N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

My friends and I parted ways after visiting France and Italy. They all left Milan and flew back to Manila while I stayed for 4 more days and flew to my next destination – Barcelona, Spain. I was supposed to fly to either Copenhagen (again) or Berlin but I decided to fly to Spain (with Vueling on flight VY 6333) to spend some time with friends. I met with Nico, a friend who I met in Prague in 2019, and spent the last 4 days of this trip in the bustling city of Barcelona. I also met with my Barcelona-based friends who I met in Komodo, Indonesia back in 2017.

I intentionally did not go all out in exploring Barcelona. I had a hectic schedule around France and Italy in the last 2 weeks; I decided to just take it slow, be lazy and enjoy the city without any pressure of seeing everything. I missed a lot of spots; I did not go inside the beautiful museums and buildings. At least I have a reason to go back to the city in the future. For now, allow me to share some details plus photos I took during these 4 days in Barcelona.

Barcelona

Barcelona (the city) is the capital of Barcelona province and the autonomous community of Catalonia. This port city and commercial center is the 2nd most populous city next to the capital Madrid. The city is known for its iconic structures such as La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló – all designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.

Aside from the beautiful architecture, the city is also known for its world-class cuisine, lively night scene, distinct history and culture and of course, its outstanding football team – FC Barcelona.

Paella – one of the best known Spanish dish. Had this in Vinitus – one of my best meals in BCN 😋

Accommodation

I noticed that Barcelona has cheaper accommodation prices compared to Florence, Milan and Paris but I still decided to stay in a hostel. I booked my 4 nights with Yeah Hostel Barcelona – a multi-awarded large hostel in the middle of the city in Eixample area.

I booked my stay with Agoda and paid ₱5,589.42 – that is ₱1,397.36 per night in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. I recently wrote about my solid and memorable hostel experience with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Going Around Barcelona

Going around the city of Barcelona is easy and convenient. The important and famous places to visit are all connected by the city’s wide metro / subway network. These places are also connected by a more extensive local bus network. The city’s main train station is Barcelona Sants, locally known as Sants Estación. This station connects Barcelona to the rest of the country and internationally.

I purchased the T-casual Individual Ticket for €11.35 and got 10 single journey trips of up to 75 minutes each within Zone 1 (city center area). I ended up only using 4 trips out of the 10 allowed because I walked around the city most of the time. Barcelona is a walkable city; its sidewalks and streets are pedestrian friendly.

Places Visited in Barcelona

As mentioned above, I did not bother to go around and visit as many places as I can. I still saw a few ones in these 4 days.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família – The Sagrada Família is the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the church started construction back in the 1882 and is still under construction as of writing. According to the latest reports, it is set to be completed in 2026. Entry tickets cost €26 per person.

Park Güell – Park Güell is a park located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. The park houses unique masterpieces created by Antoni Gaudí. It also offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Park entry tickets cost €10 per person.

La Pedrera-Casa Milà – Casa Milà is a private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí for the Milà Family. The building is also one of Gaudí’s last masterpieces. Entry tickets to the building cost €25 per person.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batlló is masterpiece made by Antoni Gaudí for Lluís Sala Sánchez. A few decades after, the property was bought by the Batlló Family. The house was passed on to several owners and has been refurbished a few times to what it is now. Entry tickets to the building cost from €29 per person

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia – Commonly known as the Barcelona Cathedral, this church is famous for its gothic and neo-gothic architectural style. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona.

Plaça de Catalunya – Known as Catalonia Square in English, Plaça de Catalunya is a large public square in the center of Barcelona. It is often regarded as the centermost part of the city. It is also the final stop of the Aerobus from BCN Airport.

Gothic Quarter – Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is the city’s historic old center. It is one of the oldest surviving parts of Barcelona that has some historical landmarks in it. These landmarks include the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, the Roman and Medieval walls and a whole lot more. This is the place where you will see small pedestrian streets with higher walls and balconies.

La Rambla – La Rambla is a pedestrian-only tree-lined street that spans 1.2-kilometers from Plaça de Catalunya. The street is full of cafes, restaurants and shops which tourists love to visit.

Passeig de Gràcia – Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s famous shopping street that leads to Gràcia. Think of a brand and this brand will most likely have a store or branch along this street. It is the shopaholic’s place-to-be.

Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia – Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia is a small public square in Gràcia that houses the iconic Clock Tower. This small square is mostly visited by locals and is surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants.

