Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Andalusia itinerary comments & advice please!

Andalusia itinerary comments & advice please!

Old Feb 5th, 2016, 07:17 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Andalusia itinerary comments & advice please!

Greetings!

We are in the planning stages of our Sept-Oct visit to Andalusia. I've been doing a lot of research on different sites and forums. Getting overwhelmed with choices and ideas I think having a full month in that region would not be enough, but in our case we have to limit ourselves to about a week.

Day 1 / arriving late at night. Day 10 / departing at 12.00h. So that leaves us with 8 full days ( last 1.5day will be spend in Madrid). Distances in Spain are a challenge. I really would prefer not to move between too many hotels and avoid one-nighters. I've been looking at the map checking distance and necessary time to get from A to B to C... Seems that in best case scenario, we'll need to change hotels 4 times. In worst, 5 times. That's really a lot of packing / unpacking *_*

Here are the things that we have to work with.

Group about 10 people (65yrs up).

Total 9 nights (trying to make it 10 nights but probably won't be able to ). ca. SEPT - OCT 2016.

Current breakdown 2 nights Malaga, 2 nights Granada, 3 nights Seville, 2 nights Madrid (IF we add 1 extra night then Cordoba)

Arrival / Departure airports/flights cannot be changed.

● Arriving to Malaga at 22.30h.

● Departing from Madrid at 12.30h.

Transportation : combination train + charter minibus + taxis + walk.

Will be hiring a private guide(s) for tours so program will be more organised/faster paced than individual travellers'. We are not good at taking it easy and going with the flow

● Must visits : Granada, Seville, Cordoba, Ronda, white villages (Mijas?)

-- Interested in great food, wine (possibly winery visit), genuine small (not too touristy) flamenco show, old towns, art, shopping, beautiful scenery, spa/hammam visit, open air/farmers markets, horse carriage ride.

-- Not interested (due to age ) in sports, strenuous outdoor activities, swimming, sunbathing, etc.

Day 1 / Arrive Malaga 22.30h. Hotel in Malaga (2 nights)

Day 2 / Mini-bus Full day trip : Malaga > Ronda > LUNCH and wine tasting at Bodega Garcia Hidalgo (read some wonderful reviews of home cooked food > Malaga
***Question : If we only do one white village / town, would Ronda be the best? Or should we somehow try squeezing another visit (ex. Mijas)?

Day 3/ Malaga > charter mini- bus to Granada > pm tour Granada city + Dinner with a view of Alhambra at one of the Carmen restaurants. (Granada 2 nights)

Day 4 / Full day Granada tour : Alhambra about 4 hours visit + Lunch + Hammam Granada 2 hour visit

Day 5 / Charter Mini-bus transfer Granada > Seville with a stop in Cordoba. Hoping to depart Granada ca. 9am and arrive in Seville ca. 6pm. Is that doable? (Seville 3 nights)

Day 6 / Seville full day tour + flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria.

Day 7 / Half day Seville walking tour w / horse carriage ride through the Maria Luisa + free afternoon for shopping, cafe, etc.

Day 8 / am Seville tour > Lunch > afternoon AVE train to Madrid (2 nights Madrid). Perhaps an evening visit to one of the museums.

Day 9 / free time to shop, explore Madrid, etc (2nd trip to Madrid for most people) + farewell dinner somewhere nice.

Day 10 / 12.30h flight out of Madrid

I haven't narrowed down the routes in each city which attractions we should do when, but overall does this sound like a good itinerary?

Thank you in advance for all suggestions and advice!
minamax10 is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 08:27 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,831
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It is a lot to do in that time, but it seems to make sense logistically. Yes, you should be able to go from Malaga to Seville that one day, stopping in Cordoba for a few hours. After all, it's only about a 2 hour drive between Malaga and Cordoba and also between Cordoba and Seville.

I'm not interested in sports or sunbathing or swimming, either, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with age. I just am not interested in them.
Christina is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 08:32 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Your itinerary is a bit rushed, especially since you will not be arriving in Malaga until late in the evening, and by the time you check into your hotel, it will probably be close to midnight. I would rethink your plan.

Málaga - 4 nights. This will give you some time to enjoy the city. You can do a day trips to Ronda and Granada and not have to worry about changing hotels.

Sevilla - 3 nights - You can do a day tip to Cordoba, take the train up in the morning and be back in Sevilla in time for dinner.

Madrid - 2 nights - take the mid-morning AVE to Madrid so that you can be there in time for lunch and enjoy yourself. The city is full of great restaurants.

