When you want to have some dinner but you're looking for a Barcelona affordable menu, things can be a bit tough. During the day you can find affordable lunch menu's almost everywhere. But at night it is somewhat different in Barcelona, the dinner menu prices can triple compared to the lunch menu.

Barcelona Affordable Menu - The Fork

Let me inform you about a great website I stumbled upon called El Tenedor , or in English The Fork. The model works like this: the website approaches all kinds of restaurants trying to get great deals. On their site you can make a reservation at your favourite restaurant (it’s better to do this a couple of days in advance), they have a wide selection of restaurants catering to all tastes, and with cuisines from all over the world. This website lets you have an affordable dinner in Barcelona.
The first time I ever tried their service was last year in November when we went for a special occasion to the restaurant Alba Paris on calle Paris 168, they have another restaurant on Enrique Granados called Alba Granados. It is a fancy restaurant that reminded me of high quality French cuisine while the menu contained typical mediterranean dishes. The service was impeccable. There were five of us and the bill did not exceed 150 Euros. We had two bottles of cava and a three course meal, exceptionally cheap. This was so cheap because of the great deal we got from el tenedor by making the reservation through their website.

The second time we used the services of el tenedor to get a Barcelona affordable menu, we went to Thai lounge on Calle Valencia 205. The discount menu deal said you had to come with someone, meaning that you can’t come alone. The service was above average and they even managed to keep an eye on our glasses and fill them up when needed. The food was of excellent quality and we enjoyed every bit of it. The service was friendly and professional. The whole décor of the lounge is mesmerizing and contributed to the enjoyment of the gastronomic experience. The dinner was half price - another affordable menu we found through el tenedor.

How it works

• 
  

• go to el tenedor website a couple of days before you want to reserve
• find the cuisine and restaurant of your choice
• check out the discount deals they offer
• reserve your restaurant
• receive your confirmation and you’re ready to go.

El tenedor will send a confirmation email to the restaurant. Note that at weekends they do not normally have great offers simply because the restaurants already have enough clients. Sometimes it states that the reservation is only for two people. This does not mean you cannot reserve with an unequal number of people it just means you have to be a minimum of two.

What to do & see around Barcelona Placa Reial ?

Barcelona party animals, tourists and restaurant lovers, this could be your ultimate playground! So, you've spent the day at one of Barcelona's beautiful beaches, and you wonder into the city, where are you going to go? [caption id="attachment_9152" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Keeping it Reial![/caption] Barcelona Placa Reial (in Catalan) situated just off Las Ramblas is one of Barcelona's most famous, if not THE most famous square. "Famous for what?" I hear you ask. Well, for many things, but for me personally, it's been one of my favourite nightspots since I arrived in Barcelona over a year ago. Barcelona Placa Reial is a huge, beautifully designed square in the Barri Gòtic area. Designed by Francesc Daniel Molina I Casamajó, it was built in 1848 on the remains of the Santa Madrona Capuchin monastery. It is also home to some of Antoni Gaudi's earliest work. A set of lamps he designed for the Barcelona council which are by no means the focal point of this beautiful Spanish Plaza, but interesting all the same as it was the first work Gaudi was commissioned to do for the government of Barcelona. Each lamp has a plaque on the floor with his name on. As I said before, these lamps are not the most famous of Gaudi's work and most people don't even notice them, so make sure you get a picture of this little Barcelona secret! [caption id="attachment_9153" align="alignright" width="333"]
Gaudi's First Commissioned Work![/caption]

FOUNTAIN OF THREE GRACES - BEAUTY, CHARM, JOY

In the centre of the Barcelona Placa Reial is a classically designed fountain where many people gather and take in the atmosphere. It's known as the "Fountain of Three Graces", which refers to the statue of the three women. The women are said to be the daughters of Zeus; Euphrsyne, Aglaea, and Thalia, representing beauty, charm, and joy which I think sums up this beautiful plaza quite well.

RESTAURANTS IN BARCELONA PLACA REIAL

During the day, you will find people lazing around this square, eating in the many Tapas restaurants and drinking coffee, basking in the glorious Spanish sunshine. The square is surrounded by many Tapas restaurants, my favourite being Les Quinze Nits, which offers some of the finest Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine. This restaurant in Barcelona enjoys one of the greatest reputations and is a training restaurant for up-and-coming chefs. As they are still in "training", they can't charge ridiculous prices, but you get top quality food, it's a win-win situation but means you often have to wait up to an hour just to get a table. Les Quinze Nits is part of a group of restaurants in Barcelona which also own my absolute favourite Catalan restaurant, La Dolca Herminia, which truly deserves it's own blog article [I'll get to work on that one]. Barcelona Placa Reial really comes to life at night. My friends and I hang out here in the summer, drinking beers from "the beer men" before we head into one of the many nightclubs in Barcelona.

THE ULTIMATE BCN NIGHTSPOT?

Placa Reial is home to one of my favourite clubs "Sidecar Factory Club" (Plaça Reial 7), where they have live acts and great DJ's playing a selection of Rock & Pop music. Check out their website for up and coming events! [caption id="attachment_9154" align="aligncenter" width="298"]
Jamboree Night Club - Music Venue[/caption] Other great nightclubs and music venues in Barcelona Placa Reial are the almighty Jamboree & Tarantos (two clubs located at the same address) where I have spent many a night partying until the early hours of the morning listening to Funk, HipHop and R&B. Jamboree has live Jazz sessions and Tarantos offers the best Flamenco shows in Barcelona, complete with dancers and crowds who holla' "Ole!!, Ole!!" after each song finishes, a true Spanish experience not to be missed. (Plaça Reial 17, www.masimas.com). Entry to the club costs €10 and includes a drink which is (believe it or not) below the average cost to enter a nightclub in Barcelona.

THE PIPA CLUB - A SECRET SOCIETY?

[caption id="attachment_9292" align="alignright" width="150"]
The Pipa Club Barcelona - A Secret Place Even Sherlock Couldn't Find[/caption] Whilst discussing ideas for things we could include in this blog, Ranald asked me if I had been to the Pipa Club in Placa Reial. I thought about it but for life of me, could not remember seeing any clubs in Placa Reial called The Pipa Club. He started to describe this secret smoking club in Barcelona, a small bar/club with pool tables and a "Sherlock Holmes" theme. I instantly remembered being at this place and recalled that I had thought it was somebody's (elaborate) apartment. "YES!", Ranny explained that it is basically a huge apartment which has been converted into a club. [caption id="attachment_9293" align="alignleft" width="268"]
Tally Ho' Old Boy[/caption] The Barcelona Pipa Club (The Barcelona Pipe Club - hence the Sherlock Holmes theme) was created in 1980 as a non-profit association. Apparently, it now has as many as 400 members! It's a club for " pipe smokers" but they also welcome non-pipe-smokers, a good business decision I'm sure you would agree. They have a warm ethos and their website informs you that you'll receive "a warm welcome: there's room for everyone and it's easy to find something to your liking - friendship, conversation, drinks, live jazz, gastronomic sampling or a superb meal - part of life's small pleasures and the club's philosophy."

Top 10 Things to See and Do in and Around Placa Reial: Addresses

1. Guadí's Lamp Posts: Right in the centre of the plaza, just next to the main fountain. 2. Taxidermista restaurant: Plaza Reial, 8. 3. Les Quince Nits restaurant: Placa Reial, 6. 4. Pipa Club: Placa Reial, 3. 5. Jamboree: Placa Reial, 13. 6. SideCar: Placa Reial, 7. 7. Bar 13: Calle de la Lleona, 13. 8. Hare Krishna: c/ Escudellers, 14. 9. Fountain: Right in the centre of Placa Reial. 10. Flea Market : Right in the centre of Plaza Real, Sundays after 2:30 pm. So SuiteLifers, I hope you enjoy your party night out in Barcelona Placa Reial. Go to our Facebook page and let us know about your adventures in this truly magical Royal Square. Yours, BH

Information on Barcelona Empadronamiento and how to get yourself Empadronado in Barcelona

In this blog, we tell you everything from essential Empadronamiento information, to empadronamiento vocabulary and, of course, where to get Empadronado in Barcelona. PLUS where to get Empadronado online or in person.

What is Empadronamiento?

Empadronamiento means to get registered in your local community. You will then be on your local districts census (or pádron). Everybody is required by law to be registered (Empadronado) in the local community area in which they are living. You can get Empadronado in Barcelona as an individual or as a family. Even if you are here in Barcelona (or another part of Spain) illegally, you should consider getting Empadronado in Barcelona if you are thinking about staying here for any long period of time.

Is it worth getting Barcelona Empadronamiento?

If you get Empadronado in Barcelona, you will then be an official resident of Barcelona, Spain and your local community. It also means you have some sort of evidence or accreditation to your residency here if you get Empadronamiento in Barcelona. Getting Empadronado in Barcelona means you can now do exciting things like:

• Getting Married
• Vote
• Register your children at a local school
• Apply for Visas
• Getting a Health Card.

It's all very exciting  to move to a cool city like Barcelona but there are some boring bits involved. However, it is worth getting them done, because you could run into major problems later. Even if you don't have all your documents/papers sorted, you should still register and not be scared of getting Empadronado in Barcelona - all information you provide will be kept confidential.

What you need to get Empadronado in Barcelona:

• The application form or hoja de empadromiento - available from office or online.
• A Document proving your Identity (and those of your children if you are applying as a family): Passport, DNI or national identity card, residency card, NIE, ETC.
• Rental/House Contract - something that proves where you live.

That's all you need to get Barcelona Empadronamiento ! But now with the internet you can do the whole thing online!

Get Empadronado in Barcelona online.

Where to get Barcelona Empadronamiento ?

Head along with your papers and join the queue at one of the following offices. They are all open 8.30 - 17.30. (I wouldn't  be surprised if they didn't open until 10.00 and closed for lunch from 14.00 - 16.00 for lunch) Citizens Advice Bureau - Plaça Sant Miquel Plaça Sant Miquel, 4  08002 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Ciutat Vella C/ de les Ramelleres, 17 08001 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Eixample C/ d'Aragó, 311 08009 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Sants-Montjuïc C/ de la Creu Coberta, 104 08014 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - La Marina C/ dels Alts Forns, 82-86 08038 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Les Corts Plaça de Comas, 18  08028 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Sarriá-Sant Gervasi C/ de Anglí, 31 08017 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Guinardó Ronda Guinardó, 49 08024 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Nou Barris C/ del Doctor Pi i Molist, 133 08031 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Zona Nord Av. dels Rasos de Peguera, 25 08003 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Sant Andreu Plaça d'Orfila, 1 08030 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Garcilaso C/ Juan de Garay, 116-118 08027 Barcelona Citizens Advice Bureau - Sant Martí Plaça de Valentí Almirall, 1 08018 Barcelona

Barcelona Empadronamiento Vocabulary

padrón/Padrón Municipal de Habitantes - Municipal record of how many people live in an area. empadronamiento - registration with your municipality/community. volante de empadronamiento - informal certificate of your registration as a member of the municipality. For most of your local needs, this should be fine. certificado de empadronamiento - Official certificate of your registration as a member of the municipality. You may need it for certain legal procedures with national or foreign bodies. (hoja de empadronamiento - The application form needed to register with your community. estar empadronado (for men)/estar empadronada (for women)=To be registered with your community. ayuntamiento - City hall. junta/Junta Municipal de Distrito - City’s neighborhood administrative office. Let us know how you get on with getting Empadronado in Barcelona and Barcelona Empadronamiento!!

Where is the best burger in Barcelona ?

In this blog, we are going to review the greatest restaurants to enjoy the best Burger in Barcelona! To all the burgers lovers, this one is for you!

Benny's Burgers: Best burger in Barcelona - KIOSKO

OK, on to the first one ! It is one of my favorites and it is... Kiosko ! If you like burgers as much as I do, then keep reading! After posting my first blog of the series on Federal Cafe Barcelona, I received lots of helpful suggestions from SuiteLife facebook fans, telling me about all the other great Barcelona burger places they knew of.  Many I've already visited but there was one that really peaked my interest and that was Kiosko.

The Atmosphere:

What I love so much about Kiosko is that it doesn't pretend to be something it's not.  While certainly being upscale, Kiosko is in its heart a 100% hardcore foodie meat-craving gourmet burger joint.

The Verdict:

Kiosko gets 5 out of 5 "Benny burgers".  It's hands down the best Barcelona burger place!  I can't recommend it highly enough.  If you are into burgers, and having trouble finding a not only decent, but an outstanding one, look no further.  Is this the best burger in Barcelona?  It's too early to say, but all other places we'll visit have their work cut out for them! Now, onto the next one!

Benny's Burgers: Best burger in Barcelona - PIM PAM

Is Pim Pam Barcelona Hamburger the Best, or the most hyped? Pim Pam Burgers Barcelona has been the place most recommended to me by friends and SuiteLife fans.  So it had a lot of hype to live up to.  I must say, as far as hamburgers in Barcelona go, Pim Pam is in the upper echelon.

The Burgers:

The Pim Pam burgers are excellent.  These are not 'gourmet' burgers like other places offer.  They are homemade-style burgers, like your grandfather might make you: big juicy delicious patties, fresh ingredients, and a nice soft bun. Aesthetically, they're not much to look at (as you can see from the photo I took on my phone), but what they lack in surface beauty, they more than make up for in taste. They have about 8 burgers to choose from (in either a small 150g version or the larger 200g monstrosity).  I tried the large Barbeque burger and it was mouthwatering and tender.  The fries were excellent (not as great as some of the artisanal fries the gourmet places serve, but there were definitely no complaints going around our picnic table).

The Atmosphere:

The vibe you get when walking into Pim Pam is, in my humble opinion, nothing special.  There's really not enough space, and as it's so popular, it's usually packed with people huddled around the small tables and eating counters.  Not super pleasant.  Given it's excellent location in the Borne though, we opted to take our food to go, and we walked a couple of minutes to Parc Cuitadela, found a picnic bench, and were ready to dig in.  So the atmosphere is nothing to write home about, but this place is all about the food anyways.

The Verdict:

Pim Pam Burger is certainly one of the best hamburgers in Barcelona, but... it's not the best.  As excellent as it is, for us here at SuiteLife, it didn't live up to its hype.  I'm giving it 4.5 out of 5 Benny Burgers, and will highly recommend that all our friends and fans head down to the Borne to check it out. So the hunt for Barcelona's best hamburger continues...

Benny's Burgers: Best burger in Barcelona - HEART BURGER

Heart Burger is one of the newest kids on the block in the Barcelona hamburger scene.  The idea is that they are healthy for you, hence the 'heart' branding.  The burgers and buns are also made in the shape of a heart.  To be honest I hesitated on visiting as I found the concept quite gimmicky and cheesy.  I admit, though, that it did surpass my expectations.

The Burgers:

The burgers are HEALTHY.  They're 100% organic and free of pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, additives, preservatives, and all the crap we usually don't even realize we're eating.  I had the New York Burger (10.75 €), which was 150 gr of organic veal, emmental cheese, fried egg, crispy bacon, and tomato.  All the burgers come with fries.  It was very tasty.  The burgers here are a little more expensive.  On average they are about 11-12 €, however, as my vegetarian friend and colleague Ranald says, it's more than reasonable to pay the premium for such quality and ecological product. They also have an extensive menu of starters, salads, desserts, etc...  The only negative is that we tried the nachos and they were deplorable.  I make better nachos myself at home.  I mean, really, using cream cheese instead of sour cream?  That must be against the law...  So stay away from the nachos but the burgers are super solid.

The Atmosphere:

The atmosphere is very pleasant.  The restaurant is spacious, newly renovated and seating is at tables.  The location is also very convenient.  It's located at 602 Gran Via, just a block or two up from Plaza Catalunya and crossing with Balmes.  The best part of the atmosphere was the very friendly, knowledgeable, and prompt service, which as we all know is somewhat of a rarity in this city. Barcelona Heart Burger receives a very respectable score of 4 out of 5 Benny Burgers.  Have you checked it out yet?  What do you think? Next one?

Benny's Burgers: Best burger in Barcelona - PEGGY SUE'S

Now, we look at Peggy Sue's, which conveniently opened it's doors exactly a block and a half from my apartment! They've been open about a month and I've been 6 times so, yep, this is a good one! What's important to note about Peggy Sue's is that it's not trying to compete with the new wave gourmet burger joints in Barcelona.  It's actually the newest location in a large family of chains.  If you're looking for a down-home hamburger cooked with love and a great 50's throwback Americana atmosphere, you have to come checkout the place I now refer to as just "Peggy's".

The Atmosphere:

Walk into Peggy Sue's too quickly and you might think you've been suddenly teleported back to 1958 NYC.  From the bright teal-colored walls, to the throwback decor, jukeboxes, and milkshake machines, just sitting in the restaurant is a treat.  The staff are extremely friendly and table service is quite fast.  I've been mostly doing takeout, which is very fast and you can even call in your order and come by 20 minutes later to pick it up and save the wait).

The Burgers:

So, the food… is… awesome… Again, this is not a gourmet burger, it's a comfort food burger, pure homemade goodness just like your mom used to make you when you were a kid (no additives, no preservatives, and their special Guiness buns are very light and tasty).  There are 4 burgers to choose from: The Peggy Sue, the Mary Lou, the Aretha Franklin, and the monstrous James Brown.  The burgers are very reasonably priced ranging from 6.35 € - 6.75 €.  I haven't tried the whole menu yet, but I can also highly recommend the onion rings, and the chicken fingers are the best I've tasted in the city, and don't forget the house pink lemonade!

The Verdict:

4 very solid Benny Burgers (out of 5) for Peggy Sue's whose done a bang up job at creating a  while backing it up with lip-smacking authentic American comfort food.  Have you been yet? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Benny's Burgers: Best burger in Barcelona - BACOA

Today's Barcelona burger review is on Bacoa, which is the older brother (although smaller in size) of Kiosko (the only Barcelona hamburger joint yet to get 5 out of 5 Benny Burgers). Does it live up to Kiosko? Let's see!

The Atmosphere:

The atmosphere at Bacoa is very pleasant.  The staff are overly friendly.  One down side though is that the place is too small. It fills up fast and if you're not a bit aggressive, you can easily be left with no place to sit! I went around 2pm on a weekday and it was quite crowded. A small negative, but something to take into consideration.

The Burgers:

The burgers at Bacoa Barcelona are simply succulent. The only burger that you won't also find on the Kiosko menu is their special Bacoa burger, which I of course had to try.  The Bacoa burger comes with a whopping 300g of beef, bacon, manchego cheese, caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce and special house sauce, and all for the rather reasonable price of 6.50 €. The home made fries (same ones at Kiosko) are the best in the city.  While the burger selection is decent here, the Kiosko menu is about double the size.

The Verdict:

Bacoa is certainly one of the very best burgers in Barcelona, but it loses points because of it's diminutive size and the fact that it's new brother restaurant (Kiosko) just beats it to a pulp.  Hence, Bacoa gets a solid 4 & 1/4 Benny Burgers out of a possible 5.  Highly, highly recommended but make sure you try and go on off-lunch hours to avoid the wait.  Enjoy! Always looking for new recommendations to add to my list.  Any burger joints I can't live without visiting? Let me know! Cheers and have a great weekend SuiteLifers! Benny

Barcelona Tapas - El Born is where it's at!

To find tapas in Barcelona, you don´t have to look too long. There are tons of bars in Barcelona, offering a wide variety of the famous and succulent Spanish Tapas. Thus, it can be quite hard to find the best places to eat tapas in Barcelona, but don't fear dear SuiteLifers, we're here to show you the way. Spanish culture is a special one. When it comes to eating, and especially eating hours, one can find huge differences in comparison to other European countries. That being said, the famous Barcelona tapas are definitely one of those culinary staples that makes our beloved city truly unique. Since you are going to want to sample some great tapas while visiting or living in Barcelona, we present to you a little SuiteLife tapas tour of the famous and trendy Borne Barcelona Neighborhood so you can checkout the best of the best!

Tapas & Cava in "El Born"

El Born is probably the trendiest neighborhood in Barcelona. It's full of cosy cafes, great vintage shopping, and other such hip things to do during the day.  It quickly turns into a funky and chic area during the night. Altough I arrived just two weeks ago, I could already tell you about lots of
fun things to do there. However, today, I want to focus on a special Tapas-Tour through El Born. So get your friends, print out the info below (or load it on your mobile phone and save a tree) and let's hit the road!

1. La Champañería - Can Paixano

Address: Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7 Metro: Barceloneta La Champañería is probably the most famous and unique tapas bar in Barcelona. Founded in 1969, it has become a must-see place in Barcelona. You can get super cheap cava and tapas. Usually you can´t even get inside - basically because there are so many people. I went there at 2pm today, and it was already really crowded. It took me a few minutes until I finally ordered my Cava rosé and a few tapas. They make all their own Cavas. One glass is only 70cents which is really cheap.
I talked to the waiter for a few seconds and tried to asked him as many questions as possible. He told me that you usually have to literally fight for a glass of cava or something to eat. Nevertheless it´s an experience that one should not miss!

2. La Vinya del Senyor

Address: Plaça Santa Maria 5 Metro: Jaume I With more than 300 different bottles on its wine list, this is Barcelona's prime wine bar and it also boasts one of the most beautiful terraces, looking out over the grandiose Santa Maria del Mar church. Unlike a typical bodega, this is both chic and expensive, but the incredible choice of vintages - from all over the world - make La Vinya an indispensable stop for wine-lovers. It also has an inventive Asian chef who creates original tapas.

3. Champanyet or "El Xampanyet"

Address: Carrer Montcada 22 Metro: Jaume I This authentic tapas bar is pretty similar to La Champañería. It is located in the heart of El Born and most of the time really crowed. You can have a great time in this bar, but it´s seems to be La Champañería with higher prices. However, you guys should form your own opinion about this ;)

4. Va De Vi

Address: Banys Vells, 16 Metro: Jaume I This restaurant is more a wine cellar than a typical tapas place. Anyways, you can enjoy your tapas with a nice glass of wine in a charming atmosphere. The menu features typical tapas, cheese, ''embutidos'', foie and other top quality products, as well as more elaborate dishes.