Ciutadella Park – Ciutadella Park is a 31-hectare public park found in the middle of the city. It is a famous picnic and leisure place among the locals and is the city’s largest green space.

Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is a famous church known for its Catalan Gothic-style of architecture. It is uniquely-designed, not found in most medieval large structures.

Arc de Triomf – Arc de Triomf is a triumphal arch built by Spanish architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in the 1880s. The arch leads to Ciutadella Park.

La Barceloneta – La Barceloneta is the seaside neighborhood of Barcelona. It is area full of restaurants, bars, hotels and even clubs; it is a famous destination every summer.

Missed Places

I stayed in Barcelona for 4 full lazy days and I have not been to many places. I have seen the usual ones but I have not explored them deeply. For one, I have not been inside the Sagrada Família, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. I also have not been to FC Barcelona’s home turf and one of the biggest stadiums in Europe – Spotify Camp Nou.

I also missed out going to the beautiful mountain range of Montserrat and the Benedictine Monastery found on top of the mountain. These missed places are enough to convince me that I need to go back and explore Barcelona more in the future.


And that’s a wrap! This ends my quick 4-day stay in Barcelona. I know I did not go and explore that much but I still had a great time with friends.

Have you visited the city in the past? Did you like it? It has a different but more youthful vibe than the other cities I have been – I still like it! Which places did you enjoy most? If you have not been, which specific place are you looking forward to seeing? Share you thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s N9 in Europe post. n case you missed it, we have also been to ParisVersaillesRomeVatican CityFlorencePisaSan GimignanoSienaLuganoLake Como and Milan on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: YEAH HOSTEL BARCELONA – 4 Fun & Solid Nights in One of the World’s Best Hostels

After spending 2.5 weeks around Paris and the major Italian cities – Rome, Florence and Milan, I flew to the next and last destination city of this 2022 European tripBarcelona, Spain. My friends all flew back to the Philippines while I extended for a few more days in Spain to meet with an old friend.

I spent 4 full days in the city and had a fun and solid stay with one of the world’s best hostels – Yeah Hostel Barcelona. This hostel will be today’s hostel of the day feature. Read on below to know why Yeah Hostel should be the hostel you need to book when visiting Barcelona.

Yeah Hostel Barcelona

Yeah Hostel Barcelona opened its doors to the public 7 years ago in 2016. Located in the busy Eixample District, the 7-storey hostel building accommodates hundreds of guests in its private and dormitory rooms. The hostel has complete facilities and amenities; it even has a rooftop terrace and a swimming pool.

This high-rated hostel is known for its social vibe where guests meet with co-travelers and guests through the daily hostel walking tours, dinners and night party events. The hostel has won multiple awards from Hostelworld over the past years – 3rd, 4th and 8th Best Large Hostel in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and 10th Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers in 2020. These awards are testaments to the hostel’s reputation over the years.

Location & Access

Yeah Hostel Barcelona is located at Carrer de Girona 176, 08037 Barcelona, Spain. It is within the Eixample District and is located between Passeig de Gràcia and Sagrada Familia. The hostel is near Verdaguer Station of the Barcelona Metro Lines 4 and 5 and Diagonal Station of the Metro Line 5.

The hostel is in a busy commercial neighborhood; it is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, specialty shops and supermarkets. The nearest restaurant is literally beside the hostel while the nearest supermarket is within 100 meters. It is also near known landmarks such as La Pedrera-Casa Milà (750 meters away by foot), Sagrada Familia (1.1 kilometers away by foot) and Casa Batlló (1.3 kilometers away by foot). It is also near Passeig de Gràcia – one of Barcelona’s most famous shopping and commercial street.

Guests can easily reach Yeah Hostel from Barcelona’s major transportation hubs. Those flying in can take the Aerobus from Barcelona El Prat Airport and get off at Plaça de Catalunya. From there, they can either walk 20 minutes up to the hostel doors. They can also take the Metro Line 4 towards Trinitat Nova, get off at Verdaguer Station and walk to the hostel. From Sants Train Station, guests need to take Metro Line 5 towards Vall d’Hebron and get off at Verdaguer Station. From Barcelona Nord Bus Station, guests can take Metro Line 1 towards Hospital de Bellvitge, get off at Urquinaona Station and change to Metro Line 4 towards Trinitat Nova and get off at Verdaguer Station.

The hostel’s location is an easy 10 out of 10. It is practically near everything; it is also accessible to all modes of public transportation making it easy for guests to go to the property.

Room Options

Yeah Hostel Barcelona has both dormitory and private rooms.

