My Barcelona thoughts.

[Guest EuropTravl]

Just returned after a week long Paris/Barcelona trip - flying in and out of Barcelona and staying the bulk of the time there:

Avoid traveling through the Madrid airport at all costs. The most chaotic airport of all time.

DO stay at the Axel Hotel. Bar is great (main bar downstairs rather than rooftop where everything is served in plastic cups at the same price for half the drink below), Restaurant is very good, guys at the front desk are invaluable for information on what to do that night, rooms were satisfactory and I had a choice of the more expensive corner rooms with the big bay windows or a regular room and found the regular room very nice and who the heck wants the more expensive corner rooms with no door on the bathroom, unless you are staying alone who wants what is basically a toilet in the room? Can't stay at Axel? Stay at the less expensive if even nicer HOTEL CRAM almost right next door (travel buddies in my group roomed there) which is not "the" gay hotel but certainly seemed to have a gay friendly front desk as well. Funny thing is their bathroom door was glass, two thirds frosted and masking the shower and sink and one-third clear glass with a direct view of the toilet. Someone please explain this to me.

 

Bars close at 2 am which surprised me. Traveled with a buddy and didn't plan much escort shopping but we went to Thermas Sauna and the place was a shopping center for what was not more than 5 or 6 "visitors" compared to 15-20 "working boys" on a Friday night. And we were there for hours. And I had looked through Erados on the Barcelona escorts and was captivated by "ApoloXXL" a blondish handsome Brazilian but never made contact but who the hell walked right up to me in the sauna to say hello and my jaw dropped and I said "you're him!" And at a discounted rate you can bet. (by my math 75% discount from his online price for an hour)

 

Was disappointed that there was no "drag" extravaganza shows or gay theater you might find in Brazil and the bar scene was mundane (2 of the most recommended bars were overly populated with what were probably Barcelona college girls or American girl tourists who danced and screamed with each other when Britney or Rihanna came on) and after 2 am it was D-Boy disco or nothing for non-sauna goers (sauna open 24 hours). There was a restaurant "Zoologic" that you do need to visit (recommended by Axel when I asked about "Miranda", a drag show stripper show restaurant recommended by "GayBarcelona4u.com website and Axel receptionist said it was closed over 2 years and he glanced at that site and said it needed updating on everything badly). Anyway Zoologic had a "troup" of 2 gay guys and 2 females (who were very funny actresses) and they had a show worth seeing if I didn't understand 90 percent of the dialog, it was the experience. The food/wine/show was good and a set price of 50 Euros.

 

Had fun, but the number one European gay destination? Nuh-uh, IMHO.

[+ Axiom2001]

I so enjoyed reading your "take" of your most recent trip. I was to have been in Barcelona on the 24th through the 30th of September of this year but had to postpone until 2010. My good friend will continue with his initial plans and hope to be in BCN by this coming Wednesday and Thursday.

 

I will alert him of your thread. Thanks much and continue writing whenever you travel. This gesture is always soooooooo helpful!

[Guest EuropTravl]

Thanks. Bottom line for escort shoppers is to forget about Erados.com Barcelona section or other escort sites and head directly for Thermas Sauna if the mood suits you because it is the Wal-Mart of escort boys. I've seen "American Boys" (chicosbcn.com) discussed here as well and I was very put off by the "can I have your credit card or cash now?" when walking right in the door and I made a bee-line out of there ("I left both in my other purse, I'll be back" NOT). If saunas make you nervous and aren't into the walking up-and-down dark halls, head directly for the downstairs bar, even fully clothed. They'll find you, believe me. Not pushy. BTW, my travel companion is Brazilian and looks blonde-haired blue-eyed and was doubled over in laughter that 9 out of 10 of the working boys there are Brazilian and tried to converse with him in muddled English. In fact, the entire trip boy did he have more trouble than he expected with understanding "Catalonian Spanish".

