Transport From BCN is part of the Gold Medal Trip Report.
Take it from me, I hate taxis at the airport. However, there is a time and place for them. And that time and place is Barcelona airport, especially if you happen to be staying at the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower.
Here’s why: I saw there was a metro in the airport. Starting my trip frugally and with no rush, I thought it made sense to pay the 5.50 euros for the metro. After doing so, I turned to my Moovit app to chart my route. I should have done this before paying for the ticket.
Bolt & Uber Timers
Striking out on the metro, I checked the rideshare apps. I learned that new arrivals to Barcelona have to wait 15 minutes for a ride-share app to request a driver. And when it does, it is no easy mission to find the Uber driver.
Taxi
I do not have time to waste for the sake of wasting it. After trekking all over BCN airport, I concluded that I was better off taking a taxi to the hotel from the outset. I discovered that I was only a few minutes away.
Overall
I have no issue paying a premium for expedient taxis. The problem is not knowing whether I will be ripped off. In Barcelona, this was not an issue, but how was I to know this in advance?
I take the bus. €2.55 and takes about 25 minutes. The metro goes the wrong way. But it is convenient when going into town from the hotel.
I’m finally getting over my bus phobia.
This bus is easy. Starts and ends at the airport. Stop is across from the hotel on the way from the airport (there is a tunnel to walk under the road to the hotel). On the way back to the airport the stop is at the gas station right in front of the hotel.
This is why I write these posts, so maybe someone will make use of this advice.
But I thought “Everyone’s advice is wrong, including mine.” 🙂
Reading it 12 years later, I’m ready to write the sequel. And you should know the title it is, assuming you read volume 1.
I pulled it out of my book stack yesterday. Plan to read it again soon.
I was just in BCN on a trip and ended up taking a taxi as well to my hotel. I had planned to take the Aerobus to Plaza Catalunya and walk a few blocks to my hotel but after waiting almost an hour for my luggage and a very long line for the aerobus I decided to just take a cab. It didn’t cost as much as cabs in many other airports around europe and I got to my hotel much quicker. So I was happy that I did it.
Time is money and exhaustion is exhausting