5. Taller de Tapas

Adress: C/Argentina 51 Metro: Jaume I Compared to other tapas places in Barcelona, Taller de Tapas is pretty chic. It´s a tapas chain, having five bars troughout Barcelona. One of these is located in the heart of El Borne. The good thing about the one in El Born is, that you can sit outside and watch the world go by. You can´t make a reservation for any of the Taller de Tapas bars. The food isn´t supposed to be outstanding, but still good. In this place it´s more about the atomosphere.

6. Restaurante Txirimiri

Adress: Princesa 11 Metro: Jaume I El Txirimiri is traditional restaurant in El Born, offering all kind of Basque food. The atmosphere is a little more relaxed than in other tapas bars in Barcelona. That being said, you can have a relaxed dinner too. Also, you can reserve a private room for a all of your friends. Check out their website for more information.

Barcelona Tapas Tour Map! Take a Tapas Tour of El Born

Do you guys have any further recommendation for eating tapas in El Born? Please let us know, and we may add them to our tapas guide.
~ Alex Kolb

TEACHING ENGLISH IN BARCELONA

My personal experience of teaching English in Barcelona [caption id="attachment_9106" align="alignleft" width="400"]
TEFL - Teaching English in Barcelona[/caption] Teaching English as a foreign Language sounds like the ultimate job, and it's definitely promoted that way, but could it be too good to be true? Alas young SuiteLifer, do not fear, for SuiteLife is here to give you a first hand, insiders perspective. I've been teaching English in Barcelona since 2009 and SuiteLife's Operations Director, Ranald has been teaching English in Barcelona for many many more years. We've discussed a few points which we believe you need to know about teaching English as a foreign language, before you take the great big giant step and do your TEFL course! (By the way, TEFL for those of you who don't know, stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language). First of all, I would like to say that Teaching English in Barcelona has given me some of the happiest memories I have. Almost everybody I have met in Barcelona is linked in some way to TEFL teaching. For those who like socialising and and meeting new people from different backgrounds, this could indeed be your ideal job.

WHY TEFL?

I was 25 and living in my home town, Swansea - South Wales, when I realised something huge was missing from my life. Growing up with a family passionate about travelling and seeing the world, I decided at a young age that at some point in my life, I would live abroad. However, life goes on, you follow the more "traditionally" trodden path and some how, the "dream" of living abroad becomes nothing more than that, just "a dream". I remember I was renting a house with my friends, I had a car, and even that seemed like enough to tie me down. But something changed, the lease on our house came to an end, and coincidently I sold my car around the same time. [caption id="attachment_9107" align="aligncenter" width="482"]
Teaching English in Barcelona[/caption] I was free, I was single, I had cash in the bank and I started thinking, "Is NOW the perfect time to move abroad, is there ever going to be a better time than this?" I looked into jobs in Spain, originally I wanted to move to Italy but I had studied a little Spanish so it made sense. In flashing lights where ever I looked was "TEFL teaching course in Barcelona", but I never planned on being a teacher, was I being ridiculous? I wrote an email to the TEFL training school and they called me back the next week for a phone interview. All of a sudden I had been offered a place on the TEFL course in Barcelona and it seemed possible, it was easy. All I had to do was book a flight to Barcelona and the school would find me accommodation for the duration of the course (one month). A month later, I was sitting in a classroom with 9 other TEFL trainees, living in Barcelona, living the dream. OK, so I never planned on being a teacher, but I like people, and I like talking so I thought I would give it a go. To me, teaching English was a way for me to live in Barcelona, and that was my ultimate goal.

BARCELONA TEFL COURSE

[caption id="attachment_9108" align="alignright" width="360"]
Do a TEFL course and make new friends![/caption] The TEFL course I did in Barcelona was intense and at times, frustrating but over all I really enjoyed it. I felt I was learning again and after a few years out of University, it was refreshing and exciting. As they tell you before hand, you really are thrown in the deep end and you teach your first English lesson during the first week. Nerve racking, but excellent and invaluable experience. Best teach your first English lesson while you have the "excuse" of being a trainee. Obviously, as an English teacher you have to know your grammar and the course will drill it in to you until you know it inside out, whether you like it or not. Personally, I hated the grammar, and preferred the more communicative techniques they show you to teach English in a less "clerical" manner. Part of this was a lesson entirely in Czech and another entirely in Spanish, the idea being that you can see how it feels to learn a language without any use of your mother tongue. Remember, TEFL teaching means you teach English using only English, which is a beautiful concept as it means you can work anywhere in the world even if the only language you know is English. Are you sold yet?

AFTER YOUR TEFL COURSE - FINDING A TEACHING JOB IN BARCELONA

So, you've been living in Barcelona for a whole month, you are now a qualified TEFL teacher, what next? A lot of the TEFL training schools offer "career guidance" and to be fair, it helps a great deal. They tell you who you need to speak to and what they will expect of you. My course even had somebody who told us exactly what to put on your CV. However, a job is by no means going to just fall into your lap. An important point I would like to mention is that, at times during your TEFL course, it can feel as if you and your new friends are the only native English speakers in Barcelona. This is not true however as there are hundreds of English native speakers completing a TEFL course in Barcelona every month. There are definitely more teachers than there are English teaching jobs in Barcelona so you really do have to work hard to secure a job. Any relevant experience will set you in good stead, I included on my CV that I had taught kids guitar. Although not a great deal of experience, it was a little more than other people who had ZERO experience. [caption id="attachment_9111" align="alignleft" width="282"]
Can you remember your favourite teacher?[/caption] Another problem here is that, because the jobs are offered by schools, they tend to recruit during the beginning of the first term. If you complete your TEFL course in October for example, a great deal of the jobs will have already been snapped up. The TEFL training schools make out that there are jobs available all year round and the certainly are, but by far the best time to secure a position will be August, September and October. The next best time will be after Christmas as many TEFL teachers head home to see their family, never to return.

MONEY MONEY MONEY

I'm sure you want to know about money, I certainly did. TEFL teaching is comfortably paid, and a full timecontract of around 20 hours per week will provide you enough money to pay your bills, enjoy your free time and save enough for trips. But you aren't going to make a fortune. Language schools in Barcelona pay around €15 per hour which is nice, and private classes can pay slightly more. I have a good friend (Marian from my TEFL course) who set up her own English school. She teaches English to almost everybody in her town just outside of Barcelona and works a solid 50 hour week. If you want to make money with TEFL teaching, this is surely the way to do it. During my first year teaching English in Barcelona, I worked only 14 hours at a school but had 5 hours per week of private classes. I enjoyed the variety and freedom of private classes and the security of my contract at the school. I would totally recommend this approach.

HOLIDAYS

[caption id="attachment_9109" align="alignleft" width="230"]
Holidays in Barcelona - VAMOS![/caption] Well, the quality of teachers lifestyle  is well known and TEFL teachers in Barcelona enjoy the same benefits. Half term, Christmas, Easter, bank holidays all included, as well as the many many Barcelona holidays which seem to pop up when you least expect it. It really is all about quality of life. The main point to remember however, is that you are living in Barcelona so you don't have far to go to enjoy the Beaches in Barcelona! NB Although the main holidays are paid, your contract is typically terminated at the end of the academic year. This means that during the summer months, July, August and maybe even September, you will be without a money. There are summer courses in many English schools but not all.