Note that dinner is typically served later in the evening in the south, but there are a number of restaurants in Málaga and Sevilla that open earlier in the evening. Also, lunch is normally the main meal of the day.
Robert2533 is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 10:01 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We did a 2 week trip to Andalucia (not including Malaga)
I'm a little confused about "Dinner with a view of Alhambra at one of the Carmen restaurants." We ate at the Carmen restaurants (the original and the seafood) and they are in the middle of the city with no view at all. On the other hand the food is great (especially at the original restaurant)! You get a fantastic view of the Alhambra from the Albaicin (the old Arab quarter which is worth a half day visit.)because it is on the hill facing the Alhambra.
We were in Cordoba 2 nights (2 and a half days) and loved it. Daytripping doesn't do it justice but if you want to daytrip in Cordoba this could easily do this on the way to Madrid from Seville. Take an early train, leave the luggage at the train station,take a cab to the old city where all the main attractions are situated and then at the end of the day, continue on to Madrid. Check the Renfe site for the schedules. Going to Cordoba from Granada in order to get to Seville doesn't make any sense. A lot of extra travelling. It makes more sense to take the train from Seville to Cordobab.
The main meal is in the middle of the day but we made do with tapas (what "made do"? It was always delicious!) and then went out to eat our main meal in the evening (so we could do more touring). Many restaurants already open at 8:30 and even 8:00. (For instance, Carmen is open from breakfast to late at night.) It's easy enough to check online.
Whatever you decide, you'll have to accept the fact that you probably won't get to see everything!.
Taltul is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 01:52 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You didn't say where you're coming from, but Robert's itinerary is a good one, esp. if you'll be coping with jetlag.
Forget the so-called white villages and Mijas which is a Disney-fied village (unless you must have a photo made sitting on a burro).
If you take a van around, remember that you not only have to fit in 10 people but also all their luggage !
Bedar is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 02:28 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The greatest and most prestigious flamenco festival in the world goes on in Sevilla from Sept 8 to Oct 2 2016. The finest flamenco artists in theaters all around town every night. Mostly a local and knowledgeable crowd. Could be a crash intro to this powerful and beautiful art so important for Sevilla and all of Andalucia. A night at the Bienal could easily be a highlight of your trip: http://www.labienal.com/en/
kimhe is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 06:33 PM
  #7  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I must admit that I would find this trip unpleasantly rushed. Are you sure you will be able to see everything you want to see in this time frame? If you haven't already done so, I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location. Check opening/closing times on the internet, making sure to note that (a) many things in Spain are closed all day on Monday and part or all of Sunday and (b) many things in Spain are closed for a long mid-day break. Once you know when you can see the things you most want to see, mark them on a calendar, pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, and corralling everyone -- which, with 10 people, can be quite a challenge). Then see how things fit together. Only then can you really decide whether your plan makes sense for you.

FWIW, I found seeing the Alhambra in the evening an absolutely magical experience (it doesn't replace seeing it in the day -- rather it compliments and furthers the experience), and I thought the Alhambra and Cordoba's Mezquita two of the highlights of ALL of my travels. JMO.

Good luck!
kja is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 06:40 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh, thank you all so much for your comments!

I should have mentioned that we are coming from Japan. I'm at a teacher at a culture school, and my ladies (age 65-75) and I take a trip once a year to Europe. In Sept 2014, we did 5 nights (4 full days in Madrid area) and 4 nights (3 full days in Barcelona). At that time, I considered adding Seville-Granada, but with only 10 days that would have been crazy. So we were happy to stay at 2 hotels and do day trips (Toledo, Segovia, Montserrat).

For Andalusia, I've tried minimising hotel moves but at the same time actually seeing the main three cities. Initial idea was : 2 night each in Malaga, Granada, Seville, and 1 night in Cordoba before moving for 2 nights to Madrid (returning flight being at 12.00h). I am still undecided whether to do 1 night in Cordoba OR add that night to Seville (doing Cordoba as a stop on the way from Granada to Seville). I was compelled to have a night in Cordoba with all the day-trippers gone, but once I reflect back on our previous experiences I think once the check in is done and dinner finished, my ladies wouldn't venture out of the hotel. So then perhaps it makes more sense just to drive straight to Seville. Yes, it'd be a very long day, but the merit is that we'd stay 3 nights at the same hotel.

Anyway, Cordoba night is still a choice. What do you think?

Robert, I agree that the itinerary is fast paced. My only relieve is that Japanese travellers are used to fast-paced tours (a typical 8 day /6 nights tour from Japan would be : Madrid -La Mancha-Cordoba-Seville-Granda-Mijas-Barcelona )

Taltul, I might have misused the name carmen. I kind of got the idea that they were the old private mansions turned into upscale restaurants with the view of the Alhambra. Places like Carmen Mirador de Aixa , Carmen de Aben Humeya, Restaurante Las Tomasas, El Huerto de Juan Ranas (still deciding which one we'll use). As for doing Cordoba on the way to Madrid--intriguing. Something that I haven't really considered before. We're planning on taking the AVE train from Seville to Madrid. Kind of worried about dealing with the luggage and logistics. The beautify of doing Cordoba on the way from Granada to Seville would have been us having out private charter bus, so no additional worries about luggage. Also, once you add up the prices for AVE tickets Seville-Cordoba x 10-15 people, it's as much or more expensive than hiring a minibus.

