ELTIPS AV R T
I went for Barcelona because I knew Vik would love to see Barcelona play Villarreal. And, I’ll be honest, a weekend in Barcelona didn’t sound too bad to this reluctant sports fan.
We flew first thing on Saturday morning, so we could squeeze in two full tapas-fuelled, sangria-spiked days in the capital before the Sunday evening match.
The city was in full- on Christmas mode, with almost every street aglow with festive lights. And unlike the drizzly London we left behind, it was a semi-tropical 15C.
We stayed at the BCN Urban Gran Rosellon, a basic but convenient hotel a five- minute walk from Diagonal Metro Station and the fashionable Passeig de Gràcia street.
There’s a pool and a rooftop terrace and the rooms are clean and well-appointed, though it’s definitely short of a bit of character.
Gaudi’s famous masterpiece cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, is a couple of miles away, and we meandered along on foot, making the most of the Spanish sun.
If you’ve never been to the cathedral – or if it’s been a few years since your last visit – this should be your first port of call.
More than 140 years since Gaudi first began his masterful design, the
CHECK out footballbreak.co.uk for deals. Tweak the package by upgrading your seats in the stadium and on the plane as well as going for cheaper hotels, if you like.
LEAVE time to explore the city. Entrance to the Sagrada Familia is £15 and the beach is a short bus hop away.
COSY up on a rooftop bar such as Terrat at Mandarin Oriental, which has outdoor heaters to keep you warm while you take in the impressive city
panorama. is complete without half a dozen plates of tapas. So for dinner we hopped around a few tapas bars in the Gothic Quarter, having a dish of padron peppers here, a slice of homemade tortilla there. The perfect way to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the city at night.
Sunday was game day and Vik was keen to check out the museum at the football ground.
Along the way we stopped to buy a couple of FC Barcelona scarves to wave while we were at the game.
The museum is interesting to the avid football fan, less so to me. But if you’re flying all the way to Barca for a footie match, it’s worth checking out.
By the time we got our hotdogs and beers and found our way to our seats, the atmosphere in the stadium was crackling. Vik was pretty chuffed with our seats, which were so close to the pitch that we could see the concentration on the players’ faces as they ran past.
It was a good game and I even surprised myself by how much I enjoyed it – it’s hard not to soak up the excitement from the crowd. Vik was in his element as we watched Pique and Alena score for the home team. By the time the game was over (2-0 to Barcelona), I could tell this gift had hit the mark.
Another early-doors flight had us at our desks for Monday morning after a city break that was in a different league.
No points for guessing what Vik’s getting for Christmas next year. FACTFILE: Prices start from £179 per person, based on two sharing a twin room for one night with flights and short- side third- tier ticket. Upgrade to long-side firsttier for £108. There are 27 clubs to choose from, with destinations including Milan and Madrid. Go to footballbreak.co.uk to book.