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Escribano -> RE: Travel to Spain (Aug. 4 2015 11:34:12)
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quote:
I've been thinking about going to Spain next June with my family and maybe spend 2 weeks there. A friend of mine suggested to fly in to Madrid, spend a few days there, then head to Sevilla (train?). Then from Sevilla drive towards Malaga then Granada. Then drive along the coast to Barcelona spending a few days in places along the way. Then fly out from Barcelona. Does this sound like a good plan? I still have almost a year to plan but I would like to hear suggestions.
Hi Mike,
Having lived in Granada province and traveled extensively around Spain, here are my thoughts.
Time of year is important, mainly because of the heat. Temperatures in the South average around 95˚ in July and August and even higher in some cities like Seville. Air conditioning is not ubiquitous. Walking around in that heat is punishing so you will end up indoors between noon until 7:00pm, at least. On such trips, I use these hours to drive, in an air-conditioned car, to my next stop. May, early June and September are better options. Kids are back to school, fewer tourists and prices are lower. The Spanish evacuate the city in August.
If you are after some flamenco, then try to include a major flamenco fiesta in your itinerary or you may be struggling to find anything worthwhile (depending on the day of the week etc.). Flamenco does not throw itself at you (whatever else you may read). It has to be sought out and it is not always very rewarding. A fiesta like the Fiesta de la Bulería in Jerez (September) is an awesome way to experience flamenco.
The route from Granada to Barcelona is across country and then parallel to the coast by freeway mostly - with tolls as you approach the Costa Brava - which can add up. Driving that distance on alternative roads would be a long, slow haul. The coast is beautiful but I would recommend picking a destination and heading for it in that area. It is better to book something in advance - especially with kids.
1. Madrid - never been outside of the airport, but I have heard good things about it for tourism. Probably makes the most sense for direct flight and car hire - I would recommend the major hire companies - Avis is good. Make sure they do drop-offs at your final destination, preferably the airport. Of course, you could get the fast train to Seville as has been mentioned and pick up a hire car there. You will see ads for cheap, local car hire but avoid at all costs - crappy cars, terrible service, miles from arrivals in a stinky bus. SatNav is a must-have but make sure it is a good one (recent updates etc.) not some stick-on TomTom from 2001 - you will need it to find your hotels. One consideration is that is will probably be cheaper to buy return air tickets to Madrid than returning from Barcelona. Madrid is better served by the International carriers.
2. Seville - is quite a city and very beautiful, but watch the heat (as mentioned), it is the hottest city in Spain in the Summer.
3. Jerez is not what I would call a vacation destination compared to other places - outside of flamenco and especially outside of major events. There is plenty of flamenco resources, teachers, classes and peñas there for the aficionado.
4. Cadíz - well worth stopping over.
5. Gibraltar - just weird, but you'll get a kick out of it.
6. Malaga - it's an urban dump outside of the old town. I would suggest driving from there along the Costa del Sol (horribly packed with ex-pats) but it leads to the Costa Tropical and up to Granada. Stop off in La Herradura for lunch by the sea. Call on Stephen Hill (a luthier on the forum). It's a dramatic freeway along the coast and then up into the hills to Granada but you should get off and check out the valleys and hills in the shadows of the Sierra Nevada. My old home, Lecrín Valley, is a quite beautiful drive through some typical pueblos blancos. Oranges, lemons, walnuts, figs, olives, almonds, you name it.
7. Granada as mentioned. You won't regret it from your first sight of the place, nestled in the mountains, perhaps as you drive over El Suspiro Del Moro on the autovia.
8. Cordoba - 2 hours from Granada. The Mezquita alone is worth the trip but I also found it very hot - no breeze in the narrow streets.
9. Barcelona - I have been many times (mostly on business) and would not seek it out on your trip. The city is large and laid out in long, wide avenues (by Haussmann). It is hot and busy with no natural soul for me, especially on foot. As it is way North of flamenco country, I might consider ending my trip there, taking in the Costa Blanca as you suggest - Figueres to the North is worth a trip for the Dali Museum. Port Lligat (Dali's home) and Cadaques are also very nice coastal towns. Further south on the Costa and you are going to run into us Brits on cheap holidays, which you do not want to do. I generalise, of course, but you get the idea. I have been going to that coast since 1968.
You could easily drive from Seville to Jerez, Cadiz to Gibraltar, Malaga and on to Granada - it's a long haul from there to the Costa Brava and Barcelona.
I think that's about it, but I would probably recommend staying in the South and maybe taking in a bit of Portugal instead of Barcelona and the Costa Brava.
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