Bedar, good point about van / minibus! I'm checking with the bus companies for slightly bigger buses on the long transfers (to fit in all our stuff). Smaller vehicles are better once you get to the cities/towns though. We had trouble in Madrid old town area with a 56seater bus showing up for a dinner transfer. The bus got stuck in the narrow street, and if memory serves me right, we were there for about 30min while bystanders tried to help our driver to get out! Thank you for reconfirming my resolve not to visit Mijas. (It's the only white village mentioned in Japanese tours). I think Ronda + winery tasting-lunch, would be a more relaxed way to spend the first day.

kimhe, depending on our dates in Oct, we might just miss the festival in Seville *_* What a shame. But I have read and seen reviews that Casa de la Memoria is a good choice. Seems it'll be close to the hotel I'm looking at now for Seville.
minamax10 is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 06:49 PM
  #9  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I bet we were posting at the same time!

FWIW, I loved Cordoba and was glad to spend 2 nights there -- but you don't have 2 nights, and the amount of time it will take 10 people to relocate, etc., is a LOT more than the time it takes me (solo traveler) to do so, so visiting it as a day-trip from Sevilla makes a lot of sense to me.
kja is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 08:43 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
kja, if I were traveling alone, I would definitely do at least one night in Cordoba. In one of the posts on this forum I came across this video https://youtu.be/GyfGdpF55Uk?list=PL...YXsrgXe011jTaB , and I am dying to see it.

One good thing about traveling with Japanese people ...they are super punctual. So moving about as a group is slightly easier.
minamax10 is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 09:18 PM
  #11  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Right -- that's why I said that for you, even with super punctual Japanese tourists, it would make sense to day trip to Cordoba.

I hope you noticed my earlier post -- the one with info about closing hours?
kja is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 09:53 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
kja, thank you. Good point indeed to check for the opening times. Just recently I noticed that we definitely do not want to be in Cordoba on a Monday since the main attractions there would be closed. Alhambra, Seville Alcazar, Cathedral seem to be opened daily, so that should be slightly easier to manage.
minamax10 is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 11:37 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Check out the Balcony of San Nicolás in Granada for lunch or dinner overlooking the Alhambra. Great views and the food isn't bad. Prices are reasonable.

For bus service, try Rosabus, S.L. (http://rosabus.com) and Sevilla Services (sevilleservices.com).
Robert2533 is offline  
Old Feb 5th, 2016, 11:56 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Small Casa de la Memoria would be a fine intro to flamenco, only top of the shelf artists. But mostly tourists in the audience, and it can't even compare to a night at the Bienal, not least because flamenco is very much about communication between the artists and the audience. The venues, the crowd and the Bienal atmosphee makes it a totally different world.
kimhe is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 03:06 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
minamax10 - kudos to you for organising this - it sounds like a nightmare to me, but you seem to be taking it in your stride.

I would definitely go for options that give you longer stays in fewer places, as the checking in and out of places will take so long, even with the super-punctual Japanese group you have to deal with.

and I second the tip about seeing the Alhambra at night - a wonderful experience and completely different to the daytime visit, not least because they restrict the numbers and you have the chance to see the Nasrid Palaces without the crush of people you can get during the day.
annhig is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 06:18 AM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Robert. I emailed to Rosabus to see what they'd quote for transfers.

Kimhe, two years ago we saw an amazing (at least I thought it was )) performance at Barcelona's Palau Dalmases. What I loved about that place is how atmospheric it was. You walk through a tiny doorway, and suddenly find yourself in a 17th century mansion. A small and intimate place to enjoy the show. I found myself on the edge of the seat...some of my ladies were dozing off A combination of a long day, filling dinner, and a few glasses of wine to blame. I think one hour at Casa de la Memoria should be good for us. I just wish that the venue was a little more exciting. I think Casa del Flamenco has a little patio where the dancers perform, but the location is further away from our hotel.

annhig , thank you It's a lot of work and pressure cause I really want to create a perfect plan. But once all the work is done, we do have a terrific time on our travels. So hopefully, Andalusia will be an amazing experience for us too!
minamax10 is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 06:23 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
annhig, regarding the night visit to the Nasrid palace. I've seen it recommended. Did you do night visit on day 1 and morning visit on day 2?
minamax10 is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 06:49 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
minimax - exactly. we didn't plan it that way - we had pre-booked the day time visit but when we got there, seeing as we were staying right opposite the Alhambra and hadn't got anything better to do, decided that we would see if we could get in for the night time visit as well.

it was well worth it!

[this was about 7 years ago so I don't think that you would reckon on doing that now, not even in November which was when we were there]
annhig is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 08:44 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We did the day visit before the evening visit. It just worked out that way. I'm glad we did because I already knew what we were looking at and could just enjoy the magic of the Alhambra at night.
Taltul is offline  
Old Feb 6th, 2016, 11:00 AM
  #20  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My night visit to the Nasrid Palace was AFTER my daytime visit, and I was very pleased with that order, because -- as Taltul said -- it meant that I knew what I was seeing when I went in the evening. It was absolutely magical!
kja is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -