rmr04003

We are planning a 12 night trip to Spain in September 2016. My husband and I are both in our late 20’s when we travel we like to enjoy the local food, wine, and architecture. We are travelling from Connecticut, so we can easily travel from Boston or New York airports.

This is how we are currently planning to split our time but are not sure of the order. The beach for a few nights to “do nothing” and just relax is my husband’s one request so that definitely needs to stay on our itinerary.

Any suggestions on the order or another beach destination is appreciated.

Option 1
Fly into Barcelona (4)
Granada (2)
Malaga or Nerja (3)
Seville (3)
Fly Home from Madrid or Seville

Option 2
Fly into Madrid
Seville (3)
Granada (2)
Barcelona (4)
San Sebastian (3)
Fly Home from Barcelona or Madrid or San Sebastian

Thank You!

Christina

Either would work, I guess you have to decide between Malaga or San Sebastian. I think Malaga is easier to fit in. But the order is a little odd in both. How did you plan to get between Barcelona and Granda, for example? in 1 you don't even mention Madrid except to fly home, so I'm not clear on that or what the plan is. It would probably work better to fly into Seville, then do Malaga and Granada, then go to Madrid and Barcelona at the end, if you want and fly home from Barcelona.

For (2) same thing, how were you going to get between Granada and Barcelona? Granda, Barcelona and San Sebastian are a triangle. Why fly into Madrid if yo udon't intend to spend any time there?

MyriamC

No. 1 is what I would prefer, with Málaga (or near Málaga, Nerja maybe) as the beach location. Definitely visit the city of Málaga. It's a beautiful and much underrated city.

I would change the order, though.
Fly into Barcelona, fly BCN to Málaga (Vueling, ...), rent a car and drive to Granada (very scenic!), drive to Sevilla (equally scenic), drop off car and fly home from Sevilla.

Bedar

Yes, option #1. Myriam's suggestion is good. Fly BCN to Malaga, pick up a car, drive up the coast to Nerja for the beach, then up to Granada. From there go to Cordoba on the way to Seville. Drop the car there and take the train to Madrid and out. Malaga is OK, but since this is your first time in Spain, the highlights of Andalucia should be your priority plus the beach, of course.

Robert2533

The 64th International Film Festival will be held in San Sebastián-Donostia in mid to late September. The dates haven't been confirmed as yet, but it usually goes on for 8 days (www.sansebastianfestival.com), which means hotel prices will be up somewhat.

But iIt's also harvest season and one of the nicest times to be in San Sebastián. There might even be a few beach days to enjoy on La Concha and Ondarreta beaches, and possibly surfing at Zurriola beach.

Sassafrass

Whatever city you are flying out from, you need to spend the night before there, especially if you are in Seville, then flying out of Madrid.

aliced

We did out of EWR 17 nights in Spain two years ago; started from Barcelona, then trained to Madrid, Cordoba, Seville. Picked up rental car, drove through Pueblos Blancos (Arcos, Ronda) to Granada, then down to Marbella where we ended our trip, flying back Malaga-Madrid-EWR. Favorites: Barcelona, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Marbella. Madrid not so much. Granada spectacular for Alhambra only. Seville seemed to be more "definitive" of what I thought Spain to be? Marbella great place to chill out in luxury and do no sightseeing. Barcelona for all the great Gaudi architecture definitely, not to mention tapas. We considered San Sebastian. Now that would be a good trip including the Pyrenees including Toulouse! Next time.....

nytraveler

There is now ay I would go to Andalusia and miss visiting Cordoba. This was the most advanced city in europe in it's heyday and is just a lovely place to explore.

I would find a way to fit it in.

As for the beach we usually go to Marbella (actually Puerto Banus) when we just want to relax for a couple of days. Love looking at the giant yachts n the harbor and there are dozens of good places to eat in Marbella.

kja

I must admit that with only 12 nights, I would choose neither of those options -- too much moving around and too many highlights skipped for my tastes. Of course it's YOUR trip, not mine! Still, you might want to give some thought to focusing your time in Andalusia -- Sevilla, Cordoba (the Mezquita there is truly magnificent IMO), Granada, Malaga or Nerja, maybe Ronda....

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time no matter what you choose!

rmr04003

Thank You for all of your replies. We are still working through which airport(s) offer the most convenient/economical flights for us which is why I had Madrid listed without any nights. We would look for an evening flight home from Madrid if this is the option we choose but hopefully Seville will work.

How is driving in the Andalucía, are there many hills, switchbacks and blind turns like Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast? If this is the case we will be looking to use public transportation for our journey.

our revised itinerary is now:

Barcelona (4)
Beach (Nerja -3) - Flight BCN to Malaga
Granada (2) - Rental Car
Seville (3) - Rental Car
Flight Home from Seville (through Madrid)

Does anyone have any recommendations of an area or hotel for Nerja? We would love to have beach access at our hotel, if possible. Up to $250/ night.

kja

"We are still working through which airport(s) offer the most convenient/economical flights for us which is why I had Madrid listed without any nights."

