Traveling in Large Groups: Lessons from Our Barcelona Trip

Ciao! One of the best parts about studying abroad, especially in the dorm like style of CIMBA, is the opportunity for your whole cohort to explore a new city together. A few weekends ago, a large portion of our cohort, 19 out of 23, got to explore Barcelona together. A lot of memories were made, and the experiences throughout the weekend made us a lot closer.

Our Adventure Began in the Venice Airport…

After class let out there was a rush of excitement in all 19 of us to jump on the bus and get on our flight to Barcelona. Spirits were high with lots of talking on the bus about the weekend ahead and happy music playing on the way to the airport. But little did we know, our first flight with Ryanair showed us the realities of flying for “cheap” in Italy.

The security line was long, taking over an hour to get everyone through, but thankfully we had some time before our flight. After waiting a few hours for the gate number, our first short delay turned into a six-hour one. With most of the airport empty at delay hour four, we crossed our fingers the flight wouldn’t be canceled. The delay, caused by a worker strike across European airports, tested our patience but ended up bringing us closer. We shared snacks, played cards, drank airport wine, listened to music, and wandered the Venice airport together, making the best of the unexpected situation.

“We’re Going to Barcelona!”

When we finally arrived in Barcelona, it was around 3 am! We piled into four taxis that we had arranged through our Airbnb, a service I recommend utilizing. Most of us stayed in one apartment while a smaller group stayed nearby. Even though we were exhausted, just a few hours of sleep couldn’t stop the excitement to see the city in our short time visiting.

We quickly figured out that the subway was the best way to get around. Buying the two-day pass saved us both time and money and made it easy to travel across Barcelona. Our first stop was “Mercat del Encants”, a massive flea market full of unique vintage items and souvenirs for cheap. From there, we did some shopping at familiar and new stores like H&M, Bershka, and Zara to prepare for the colder weather back in Italy. The October heat in Barcelona, mid-70s, was a surprise but perfect for wandering around the city. Afterward, we compared our “hauls” and shared excitement over everyone’s new purchases.

That night, we dressed up and head to Opium, one of Barcelona’s popular clubs, to experience the city’s well-known nightlife. We also did live out the Barcelona club night experience which went until 5 am!

A few short hours later, we were up again for breakfast, which is thanks to one of the guys in our group who went to the store early and cooked for everyone. We then split into groups for sightseeing, some going to the Barcelona Soccer Museum, others the Art Museum, and we all got to see La Sagrada Família and the Barcelona Cathedral. At the Cathedral, there was a band playing while people danced a synchronized dance which was a cool part of the culture we got

to experience. I will say the two things I wished I would have made time for would be to go to a beach in Barcelona and try tapas, many in the group did and had a fun time.

Tips for Future Cohorts

Overall, the trip was memorable. A lot of laughs through the exhausted, happy moments seeing stunning architecture, and getting to try new foods outside of Italy. However, there are some tips I have for group traveling.

1. Book Flights Early

Once your group decides on a destination, sit down as a group and plan Airbnb’s and flights. Luckily, we all were on the same flight to Barcelona but on the way back tickets sold out fast, so some had to leave earlier.

2. Don’t Be Surprised If There Is Delays

Delays happen especially with budget airlines. Pack snacks to avoid expensive airport food and avoid scheduling plans for right after landing. Being flexible will save stress in case of delays.

3. Stick Together

A group chat is crucial for group communication, and stay with the group especially at night. We learned this the hard way unfortunately when someone had their necklace stolen while waiting by themselves. Stay alert and look out for each other, especially in big cities.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Traveling in a big group is one of the best parts of the CIMBA experience; it’s fun to have stories to talk and laugh about together for the rest of the semester. Ciao for now!

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