I received a complimentary tour credit from TripAdvisor in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
As you know, I love to travel. Whether it’s for work or pleasure, on my own or with friends, family – I just love to get out and explore the world! So when my dear friend Shelly decided that she wanted to get her passport and take her first international trip with me to celebrate her birthday, I had one word for her: Barcelona!
I’d been to Barcelona twice before, and it is one of my favorite places in all the world! Now, while you can definitely have a great time in Barcelona – or any city, really – without making a lot of plans, I really wanted Shelly to get the FULL experience during her first international vacation. However, while I love traveling, I don’t really love all of the planning that is sometimes involved…and that’s where TripAdvisor comes in!
I think it’s safe to say that everyone knows about TripAdvisor – it’s where many go for reviews on hotels and attractions. But did you know that they’re also the world’s largest provider of tours, activities, and attractions? They are so much more than just reviews! They have more than 56,000 bookable experiences in 2,500 destinations worldwide! You can search for hotels and read reviews, then go directly to the booking site from TripAdvisor and complete your booking. Attractions work a little differently – TripAdvisor actually allows you to book activities and tours right from their website or using the mobile app!
As Shelly and I were spending a week in Barcelona, I let her pick a tour outside of the city to give us a little variety. We settled on the Girona and Costa Brava Tour from Barcelona, and booked it while sipping sangria on Las Ramblas.
Discover the coastal splendor of the Costa Brava region on a full-day trip to Girona and Calella de Palafrugell from Barcelona. Travel through the scenic Catalan countryside, and discover the atmospheric streets of Girona’s medieval Old Town. Admire the flagrant fortresses of Pals, absorb the seaside charm of rural fishing village, Calella de Palafrugell, and admire the dramatic landscapes of Begur, the former home of an ancient castle. Receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour.
Of course, as I am always on the go, I usually use the app to book my tours. It’s so simple! You can find attractions and tours, read reviews and book them right there from the TripAdvisor mobile app. I love this! You can literally book tours anytime, anywhere, and your bookings are all saved right there in your mobile app!
The Girona and Costa Brava Tour from Barcelona was a lot of fun and gave us some great photos, though we did begin the day with a bit of rain in Girona. You know what that means, right? WE HAVE TO GO BACK!
It was a lovely town and I can’t wait to pay a second visit to see it in the sunshine!
Costa Brava was simply amazing. I loved the history behind the small town…Our amazing tour guide said that it began with a bunch of ladies being “sent” there due to low financial status…it was basically a beach side village for unmarried gals.
Then they realized how valuable their beautiful beach side village was and BOOM: real estate riches! You know I love a good female empowerment story!
The village was SO PRETTY, I was so grateful that the sun came out as we approached. We had a little over an hour at this location, enough time to take some photos and enjoy a delicious lunch!
Shelly ordered a local dish…cooked in squid ink!
Whether you’re traveling at home or abroad, I highly recommend checking out TripAdvisor for activities and attractions – it’s one stop shopping for all of your travel needs!
TripAdvisor also offers some other great perks for travelers:
- VIP access: We offer skip-the-line opportunities, behind-the-scenes access, private viewings and more
- 24/7 customer service: Book with TripAdvisor Attractions and you’ll have 24/7 access to our customer support team
- Low price guarantee: If you find a lower price for the same tour or activity within 72 hours of booking, or if you arrive in your destination and find your activity offered at a lower price by our operator, let us know. We’ll refund the price difference
If you haven’t used TripAdvisor to book a tour yet, I highly recommend it! You can find out more on TripAdvisor.com/Attractions!
You can also download the TripAdvisor app for iPhone here and for Android devices here.
You can check out other trip I recently booked using TripAdvisor, I took Angeline to the Temple of Poseidon in Greece!
lisa says
January 13, 2018 at 1:01 pmWOW, Barcelona looks like a place I need to add to my bucket list! I have always heard Spain was beautiful and that there is so much to see. Mt sisters have used TripAdvisor many times in booking their tours and have always been pleased with their service. Your images are so beautiful!
Kelly Stilwell says
January 13, 2018 at 2:27 pmI used TripAdvisor for a tour of Holland and it was one of our favorite family days ever! Looks like you had fun!
Jodi says
January 13, 2018 at 6:04 pmWow, that loos beautiful! I have never traveled out of the USA, but would love to. Barcelona looks like an amazing place to visit. I love all the history and the charm of all the cobblestone. If ever I can go on a tour such as yours, I will keep TripAdvisor in mind!
Desiree Lopez says
January 15, 2018 at 4:30 pmI really enjoyed seeing your pictures of Spain. It looks like you both had an amazing journey. The next time I travel I’ll be sure to check out Tripadvisor. It seems like they have so many resources to help plan a perfect trip.
Kristi says
January 15, 2018 at 5:24 pmI love Tripadvisor, although I have yet to book a tour through them. We have found some amazing places to eat and places to stay. Looks like I need to try a tour next time.