[BARR1965]

Barcelona et al

 

Just returned after a week long Paris/Barcelona trip - flying in and out of Barcelona and staying the bulk of the time there:

Avoid traveling through the Madrid airport at all costs. The most chaotic airport of all time.

DO stay at the Axel Hotel. Bar is great (main bar downstairs rather than rooftop where everything is served in plastic cups at the same price for half the drink below), Restaurant is very good, guys at the front desk are invaluable for information on what to do that night, rooms were satisfactory and I had a choice of the more expensive corner rooms with the big bay windows or a regular room and found the regular room very nice and who the heck wants the more expensive corner rooms with no door on the bathroom, unless you are staying alone who wants what is basically a toilet in the room? Can't stay at Axel? Stay at the less expensive if even nicer HOTEL CRAM almost right next door (travel buddies in my group roomed there) which is not "the" gay hotel but certainly seemed to have a gay friendly front desk as well. Funny thing is their bathroom door was glass, two thirds frosted and masking the shower and sink and one-third clear glass with a direct view of the toilet. Someone please explain this to me.

 

Bars close at 2 am which surprised me. Traveled with a buddy and didn't plan much escort shopping but we went to Thermas Sauna and the place was a shopping center for what was not more than 5 or 6 "visitors" compared to 15-20 "working boys" on a Friday night. And we were there for hours. And I had looked through Erados on the Barcelona escorts and was captivated by "ApoloXXL" a blondish handsome Brazilian but never made contact but who the hell walked right up to me in the sauna to say hello and my jaw dropped and I said "you're him!" And at a discounted rate you can bet. (by my math 75% discount from his online price for an hour)

 

Was disappointed that there was no "drag" extravaganza shows or gay theater you might find in Brazil and the bar scene was mundane (2 of the most recommended bars were overly populated with what were probably Barcelona college girls or American girl tourists who danced and screamed with each other when Britney or Rihanna came on) and after 2 am it was D-Boy disco or nothing for non-sauna goers (sauna open 24 hours). There was a restaurant "Zoologic" that you do need to visit (recommended by Axel when I asked about "Miranda", a drag show stripper show restaurant recommended by "GayBarcelona4u.com website and Axel receptionist said it was closed over 2 years and he glanced at that site and said it needed updating on everything badly). Anyway Zoologic had a "troup" of 2 gay guys and 2 females (who were very funny actresses) and they had a show worth seeing if I didn't understand 90 percent of the dialog, it was the experience. The food/wine/show was good and a set price of 50 Euros.

 

Had fun, but the number one European gay destination? Nuh-uh, IMHO.

 

 

I have been here in BCN for the last 3 days and will be here for 5 days more. I am staying at Axel Hotel. My experience at this hotel so far is positive. I totally concur with ET about their invaluable staff. I have not had any chance to go to their bar but have eaten at their restaurant the day I arrived. Also that night they have a drag show. These two guys does not lip synch when they sing. They are using their own voice which is very impressive because they can hit a high note. About the room they are small and yet comfortable.

 

 

Thermas is about 15 to 30 minutes walk away from the hotel. It is a nice walk even though late in the evening. As most Europeans do eat late at night lots of restaurants are open till 2 or so in the morning. Friday night I went there and it was a bit quiet more working boys than clients. Saturday night was the same thing. As ET mentioned some boys who advertise at Gay Romeo also works at the sauna for a lesser fee. I have recognize two guys who advertise and works there.

 

Since this is my first time in Spain not but in Europe. I have found that BCN is much more gay friendlier than any other European gay destinations. For all of us Latin Lovers we have a choice to come here in BCN or to Brazil and Argentina. For me I like all three countries, so far

[+ Axiom2001]

My friend Barr concluded his wonderful and exciting journey to BCN yesterday. If all went as planned-- he is currently in the air back to the States and to Southern California, basking in the afterglow and reflecting on his dynamic and sensual and sensuous experiences while in Catalonia.

 

I hope when he returns he'll be willing to update here for all future travelers. From his daily blog account which he sent to me via emails, and from what he posted on Facebook for his friends, my amigo had one hell of an unusual time while there.

