ABOUT SPAIN

Old Mar 16th, 2015, 09:45 AM
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ABOUT SPAIN

Hi everyone, this is just the second time I am consulting you guys. Husband and I are considering a vacation in Spain (my first time) have so many questions , but will start by asking your recommendations on how many days approximately would be good to explore, we like to mingle around with the locals, visit historic places and on that subject could you tell me places that we should definitely not miss out on? Would you recommend a Travel Expert?
Thank you so much.. Hope to get some answers....
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 10:03 AM
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It depends on the time of the year when you will travel.

- Andalucia is perhaps the most interesting region in Spain - full of history - but unbearably hot in summer. Andalucia will be perfect in November and from February to March.

- Madrid and the surrounding cities (Toledo, El Escorial, Avila...) also make a most attractive destination, but it is cold in winter and hot in summer, so spring and fall are the best times to visit.

- Barcelona and the Costa Brava are more temperate and may be visited from March to October. Barcelona is a fascinating city, and the Costa Brava a scenic coast with a beautiful seaside town (Cadaques) and two excellent Salvador Dali museums. Also, the Pyrenees and the French Border are close.

- The Basque country (with Donostia/San Sebastion) and Cantabria (around Santander) have fascinating coastline, hinterland (including the Rioja wine region) and excellent food. Climate is cooler here, so summer would be the best time to visit.

- The Baleares, especially Mallorca, are beautiful islands with temperate mediterranean climate which are almost year-round destinations.

- The Canary Islands in the Atlantic are also year-round destinations and even beautiful and warm in midwinter. Expect bizarre, volcanic scenery and spectacular beaches.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 10:20 AM
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I'm sorry - but you really do need to give us some sort of basic guidelines. Do you have a week? Two? Three? (You could spend months seeing all of Spain).

You should also give us idea WHY you want to go to Spain - something must have attracted you - either in a tour brochure or a guidebook or something.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 01:09 PM
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traveller1959 ***Andalucia is perhaps the most interesting region in Spain - full of history***
But Spain is full of history and in your list you have left out oh so many areas.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 01:10 PM
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TRAVELLER 1959.. and NYTRAVELER. Thank you both for responding. We are thinking of traveling in July or August and it could probably be max. two weeks. I don't think we need a WHY to go somewhere, It seems an interesting place I could say, so that's my WHY (nytraveler).. again thanks. TRAVELLER 1959 your detailed comments are very interesting and helpful thank you very much.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 01:23 PM
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The regions of Spain vary greatly in scenery, cuisine, culture and even langauges. These separatist forces threaten to pull the country apart and also give the traveller a lot to choose from (and between). Now is the time to go to the Destinations pages on this and other travel websites to get a grasp on your alternatives, and also so you can better understand the answers when you pose specific questions.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 01:26 PM
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The green Michelin guides rate sights, giving them 1, 2, or 3 stars. Rick Steves lists the most important sights in a city. While you may not agree with their ratings, these guidebooks do provide a starting point.

Southern Spain is very, very hot in the summer. Are you prepared for that?
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 04:26 PM
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I've found the Rough Guide to Spain particularly helpful, that and the Michelin Green guides.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 04:36 PM
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OK, and Barcelona is HUMID in the Summer and Madrid can be almost one hundred degrees at midnight in the summer.

I am sure people are TRYING to help you but I think YOU need to help US out a bit, also. Mingling "with the locals"...how do you like to do that? What is it about Spain that makes you feel it is worth visiting in the first place?

