Andalusia Itinerary Help

Old Nov 13th, 2016, 10:08 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Andalusia Itinerary Help

Hi there, I am hoping for some help planning my time in Andalusia in late December with my husband, and our three kids, a 16-year-old daughter who is studying in Spain this school year, my 14 year old daughter and 11 year-old son. After three nights, including Christmas, in Barcelona, we are flying from Barcelona to Tangier (was much more affordable and quicker than getting five uf us to the south by train and my daughters really wanted to see a bit of Morocco).
So right now we are thinking:
Tangier: two nights (return to Spain by ferry, renting a car in Algeciras)
Ronda: two nights
Granada: 2 nights (including New Years Eve)
Sevilla: 1 night (we need to end in a major airport city, either Sevilla or Malaga would work).

Should I sacrifice either a night in Tangier or Ronda to build more time in Sevilla? I have been reading so many blogs and everyone always says they needed at least two nights in the places mentioned above. But I imagine they also are writing about visits in warmer weather, so any advice for our time of year would be appreciated. Feel free to reorganize the itinerary, because no on seems to start in Tarifa. Our kids will like castles, palaces, vistas, a moderate amount of museum time and generally lively places.
ktrombold is offline  
Old Nov 13th, 2016, 10:42 PM
  #2  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Two nights in Ronda would be one too many for me.
Two nights in Granada would be one too few for me.
One night in Sevilla would be two or three too few for me.
No time in Cordoba?!? The Mezquita is easily one of the world's gems, IMO.
And as you say, that's based on visiting during days with LONG hours.

I would add that 3 days in Barcelona is not much, IMO.

I think you would do well to consult some good guidebooks, identify the things you most want to see in each location, check their opening/closing times on the internet, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together. And as you do so, note that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.

Good luck!
kja is offline  
Old Nov 13th, 2016, 11:59 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3000 year old Málaga is a fabulous city and something very special at Christmas times. People travel from far to experience Christmas in Málaga:
http://www.spainforpleasure.com/2014...ime-in-malaga/
http://www.guidetomalaga.com/5-reaso...mas-in-malaga/

Málaga is now on the New York Times "where to go list" for 2016 together with San Sebastián and Barcelona. Good judgement, three fabulous and very different cities. "Beauty, but now a cultural capital, too": http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...-to-visit.html

"the province's city of culture with its so-called 'mile of art' being compared to Madrid, and its dynamism and fine dining to Barcelona".
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga
kimhe is offline  
Old Nov 14th, 2016, 06:23 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, you should cut time in Ronda. It can be seen in half a day.
Bedar is offline  
Old Nov 14th, 2016, 11:23 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ronda is lovely, but I agree, 1 night is enough. I would keep the 1 night in Cordoba, primarily because you don't have that many days, and add extra days to Seville. There is so much to do in Seville, more than Cordoba. I'm not familiar with Tangier, so can't say one way or another.
MFNYC is offline  
Old Nov 14th, 2016, 05:13 PM
  #6  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@ MFNYC: The OP is not planning any time in Cordoba!
kja is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2016, 02:28 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I mostly agree with what more people said:
Ronda, half a day.
Tanger 1 day
increase Seville and if you can include Cordoba in the trip, that would be nice.

Also, as I said in another thread, if you plan to visit the Alhambra in Granada (a must), you should by the tickets in advance. Unfortunately they are already sold out from december 27 to january 3.

The only option is to arrive very early in the morning to the tickets office in the same Alhambra (before 8 AM) and try to buy some of the tickets they sell for the same day. The sell them really fast, so don't pretend to arrive at 9 and find them.
mundofer is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2016, 06:56 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Okay,
Thanks so much for this input. So our itinerary would either look like:

Tangier - 1
Ronda - 1
Grenada - 2
Cordoba - 1
Seville - 2

or Tangier - 2
Ronda - 1
Grenada - 2
Seville - 2

I am not a big fan of one night stays in places, because I think you don't remember much and spend too much time on check in and out and hotel/food finding logistics, so right now I am leaning toward skipping Cordoba even though I would love to see it. It the difference between a total of 6 versus 8 hours of driving....(without factoring parking, getting lost, side stops...)

Thoughts still appreciated. Also curious why Mundofer suggests only a night in Tangier...
ktrombold is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2016, 04:34 PM
  #9  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think the first of these two plans makes MUCH more sense. If you don't like one-night stays, note that Cordoba is less than an hour from Sevilla by high-speed train. There is NO reason for you to drive, and many, many good reasons to use public transportation. You can visit Ronda and Granada by public transportation, too. To get a preliminary sense of your options, consult rome2rio.com -- just realize that the information there is not perfect.
kja is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2016, 05:42 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You need to add Cordoba - being in the area and not visiting it would be a crime. I would cut back Ronda to 1 night - or just a day trip - in order to fit in Cordoba, which is fantastic!
nytraveler is offline  
Old Nov 15th, 2016, 07:14 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you cut anything, I'd cut Ronda since it's a second tier attraction. I'd do -
Tangier - 2
Granada - 2
Cordoba - 1
Seville - 2

Of course, all these places deserve more time, but that's something you don't have.
Bedar is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2016, 05:49 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't know Tangier, but I know Seville, Granada and Cordoba. That's why I recommend to add some time to those cities and remove then from Ronda and/or Tangier.
Some colleagues that know Ronda told me that is nice but only half a day.
mundofer is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2016, 06:22 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I personally favour Cordoba over Sevilla because the Mezquita (cathedral, with a former mosque inside) is absolutely unique and I consider the Old Town as more authentic, but it might be a good idea to spend a couple of hours in Cordoba when driving from Granada to Sevilla. BTW, Cordoba is a 45-minute train ride away from Sevilla.

In any case, make the trip to Tanger. You will be in another world - and in some respect, in the original world, wheras Andalusia was just a colony.
traveller1959 is offline  
Old Nov 16th, 2016, 06:38 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Personally
Tangier for 2
Granada for 2 (at least)
Seville for 3 (at least)

Mostly because of time wasted on transport, getting lost, stopping for food, and other necessaries. Enjoy.
Denise is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
quiltingmamma
Europe
13
Feb 9th, 2017 02:07 AM
Rashida
Europe
5
Jan 29th, 2015 04:27 PM
mac102030
Europe
6
Apr 23rd, 2013 09:18 AM
lovs2travel
Europe
7
Feb 7th, 2012 12:48 PM
SomewhereOutThere
Europe
34
Feb 2nd, 2012 12:39 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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