. Again, ask questions, listen carefully and take notes if necessary.

Never underestimate the power of word of mouth and the opinions of friends to let you know which clubs, groups and events are actually most worth your time. In the end, you can decide for yourself, but it’s good to gather feedback from the start. Finally, don’t be shy or afraid to go out on your own! It’s always nice to have a wingman (or lady), but occasionally, you’ll have to suck it up and go out solo. I’m not saying you should go to bars and clubs on your own all the time, but rather, to learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Sign up for classes, events or things to do on your own if you can’t find a partner. You’ll meet people there.

Tip 2: Get Informed By Reading Local Media

There are literally hundreds of publications in English, Spanish and Catalan, which aim to keep Barcelona denizens in the know about everything that is happening around town. Make sure to get cozy with Google for a few days to explore some of these vital sources. Peruse various sites and get into the habit of checking them regularly. Remember to like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and to subscribe to any relevant email newsletters, as well. This will guarantee that information lands at your fingertips.

Barcelona Metropolitan, Time Out Barcelona, and SuiteLife Barcelona are just a few of the online magazines that are bursting with information about city life. Remember, don’t just sit there and read about what’s going on, get out there and become a part of it all!

Tip 3: Join Clubs, Groups or Teams

So you have met with a few contacts, looked up information online and attended a few events, but you’re still feeling a tad lonely or out of the loop? Well, don’t give up just yet! Join a few more specialized groups. Meetup, for example, is a great online resource that aims to bring like-minded people– interested in anything from brunch to yoga to hiking to personal development– together. I actually joined several groups, but didn’t really attend too many events. Still, it’s always good to keep an eye out on these types of social and recreational possibilities.

Joining groups and events put on by such groups need not be expensive (though some do charge) and can add a sense of regularity or routine to your new life in this fabulous Catalan town. Also, people are usually members of various groups, so through these, you can learn about still more groups or teams to join. If you are really into sports, join a local team. El Corte Ingles hosts groups that train to run marathons together, for example. There are also opportunities for group rollerblading (Patinadores de Barcelona), volleyball (Associacion Ikaria) and capoeira. I hope to try all of these in Barcelona, if I can.

Keep in mind that sometimes groups can get quite specific, say for Americans (American Society of Barcelona), or women entrepreneurs (Red de Emprendedoras), or even for aspiring theatre and circus people. Even if you don’t exactly fit into a certain classification, consider joining them. They aren’t usually that exclusive and are still a great way to make more contacts. Furthermore, many people in Barcelona, like me and perhaps you, wear many hats and attendance in groups overlaps greatly. Eventually, you’ll definitely start to see familiar faces at various events. Barcelona really isn’t that big. Oh and again, make sure you look up the pages for these groups on Facebook.

Two other interesting networks (groups) that come to mind are: WebBar, for all you Social media enthusiasts. This was started by two awesome friends of mine, Bjoern & Jan, and meets monthly. They recently had their one year anniversary. And, Eurocircle Barcelona, whose events have a casual, yet chic, singles and B2B slant! It’s well organized. The last event was at Barcelo Raval, a fantastic lounge & venue. You have to check out the rooftop terrace!

Tip 4: Get an Internship or Volunteer

Still not satisfied with your social network? Depending on your work or study situation, this tip may or may not apply to you, but if you don’t already have a job or if you aren’t studying in Barcelona, find a way to either volunteer or get an internship! For me, getting an internship was a critical way to make friends and to expand my network, both socially and professionally.

Again, use resources like Loquo and Barcelona Metropolitan and send your CV out to a as many places as you can. SuiteLife, for example, is constantly hiring for Barcelona internships.  The commitment need not be full-time, and will also, most likely, not be paid. But, if you’ve got the time, taking on a small job like this could be a wise move. You’ll be keeping your CV updated, while also interacting and expanding your social network.

Just to differentiate, internships are quite easy to come by here. In fact, Barcelona has a bit of a reputation for attracting young students to intern on the cheap. Similarly, though Barcelona is not exactly the mecca for nonprofit work or activities, this is a sector that appears to be growing slowly, so this may be an interesting area to look into. Some examples of (large) non-profits that operate in Barcelona are Oxfam, Humana (I actually have a friend that works at Humana) and WWF.

Tip 5: Squeeze Everything You Can Out of Social Media & Follow Up

Did I mention Facebook yet?? Big brother is watching you! You may not be a big fan of Facebook or Twitter for that matter, but the fact is that they are ubiquitous. If you learn how to use Facebook and Twitter as tools, you can truly get tons and tons of information out of them. Almost all social networking groups have a presence on Facebook. Again, remember to like their pages or join groups on Facebook to get information coming to your news feed. Like with your email, you may need to adjust the settings so as to prevent information overload and spam.

Oh and of course, make sure to FOLLOW UP with people who you’ve met when out and about, and add them as friends if you think you might get along. If you become Facebook friends, you can look at some of their groups and the pages they like to get some ideas about what else you can do in Barcelona. A little stalking can actually be productive sometimes. I should also add that there is a social networking site called Tuenti that is apparently very popular here in Spain, but I wouldn’t know, since I’ve never been on it.

If you go out for drinks or dancing, a classic way to have fun and meet people in all of Spain, make sure to look up the venues, bars or clubs you are attending online and like them on Facebook, too. These are also great sources of information about other upcoming events. Eventually, you’ll start getting invited to more parties and events than you can ever dream of attending. Finally, use Linkedin as well, especially to network with local professionals in your field here in BCN.

Tip 6: Register For & Attend Special Events

Barcelona is arguably an events person’s ideal city to reside or work in. Aside from regular monthly or weekly events, there are also special events that occur annually that deal with art, music, etc. There are book fairs, mobile conferences (World Mobile Congress), entrepreneurial events, and newer events such as Barcelona Twestival. Learn about these and fit them into your calendars if you think they align with your interests or are important for your goals. You never know who you might meet at these, and the commitment is minimal! Note: These may charge or require pre-registration.

Tip 7: Woah, Feeling Event Overload? Get More Selective

After a few weeks or months, if you’ve followed my advice, you may actually start to wonder if you are spending too much time socializing and attending events. Again, it depends on your situation and personality, but to truly maximize your efforts, this may be a good time to regroup and think about which clubs, activities and events are the most interesting and useful for you given your interests, and social or professional goals. Now may be the time for you to become a bit more selective.

Remember, always ask friends for their opinions. Also, some groups such as Meetup allow for member feedback. Have a quick look at what others are saying. Try to stick with a group for a while before leaving it, but learn to attend events that you think may help you deepen or expand your most important connections.

I hope you’ve found these tips to be useful. Like I said, this was my approach and it has worked for me thus far. I am outgoing, social media savvy, and love to explore and try new things. At the same time, through this experience, I have also learned to be a bit more selective when attending events and signing up for activities.

Take what you can from these tips and tweak them to fit your life, goals and personality, hence creating your own approach. Needless to say, you can also use some of these strategies in other cities, too.

If you have any questions about anything I’ve written, or suggestions or feedback, please let me know. You can send me an email at: ericagut[at]gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter: ericagut.

Good luck…Buena suerte….Bona sort!

~ Erica Gutierrez

ESADE business school in Barcelona -top International School in Barcelona 

Founded in 1958, ESADE Business School is ranked highly among the MBA programmes in Barcelona and also among all the other business schools worldwide.

