FAQ #1: HOW DO I GET TO SITGES?
It's very easy! First of all, you need to book a flight ticket to BCN (revenue or not, F or E-, we don't care). When you arrive you have several options:
- Take the shuttle bus to Terminal 2 and then walk to the train station. Buy your ticket (around 3 €) and take the train. Get off the train in the 1st stop (EL PRAT DE LLOBREGAT), switch platforms, and wait for the train that goes to VILANOVA (R2 sud). That train will take you to Sitges. It shouldn't take more than 1 hour.
- If you don't want to deal with the train, there's a bus that goes from the airport to Sitges. It goes every hour on week days. You can find the timetable and details HERE!
- If you're used to travel in style and can't be bothered by the hassle of public transportation, take a taxi. It will be around 50 €.
FAQ #2: WHERE DO I STAY?
Sadly, our FT deal with the Alenti Hotel is gone. The hotel is fully booked for the pride weekend. My suggestion is that you try to stay as close as possible to the town center. Some comments about the hotels showing availability right now:
- Best Western Subur Maritim: Nice hotel (for a BW), a bit far from the action. Get it with points, if you can.
- San Sebastian Playa: Nice and basic. A bit overpriced for my taste.
- Estela Barcelona: Very nice hotel. Close to the Marina (where we will be on Friday) but far from the shennanigans. Cab rides will be required. Best quality to price ratio for the pride weekend.
- Terramar: The cheapest option in certain level of confort. The hotel is a bit dated and a bit far, but the price is good.
- Calipolis: Location, location, location! This hotel is nothing spectacular, but you can't beat that location.
- Meliá: Nice. Close to the Marina and to the Estela Barcelona, so think of a cab.
- Dolce Sitges: Best hotel in town. Winner of several Conde Nast gold awards as best spa & resort in Spain. Cheaper than the Calipolis for that weekend, but far from the action.
FAQ #3: IS THERE ANY PRE-GAYLA SIDE TRIPS OR ACTIVITIES PLANNED?
I understand that everybody wants to maximize the summer trip experience, especially if a TATL flight is involved. As of this year's event, no official side trips/activities have been announced, but feel free to share your plans with other attendees if you want to find some trip companions.
If you feel like organizing some pre-event activities, you can announce it in this thread and open a new thread in the GLBT forum, facebook or that other frequent flyers website. Please don't hijack this thread!
FAQ #4: IS THERE ANY POST-GAYLA SIDE TRIPS OR ACTIVITIES PLANNED?
As of side trips, nothing has been announced yet. As of activities, and after checking that some of the attendees are staying in Barcelona on July 11th, I think some Foie Gras is in order. I'll book a table for dinner at
El Petit Burger by Bestiari for those who want to join me for some Foie, good burgers, gin & tonics, and more Foie. Please, confirm me if you want to attend this dinner for booking properly.
FAQ #5: WHAT'S THE ETIQUETTE FOR THE PARTIES?
Casual Euro-Trash is plenty accepted. It'll be warm, so think short pants, t-shirts and light clothes for everything. As in any other major gay event, the more skin you show, the more succesful you'll likely be.
Pride main party will be in an open air park. Last year, the trend on that party was accessorizing with twigs in your hair. I bet it'll be a hot trend this year as well.
As for the foam party, the etiquette mandates a swimsuit or cool underwear (no shorts, bermudas or anything acces-limiting) and old shoes/hiking sandals. You don't want to wear flip-flops as they may get lost in the foam. Accessorizing may include rings (not the ones you use in your fingers). Mousturizing your skin with heavy cheap supermarket mosutizing cream is mandatory before going to a foam party. Foam is a drying agent, and fine mosturizings are not thick enough to keep your skin safe.