ErinR

My parents, husband and I are planning a two-week trip to Spain and maybe Portugal for September 2011. I have read some of this forum's advice, and it seems that most people agree that 14 days is not enough time to see both countries.

I'd love to get your advice on whether Spain + Portugal is at all a possibility. We could rent a car or take the train (or fly?), although my parents prefer driving. If we can't see both countries, we'll opt for Spain since I know for sure we'd like to see Barcelona and Andalusia (Sevilla? Granada? Both?). Since our time is limited, I'd love for to hear your insights for those destinations and any tips on where else we "have" to visit. I'll read my guidebooks from cover to cover, but I've learned that advice from other travelers is priceless!

We love scenery and history, and we're all somewhat of foodies, but not in a pretentious way -- just want to try local specialties (can't wait for tapas in Sevilla). We would love to visit at least a few out-of-the-way towns/places. If it affects your recommendations, I'll mention that there won't be a language barrier (except if only Catalán is spoken), as we're from Costa Rica and I speak Portuguese well enough. Thank you!

CathyM

I wouldn't attempt to visit Barcelona, Andalucia AND Portugal in a 14 day trip. You'd barely have time to scratch the surface in any of these places. Sure, you can "do" these cities - almost anything is a possbility, but you could easily spend 14 days in Andalucia alone.

Here's a loose guide to the minimum I'd stay in each city:

Sevilla: 3 nights with no daytrips
Lisbon: 3 nights
Granada: 2 nghts
Barcelona: 4 nights with no daytrips

So, if you stayed the bare minimum in each city it would be possible. But you wouldn't have sufficient time to visit anything other than these large cities. No time to explore the Catalunya region outside of Barcelona (Montserrat, Girona, Tarragona, Vic, etc...). No time for Portugal other than Lisbon. No time in Andalucia other than Sevilla & Granada (no white villages, beach cities, sherry bodega visit in the sherrry triangle towns, etc...).

Personally I'd rather invest time in visiting a smaller number of places and have quality visits versus just checking places off as I visit (and perhaps being tired from all the moving around so I'm not really enjoying).

danon

Vueling has cheap flights from Barcelona to Seville and Granada. After, let's say 4 days in Barcelona, you might wish to fly to Seville or Granada - rent a car, and go from there .

bobthenavigator

It takes 5 trips of 2 weeks to see Spain and and another 2 to see Portugal. You will do well to see Andalusia and Barcelona this trip.

iris1745

What folks say is true. But the most important question is, do you ewxpect to return to either of these two countries. If not, you have good suggestions from Cathy and danon. Richard www.maribelsguides.com for information.

CathyM

bobthenavigator: I've visited Spain twice a year for 2.5 weeks each trip since 2001 and still haven't seen all of Spain...

ErinR

Thanks for your advice, everyone, and Iris, good question. We probably will not return, or if we do, not for a very long time. There's a lot of world to see, and not enough time to see it!

So I'll rephrase my question: If you had only 14 days to see absolutely as much of Spain (and maybe Portugal?) as you could -- without sacrificing too much, of course -- what would be on your list? I know this is a tough question, and that you could really spend months exploring both countries (I feel the same way when people ask about Costa Rica), but we only have two weeks. Thanks again!

ribeirasacra

Bob...I like your sense of humour

lobo_mau

IMHO, just Spain

iris1745

Erin; What's your preference, large cities or small hill towns? Large cities, consider Cathys suggestion. But if it is small towns, for me, I would fly round trip tp Portugal. It's a much smaller country and in a concentrated area, there is much to see. But you could get a little taste of Spain. So, Lisbon [3 days, with a day trip to Sintra]. 2. Rent a car and drive to Evora [2 days, you could visit Evoramonte and Estremoz.] 3. Drive to Seville and on the way, visit Monsaraz [4 days, with a full day trip to White Towns]. 4. Drive north to Caceres, Spain [1 day]. 5. Now return to Portugal and stay in Tomar, visit Marvao on the way to Tomar [2 days, visits to Fatima, Batalha Abbey]. 6. Final day, stay in Obidos, about 50 minutes from the airport. That's 13 nights and not sure how many nights you have. If it's 14 nights, add another to Seville, but if it's 12, take one away from Seville. For me, this would be the best use of my time and we have done many rips to Europe. Actually, we did the exact itinerary last year with my daughter and husband, but did not go into Lisbon. Driving was very easy. With Seville, I had a good navigator. If you don't like to move as much, then consider Cathys suggestion. We have only been to these countries three times and agree, have only scratched the surface. Have fun deciding. Richard

