Spain/Portugal/Gibraltar - Barcelona Feb 2012

My wife and I are considering going to Barcelona from 02/23/12 - 02/29/12. While looking at hotel prices, the cost is showing 2x, 3x, the normal rates starting around 02/26/12. I found that there is a The GSMA Mobile World Congress show/conference around that time. Is anyone familiar with that event & would you recommend finding another date to visit Barcelona.

Thanks for any help.

CNMAZ, I feel your pain! My buddies an I have been taking an annual trip to BCN for the last few years (love to go in the off season...all of us big Barca football fans). The last few years, our trip has coincided with this event. Found the same as you...hotels 2-3 times pricier than "normal" weeks.

As a way to mitigate this, we started staying in rental apartments. They wind up being cheaper than hotels, and are great for "hanging out". I know it's not for everyone, but we really have had great success going this route. Last year we had a great 3 BR 2 Bathroom flat in the Barri Gotic (the old town section) that worked out to be about 65 Euro per person per night. Really nice place, convenient to everywhere. Have gone through several agencies, and all have been reliable and hassle-free. You might want to take a look at this option.

As far as any other inconveniences as a result of this (rather large) conference, I have to say that I really have not noticed any. Barcelona is a pretty good-sized town, and to me, it seems like the added thousands just get absorbed into the every day flow. Have never noticed any problems getting restaurant reservations, getting football tickets, more crowding in the streets, etc.

By the way, as an aside...thought I'd be smart this year and book our trip later than when I thought the conference date was. Wouldn't you know it...I didn't check the date, assumed it was when it had been for the past 2 years, and wound up once again booking our trip right in the middle of the conference....sheesh, did I feel like a dope! :rolleyes:

Thanks for the information, we won't avoid that week for planning. We like the idea of an aparment, so we look at a few that Expedia offers. It would be nice to be able to have a small kitchen to make some basic meals, don't want to eat out every day. We are also looking into the Barri Gotic area, seems like a central location.