Spain has always been on my radar, but I didn’t plan on actually being there this year! So, when the opportunity to join one of my favorite suppliers, Europe Express, on a Familiarization (FAM) trip to Barcelona, Spain came up, I had to apply. I am so glad that I did because it exceeded all of my expectations! From the culture to the architecture to the stunning views, it was an incredibly vibrant city with so much history that I really enjoyed getting to learn about. Europe Express curated a wonderful itinerary for the week, and I even had a free day at the end to see a few things not included in the itinerary.
Europe Express is a preferred supplier here at Grueninger Travel. They are one of our go-to's when it comes to making custom Europe itineraries. A FAM trip is a way for our suppliers to immerse us travel advisors in the trips that they are able to create for our clients. This includes transportation, hotels, tours, and more. While I was on this trip, I was with a group of other travel advisors from across the country, but Europe Express is typically for independent travelers. FAM trips are a great investment in our education as travel advisors to better serve our clients.
Day 1 – Arrival
Upon arrival, Europe Express had a private transfer for me, which was great after a tiring overnight flight! I started the day with an early check-in and then went straight to a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour because nothing beats jet lag like getting some sunshine from the top of a double-decker. This is a great way for first-time visitors to get a feel for Barcelona’s layout while adjusting to the time difference. In the evening, I met the rest of the travel advisors on the trip, and we headed off to do a couple of hotel site inspections and then have our welcome dinner. We had a small group, so it was great getting to know our hosts and each other that evening.
Day 2 – Full day tour of Barcelona & Flamenco Dinner
After a much-needed rest, I woke up ready for a full day of touring Barcelona! We started with a bus tour up to visit Montjuïc where a major portion of the 1992 Olympic games were held. We then made our way to the iconic Sagrada Familia. The weekend we arrived, the upper arm of the cross (the final piece) was installed on the Tower of Jesus Christ. This milestone completed the exterior of the central tower, and we were some of the first to see this in person after 144+ years of construction!
After the tour of Sagrada Familia we had lunch then began our walking tour of the Gothic Quarter. This is where we learned quite a bit about the city’s history, so I highly recommend it to anyone interested in architecture and its history. To round out a very packed first official day, a few of us decided to attend a traditional flamenco show with dinner. At first, I wasn’t so sure I’d enjoy it but by the end of the show I was wishing it were longer. It was a great show!
Day 3 – Girona & Figueres
We left Barcelona for the day to visit the Dali Theatre Museum in Figueres and then to Girona. We learned quite a bit about Dali; I can definitely understand why he was so controversial after the visit. And of course, if you’re an art buff, this was super cool!
In Girona we had a walking tour through the preserved medieval streets and learned about its own culture. This was particularly exciting for me being a Game of Thrones fan, because several scenes from the show were filmed here! We ended the tour with a xuixo (choo-cho), a Catalan pastry that originated in Girona. It was delicious of course!
Day 4 – Montserrat & Wine Country
Now for my absolute favorite day: visiting Montserrat! We took a small charter bus up the beautiful mountain side to tour Montserrat. We learned so much about the history of the mountain and the monastery at the top. The views were absolutely stunning. Just when you think the views can’t get any better, there is a small hike to Saint Michael’s Cross that looks way further away than it actually is. From there you get an even better perspective of the mountain. This is a must-see if you stay in Barcelona!
After Montserrat, we then went to a winery for lunch. Our guide, who was amazing by the way, then hosted a wine tasting in the castle part of the winery, which everyone really enjoyed! This day was by far the best day of the trip for me.
Day 5 – Hotel Site Inspections
On the last day of the Europe Express portion, we had a long day full of 6 different hotel site inspections. It was really great to get insight on rooms and amenities firsthand for our clients. All of the properties are centrally located, though a few sit in slightly quieter areas of downtown while others are more in the heart of the city. We had our farewell dinner since most of the group would be departing the next day. I was sad that my first FAM trip was coming to an end!
Day 6 – Gaudi Museums
One of the other advisors and I decided to book a few museums for our last day since we weren’t flying out until the next day. We visited Casa Batlló, La Pedrera - Casa Milà, and Park Güell.
Three major designs by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi – who designed Sagrada Familia as well! It was quite the day for beautiful sights, but that’s not hard to come by in Barcelona. I finished my day with a run to the Arc de Triomf and grabbed dinner to go at the La Boqueria Market before packing my bags for the early flight home.
I truly felt like we packed so much into one week, but that still didn’t even scratch the surface of all there is to see in Barcelona, let alone the rest of Catalonia! Europe Express put together an itinerary that touched so much of Barcelona, and I think they really nailed it. I’m not sure why I didn’t have a trip to Spain planned sooner, but I’m happy to say that it should be moved to the top of everyone’s bucket list immediately!
-Kylie Ward, Travel Advisor