Graziella5b

I read some place that for no clear reason some people prefer Spain over Portugal and vice versa . I prefer Spain and would not hesitate in spending all my time in Spain. In itself is a huge country and the most important aspect it is the endless different possibilities Spains offers. It comes to a point , I believe, that you have to reach your inner self and forgetting everything other people might recommend choose what you believe you would love the best.
The itinerary suggested by Irisi makes a lot of sense, including or not Portugal would be up to you. But I agree that places like Caceres and Evora are worth a trip. THere is no easy solution buy yourself a good guide book , do your homework, and choose following your own heart.

Aduchamp1

bobthenavigator: I've visited Spain twice a year for 2.5 weeks each trip since 2001 and still haven't seen all of Spain...

Bob brings his 2.3 children.

Nikki

To me it is irrelevant to say that you can't see all of a country in two weeks. Of course you can't, but that isn't necessarily the goal of traveling to a place. The goal, at least for me, is to go to a place and enjoy myself. I haven't seen everything in any place I have ever been. But I have had a lot of great trips where I have had fascinating and varied experiences. Sometimes I enjoy staying in one place and examining it in depth. Sometimes I enjoy traveling around and sampling different cultures, languages, cuisines.

There is a very different feel in Portugal than there is in any part of Spain I have visited. And the different parts of Spain are varied culturally and linguistically as well.

If this were my trip, I would want a sampling from both countries. I like comparing and contrasting. With the inexpensive flights within Spain and Portugal on Vueling, you can pick several destinations. In fact I took a trip in 2006 where some friends and I spent three nights in Barcelona, three in Ibiza, two in Madrid, and four in Lisbon, using Vueling to fly from point to point.

One thing to be aware of is that if you decide to drive, there are exorbitant drop-off fees for rental cars between Spain and Portugal. I ended up stuck paying one of these on a different trip because our itinerary had already been established before I found out about it and it would have been extremely inconvenient and almost equally expensive to change it around.

You might be interested in the trip reports I wrote about my two trips that combined Portugal and Spain:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

Aduchamp1

Spain is many countries in one. And the less time you spend in a country the less chance you have to know a place and compare and contrast.

Personally, I do not travel with expectations of what will be different or the same, but what we find. With little time the comparisons would be superficial at best.

danon

"Spain is many countries in one."

True, Granada and Santander could not be more different, same for Barcelona and Seville, Segovia and Girona ..etc.
Best to read a bit about Spain /Portugal and decide which place you prefer.

ErinR

Thanks everyone. We ordered Rick Steves' guides to both countries, and I think I'll get the Fodors' guides, too. We'll probably just stick to Spain this time, and hope to visit Portugal someday!

jubilada

Rick Steves would have you believe most of Spain does not exist or is boring. Look at maribelsguides.com and Cadogan, IMO.

Aduchamp1

Send back the Rick Steve's books immediately, your life may be in danger. His books would be laughbale if people did not spend money and time following them.

Rick Steve's is to travel writing, what Barry Manilow is to rock n' roll.

Michelin Greens are excellent for sights and Cadogans know their stuff, even if they are a little dry.

Nikki

I second the suggestion to check out the excellent free guides to Spain at www.maribelsguides.com.

iris1745

Eyewitness guides are also very good. www.traveldk.com If you choise to by additional, but them on www.amazon.com/books You can find them for a reduced price and get free shipping if you spend over $25. dollars. Have fun searching. Richard