2 Weeks in Spain

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2 Weeks in Spain

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DoctorX2k2

Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada

2 Weeks in Spain

Hello everyone,

My girlfriend and I are planning on spending 2 weeks in Spain, but we can't quite figure out where to go and how long to stay in each city and how easy it is to travel from one to another. As far as I know, many Foro members have been in Spain so we'd like your inputs, if possible.

Obviously, we want to visit Barcelona and Madrid. I really want to see some of Andalusia. I've read good things about Sevilla and mixed things about Granada. What about Cordoba and other villages in the area?

Any suggestions?

Regards

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2010 13:04:51

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

Sounds like a good plan. If you were to do Barcelona first then Madrid and from Madrid you'll be able to get a high speed train to Sevilla.

Once you're in Sevilla you can head off to a quieter sleepier town either inland or down on the coast.

I'd say a few days in each of the big cities would be enough then finish off the trip in a more chilled out way. Cordoba would be nice.

Just be aware that much of the south coast is tourist hell a doesn't represent Spain at it's best.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2010 13:21:19

DoctorX2k2

Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to sean65)

Yeah, I've been told to avoid la Costa del Sol.

How long should we stay in Madrid and Barcelona? Is 3 days enough?

In Granada, is there much to do besides visiting la Alhambra?

What about Valencia? Worth going there?

So far, we're interested in :
-Barcelona
-Madrid
-Toledo
-Sevilla
-Granada
-Cordoba

We don't know what to add/remove... then we got to figure out a nice way to connect our traveling and pick up the city of arrival and departure.

Regards

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2010 13:39:05

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

quote:

In Granada, is there much to do besides visiting la Alhambra?

Yeah man, lots. Depends what you're into. I love the cycling/mountain biking in that area. It's quite well known as a base for outdoor activities.

All the places you mention are worth visiting and three days in each would be great if you're semi-organized.

I guess there's only so much you can do in the time you're there so it might seem like too much of a rush to squeeze too much in.

Why not have a flexible plan? Keep it loose just incase you get other ideas once you're in Spain.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2010 23:17:56

DoctorX2k2

Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to sean65)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sean65

Yeah man, lots. Depends what you're into. I love the cycling/mountain biking in that area. It's quite well known as a base for outdoor activities.

All the places you mention are worth visiting and three days in each would be great if you're semi-organized.

I guess there's only so much you can do in the time you're there so it might seem like too much of a rush to squeeze too much in.

Why not have a flexible plan? Keep it loose just incase you get other ideas once you're in Spain.

Thank you Sean.

I've tried to be more flexibile in Italy 2 years ago... and we had trouble finding cheap hotels at some point and some trains were full and we got stuck in some cities longer than we wanted to.

Since we're on a somewhat tight budget, I need to plan transportation and hotels before the crowd of tourists invades them all.

Here's the plan so far :

-Days 1-4 : Land in Barcelona, spend 3 days visiting and moving to Madrid on the 4th day.
-Days 4-6 : Arriving in Madrid the 4th day and visiting for a total of 3 days (including the 4th).
-Day 7 : One day-trip to Toledo from Madrid.
-Days 8-10 : Leaving Madrid to Sevilla and visit 3 days.
-Days 11-13 : Leaving Sevilla and visit either Cordoba or Granada.
-Days 14-15 : Leaving either Cordoba or Granada to Malagà, spending 1 day there and leaving the next day from this airport.

This is our basic plan... we'll be more flexible in the things we do/see in each cities though.

Feedbacks?

Regards

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2010 9:07:52

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

Drop Malaga - you can drive to the airport from Granada in 90 mins. You could base yourself in Granada and drive out to Cordoba for a day, takes a couple of hours or so.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2010 10:59:45

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

quote:

You could base yourself in Granada and drive out to Cordoba for a day, takes a couple of hours or so.

Yeah I was going to say that should you hire a car for a day or two you'll find it interesting. You always end up stopping in small towns and villages off the beaten track where you'll find more rural lifestyles.

I'm always amazed with some of the small villages up in the north of Spain. They'll living a life style that hasn't changed in many years. Really peaceful and serene.

Don't forget to check what Flamenco venues you want to visit! Los Gallos in Sevilla normally puts on a great show but the seats are designed for midgets.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2010 11:20:35

minordjango

Posts: 918
Joined: Feb. 26 2005

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

hire a car can be pretty cheap ,
Granada a must to be based in , man that place rocks.

grazalema is a nice area to drive to as is ronda and jerez.

but stay stay in Granada as yer base, so many local players and fun things, which u sort out when ur there, ull meet great folk.

get yer Spanish up to the challenge

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2010 11:29:30

DoctorX2k2

Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

Would I need an International Driver's License to hire a car? And is finding a parking spot an issue?

And yeah... my Spanish isn't that great right now... work in progress.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2010 12:28:35

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

quote:

And is finding a parking spot an issue?

Yes. The Spanish drive even if they're only going 50 feet...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2010 1:32:38

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

quote:

Would I need an International Driver's License to hire a car? And is finding a parking spot an issue?

Check with the car hire company - Avis, Hertz etc. I don't think so. Parking is truly awful. You'll need SatNav and know where the nearest parking garages are (estacionamientos) and just head for them. Be prepared to pay the daily rate.

http://www.estacionamientosgranada.com/

Alternatively take a train between cities and hire a car for a day here and there. Hotels can usually arrange this.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2010 4:52:20

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to Escribano)

That's a good idea of Simon's to hire a car for the day. You really dont want or need a car in Madrid, Sevilla or Granada. Granada you can walk everywhere, Madrid has a metro, Sevilla you will likely get your car broken into. Buses are great ways of getting around when there is no direct train, they are frequent and air-conditioned. If you hire a car in Granada you can drive to Cordoba, its a lovely trip through countryside, stay overnight so you get to have a day there. From Sevilla you could drive easily to Jerez, Cadiz and exlore the gorgeous coast there.

Personally I love Malaga and if your flight leaves early I 'd stay there overnight and enjoy the sea, the port and the amazing collection of old trees that line the streets.

Our first ever trip down south we relied on buses, had no plan, just went from city to beach to another city and back to the beach again. We spent 10 days and got to know Malaga, Granada and Sevilla as well as get a sun tan on the Costa Tropical and relax and travelling on buses we got to see so much of the countryside.

Enjoy

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2010 9:54:28

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to DoctorX2k2)

there´s tons of museums in malaga. i went on a monday when everything was closed.

if you have only two weeks, i´d spend it in andalucia and forget the more northern cities. the traveling is very tiring.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 2 2010 8:36:02

DoctorX2k2

Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada

RE: 2 Weeks in Spain (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

ORIGINAL: at_leo_87

there´s tons of museums in malaga. i went on a monday when everything was closed.

if you have only two weeks, i´d spend it in andalucia and forget the more northern cities. the traveling is very tiring.

Yeah well... we really want to visit Barcelona and Madrid. We'll take high speed trains between them and also from Madrid to Sevilla.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 2 2010 9:04:24