Murphy Writing of Stockton University

If you haven’t already, it’s time for you to start thinking about traveling and what to do when you arrive at your destination.

For maximum flexibility, airfare is not included. You will be responsible for making your own round-trip travel arrangements which will allow you to choose your airports and make it easy to extend your trip. We will assist you in identifying budget-conscious flights. For best fares, you should purchase your ticket in the spring, no later than May 1.

It is very important that you follow these suggested times. The retreat location is approximately 2 hours from the airport and very rural. If you do not follow these times, you will need to make your way there on your own, which you will find very difficult to do without renting a car.

Arrival: Tuesday, July 11. The program is designed so you can arrive in Spain the day the retreat begins. We recommend you fly to El Prat Airport in Barcelona. If you are flying from the US, depart on the evening of July 10 and you will land early the next morning. We suggest you arrive at the airport by 10:00 am so you have time to clear customs, pick up your luggage and meet the group at 11:45 am. If you wish to arrive in the country prior to July 11, plan to make your way to the airport in time to meet the group. We will send details on where to meet at the airport and emergency contact numbers approximately two weeks before the program.

Departure: Tuesday, July 18. We will depart l’Avenc at noon and head to Barcelona. After reaching the city, we will have the opportunity to stretch our legs and take photos. At the end of the excursion, we will offer two drop off options: 4:15 pm at La Placa Catalunya for those staying the night in Barcelona and 5:00 pm at El Prat Airport.

Do not book a flight before 8:00 pm on July 18. Most flights to the US depart in the morning. If you can’t book a flight after 8:00 pm, plan to stay the night in Barcelona and fly out the next day, July 19. If you plan to stay the night (or longer) in Barcelona, consider a hotel or Airbnb in the Eixample or the Barri Gotic neighborhood, which are both a short walk from La Placa Catalunya, offer many good hotel options and easy access to public transportation.

Most years, people make plans to travel together before or after the retreat. This can be especially helpful if you are not an experienced overseas traveler.

Flights

Here are some preliminary questions to consider when looking for flights.

• What dates would you like to be away?
• Would you like tour other parts of Spain or the Continent?
• If you are concerned about jet lag, plan to arrive in Spain at least a day or two early to adjust to the time change.

The more flexible you are, the better chance you have of saving money on your flight. Be sure to look at how many stops or layovers a potential flight has and make sure you have a good cushion of time to make a connecting flight. Make sure when you compare flight prices that they include taxes and fees. If not, it might cost you an additional $300 or more. July is the peak of the tourist season, and you should expect to pay approximately $1,400-$1,600 including taxes and fees for a nonstop flight to Spain from the East Coast. If you find something cheaper, then you probably have found a bargain. Flight prices change every day, sometimes every hour, so if you find the flight you want at the price you are willing to pay, do not dawdle.

See this New York Times article for more details.

Meta sites such as www.skyscanner.com and www.kayak.com are good places to find bargains. Plus, Kayak offers an option to sign up for email alerts on the route you are interested in and will notify you when the price changes.

Additional Tips

• Be aware that if you book through a 3rd party website such as www.travelocity.com or www.orbitz.com, they may charge you an extra service fee, so compare whatever flight you are considering with the airline’s website.
• While it may be easier for you to leave from your local airport, you might find cheaper options from JFK or Newark (EWR).
• Regardless of which airport you depart from, you must fly into El Prat Airport. Otherwise, you will have to rent a car and find your own way to L’Avenc. Follow the times listed above in this post.
• Many international flights include 1 checked bag at no additional cost, but check to make sure that’s the case, and factor it into your comparisons.
• If you book a good deal, please tell us so we can share it with the group.

Travel Insurance

You may also want to buy travel insurance to protect yourself before and during your trip, but we do not require it. We have never purchased travel insurance. Because we travel a lot, we are willing to take our chances. When we had to cancel a trip to the UK a couple of years ago, we were able to get refunds or credits from two airlines and three out of four hotels. Should you buy travel insurance, make sure you understand under which circumstances it will reimburse you, and which expenses it will cover, e,g,: flight, pre-paid hotels, trains, car rentals, workshop tuition and accommodation, etc.