I am sorry but IMO your request is far too vague since you say little about yourself. I can list a whole BUNCH of places and towns in Spain which are "historic" and we haven't even talked specifically about the Alhambra, the Seville cathedral, the Alcazar, Toledo, Avila, and on and on and on.
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Old Mar 17th, 2015, 12:21 AM
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so many we should list a load of websites to help this poor soul find their way?
http://www.spain.info/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/sp.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/spain/
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/spain/
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Old Mar 17th, 2015, 12:29 AM
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@ ribeirascacra -- you are very kind!
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Old Mar 17th, 2015, 10:16 AM
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I aprreciate all your answers.
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Old Mar 17th, 2015, 12:39 PM
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I was in Spain last year in May. My husband and I loved it! We skipped Madrid because it is a big city--of course it has wonderful attributes, but we felt it was not a priority. Our idea was to visit three places of varying size. Starting in Barcelona, we headed to Seville, then to Grenada and then to Rhonda. We used planes, trains and automobiles for our transit. My husband wanted to drive from Seville to Grenada and then to Rhonda. That took time and was a great adventure, but in hindsight, we would have taken a train. The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was wonderful and so interesting inside! The large church in Seville was beautiful and through some research, we were able to have a drink on a rooftop bar overlooking that church. It was a great memory maker! A food tour in Seville as well as the bull ring were highlights. We loved Seville! It was 91 degrees one day, which made it hot so watch the weather predictions. Grenada is the home of the Alhambra and we loved that tour. Wish we would have stayed a day longer. Rhonda was a small town with old old history and a lovely gorge view. It was a good place to feel less touristy. Our trip was two weeks total with longer stays in Barce and Seville. My suggestions, walk, ask questions of locals, ride public transit, stay in smaller hotels or BnBs. These all help with interacting with the locals. I hope you enjoy your trip to Spain!
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Old Mar 17th, 2015, 06:47 PM
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Mutti THANK YOU. I did read about Sagrada Familia and have it on the list to visit also checking on the AVE train and have already spoken to a couple of people in malaga. thanks again I am sure we will enjoy.
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Old Mar 18th, 2015, 01:26 AM
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Barcelona and 3000 year old Malaga are great starting points for a visit to wonderful and diverse Spain. I travel to Spain all the time, and if I was to move here, it would probably be to one of these two cities.
Barcelona: http://www.turismedebarcelona.net/
Malaga: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm

And Barcelona and Malaga are connected by the AVE train through Madrid.
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Old Mar 18th, 2015, 06:57 AM
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If I was going in July and August I'd trip the various cities along the north coast coming in perhaps 200km. So the Duero river is a good guide but not following much of the Camino. You will find some lovely little monestries, mountain ranges, gold mines, wineries and all not too hot. You could even pop into the north of Portugal.

Most of the tourists will be Spanish as this is where a fair bunch of them come to get away from the heat of the interior and the south when on holiday. My favorite bit is the Picos mountains, but you will find deserted villages (from the 1500s) and generally nice place to go. Down on the coast you have good sea food and of course Bilbao.

I'll be there is Sept.
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Old Mar 18th, 2015, 08:48 AM
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Since you will be travelling in July or August I would strongly suggest to explore northern Spain.

You can start in Barcelona, spend a few days there, then check out the Costa Brava with Cadaques ad Figueres, make a quick visit to the lovely French towns Collioure and Ceret.

Then you drive westwards with a stop in the Rioja wine region (around Logrono). In any case, visit Marques de Riscal winery - it is spectacular (especially the Frank O. Gehry hotel, albeit sleeping there is €€€€, but you can make the cellar tour & tasting and have tapas or a Michelin star meal there).

Further west, you may visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao, you may see Donostia and you may explore Cantabria. Santander is interesting, and there is a lot of spectacular coastline (Comillas!) with picturesque fishing villages (e.g. Santillana del Mar). In the hinterland, you find the Picos de Europa and a wealth of quaint mountain villages.

You may drive southwards to Madrid, spend two days there and fly back.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 03:38 AM
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1. Don't expect other people to do your work for you.

2. Get guidebooks on Spain

3. Read some of the 10 million web pages on Spain

4. Search Fodors, etc to see if the information you seek has been discussed before.

3. Post a specific question if it hasn't
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 09:11 AM
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easy ambo
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 02:11 PM
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ambo, I see you're a recent member. why the hostility? I agree that the initial post and question is a little broad , but if you don't like it no need to contribute anything, just move on
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