Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas
Barcelona
My college age daughters are traveling with a group of friends to Barcelona and staying at a Hostel for a long w/e. Do I need to worry about their safety? any advice from you'll, they never been to Spain
Mr. Martins right, it's gonna happen so any bad stories isn't gonna help.
Madrid & Sevilla felt safer then any of the big cities I've visited in the US.
Also, a place is as safe as the person visiting. For a college girl I'd say just stick with your friends at all times, don't accept open drinks from strangers and if a place/street feel sketchy avoid it. I'm sure it's completely fine, worst case scenario she gets pick pocketed.
I was there last year and have been many times. I saw lots of college kids from all over the world having a blast, meeting, talking and hanging out. It's a very friendly place, it's not Castilian, the main language is Catalan, so worth reading up on this cultural aspect and learning to say "hello", "please", "thank you" and "goodbye". English amongst visitors and younger residents is widespread.
I found Carrer Ample, near the port, packed with decent bars and bistros buzzing into the early hours.
There are no real no-go areas, gun crime or violent gangs to my knowledge. Las Ramblas has a reputation for scams and pickpockets but that's about it in my opinion, the rest is down to your daughter using her judgement.
I would not worry to much eather. It is much saver than 20 years ago.
It is now a big city with normal big city problems.
If it may feel a bit better to you, yesterday my wife and me where dining with our Spanish friends. We know them about 30 years. The guy is head of the police in Barcelona center. So if something is happening, let me know, and I will give him a call, maybe usefull for an Ad-Hoc solution or some thing else.
But better if they do not need it. I hope they enjoy every minute of it and dad and mom can be proud of their daughters and their new experience.
I have just spent a few days in Barcelona. It seems pickpocketing is the biggest risk - especially in the crowded, touristy spots like Las Rablas and Plaça Cataluña. I think there was an attempted pickpocket in the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia - the guys in the black suits took off in hot pursuit of someone who was beating a hasty retreat.
I always only took the money I needed and kept my mobile phone safe.
The Tripadvisor Barcelona City Guide app on my android was the single most useful tool - with that you can't get lost.
I found flamenco harder to find than in Granada or even Madrid.
Not been but know pick-pocketing is the main problem. Don't even dream of getting a laptop out in a bar (I know of a story first hand where the guy was distracted and it was gone).
Printable Version
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread