The Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Finals are going to be held in Barcelona Dec 4-6, 2009 as Spain will host the Czech Republic. The event will take place at Barcelona’s Palau Saint Jordi, the arena built for the 1992 Olympics. The site has a capacity of 17,000 and was the site of Spain’s first Davis Cup victory over Australia in 2000. Spain’s current captain Albert Costa was a member of that victorious team.
Spain will try and become the first country since Sweden in 1998 to retain the title. The Spanish team is at full strength and includes Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez. The Czech Republic trying to capture its second title after first winning in 1980 have also named a strong side including Radek Stepanek, Tomas Berdych, Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy.
The organizers have already set the stage to entertain visitors from both Spain and abroad. Besides the tennis, the organizers have arranged nightly music, tours, dining festivities and a taste of Spanish culture. For the visitor who has never been to Barcelona, it is one of the most exciting cities in Europe. This second largest city in Spain is the capital of Catalonia. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona has one of the best weather all year round. Today, this global city is a major tourist destination and has a very rich cultural heritage. There is lots to do in Barcelona.
For those who want to get a tan after watching the tennis, Barcelona has many nice sandy beaches. This cosmopolitan city of three million is also well known for its thriving night life with many live music, clubs and pop festivals. Barcelona also has many great museums of which the most famous is the Picasso museum. Other great attractions in Barcelona include the Sagrada Familia, Ramblas, Casa Mila, Tibidabo, Castell de Montjuic, Parc Guell and Muse del Temp Expiatori and Parc de la Ciutadella to mention a few.
For those who are going to see the tennis, many hotels have already opened doors and are offering great discounts. Some of the recommended hotels’ for the Davis Cup include the hotel Art Barcelona. This luxury hotel about 16 miles from the airport and is as classy as all other Ritz Carltons. While the hotel is superb, the food is quiet expensive. The cost for staying here is $300 per night. The Gran Hotel la Florida on top of Tibidabo Mountain is located 10 miles from the airport and is highly recommended. At $230 a night this is a splendid hotel. The only negative is that the hotel is some ways away from other historic sites in Barcelona.
For those on a more limited budget, the Hesperia Presidente is a small boutique hotel with all the amenities. At $119 a night it serves an excellent breakfast and is located in the prime downtown district. The only negative is that it does not have a pool. The Fira palace is an exquisite hotel with modern day charms and Spanish elegance. Perhaps the most recommended. At $133 a night, this palace is sure to make your stay in Barcelona very pleasant.
There are also many travel agents who can book an inclusive package deal for the Davis Cup which includes 3-4 day stay and air trip for under $2200. The best thing to do before you fly out is to go browse online. With the current recession, many hotels in Barcelona are offering superb package deals. Who knows you may get to stay a night or two for free and also get to enjoy the tennis. Buena Viaje