 

I am indeed positively envious of his sojourn because I was suppose to have been with him. Plans had to be changed and postponed, so 2010 BCN-- here I cummmmmmm!! - -

[BARR1965]

My friend Barr concluded his wonderful and exciting journey to BCN yesterday. If all went as planned-- he is currently in the air back to the States and to Southern California, basking in the afterglow and reflecting on his dynamic and sensual and sensuous experiences while in Catalonia.

 

I hope when he returns he'll be willing to update here for all future travelers. From his daily blog account which he sent to me via emails, and from what he posted on Facebook for his friends, my amigo had one hell of an unusual time while there.

 

I am indeed positively envious of his sojourn because I was suppose to have been with him. Plans had to be changed and postponed, so 2010 BCN-- here I cummmmmmm!! - -

 

As Ax mentioned that he was supposed to be with me on this trip but things happened along the way and he could not make it. Since Ax does all the planning and reading and so forth every time we go on a trip, I was unsure how this trip will go. Well I enjoyed BCN so much and I wished I could have extended my stay.

 

My synopsis:

 

Hotel Axel: Great hotel for one or two people. Room is big enough for two. They are building 40 more rooms and will be opening a NYC branch by next year. The staff were wonderful, friendly and gorgeous. Dinner was okay and for breakfast it was a buffet. Tapas, scrambled eggs and breads, et al. Location is very convenient to all gay areas. Saunas are around the corner and for Termas is about 15 to 20 minutes walking distance.

 

Tourist Stuff: My first time in Barcelona so I did a lot of touristy stuff. There are lots of things to see and museums galore for all arts lover. Shopping galores for all shoppers (but not me). Just walked and looked around and people watch. Last week of September they celebrate a festival call MERCE and lots of wonderful and enjoyable things to do. On that week-end Plaza Catalunya they have a show of every kind until midnight. Nice time to go to BCN.

 

Restaurant and Food. Tapas, paellas, I loved it! I even found a vegetarian restaurant at Las Ramblas (am not a vegetarian but had lunch there about 3 times).

 

Night Life: Since it is located in the gay area there are tons of bars to chose from and some do have drag shows (even at the hotel) and male strip show (but did not get a chance to see one). Metro Disco BCN nice place to go dancing, people don't start showing up until 1 or 2 am and ends when the sun rises. Nice area but do have some street drug sellers. Cuidado

 

Boys: Termas is the usual place to find boy or men. In my observation the boys from Brazil are much more aggressive. Some Termas boys were aggressive, too but what I have noticed was that the clients do come to the boys and within seconds they are up to the cabine. Cabins are free with out sheet but if you want "deluxe" it will cost 10 Euros. Cost of the boy is 50 Euros and 10 or 20 Euros extra if they cum. Some of them do advertise on Erados or gay romeo. If you want over night it will be around 150 to 200 Euros (negotiate) and Axel do allow them to stay.

 

This is one hell of a trip. I NEVER KNEW THAT I COULD HAVE SO MUCH FUN EVERY NIGHT FROM THE MOMENT I ARRIVED.

[sydneyboy]

Barr

 

Thank you for your helpful report. At Termas what countries did the boys come from apart from Brazil?

[BARR1965]

Boys of Termas

 

Barr

 

Thank you for your helpful report. At Termas what countries did the boys come from apart from Brazil?

 

Czech Republic, Morocco, Romania, and Portugal. There are few Spaniards. Not lots of twinks but lots of big muscle guys.

[Guest trevis79]

Please someone could be so gentle to reviews biggest guys in thermas sauna? pls

[Guest EuropTravl]

Please someone could be so gentle to reviews biggest guys in thermas sauna? pls

Go to gayromeo.com.

Plug in "APOLOXXL628-231-937"

He was the guy who walked right up and heard from a wild-eyed me "You're him!"

Short review: he's a regular there, pics don't lie. He's from Fortaleza Brazil, speaks English.

50 Euros.