BAD POINTS

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Teaching Kids English - Challenging[/caption]

1. It can be stressful getting things done in Barcelona. The Spanish culture is so much more laid back than Britain and America. At times, you can feel as though your interviews are in vane. I had one interview which went really well, I was asked to return for a second interview and then a third to do a demonstration lesson. The DOS (Director of studies) really gave me the impression that the job was mine. She told me that she would get in touch the week before term to arrange for me to bring in my ID and bank details etc. I turned down two other jobs thinking I had got it all sorted. To my surprise, I never heard from her again and got no reply to my messages and emails. So if you're reading this, thanks for that.
2. Teaching kids, it sounds fun and it can be. But if like me, you imagine the little Spanish kids to be cute,  respectful and excited that they have a native English teacher, you are wrong. They can be crazy, and rude and the fact that you can't normally communicate very well with them doesn't do much to help. Personally, I would do anything not to work with kids, but at my school it's part of the deal so I grin and bare it.

NB If you genuinely like working with kids, say so during your interview as many qualified teachers get into TEFL teaching to get away from teaching children. For many language schools, it's hard to find teachers who want to work with kids.

So, TEFL teaching in Barcelona has been an incredible journey for me personally. Some of the people I have met have been teaching English all over the world, and it truly is a passport to see the world. What could be a better way to emerge yourself in the local culture, than spending all your time talking to the locals, and getting paid for it. The money is good, the lifestyle is even better and the people all share a common ideology, an enthusiasm for learning, culture and living life to the fullest. I did my TEFL course with http://www.teflbarcelona.net/ at BCN languages. If you do your course here, tell them Ben Holbrook sent you and maybe you will get a discount! ;) yours, Ben Holbrook

How to Find an Apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days of Less... Part 1: Introduction & Important Info

Dear friends,
My newest blog series is called: How to Find an apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days or Less... But... Why am I doing this?!: I'm currently looking for a flat to rent in Barcelona.  I have 30 days to hunt, find, sign and move into a new apartment in Barcelona.  For those of you who don't know me, I am the founder and owner of SuiteLife S.L., which specializes in helping foreigners and locals find the rental apartment of their dreams in BCN.  Over the years I've become somewhat of an expert in the art of hunting apartments in Barcelona (or so I'd humbly like to think).

What are my goals:

First, my goal is to find the best valued apartment in Barcelona that fits as closely with my requisites as possible.  Second, and equally as important, I will be documenting the whole adventure ! I will give you golden insider tips on the best practices and strategies so you can also find the flat of your dreams in Barcelona.

What I'm looking for:

The following is a description of my perfect apartment in Barcelona. It's important to remember that chasing 'the perfect flat' can be difficult. Being able to compromise on a couple of things will take you a long way, but we'll come to that later. For now, it's good to make a list of what would be your ideal pad!

Location:

The areas that interest me are Vila de Gracia; the bottom-right side of Sant Gervasi, and the upper-middle of the Eixample.  Not the widest of scopes but remember, this is my ideal.  Looking in other areas will certainly be on the agenda.

Characteristics:

Ideally 50m² +.  It's somewhat a case of 'bigger = better'.  At least 1 bedroom (no studios).  No furniture preferred.  A kitchen with appliances would be great but not necessary.  Any kind of outdoor space (i.e balcony or terrace) would be a big bonus.  Being uber-renovated is not a big concern.

Price:

Here's where it starts to get tricky.  I'm setting the max budget at 800 € / month.  Though rental prices in Barcelona have dropped by about 15-20 % over the last year, I'm still going to be hard-pressed to reach my goal.  We're really looking for Value (with a capital V) here and it's not going to be easy!

General Strategy:

In a nutshell, my strategy will be to sacrifice furniture and state of renovation of the flat (or lack of renovation, that is) in order to get value in other areas such as size and location.  I will also be specifically looking for 'motivated renters' and showing you how you can look for them too.  A motivated renter is someone who, for whatever the reason, needs to rent his/her apartment in a hurry.  This is where you start finding great bargains and also where you'll be able to flex your negotiation muscles with the best results! So, without further ado... Let's find Benny a flat!

How to Find an Apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days or Less... Part 2: The One That Got Away

Today I’m going to tell you about the one that got away…  She was beautiful, no, she was gorgeous.  Just the right size, curves in all the right places, bright  with a sunny disposition.  She was one in a million.  No, I’m not talking about a woman, but my dream flat that I let slip away because I didn’t follow my own advice, the same advice I had given you earlier in this very blog series… Synopsis: I have 30 days to hunt, find, sign and move into a new apartment in Barcelona.  With a budget of only 800 € / month maximum, and some pretty lofty expectations, I’m going to be hard-pressed to reach my goal.  I’m confident, though, that my experience and motivation will get me the Barcelona flat of my dreams, and that my tips will help you do the same. [caption id="attachment_8644" align="alignright" width="384"]
The flat that got away...[/caption]

Here's how I lost my dream apartment in Barcelona, with agonizing detail:

• I saw a beautiful 65m2 1 bedroom fully renovated flat online.  For the price (800 € / Month) there was tons of value.  It was perfectly located in the coolest part of Gracia.
• I setup an appointment to see the flat for 2 days later, which was the earliest date they could give me (often some of the smaller local agencies will spend all week taking calls for a specific flat and slot all the visits together for one time.  This is a tactic to pressure people into renting the flat).

[caption id="attachment_8645" align="alignright" width="384"]
The one that got away... again[/caption]

• As I showed up for the visit, the agent was saying goodbye to a lady, whom I assumed was the visit scheduled just before mine.
• As soon as I walked in the door I fell in love with this modern spacious flat.  It had a terrace that wrapped around the flat on three sides.  The kitchen was brand new, modern, and just happened to be SuiteLife colours!  I had that 'Je ne sais quoi' feeling, that gut feeling you're looking for that just screams to you, this is the place!
• BUT, I hesitated.  My own advice that I didn't follow was that I should have had my documentation (for an explanation on documentation check out our other blog in this series) physically on my body.  At that point I should have said "I'll take it!" and handed the agent my documents.  Instead, I went home, talked to all my friends and family about it, got really excited, and planned to hand in my documentation at 9am the next morning when the agency opened.
• Later, I found out that the lady who I'd seen had visited the flat just before me actually went home after the visit and immediately mailed her documentation to the agency... meaning I was now officially second in line.
• The other people ended up taking the flat and I was heartbroken and without my apartment in Barcelona.

[caption id="attachment_8646" align="alignright" width="384"]
and again...[/caption] Moral of the story: If I had taken my own advice and had my documents physically with me, I would have gotten them submitted before the other lady and I would have gotten my flat!  So now you don't even need to learn this mistake the hard way.  You can just learn from my experience.  I can't really explain how disappointing the whole ordeal was, so please, take my advice and bring your documentation with you on every visit.  You never know when you might fall in love! A small consolation is that, as my parents like to say, there is a streetcar every 5 minutes.  I was completely depressed the entire day after realizing I lost 'my' flat, but the next morning I saw another flat, which I fell in love with also!  So, you never know!

How to Find an Apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days or Less... Part 3: Everything in Life is NEGOTIABLE, Even an Apartment in Barcelona !