Reputation of ESADE Business School

Accreditations

ESADE Business School is one of the few business schools worldwide accredited by three accreditation organisations (Equis, AACSB and AMBA)

ESADE in the rankings

• November 2010, Business Week: 4th best business school outside the USA
• June 2010, América Economía: 5th best MBA programme in Europe and 15th worldwide
• January 2010, Financial Times: 8th in Europe and 19th worldwide
• October 2009, Beyond Grey Pinstripes: 8th best business school outside the USA
• September 2009, The Wall Street Journal: 4th business school in Europe and 6th worldwide

ESADE (English Language) MBA Barcelona

Full-time MBA in ESADA Business School

• Students:180
• Langue: English and bilingual
• Duration: 12, 15 or 18 months
• Average age:28
• Average work experience: 5.2 years
• Countries represented: 46

Global executive MBA in ESADA Business School

• Students:35
• Langue: English
• Duration: 14 months
• Average age:38
• Average work experience: 14 years
• Countries represented: 14

Future career after ESADE MBA Barcelona

ESADE Business School has a Career Services Team, and it is in close relationship with thousands of top companies worldwide.

Contact

ESADE.edu: http://www.esade.edu/mba/eng/

ESADE Business School
Av. d’Esplugues, 92-96
08034 Barcelona (Spain)
T. +34 934 952 088
F. +34 934 953 828

Do you have any questions about studying business in Barcelona? Just let us know!

By Charlotte Jiaqian Chen / A happy SuiteLifer~

The Famous IESE MBA in Barcelona, Spain

Looking for information on international schools in Barcelona? Although most universities of Barcelona only provide courses in Catalan and Spanish, there are still quite a lot of world-class Barcelona business schools offering up MBA programs (e.g. IESE MBA, ESADE & EADA), many of which are in English.

In Spain, there are five internationally accredited schools: Instituto de Empresa (in Madrid), IESE Barcelona, ESADE, EADA and Carlos III (also in Madrid).  Among them, IESE Barcelona, ESADE and EADA are the most famous and top international business school in Barcelona, and all of which offer high-quality programs.(Accreditation is the system that involves serious external auditing by deans or directors of other accredited business schools, usually from other countries.)

Let’s start with one of top Barcelona business schools: IESE Barcelona

IESE Barcelona Business School

Created in 1964, IESE’s full-time MBA was the first 2-year program of its kind in Europe. With guidance from the Harvard-IESE Advisory Committee, the IESE MBA program became the first bilingual MBA program in the world in 1980. Nowadays, 80 percent of students enrolled in the IESE MBA program come from abroad. IESE Barcelona‘s full-time MBA program includes students from some 50 different countries. Students from IESE MBA receive a general management focus and participate in a high-level exchange program with other leading business institutions.

Reputation: IESE’s MBA ranked 3^rd in the world

According to IESE’s website IESE’s MBA ranked 3^rd in the world, “the portal CNNExpansión.com has ranked IESE’s MBA number 3 in the world in its survey, ‘The Best MBAs in the World 2011.’  The ranking includes HBS and London Business School in the first and second slots, with Wharton and INSEAD coming in 4th and 5th, respectively.”

Moreover,  according to “IESE excels in FT MBA ranking“, IESE Business School was ranked among the world’s top 10 business schools – tying with MIT for the 9th spot – in the 2011 Financial Times MBA survey, which was published this week. LBS and Wharton share the number one spot in the ranking. The three main areas analyzed are alumni salaries and career development, the diversity and international reach of the school and its MBA, and research capabilities. IESE Business School is consistently ranked among the leading business schools in the world by publications including the FT, The Economist and Business Week.

Courses offered from IESE Barcelona

Full-time MBA in IESE

• • Average age: 27
  • Average work experience: 4 years
  • Language: English
  • Location: Barcelona

Part-time executive MBA in IESE

• • Average age: 32
  • Average work experience: 7 years
  • Language: Spanish and English
  • Locations: Barcelona or Madrid

Part-time global executive MBA in IESE

• • Average age: 37
  • Average work experience: 12 years
  • Language: English
  • Locations: Barcelona, Madrid, North America and Asia

(Sources from IESE website: MBA programs in IESE)

Fees, expenses, and GMAT scores for the IESE MBA

• • Application Fee: For the course starting in September 2011: $130 through The Princeton Review/Embark
  • Tuition Fee: Tuition, including virtually all course materials and health insurance, for enrollment in September 2011 is 70,700€ for the entire length of the program, payable in the installments listed below. If you are offered a place in the MBA Program, a non-refundable Commitment Fee of €5,000 is required from IESE should you decide to accept the offer. Commitment fee deadlines can be found in the chart below.
  • The average GMAT score for students accepted into the IESE MBA program in Barcelona is around 672.  While not as high as some of the other major leading MBA programs like Wharton and Harvard Business School, it’s still a lofty goal!