The hostel dormitory rooms are configured as follows: 6-bed female dormitory room, 6-bed mixed dormitory room, 4-bed female dormitory room and 4-bed mixed dormitory rooms. All these dormitory rooms feature in-room shower and ensuite, air conditioning and heating systems, a table and chair (per room), lockers, daily housekeeping and free Wi-Fi connection. All dormitory beds have curtains, a pillow, blanket, individual lights, a small console and personal lockers under the beds. Towels and padlocks are not included and are available for rent from reception.

The private rooms are configured as follows: 6-bed private room (3 bunk beds), 4-bed private room (2 bunk beds), quadruple room and double room. These private rooms have the same features as that of the dormitory rooms except for towels which are already included in these rooms. Rates per nights of these rooms depend on where you are booking your stay. Yeah Hostel offers 15% discount if you book with them directly and use the promo code IGDIRECT.

I booked my stay with Agoda 1.5 months before my desired dates and only paid ₱5,589.42 (Yes – in Philippine Pesos) for 4 nights. I paid in Philippine Pesos because I booked the non-refundable ‘pay now’ option. I paid ₱1,397.36 per night for staying in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. Not bad, right? I don’t very well remember how much but I believe I also paid the city tax (charged per night) upon check-in.

I was assigned a lower bunk bed (request granted) in one of the rooms in 4th floor. I asked the hostel if they can put my friend and I (with 2 separate bookings) in one room and they granted our request. Our room was clean, spacious for 4 people and had enough space for big luggage.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Yeah Hostel Barcelona has a long list of amenities and facilities which guests can enjoy during their stay.

Free Wi-Fi Access – All hostel guests have access to free Wi-Fi during their stay.

In-House Bar – Yeah Hostel has an in-house bar which offers beers and cocktails for affordable prices. The staff also gives out complimentary nuts / snacks to those who buy drinks.

Affordable Breakfast Buffet – Guests can avail the hostel’s breakfast buffet for only €7 per person (December 2022 rate). The buffet starts at 8:00am and is open until 11:00am.

Cozy Communal Lounge – The hostel has a cozy communal lounge located just above reception. It is the first hostel I have seen that has a bed in the communal lounge area.

Kitchen & Dining Area – Yeah Hostel also has a communal kitchen and dining area where guests can cook, prepare and eat cooked food or food from outside.

Free Coffee & Tea – The hostel offers free coffee and tea for those who want to have some.

Rooftop Terrace & Swimming Pool – Yeah Hostel has a rooftop terrace and swimming pool that offers a beautiful view of the area. This area was ghosted during my visit because it was the winter season.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – All hostel rooms are equipped with separate shower and toilet areas.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All rooms are also equipped with air conditioning and heating systems. Guests can turn these systems on or off but cannot change the temperature. Please reach out to reception if you need to change it.

Computer Access – Hostel guests who need to research or plan out their next trip can use the computers found near the reception area.

PlayStation & Boardgames – Guests can play games using the PlayStation or the boardgames found in the communal area.

Library / Book Exchange – Yeah Hostel has a small library where guests can read and/or exchange books.

Laundry Facilities – Guests who need to wash their clothes can use the hostel’s laundry facilities located near the communal lounge.

Daily Walking Tours – The hostel hosts free (tip-based) walking tours everyday at 11:00am. These tours are either happen in the Gothic Quarter or modern area where the Sagrada Familia is located.

Daily Hostel Dinners – The hostel hosts dinners for a small fee (sorry I forgot how much) at 9:00pm every day. This dinner includes a starter, a main course, a dessert and a drink.

Nightly Pub Crawls – After dinner, the hostel staff asks around who wants to join the nightly pub crawl or party tour. This tour comes with a free but already includes the entrance fee to a club.

24-Hour Reception – Leaving early or arriving past midnight? No problem – Yeah Hostel’s reception is open 24 hours every day.

Luggage Storage – The hostel offers luggage storage to guests who are waiting for check-in or who have already checked-out of the property. Please reach out to reception if you need to have your bags stored for a while.

Daily Housekeeping – The hostel staff cleans all rooms and facilities every day.

Friendly & Amazing Staff – Yeah Hostel’s staff are one of the friendliest I have dealt with in a long while. They make sure that guests have a memorable and enjoyable stay at the hostel. They also engage guests into conversations.

Lift Access – Guests who bring large suitcases need not to worry about carrying their bags up to the stairs. They can use the hostel’s lift for easier access.

