At Travelbound, we know that for most music groups budget is a key element in the choice of tour destination. Barcelona is traditionally one of the most popular destinations for a music tour but with transport prices rising considerably since the pandemic, it’s natural some Group Leaders may feel it slightly deterred.
Our Head of Music and Concert Tours, Ilaria Roche, shares how you can make the most of your music tour budget with top tips to keep prices as low as possible on your next tour to Barcelona!
• Travel by coach
Travelling to Barcelona by coach is the most economical way to travel for most music groups. The coach will pick you up from school and take you all the way to your destination; it will also be available whilst you are on tour to carry out local excursions and concerts. Groups with large instruments can request a trailer to increase the luggage capacity of the vehicle and ensure baggage and equipment are transported safely.
• Consider travelling in low season
Prices vary during the year with premium prices being charged by all suppliers over key times such as July when school groups are competing for places with families and adult groups. If you are able to travel October to April, prices are more favourable.
Thanks to its temperate climate, the area around Barcelona still offers the option of performing outdoors in spring and autumn – at a fraction of the summer price. If possible, travelling term time rather than during school holidays is also an effective way of reducing your tour price and getting best availability.
Explore music performance tours to Barcelona
• Stay outside of the city
To make the most of your tour budget, consider staying in one of the coastal resorts around Barcelona rather than in the city itself. Tossa de Mar, Pineda de Mar or Calella are lovely seaside resorts which offer good hotel accommodation (generally with outdoor pool) at a more affordable price than Barcelona. There are also very good options for performances for all types of music groups.
• Include as many free or low cost local excursions
Exploring the charming resort of Tossa de Mar with its ancient ramparts and pedestrianised Old Town is free. Walking along the famous Ramblas or exploring the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona are both free activities which will give your students a flavour for the city’s history. Visiting Parc Guell is an inexpensive way of exposing your students to Gaudi’s art and exploring the colours and flavours of the Boqueria Market is free.
As a tour operator, Travelbound also have access to specially contracted group rates on many excursions: these rates are not available to the general public, so it definitely pays to include into your tour package from the start.
• Boost your numbers
Broadly speaking, travelling with a small group can often increase the price of the tour as some of the costs are shared amongst all group members. Financially, it makes sense to open up the tour to more than one ensemble especially if they can share the same performance venue.
Alternatively, consider including a Junior Ensemble to increase numbers; perhaps they can feature at the start of the group’s main performance. You could also consider taking a few extras who can support setting up for performances if you are short of a few students. In addition to helping set up, they can write a tour report for the school magazine/newsletter or be the tour’s official photographers.
• Consider your free place ratio
At Travelbound, we operate a 1:8 free place ratio for our coach tours and 1:10 free place ratio on air tours. The cost of the “free places” is shared amongst the students and added to their trip price so if you are able to reduce the number of free places you need, the price per student will reduce.
Our free place ratios are designed to cater for all types of groups but if your school has different guidelines in place, it may be possible for you to take fewer staff and therefore reduce the overall tour price for your students. Please do ask us to prepare a quotation based on your school’s required free place ratio.
• Make the most of your board options
Our partner hotels in the coastal resorts in the Costa Brava offer great prices for half board and full board which work out much cheaper than eating out in local restaurants. Food is generally served buffet-style ensuring that even the fussiest eaters in your group can find something they like.
If you would like to learn more about these options in relation to your next music tour to Barcelona or are keen to see how we can shape a music performance tour for your group, speak to our music team on 01273 265 259 or enquire online today.
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