You will almost certainly be routed through either Madrid or Barcelona, even if one of your legs starts or ends in Sevilla. If you decide to use either Madrid or Barcelona as your departure airport, do consider spending a night there before your flight. And do remember that a less expensive flight that requires you to spend time and money to get elsewhere, and perhaps spend a night in a place you weren't otherwise planning to visit, can be much more costly than a flight that better suits your itinerary.

"How is driving in the Andalucía, are there many hills, switchbacks and blind turns like Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast? If this is the case we will be looking to use public transportation for our journey."

IME, that depends on the specific routes you would plan to travel. Note that a car is not likely to provide any advantage to you for your time in Granada or Sevilla, and could well be an encumbrance. I encourage you to consider your options for public transportation carefully before committing to a rental car.

Be sure to make your reservations for the Alhambra well in advance.

MyriamC

Driving in Andalucía is absolutely very relaxed along well maintained roads. Nothing like the Amalfi Coast! And faster than the train. Málaga to Granada, for instance, is one and a half hours by car and over two hours by train. From Nerja it's one hour (2 hrs by train).

You don't have a lot of time but with a car you can still see some of the pretty white villages along the road, be it a quick visit or from the top of a hill.

We'll be there again in June. Can't wait to drive all over the Alpujarras again.

kja

Interesting, MiriamC, as I thought the roads in the Alpurjarras the most frightful of any I have ever been on -- and I wasn't even driving! (I took a bus.) I thought I might have to hike out of those mountains...

kimhe

<Does anyone have any recommendations of an area or hotel for Nerja? We would love to have beach access at our hotel, if possible>

Stay in or close to Calle Carabeo along the cliffs, the oldest street in town. Here you have the many beaches right outside your door, you are next door to landmark Balcon de Europa and you are on the outskirts of the beautiful old town with lots of genuine tapas bars as well as three top end restaurants (Sollun, Oliva and Fusion Food & Lounge).

These are three excellent and quite different hotel options here:
The Parador: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/para...rja.en-gb.html
Small Hotel Carabeo: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/carabeo.en-gb.html
Landmark Balcon de Europa: http://www.hotelbalconeuropa.com/en/

Sevilla hosts the 19th edition of the greatest flamenco festival in the world from Sept 9 to Oct 2 2016. The best artists in teaters all around town every night. A great intro to this beautiful and powerful art so important for Sevilla and all of Andalucia. A night at the Bienal could easily be the highlight of your trip: http://www.labienal.com/en/

MyriamC

@kja
The drive from Málaga to Granada isn't frightful at all. It doesn't go through the Alpujarras either.
If you think the Alpujarras is frightful, I suggest you never drive in the Hautes Alpes or the Pyrenées! We like mountain drives and we can't wait to be there again and explore some more of that region. In a rental car which is much easier to manoeuvre than a bus.

Bedar

I think you're going to want to pick up the rental car at Malaga airport and drive up the coast to Nerja. Then go along farther and turn north at Salobrena thru Motril to Granada. It's highway all the way. No problems whatsoever. You should get a proper map of Spain either at B&N or a free one at AAA. If you don't do this, you'll have to take buses to Nerja and Granada.

rmr04003

Thank You for all of your responses. We will look into both public transportation and a car rental from the Malaga airport.

We will definitely try to catch a performance at La Bienal, thank you for posting that link. Do you know when it will be updated with the 2016 program?

kimhe

The Bienal program is usually published in early spring (March/April). Here's from Miguel Poveda's brilliant opening concert of the 2010 Bienal in the Maeztransa bullring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGsE9r9KGGQ

My huge favourite Rocio Molina on Andalucian TV a couple of days before her 2010 Bienal performance in the grand Maestranza theater, a couple of months before she won the Premio Nacional de Danza as the youngest flamenco dancer ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPdFcGbhXTk

Egbert

Being from New England you're probably used to great beaches. The only ones that will compare are on the North coast. I'm from MA and I was letdown by Nerja and the beach in Malaga. (Although I think Malaga is a great city).You need a few more days and this is the September vacation I would do if I could. Go from Madrid right to Seville for 3 nights, then to Granada for 2 nights. If you want some beach time in Andalucia I would go to Cadiz for two nights. The beaches on the Costa de Luz are much nicer IMO than the Costa del Sol. From there fly to Bilbao and take the bus to San Sebastian for as many nights as you can. Finish the trip with 2 or 3 nights in Madrid if you can. Skip Barcelona this time, you can go on a future trip. San Sebastian in early September should be off the charts. Seville can be 100 degrees in early September. I might even flip the trip to hit San Sebastian earlier but you never know, you can get cold rain in July there or warm sun in October. The flamenco Bienale is happening in Sevilla too!

rmr04003

@Egbert

Have you been to Majorca would those beaches be comparable to San Sebastian or better than Nerja or Malaga beaches? I think we could add Majorca without adding too much travel time.