Secured Hostel Access – The hostel doors can only be opened by the staff assigned at reception. Guests need to ring the bell to request the door to be opened. On top of that, the hostel rooms can only be accessed via key cards assigned during check-in.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel is equipped with security and surveillance systems that keep the premises safe and watched all the time.

Hostel Experience

As the title says, I had a fun and solid 4-night stay with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. I have stayed with many hostels in the past and I must agree with Hostelworld – Yeah Hostel is indeed one of the best hostels in the world!

Allow me to share my insights on why I believe Yeah Hostel is one of the world’s best based on my stay. First, the hostel offers reasonable rates (2nd cheapest in this trip after The RomeHello) for such a great location. It is in the middle of the city between Passeig de Gràcia and Sagrada Familia. Second, the hostel amenities are top-notch and well-maintained; the rooms are spacious too. The hostel dormitory beds even have curtains which is rare to find in Europe.

Third, the hostel provides an excellent breakfast buffet for only €7 per person (December 2022 rate). They serve breads, pastries, fruits, eggs with hot and cold drinks. Fourth, the hostel offers fun and memorable activities. From daily free (tip-based) walking tours, to hostel dinners and pub crawls, the staff makes sure that the guests have an unforgettable time. They may not offer an extensive list of activities like other hostels do, but they surely make it up in the quality of the activities they offer.

Fifth, the hostel staff are beyond amazing. From Pablo, to Leo, to everyone at reception, kitchen, bar and even housekeeping. They are all friendly, nice and hospitable. They are like your friends whom you have known for a long time. Last and probably the best part of staying in Yeah Hostel Barcelona is the hostel’s vibe. Everyone (staff and co-guests) is warm, respectful and friendly. You will surely meet a lot of people in the hostel and spend great times with them.

The only not-so-good experience I had with the hostel is the longer-than-usual waiting time in the elevator especially during check-out hours. Honestly, I did not mind the long waiting time because I had a great stay with the hostel.

Will I go back and stay again with Yeah Hostel Barcelona? For sure, I will. This hostel will be my go-to hostel when coming to Barcelona! Planning to contact

Yeah Hostel Barcelona? Here are the platforms where you can reach them:

Yeah Hostel Barcelona
Address: Carrer de Girona 176, 08037 Barcelona, Spain
Phone Number: +34 935 310 135 | +34 636 711 346
E-mail Address: info@yeahhostels.com
Website: www.yeahhostels.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/yeahhostels
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yeahhostels


Are you looking into staying with Yeah Hostel Barcelona? Do you have any questions about the hostel or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. If you are shy enough to comment, you may also send you questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You’ll find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in ParisThe Bed KLCC in Kuala LumpurThe RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: VUELING VY 6333 – Milan Malpensa to Barcelona – Superb Flying Experience with a Spanish Low-Cost Airline [December 2022]

My time in Milan went by too fast! After spending days around the city and the nearby Lugano and Lake Como, I had to say goodbye to the beautiful Milan and my friend Leng who flew back to the Philippines ahead of me.

I flew to a new city and country – Barcelona, Spain – on a new airline (for me) – the Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling. I took their VY 6333 flight from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona last 3 December 2022. This Vueling flight is today’s flight report feature. Join me as I share with you what happened on this superb flight to Barcelona.

Vueling

Vueling S.A. is a Spanish low-cost airline owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG). This low-cost airline commenced operations in 2004 and is currently headquartered in Viladecans, Greater Barcelona, Spain. The airline started out operations from Barcelona to Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Brussels and Paris. Over the years, it has expanded its footprint to other hubs like Madrid, Seville and other Spanish and international bases. In 2012, the International Airlines Group (IAG) announced a buy out of the shareholders and a takeover of the airline. The group completed the takeover a few months later in 2013.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA AirIndonesia Air AsiaSingapore AirlinesEmirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Vueling is currently the largest Spanish Airline based on number of destinations and fleet size. It operates to over 140 destinations using over 120 all-Airbus aircraft. The airline’s main hub is Barcelona El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain. It also has hubs and stations in other Spanish cities like Madrid, Seville, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria and even other European cities like Paris, Rome and London.

Vueling’s frequent flyer program is called Vueling Club – part of the Avios loyalty program. The airline is not a member of any airline alliance. It has current codeshare agreements with British Airways and Iberia, both part of the International Airlines Group.

