Planning stays in Daytona Beach and Barcelona
Q. My wife and I are planning a trip to Daytona Beach this spring. Can you please help with a good Web site for any information on housing and activities in that area? We're planning on the first week of March. Thank you for any help.
J.K., Elk Grove Village
A. March is a good time to escape Illinois' cold winds and unreliable weather, and Daytona Beach's Web site will point you in the right direction.
In addition to sun and sand, you'll find historical ruins, historical ghost walks, one of the largest flea markets in the U.S., the famous Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500 Experience where you can test your pit crew's skills against a real pit crew's expertise and drive a nitro-powered dragster.
Daytona's Web site, www.daytonabeach.com, lists accommodations, things to do and see, a calendar of events (among them a Cuban art exhibit, "La Cumbre," at the Museum of Arts and Sciences going on during your stay) and other important information.
Accommodations include small inns, bed-and-breakfasts, rental condos and hotels that offer a variety of packages in all price ranges. A friend of mine said she prefers the south end of downtown Daytona where there are many rental condos, among them Daytona Beach Shores. She also recommended the North Turn Bar and Grill in Ponce Inlet, located where the track's old north turn used to be before the new track was built.
You can receive a free visitors' guide by going to the Web site or by calling (800) 854-1234.
Q. In September I will be taking a seven-day cruise leaving from Barcelona, Spain. Could you recommend some hotels that are near the pier? The cruise line has suggested some hotels, but you know the prices are higher. I would need a room for one or two nights. Thank you.
D.H., Tinley Park
A. I'm told many cruise passengers do stay at the Hotel Arts Barcelona (five star), but if you want a more moderate place, go for one of the numerous choices available in the Ramblas/Gothic Quarter area which, apart from being one of the major areas of tourism interest, is also quite close to the port. This area is also known as Ciutat Vella (Old Town).
Check the Barcelona Tourist Board's official Web site, www.barcelonaturisme.com, click on the English page and you'll see a section listing hotels. It will ask the price range or star rating you wish and the neighborhood (on that list, the closest neighborhood on the listing would be Ciutat Vella). That site will give you all kinds of information as well as allow you to make your reservations.
Also, www.hotels.com can provide information for hotels near cruise ports, and it includes a number of cities around the world, Barcelona being one of them.
Send your questions at leastsixweeks prior to travel toMadelynMerwin in care ofTravel,Daily Herald, P.O.Box280, Arlington Heights, IL60006, or e-maildpmerwin@sbcglobal.net.