(Sources from IESE website: Fees and expenses)

Contact details of IESE Barcelona

• • IESE Barcelona’s official website

• • IESE Business School – Barcelona Campus

Avenida Pearson, 21 
08034 Barcelona 
Spain 
Tel.: +34 93 253 42 00 
Fax: +34 93 253 43 43

MBA Program mbainfo@iese.edu

Sooo, would you agree that IESE has the top MBA program / Business school in Barcelona?

By Charlotte J.Chen /  A happy SuiteLifer~

Barcelona Madrid – Two of Spain’s/The World’s Greatest Cities!

Barcelona to Madrid is a journey I seem to be making more and more frequently recently and I am becoming quite the expert on travel routes between the two cities. Barcelona to Madrid may strike you as a simple journey, which it is, but if you aren’t careful, you could end up paying more than you may imagine. Barcelona Madrid….Vamos!!

At the time of writing, I have been living in Barcelona for the best part of two years, I’ve loved every moment of it, the ups, the downs and the sideways bits in-between. However, as with everything in life, it has been nothing like I imagined it to be. When I moved to Barcelona, I had visions of  jetting off every weekend, to some other beautiful part of Spain…or perhaps Italy or France. Not to say I haven’t explored because I have, but life does have a way of getting in the way of things. Once I started working and paying for things like rent and food, it became difficult to find time to enjoy Barcelona, let alone fly to Madrid or Paris!

Recently though, I met a girl…(queue dramatic operatic film music) who lives in Madrid. She’s one of a kind and I’m happy as Larry, to say the very least. The last few weekends I’ve been flying from Barcelona to Madrid to see her, being careful to spend as little as possible on the journey,  and as much time as possible with her, food, wine and all the other good stuff that goes hand in hand.

Barcelona to Madrid – What are the options?

What I have come to realise, is that when travelling from Barcelona to Madrid, the cheapest option is not always the best option. However, I appreciate that some of you SuiteLifers may disagree so I will give you the low-down on what’s hot-to-trot.

The AVE Train (RENFE) – High Speed

Why use the AVE train to get from Barcelona to Madrid?
A comfortable and fast way to travel between Barcelona – Madrid, the RENFE AVE Train is a a high speed train travelling from Barcelona Sants/La Sagrera Train stations to Madrid central train station.

How long does the train take from Barcelona to Madrid?
The journey time is more or less 3 hours. When you consider that you get on the train in Barcelona and don’t have to travel to the airport, the journey time is more or less the same as if you were to fly. Especially if you were  to get to the airport an hour or two in advance.

When do the trains leave from Barcelona to Madrid?
I think the real beauty of getting the AVE RENFE high speed train, is the frequency of which they run. There is one if not two trains from Barcelona to Madrid leaving every hour from 6am to 9pm. For a good look at the timetable just click —–> Here

How Much is the train from Barcelona to Madrid?
It’s not cheap and will cost you €120 return and as tourist. However, it must be said that as flights from Barcelona to Madrid fluctuate, the AVE Train does not. I always use this as a reference, if a flight is considerably more than this amount, you know the train price will remain the same.   

The Estrella Night Train (RENFE) – Not So High Speed

Why use the Estrella Night train to get from Barcelona to Madrid?
Bottom line, the Estrella Night Train run by RENFE offers the cheapest way to get from Barcelona to Madrid. If you have time but no money, the Estrella Night Train from Barcelona to Madrid is your best bet.