Synopsis: I have 30 days to hunt, find, sign and move into a new apartment in Barcelona.  With a budget of only 800 € / month maximum, and some pretty lofty expectations, I’m going to be hard-pressed to reach my goal.  I’m confident, though, that my experience and motivation will get me the Barcelona flat of my dreams, and that my tips will help you do the same. The apartment rentals market in Barcelona is like any other market in the world;  something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.  Negotiation of the rental prices is very common and is something we highly suggest.  It never hurts to try and negotiate the price.  The worst that can happen is that they'll say no.

How NOT to negotiate:

The strategy you use when negotiating is paramount.  The most ineffective, yet most popular strategy, is to come up with a list of un-ideal characteristics of the flat and use those as the arguments as to why the price should be lowered.

Why this is not effective:

You have to keep in mind that buying an apartment is the biggest investment most people will make in their lives.  Hence, landlords are often very proud of their flats and they often have a close and sentimental connection with them.  Keeping this in mind, harping on the flat's imperfections as the focal point of negotiation can seriously backfire.  You can offend the owner and end up getting nowhere.

How to make an effective negotation:

A big tip on how to proceed with an effective negotiation is that your offer should always be accompanied by your documentation (If you want more info on documentation check out another blog in this series).  By passing your offer along with your documentation you are essentially saying that if the owner agrees to your price and terms, you will take the flat.  This is the best way to have your offer taken seriously.

How much can you expect to negotiate the price?:

Very generally, you can usually expect to negotiate a monthly rental price down by about 50 - 100 € / month MAX.  Any more than this and you can expect a big NO and probably a good laugh from the owner.  This is important to keep in mind as a good strategy to getting the best value possible is to look at flats that are about 50 - 100 € above your budget and then get them negotiated down. Remember: Your ability to negotiate a price will also be based on how much demand there is for the specific property.  Basically, the more interest there is in a flat, the less chance there will be that the owner will accept an offer. The best way to negotiate is through an agency.  We've found that when tenants negotiate directly with owners, there's always the chance that things will be miscommunicated, feeling will be bruised, and in general that things will not work out.  It's always best to have an agent who can broker the deal for you.

How to Find an Apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days or Less... Part 4: Declare Yourself !

Today's tip is one that was passed down to me by my father, which is to declare yourself!  I'll Explain Below... Synopsis: I have 30 days to hunt, find, sign and move into a new apartment.  With a budget of only 800 € / month maximum, and some pretty lofty expectations, I'm going to be hard-pressed to reach my goal.  I'm confident, though, that my experience and motivation will get me the Barcelona flat of my dreams, and that my tips will help you do the same.
"Declaring yourself" is very easy and it can help you in many areas of life though it is particularly useful for our purpose of finding an apartment in Barcelona.  Simply put, declaring yourself means expressing to as many people as possible what your objectives are.  In this case we are looking for a flat to rent in Barcelona.  So, we're going to try and let as many people as possible know this.

Why Should I Tell ?

They always say that the best way to get a job is through your personal network, either through a friend or a friend of a friend.  Flat hunting is the same.  The more people you tell that you are looking for an apartment in Barcelona, the more chance that one of your friends will know of someone who happens to be looking to rent or could help you out with a contact.  Spreading the word is easy to do and makes sure you leave no base uncovered.

Who Should Know ?

Tell your friends, co-workers, family, strangers (yes strangers too!), post ads, etc...  Basically, try and mention to anyone who will listen what your objective is.  You never know when someone will have a great contact for you!

How Could It Work ?

Word of mouth is great.  Start by telling literally anyone who will listen that you are looking to rent a flat in Barcelona.  Next, harness the power of social media.  Change your Facebook status, send Twitter updates, start a blog, whatever it takes.  They don't call it six degrees of separation for nothing.  Once you realize that your own network of people has access to an infinitely larger group of people you'll appreciate this method for how potentially powerful it can be. Hope this valuable tip helps!

How to Find an Apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days or Less... Part 5 : Use Alerts !

Quick tip for today: Any online portal for finding an apartment in Barcelona that is worth its weight has a system for setting up alerts.
Synopsis: I have 30 days to hunt, find, sign and move into a new apartment. With a budget of only 800 € / month maximum, and some pretty lofty expectations, I'm going to be hard-pressed to reach my goal. I'm confident, though, that my experience and motivation will get me the Barcelona flat of my dreams, and that my tips will help you do the same. Searching online for an apartment in Barcelona can be frustrating. You've narrowed down the sites you'll be checking constantly, and then you're stuck returning to them once or twice a day to see if anything new has been added. Once in a while you see a new apartment in Barcelona, but more often than not you simply run into the same stale ads as the day before. Setup Alerts!: Most people choose to set an alarm clock so they can wake up in the morning. It would be silly to keep waking up every so often to look at your clock and see if it was actually time to wake up no? That's why we set an alarm, or alert. Flat hunting is the same. If you need an example check out one of our favourite flat hunting portals called Enalquiler (you can find it at enalquiler DOT com). With this site you can choose quite a lot of criteria to explain what you are looking for. Then, whenever something is uploaded to the site that fits with the criteria you've set out, they will send you an email notifying you of the new property. Not only does this save you not having to check back day in and day out, but when a hot property gets uploaded you'll be one of the first to know and can act accordingly! A small tip but a goodie! Hope it helps!

How to Find an Apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days or Less... Part 6 : Private Owners or Agencies ?

There are 2 ways of finding an apartment in Barcelona. Take a look below... Synopsis: I have 30 days to hunt, find, sign and move into a new apartment in Barcelona.  With a budget of only 800 € / month maximum, and some pretty lofty expectations, I'm going to be hard-pressed to reach my goal.  I'm confident, though, that my experience and motivation will get me the Barcelona flat of my dreams, and that my tips will help you do the same.

Private owners:

Private owners, referred to in Spanish as 'particulares', are property owners who are promoting their flats for rent in Barcelona without the help of an estate agency.

Advantages of going directly through the owner:

• The biggest advantage is that they do not charge an 'agency fee', so you will save some money there for sure.
• Often (but not always) with private owners, there will be slightly less bureaucracy and the process can sometimes culminate more quickly as there is no middle man to go through.

Disadvantages of going directly through the owner:

• Most of the flat rentals market in Barcelona is controlled by the agencies, so finding listings directly through the owners can be a laborious task to say the least.  If you don't know where to look you might be out of luck.
• You will need to have a very decent handle on the Spanish language because many of the owners do not speak English.
• Negotiations can be far more difficult to manage when you don't have an experienced third party helping to facilitate them.

Agencies:

In Barcelona the majority of the apartment rentals market is controlled by agencies.  Why?  It's actually very simple.  You see, in many countries it's the owner of the property that pays a real estate agency to promote it to its clients.  In Spain the system is exactly the opposite.  The tenant, not the owner, pays the agency fee.  This means that owners have nothing to lose in letting as many agencies as possible promote their flats.  The agency only gets paid if one of their clients decides to take it.  This should help you understand why agencies control most of the rental properties in Barcelona.

Advantages of using an agency:

• You can get the agencies working for you!  Since you only have to pay an agency once you decide to take a place, we suggest finding a handful of agencies to have them show you the flats in their inventory that best fit your requirements.  Since they will set everything up for you, you can get them to do a lot of your leg work for you.
• If you're not that familiar with Barcelona or how things work here, the agencies will help you with info and hold your hand through every step of the process.  Many of the international agencies speak multiple languages and this can also help you leap over the language barrier.
• Price and contractual negotiations are always better done through a third party.  In our experience, there's lots of room for hurt feelings and misunderstandings when an owner and tenant negotiate directly.  Agencies are well trained in how to gently massage negotiations on both sides so you get the best chance of getting a deal.