Vueling is a low-cost carrier. This means that the airline offers bare fares; any additional service or perk comes with a fee. The airline does not provide complimentary inflight snacks or meals, entertainment screens and complimentary baggage allowance. The airline has 4 fare bundles which guests can choose from. The Basic Fare only includes a complimentary underseat bag which measures 40cm x 20cm x 30cm. The Optima Fare has everything the Basic Fare has plus 1 x 25-kilogram checked luggage and free regular seat selection during booking.

The Family Fare has everything the Optima Fare offers plus dedicated check-in desks in main airports and priority boarding for those flying with kids under 2 years old. The TimeFlex Fare includes an underseat bag, a 10-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance, flight cancellation to flight credit, unlimited flight date changes, complimentary flight time change on the same day, fast-track security in selected airports, priority check-in and boarding. All these add-ons are also available for individual purchase in case you only avail of a certain fare bundle. Also, all these fare bundles can earn Avios points.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

I booked my flight 1.5 months before the intended date and paid €57.99 for the Optima fare bundle. I was charged by my local bank ₱3,442.29 including foreign currency transaction charges. At the time of booking, the airline had different policies and inclusions on fare bundles. They changed these bundles and inclusions (as mentioned above) for tickets booked after 4 November 2022.

At the time of booking (October 2022), my Optima fare bundle included the following: an underseat bag measuring up to 40cm x 20cm x 30cm, 1 x 10-kilogram carry-on / cabin bag, 1 x 25-kilogram checked baggage allowance, complimentary regular seat selection during booking, complimentary flight changes and free cancellation, conversion to flight credit and even flight credit refund.

Looking at the bundle inclusions, I got the best possible add-ons for such an affordable fare. It may not include a meal or an entertainment screen, but it still had the necessary add-ons needed by someone traveling around Europe for weeks. It was sad seeing the airline change the bundle inclusions but it was also great taking advantage of the previous inclusions before it was changed.

Travel Requirements

Flights between Italy and Spain operate like domestic flights here in the Philippines. At the time of this flight, both countries no longer require a negative test result or vaccination documentation to board the aircraft. Passengers only need to present a government-issued ID – passports for non-EU residents. Spanish authorities, at the time of this flight, still required face masks on flights. I believe this requirement has already been removed nowadays.

Before The Flight

The airline did not send anything via e-mail before the flight. The first and last e-mail I received from them is the booking confirmation after I booked the ticket. Strange.

Nevertheless, I still checked-in online for the flight 24 hours before schedule. This made the airport check-in process faster and smoother.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Vueling VY 6333 flight from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona was operated by a 9.5-year-old Airbus A320-200 aircraft. The plane has 180 seats in all-economy class cabin – as expected from a low-cost carrier.

The flight took off from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) at 12:58pm and landed at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) at 2:15pm. The journey in between 2 airports only took 1 hour and 17 minutes. The plane pushed back from the gate 2 minutes ahead of schedule but took some time going to the runway. Nonetheless, the flight still arrived ahead of schedule. Thanks, Vueling!

Ground & Airport Experience

Vueling operates its flights out of Milan Malpensa Airport Terminal 1.

CHECK-IN

Check-in counters for flights within the Schengen zone normally open 2 hours before the flight and 40 minutes before the departure. I do not remember the exact reason but I read from the website that time that check-in counters during this season (December 2022) opened 30 minutes earlier at 2.5 hours before the flight schedule.

I arrived the airport exactly 2.5 hours before the flight and immediately lined up for bag drop at 10:20am. I finished check-in at 10:38am. The check-in process went by quickly considering I was 10th-ish in the line. The whole process took only 18 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I went up to the 2nd floor and had my early lunch. The boarding gate information was not available up until an hour before flight. Thankfully, the gate details became available at 11:33pm.

I immediately walked to Gate A04 and waited for the boarding announcement.

BOARDING

Boarding by groups commenced at 12:04pm. Priority passengers including those travelling with infants boarded the plane first. Passengers seated in the rear section of the plane went in next followed by those seated in the middle cabin. I was among the last passengers to board the plane because I was seated in the front section of the plane.

At the time of the flight, the Spanish Authorities still required masks in all modes of public transportation. Passengers were requested to wear their face masks during boarding. The airline provided masks for those who do not have one.

The whole boarding process finished at 12:39pm. The plane pushed back from the gate 9 minutes after.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

The Airbus A320-200 aircraft used for this flight to Barcelona, Spain has 180 seats in a 3 x 3 all-economy class configuration. According to Seatmaps.com, all 180 non-reclining seats have a pitch of 29-30 inches and a width of 17.5 inches.

Each seat is equipped with a tray table, a coat hook and a seat pocket with a magazine, an air sickness bag and the aircraft safety card. The seats also have dedicated reading lights and air nozzles. Each row has 1 crew call button. Unfortunately, the seats do not feature USB or standard power outlets, headrests, pillows and blankets.

I prebooked seat 6F for this flight to Barcelona; I got this complimentary seat included in my Optima fare bundle. I enjoyed the beautiful views of the Italian and Spanish coasts during the flight.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Vueling does not provide complimentary meals and snacks onboard. The airline offers snacks and drinks for purchase during the flight. After take-off and after the seatbelt sign was turned off, the crew went around to distribute pre-orders snacks and drinks. They also went around and offered some eats to the rest of the cabin.

The list of available snacks and drinks are found in the airline’s online catalogue available when connecting to the onboard flight portal.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Being a low-cost airline, Vueling does not offer in-flight entertainment options to its passengers. Like Cebu Pacific Air and Air Asia, the airline’s seats are not equipped with personal entertainment screens. The only available entertainment option for passengers is the inflight magazine found in seat pockets in front of every passenger.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Inflight connectivity of wi-fi connection was not available on this flight. The passengers can only access the airline’s flight portal for the snack and drinks menu, the airline’s destination activity offerings and a simple flight status section.

LAVATORY

I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this short flight to Spain. I did not want to bother my seatmates who were both asleep throughout the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was just alright; it was not remarkable but it was also not terrible. The crew did their job and assisted the passengers when needed. Somehow, it lacked the level of hospitality that is offered by crew on Southeast Asian low-cost airlines.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

The cabin crew announced an organized disembarkation process – they called 5 rows at a time to disembark. Gladly, all passengers followed. Those not yet called remained seated and waited for their turn.

I got off the plane at 2:23pm and reached baggage claim section after 10 minutes. The bags eventually came out and I was out of the airport in no time.

Flight Experience

I had a superb first flight with the Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling. I went on the flight with close to no expectations and I only wanted to arrive in Spain safe and sound; but I was blown away by the experience I had on this short hop from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona. It was my first ever flight with a European low-cost carrier and it did not disappoint!

On this flight to Barcelona, I believe Vueling excelled on the following areas or points. First, fares were low and competitive considering the ticket was booked only 1.5 months before schedule. The Optima fare (that time) only cost €57.99 one-way and already included complimentary regular seats, 10 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance, 20 kilograms check-in baggage allowance and flight credit options. It is a shame that the airline had to change these inclusions 2 weeks after I booked my ticket; but it was still great because the previous ticket inclusions at the time of my booking were honored on the flight.

Second, Vueling offers great schedules between Milan Malpensa and Barcelona. Low-cost airlines normally get only early morning and late-night flight schedules; but not Vueling on this route. They have multiple flights mostly leaving Milan in the morning or in the afternoon. Third, the flight left the gate in Milan ahead of schedule and arrived at Barcelona ahead of schedule on a busy Saturday.

Fourth, given masks were required during this flight (back in December 2022), the airline staff proactively handed out masks to passengers who do not have one. It is a simple but nice gesture that made the experience better. Lastly, the crew implemented an orderly disembarkation process. All passengers complied and everyone had a smooth disembarkation process.

I honestly cannot think of anything bad that happened on this flight. There is one part where I believe the airline can improve on for a better flying experience. It would be nice to see the airline ramp up their inflight portal – not just showing the snack menu and flight schedule. I hope they can add games or other services like who Scoot is doing on their ScootHub. This will surely change the game in European low-cost flying experience.

Will I recommend Vueling to my readers? Yes, for sure! As laid out above, I had a superb first flight with them. Everything on the flight fell into place; I was a happy customer. I will not hesitate booking them again next time I fly within Europe.

For those who want to know more details about this flight, here you go:

Airline: Vueling
Flight Date: 3 December 2022
Flight Number: VY 6333
Route: Milan Malpensa (MXP) to Barcelona (BCN)
Duration: 1 hour & 17 minutes
Seat Numebr: 6C (window seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A320-200
Aircraft Registration: EC-LVS
Engines: 2 x International Aero Engines V2500
Age (at the time of the flight): 9.5 years old
Delivered: May 2013


Have you been on a Vueling flight in the past? How was your flying experience? Did you like it? Let us engage into a conversation by sharing your flight experiences below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Scoot flight report. I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with EmiratesSingapore AirlinesVietnam Airlines and Air France. All previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.