Agent Diary: A trip to Barcelona reminded me why we do this job

It’s been a while since I last visited Barcelona, but the city never disappoints. Recently, long-haul trips have taken precedence, but it was a true pleasure to take the short, two-and-a-half-hour flight from newly refurbished Belfast International Airport. 

This time, I was travelling to the Catalan capital on a multigenerational family break. As an industry professional, I must offer a quick note on BFS: well done on the new-look airside upgrade, which made our pre-flight experience remarkably smooth.

Arrival at Barcelona El Prat was a pleasant surprise. Since Brexit, we British passport holders are normally accustomed to drawing the short straw at European border control. However, there were only two other passengers in front of us as we zigzagged through the empty non-EU pathway. In contrast, the EU queue extended back as far as the eye could see. Perhaps we were just incredibly lucky on the day, but it was a welcome twist.

Our transit through Lisbon two weeks previously on another trip was a different story, proving that when an airport computer says ‘no’, everything stops regardless of nationality.

Living history

The first time I came to Barcelona, my son Jason was just eight years old. Move on 27 years and he’s back in the city, this time with his own son, Theo. The iconic Camp Nou stadium was a highlight for Jason all those years ago, and I still remember buying his first mini football there. 

On this visit, history repeated itself: Theo was fully kitted out in the famous Barcelona colours, while his dad relished the experience of having his picture taken with the actual European Cup. All of that football stuff is lost on me!

For our pre-cruise night, we stayed at H10 Casanova. The rooms are not overly spacious when booked as triples, but the location is unbeatable. It set us up just a short five-minute walk from Plaça de Catalunya and on to La Rambla, with plenty of excellent food stops along the way. IT Trattoria, an Italian restaurant, served up fantastic pizza and pasta. At just €85 for nine of us including drinks, it proved to be a great, value-for-money stop for a late lunch after our arrival.

Project Rambla

Agents should note that La Rambla is not buzzing with its usual flurry of tourists and street vendors – the famous boulevard is currently a building site. A €55 million redevelopment is underway to widen the pedestrian area by 33%, plant trees and further restrict traffic to give a more park-like feel. It’s a massive project, with completion expected in February 2027.

I know I am incredibly fortunate to have sampled many cruises across my career in the travel industry. However, the chance to see a ship from the perspective of three little kids, standing in absolute awe of the sheer expanse of Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, brought a tear to my eye. 

It’s easy for us to take the privilege of ship visits for granted, but watching the next generation fall in love with the experience reminds me exactly why we do this job.

I’m off now, as Royal’s Windjammer cafe is calling...

Barcelona’s Gaudí is in a class of his own

Gaudí’s Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882, with its main structure finally slated for completion in 2026 to mark the centenary of the architect’s death. The basilica’s scale is breathtaking, but one remarkable feature has humble beginnings. In 1909, Gaudí designed a temporary school on the construction site for the workers’ children.

On a minimal budget, he engineered a building with walls just nine centimetres thick. It achieved its structural strength through a revolutionary, wavy brick design. Today, the Sagrada Família Schools building is celebrated by architects as a masterclass in structural efficiency – proof that great things can be achieved with ingenuity rather than expense.