It looks like a bright yellow golfing buggy or one of those electric vehicles that expert around airfields. You cant help smiling when you see it – and you dont stop smiling when youre in one. The Gocar Barcelona is a great new vacation idea set to take the worlds traveller hot-spots by force. Its atiny speaking vehicle that takes you on a personal guided tour of a foreign city.

I went to Barcelona to try it – but theyre also already available in Lisbon, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego. Next up is probably going to be Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Paris and London. Suddenly open-top buses and coach tours look uninteresting.
I drove my tiny two-seater around the Catalan capital being directed to the sights by its built-in satellite-navigation computer hidden under the dashboard. The car even gives you a talkative guide to attractions as you pass and tells you where to stop if you would like a better look.

Add in the proven fact that its a bright yellow, three-wheeler with no roof or doors – and your steered tour becomes hilarious fun. GoCar makes you the envy of all of the pavement plodders.

Even on the famous Ramblas – Europes liveliest street, packed with 24-hour performance artists, pavement cafeterias and tourists from every part of the globe – folk grinned, waved and pointed cameras my way.

Sadly , I knew it wasnt me they were admiring – it was my revolutionary vehicle. When I paused for a second outside Boqueria Market, a total stranger – a pretty Spanish girl – jumped in the passengers seat. It was zip to do with my winning grin or new Primark shirt – she merely wanted her hubby to snap her in her astonishing auto. As quickly as he did, she jumped out again without a word to me.

Anyone over twenty-one with a car or bike driving licence can hire from Gocar Barcelona city centre office. You were given afast lesson and thankfully its a doddle because there arent any gears or pedals. You steer with a handlebar, accelerate and brake using hand-grips like a motorbike or scooter. The small 49cc gas moped engine behind you enables you to keep abreast of traffic but , with a top speed around 30mph, it is not quick enough to be deadly.

GoCar launched in San Francisco in 2004 where they were a fast success. Now theyre spreading around the globe. The concept is always the same. You select you language you want and build your own tour by selecting alternative routes and stopping when you feel like it.

It isnt quite the ideal wind-in-your-hair experience though. Barcelona authorities insist GoCar drivers and passengers wear helmets. Theyre provided free but idid feel a bit of a jerk driving along the beachfront with a big black helmet on.

The cars are becoming as well-liked by neighbors as visitors. And the Barcelona drivers are way more brazen about their usage of the small vacation automobiles. One local driver had to be rescued after he drove a GoCar right into a store.

GoCars are available in Barcelona, Lisbon, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego.

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