Getting There: A Tale of Delays and Pretzels
Barcelona wasn’t on our radar for a leisurely escape this time—it was the first stop on a British Airways tier point run. Glamorous? Not quite. Necessary? Absolutely. Our Gold Executive Club membership had expired in June 2024, and with a short grace period, we needed to rack up enough tier points to keep that coveted status alive. Cue a whirlwind itinerary: Manchester → Heathrow → Barcelona → Seattle (via JFK and LAX)… and then back again. Torture disguised as travel.
The day began at 7:00 AM with a smooth hop from Manchester to Heathrow. So far, so good. But Heathrow had other plans for us. After a brisk canter through the terminal (never underestimate the marathon that is Heathrow), we boarded our 10:25 AM flight to Barcelona—just in time for the captain’s announcement: one-hour delay due to thunderstorms in Barcelona. Except, my A-Level maths told me the numbers didn’t add up. We were parked on a remote stand for 30 minutes, then told it would be another 55 minutes before takeoff. Spoiler: we finally left at 12:05 PM.
The crew tried to soften the blow with a miniature bag of pretzels and a plastic cup of water. Not quite the culinary adventure we had in mind.
In-Flight Dining: Coconut Prawn Curry at 30,000 Feet
About an hour into the flight, lunch arrived: Coconut Prawn Curry. Three king prawns swimming in a medium-spiced sauce with green beans and red peppers, paired with sticky rice (stodgy, as always on planes). A warm bread roll and a curious crème fraîche salad pot rounded things out. Dessert was a mousse layered with crumble and fruit—mango or apricot? Hard to tell—but the hidden coin of dark chocolate was a pleasant surprise.
Arrival Chaos: Brexit or Bad Weather?
Barcelona airport greeted us with carnage. Non-EU passport lines snaked endlessly, and tempers flared when a couple from a Vueling flight tried queue-jumping. A British Airways business class passenger wasn’t having it and summoned security. Drama aside, we eventually made it through to find our bags abandoned on a stationary carousel.
Where We Stayed: Innside Melia Barcelona Apolo
Our base was the Innside Melia Barcelona Apolo, a sleek 4-star hotel in El Poble-Sec. Why here? Two reasons: our American Express Platinum perk (20% off three Melia stays per year) and proximity to the airport for our brutal 4:30 AM departure.
Getting there was an adventure in itself. We hopped on the Aerobus (€25, 20 minutes) to Espanya, then tackled metro stairs with full-sized suitcases—hello, accidental strength training.
Check-in was blissfully modern: a QR code and a machine spat out our key. Our Studio with Balcony on the sixth floor offered sweeping city views, a neutral yet stylish interior, and quirky extras like funky slippers, a yoga mat, and two complimentary beers (thanks, Melia Gold status). Despite the hotel’s size, it was whisper-quiet. Two nights of uninterrupted sleep in a king bed? Heaven.
What We Ate: Tapas Triumphs and Misfires
Lascar 74: Peruvian Flair in El Poble-Sec
Sunday dining in Barcelona can be tricky—our shortlist was closed, so we stumbled upon Lascar 74, a buzzing seafood spot with a Peruvian twist. We scored an outdoor table and ordered:
Mixed Olives – plump and plentiful.
Scallops – half a dozen, served in shells with a creamy sauce.
Patatas Bravas – crispy new potatoes drizzled with bravas sauce and aioli.
Fish Tacos – seabass with slaw on vibrant purple tortillas.
Garlic Prawns – king prawns in lemon-chilli oil, shells slipping off effortlessly.
Every bite was a revelation. We loved it so much we returned on our way home for a vegetable curry with rice and more prawns. If that’s not an endorsement, nothing is.
Cerveceria Catalana: Tapas with Expectations
Cerveceria Catalana was recommended to us. On the night we visited is was a mixed bag. The vibe was frenetic, the staff relentless. We gambled on draft Estrella beers and dove into:
Bread with Tomatoes – small thin fingers of bread with a barely there brush with tomato.
Cabreoas Egg Style – billed as eggs in spicy sauce; delivered as fries topped with chopped fried eggs and a smidgen of tomato.
Beef Croquettes – crispy shells hiding beef and mash, evoking retro Findus crispy pancake vibes.
Hot Montaditos (Prawn Skewer) – generous prawns on baguette, but bread was a low impact jaw workout.
Patatas Bravas – cubes of potato drowned in aioli, bravas sauce relegated to a small dish.
Codfish with Tomato, Honey & Aioli – flaky fish, but the sweet tomato-honey bed and grilled aioli were a mismatch.
We washed all of this down with a bottle of reasonably priced Albariño.
What We Did: Markets, Monuments & Montjuïc Magic
Mercat de la Boqueria
Hidden away near La Ramblas, the food market Mercat de la Boqueria is a riot of color and worth a wander. Tourist-friendly bites include: empanadas, fruit pots, smoothies, and skewered meats. Here’s what we saw…
Sagrada Família
We made the rookie mistake of not booking ahead for Sagrada Famalia . Gone are the days of spontaneous entry—now it’s a week’s notice or a hefty premium.
Still, Gaudí’s masterpiece is mesmerizing from the outside, all intricate spires and surreal detail. I’ll be back, ticket in hand.
Parc Montjuïc
Parc Montjuic was the highlight of our trip.
For panoramic views, take the Funicular de Montjuïc from Paral·lel and ride the cable cars to Castell Montjuïc.
Skip the round-trip ticket—you’ll want to walk down. Trails at the top offer 360° vistas that make the journey worthwhile
Final Thoughts
Barcelona gave us a whirlwind of flavors, sights, and a few travel hiccups. From scallops in creamy sauce to the sweeping views of Montjuïc, it was a tier point run with unexpected delights. Would we return for leisure? Absolutely—next time, with more time and fewer flight connections.