Disadvantages of using an agency:

• There are literally thousands of agencies in Barcelona.  You'll quickly see that some of them are either very hard to get in touch with or aren't so quick to call you back.  Without passing too much judgement, we suggest you do a little research, send off a mail with your requirements to a dozen agencies, and work with the ones that get back to you promptly and value your business.
• You will have to pay an agency fee.  The typical agency fee in Barcelona is usually either the equivalent of one month's rent plus tax OR 10% of the annual contract plus tax.  So you have to be ready to part with this money, and that certainly is somewhat of a disadvantage, but if you look at what you are getting in return it definitely seems to be the best way for most people to go.

SuiteLife Barcelona is one of Barcelona's top real estate agencies.  We take it a step further than most agencies and instead of just renting an apartment in Barcelona, we also strive to provide people with excellent insider information about living in the city, through our blog, SuiteLife TV videos, and our free ebooks called the Barcelona Bible Series.  We pride ourselves on our excellent service and hope you will get in touch if you or someone you know is looking for a flat to rent in Barcleona. Personally, I hope that you were able to pickup at least one tidbit of info from my series that will help you on your flat hunt and help you secure the apartment of your dreams, just like I did.

How to Find an Apartment in Barcelona in 30 Days or Less... Part 7 : I Found a Flat in 28 Days !

It was stressful, thrilling, disappointing, up, down, and all over the place.... [caption id="attachment_9069" align="alignright" width="384"]
My apartment in Barcelona[/caption] Synopsis: I have 30 days to hunt, find, sign and move into a new apartment in Barcelona.  With a budget of only 800 € / month maximum, and some pretty lofty expectations, I'm going to be hard-pressed to reach my goal.  I'm confident, though, that my experience and motivation will get me the apartment in Barcelona I'm dreaming of, and that my tips will help you do the same. In general, I clustered up my visits of flats in Barcelona seeing up to almost 20 flats/week within a span of 3-4 days. At the end of both week 1 & 2, I thought I had found the 'flat of my dreams', but in the end lost out as I didn't follow my own advice on the importance of documentation.  Each time I thought 'great, how will I ever find a flat that I like as much as the one I just lost!'  And in the end I in fact did, and more, and I'm exactly where I should be. The biggest lesson from my search was to be prepared.  If you think a flat is really special, chances are everyone else who's seeing it thinks exactly the same.  Being prepared with your documentation ready and actually on your physical person is paramount.  Not being prepared enough was the reason for me losing two amazing flats, but it was also the reason why I snagged my dream flat in the end.

My Apartment in Barcelona: What I got:

As you might remember from the first part, my main goal was to find the most value possible.  I was ready to sacrifice certain things (state of renovation & furniture) in order to gain other things (central location & outside space).  Here's the breakdown of what I got.

Neighbourhood:

I had my sites almost exclusively set on Villa de Gracia.  In the end my dream flat is located in the bottom right hand corner of Sant Gervasi. It's only about 4-5 streets walking to the heart of Gracia & only 7 blocks from the SuiteLife office. Nice!

Flat Characteristics:

The flat is an attic (big bonus), with a 20m2 south-facing terrace (even bigger bonus!).  The actual flat is 45m2 and very well distributed.  The kitchen, living room & bedroom are all independent and perfect size.  If I wasn't so interested in a terrace I probably could have gotten a 2 bedroom, but that's not the case.  After all, I'm only one person and I'll have more than enough room for visitors on my living room's pull-out couch.  Another big bonus was that the building has an elevator!  The flat is 2 blocks from my gym, 1 block from my favourite supermarket, and half a block from Starbucks!  I was very lucky with this flat.  The previous tenant was an IESE student who only stayed for one year.  He had bought all the electrodomestics new and then left them in the flat when he moved out.  There were two couches and his bed, which I tossed out and replaced with my own.  The terrace furniture was already there, and that was it!  Not much to furnish in a 45m2 flat anyways.  So I'm all setup just a couple days after moving, and now it's time to start thinking of decorating!

Price:

I did VERY well on the price.  The flat was originally listed at 790 € / month, which just fit in under my original 800 € maximum budget.  If you've read my entry on how to negotiate the rental price than you'll know that it never hurts to try and negotiate the rent.  I made an offer of 725 € / month, handed in all my documentation right there at the end of the visit, and a day later received a call saying the owner had excepted my offer!! Basically the better prepared I was, and the more ready I was to act quickly, the luckier I got.  There was a great feeling the day I moved all my stuff in and started unpacking.  Almost immediately after entering the flat... I felt as if I was 'home'.  More than anything I think that's the feeling you're looking to accomplish, and how you'll know that you've done a great job. I've included a couple photos of my new apartment in Barcelona in this blog to give you a little taste. Thank you so much for everyone who followed this blog series.  We'll soon be turning it into an ebook so we can help as many people as possible with their hunt for an apartment in Barcelona.  If you have any feedback or topics that you think we should cover, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or shoot us a mail at anytime. Happy flat hunting SuiteLifers!  Remember, home is where the heart is! Benny

Suitelife's Five Easy Ways to Meet Friends in Barcelona

Would you like to know the easiest ways to meet friends in Barcelona? Once you have found the right short term flat and unpacked your suitcase, it’s time to get out there! Yes, we know it can be difficult when you don't know anyone yet but don't worry, with our tips you'll become a "Rey de la movida" in just a few hours, we promise! 1 - ERASMUS EVENTS
Meeting new people in Barcelona is like taking candy from a baby, especially if you are on a student exchange program. There are dozens of groups on Facebook, promoting events every single day. And its not just the nightlife on offer, there are interesting activities going on all the time: day trips, international dinners, brunches etc. Even if you are not an Erasmus student its worth joining their meetings. You might not get a discount on your first drink  but you'll meet loads of great new people from all over the world! 2 - MEETUP GROUPS
MEETUP is a huge network of local groups with all different interests. This app is very active in Barcelona with seemingly hundreds of groups to choose from. Check out our list of the Top 10 Meet Up groups and pick your favourite! It is a very easy way to meet friends in Barcelona, especially if you’re interested in language exchanges, but also if you're into sports, nature, art and so much more. And if they don't have a group with something you're interested in then why not start one up yourself?! 3 - COUCHSURFING ACTIVITIES
Couchsurfing is a religion for many backpackers and young travelers from all over the world. Take a look at some of the Barcelona meet ups they have: Sunday brunches, football matches, international dinners… Maybe sleeping on someone else’s couch isn't the most comfortable but its a great way to meet new people and fit right in with the locals. 4 – BARCELONA FREE WALKING TOUR
This is a great way to meet friends in Barcelona and a fantastic way to discover the city. There are so many free walking tours to choose from that there's sure to be a rendezvous-vous point near you! Check out our Barcelona Free Walking Tour blog where you can decide between the three best free walking tours in Barcelona. 5 - BARCELONA BAR CRAWLS
This is really cool way to make new  friends and get a taste of Catalan nightlife. But how does it work?  Participants pay a flat fee and get unlimited drinks in 4 different venues. They meet at Placa Reial at 11pm every day of the week from February till September so there's no excuse to miss out! Still think it’s that difficult  to meet friends in Barcelona? Leave a comment and share with us your experience! - Elio

Miu: The Place To Be To Eat The Best Sushi In Barcelona!

Altough most of the restaurants in Barcelona offer typical Spanish food, Barcelona is home of several great Sushi restaurants as well. We at SuiteLife love the Japanese specialty! When I got to Barcelona, one of the first things I asked at work was where can I find the best sushi in Barcelona. They got back to me with this blog about the most recommended sushi restaurants in the city.
Frankly speaking, none of those sushi places really impressed me... Until I tried Miu Japonés on C/Valencia 249. The former parking garage was rebuilt into a stylish and beautiful location. Although the restaurant is pretty big, it's still cosy and offers a great atmosphere. My first time at Miu was when we had lunch with the SuiteLife crew.

Lunch menu:

During lunchtime you get an entire menu for 10.95€. The lunch menu includes a starter, two main courses, a desert, and one drink (water or wine). The menu changes daily. Just to give you an example, I'm gonna list what I had last time. Starter: Big mixed salad served with a tasty Japanese sauce. Main Course I: Maki of the day: Maki with salmon and confit onions. Main Course II: Fresh tempura with puree. Desert: Applepie (Coffee is not included) This is just an example. You can choose from different things everyday!
Evenings: As I totally fell in love with this sushi place, I went there with my friends on the following Friday. A reservation is highly recommended. Miu is a really good place to go with a group of friends. We went there with 5 people without a reservation and were lucky to get a table in the packed restaurants. Even though the restaurant is pretty busy, the atmosphere is still great. Lounge music would make it perfect! We ordered a lot of different things and ended up paying around 20€ each (wine and water included).
General information about Miu Japonése: - The only "bad" thing is the slow service. They have issues to handle big groups and usually don't serve everything at the same time - Location: C/Valencia, 249, 08007 Barcelona (Corner of Passeig de Gràcia) - Closest metro: Diagonal (L3, L5, L6, L7), Passeig de Gràcia - Reservation for dinner is highly recommended - T- 931932300 - Opening hours: Lunch from 1pm to 3.45pm - Dinner: 8.30pm to 11.30pm - They offer a Take Away Service - Official website: miurestaurant Miu Japonése is definetely my favourite Sushi place in BCN up to now. What's your favourite one? Do you know any other restaurant serving the best sushi in Barcelona? Let us know in the comments below!

Airports in Barcelona - Everything You Need to Know

There are so many Airports in Barcelona that it can be difficult to choose the best one. In my experience, some of the best deals and cheapest flights are found in the airports a little further from Barcelona. Once you found the flat of your dreams, you have to make sure to visit the apartment before paying anything. Thus, you have to get here as soon as possible. If you live in a different country, the easiest way to get to Barcelona is to catch a plane. Flights to Barcelona can be expensive. However, not only the main airport “El Prat” in Barcelona has experienced a lot of changes these last years. Another two airports located outside Barcelona are now very well connected to the city. These airports in Barcelona are a cheap option to travel.

Airports in Barcelona: Choose Your Favourite

"El Prat"

This airport is the main one in Barcelona. It´s just 12 km away from the city center and very well connected. Beside the "aeropuerto" in Madrid, "El Prat" is the largest airport in Spain. It took care of more than 29.2 million passengers in 2010. It is important to know that the airport is divided into two terminals. Terminal 1 is brand new and really mordern. It was inaugurated in 2009 and is mainly used by high-price companies.
As there was a lot of space left once the new terminal was inaugurated, the airport reduced landing fees in order to attract low-cost companies. That being said, nowadays even airlines such as RyanAir are connected with the main airport in Barcelona. When you guys arrive at one of the mentioned terminals, there are various opportunities in order to get to the city center. Since most of you don´t speak a great deal of Spanish, cab drivers easily take advantage of this and charge you way too much. The same thing happened to me when I arrived in Barcelona last week. As I don’t want you to end up in the same situation, I´m gonna list the most common prices :

Taxi:

Barcelona Airport -> City center / Up to 30€ (It depends on where you go exactly and how much luggage you carry with you)

Train:

There will be a brand new station soon which is going to be connected to the metro system. Up to now, you have to take RENFE which runs from Terminal 2 to Plaza . For those who land at Terminal 1, there´s a connection bus which brings you to the station. The most central stop is " Passeig de Gracia" railway station. The ride is about 3€.

Bus:

There are two different types of buses running from the airport to the city center. One of them is public, the other one belongs to a private company. The public one charges you approximately 5€ and takes you to "Placa Espanya". The private one, called "aerobus", takes you to the same place but is a bit more expensive. The duration of the ride totally depends on the traffic. If there´s no traffic at all, you can make it within 15mins. If there´s a lot of traffic, it can take you up to 45mins.

Girona-Costa Brava Airport

This airport is a very common and cheap alternative to the main airports in Barcelona. Though it´s located 91 km north of Barcelona, it is well-connected to BCN city center. In this case it is important to know that Girona is the major base of RyanAir. RyanAir operates 62 routes from Girona all over Europe. Thus, you have to check flights on RyanAir's website or on one of those flight search engines, which I´ll talk about later in this blog.
On one hand you can save a bunch of money, but on the other hand you really need to be flexible. Indeed, the transfer to Barcelona takes way longer! If you are really relaxed and ready to excuse the "service" of RyanAir, I will help you with the transport.

By Bus:

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Barcelona is to take the bus. A great fact about these buses is that there´s always one waiting for you when a plane land. The journey takes 1h15min and costs 12€ for one - and 21€ round trip. Having read a lot of comments on this bus, I can recommend this bus trip to you!

By car:

If you are traveling with friends, you should check prices to rent a car. It's sometimes cheaper to get to Barcelona. There is also a train, but those options are definitely more efficient.

Reus:

In addition to "El Prato" and "Girona", another small airport is located 75km to the north of Barcelona. As the bus transfer to Barcelona is pretty easy too, it is definitely an option. Check the RyanAir site for flights. The transfer to Barcelona is more or less the same as from Girona.

By Bus:

There is a private bus company called "Hispano Igualadina", which offers bus rides from the airport to Barcelona Sants. They charge you 12,50€ for a single ride and 22€ for a round trip. You can buy the tickets at the arrival terminal. The duration of this trip is approximately 90min.

By Car:

Frankly speaking, I wouldn´t recommend to rent a car at this airport. Sure, you can rent a car if you want to share the price. However, since the bus ride is really easy and cheap, you should take the bus.

Cheap flights:

Now that you know every airports in Barcelona, you have to look for a cheap flight. There are many ways to find a great deal. Firstly, you have to choose one of the mentioned airports. If you have decided on one, you can either find a flight on one of those search engines or on the company's website.

Here are the most common ones:

RyanAir: RyanAir flies to every airports in Barcelona. You can find very cheap flights, but you have to be flexible. Most of the time RyanAir offers very good prices during the week early in the morning. That being said, I recently found a flight from Germany to Barcelona for 60€ return. However, you have to be patient to find a really good bargain. Usually, you can find flights for 100€ return. VuelingAir: Vueling is the Spanish RyanAir. It´s a constantly growing company, based in Barcelona. If you are looking for cheap domestic flights, Vueling is the way to go!

Search engines:

Atrapalo.com: This Spanish flight search engine is really good, check it out! Now you know everything about airports in Barcelona! You also have all the information you need to get to Barcelona via plane. However, you always have to be a bit lucky to find a super cheap flight. Just keep on looking on the mentioned sites and you will definetely find one! Do you know of any other place to find cheap flights?  Let us know in the comments below and we'll add it! Have a safe trip! Alex Kolb