How long does the Estrella Night Train take to get from Barcelona to Madrid?
The journey time is more or less 9 hours. If you have a sleeping bag and a pillow, and you can get comfortable, I suggest you get some shut eye and sleep well knowing you are saving a bunch of money not only by using the cheapest travel route, but also saving yourself from shelling out for a nights accommodation.

When does the Estrella Night Train leave from Barcelona to Madrid?
As there is only one night in a day, there is only one night train, so be careful you don’t turn up late and miss it. Typically the Estrella Night Train leaves Barcelona at around 10pm. For a good look at the timetable just click —–> Here

How Much is the Estrella Night Train from Barcelona to Madrid?
It’s cheap, in fact, it’s dirt cheap. €44. Need I say any more about this? I don’t think so.

Fights from Barcelona to Madrid (My personal recommendation)

Why fly from Barcelona to Madrid?
Often, but not always, you can get some great deals on Barcelona to Madrid flights. If like me, you don’t have much time, but a great desire to be in Madrid, then flying offers quick and flexible way to travel.

How long is the flight from Barcelona to Madrid?
The flight itself is more or less ONE HOUR. However, bare in mind that Barcelona/El Prat Airport is outside of Barcelona city and typically you will need to set aside an hour, just to get from the city to  the airport.

To get from Barcelona city to the airport, I usually use the train, which goes from Clot, Paseo de Gracia and Barcelona Sants. It’s cheap and only takes about 30-40 minutes. But be careful as there are only one or two trains every hour, meaning you often have to wait for 30 minutes for it to arrive.

NB – The train from Barcelona to El Prat Airport takes you to Terminal 2, flights from Barcelona to Madrid leave from Terminal 1 which means you have to jump on the little shuttle bus (free of charge), this adds an extra 15 minutes to your journey which I didn’t realise and nearly missed my flight. BE CAREFUL!

If time is not your friend, I suggest jumping on the Aerobus in Placa Cataluyna (Barcelona center) which costs about €5-6 and stops at both terminal 1 and 2. Stress free and perhaps a little easier.

Who offers the best Flights from Barcelona to Madrid?

There are certainly many companies offering “cheap flights from Barcelona to Madrid” but it must be said that the prices fluctuate rapidly and seemingly without reason. So far, I have found Vueling to offer the best prices, although recently while I was booking a ticket, the price dropped from €99 to €35. Of course I was happy about this, but it just seems that sometimes it’s worth waiting and watching for the prices to change.

Vueling – Great Service, Punctual and THE BEST PRICES!

How Much are flights from Barcelona to Madrid?
It’s not bad, but it’s not great. Baring in mind you can get the AVE Train for €120, I usually use that as a base. So far, I have paid about €130 return from Barcelona to Madrid, it seems that flights from Madrid to Barcelona are cheaper than the other way round.  It seems that during peak periods (which is generally on weekends or holidays when I want to fly), the flights are about €99 each way….no thanks!!

Spanair
Spanair always sound very attractive, but they are one of those companies that don’t include things like taxes in their price, so it may start off at €50 return, it normally ends up being considerably more than that, and in my experience, Spanair do not offer the best value on flights between Barcelona and Madrid.

Rumbo
http://www.rumbo.es/ are great in the way that they search for routes of various companies. For example, you could fly from Barcelona to Madrid with Vueling, but then return with SpanAir. They mix and match cheap flights so you don’t have to scour the different sites for the best deal.

So there you have it, Barcelona to Madrid. I hope you enjoy your travels as I have done. Madrid and Barcelona are very different, but both incredible places and I’m happy to have experienced them as I have.

THE BUS FROM BARELONA TO MADRID?

Well, I haven’t taken the bus from Barcelona to Madrid. I must say, it would be cheaper, but not necessarily cheaper than the night train. Considering it takes more time I would not even bother with the bus, unless of course, you are on a massive budget and want to take your own sweet time!

Ben Holbrook – SuiteLifer and BCN to MADRID Frequent Flyer!