rivermama

I've checked the previous posts on how to get from Barcelona to Granada and flying seemed to be the best. However the "cheap" tickets are 173.00 on the day I would like to fly! We are a family of 4 and on a budget. So now I'm driving myself insane trying to figure out alternate routes/travel means.

1.) Fly to Malaga instead....103.00 savings of 70.00x4. Then rent a car to drive to Granada. (We will be renting a car in Granada regardless because we are driving around Andalucia and it's Christmas so unfortunately we will have to pick it up and hold onto it while we tour Granada)...(unless car rentals are open Christmas day...doubt it!).

2.) High speed train to Madrid then to Antequera or Malaga. However this seems time consuming and will likely be just as expensive.

3) Go from Barcelona to Seville and then have to back track to Granada. (Tickets are 94.00 each)

I should add that we would like to see Arcos and Ronda and we have no desire to go to Madrid (time).

Also do you think the time getting to the airport and waiting (2 hrs prior right?) would add up to the 6hr train from Bcn to Malaga?

this trip is blowing my mind!!
thanks in advance!

Bedar

How about the day before or after your desired flight date ? May be cheaper.

kja

1) Seriously bad idea, IMO: Although many people are not aware of it, there is mounting evidence that driving with jet lag is just as dangerous -- to yourself and others -- as driving drunk, and <b>nothing</b> you can do will prevent the microsleeps (which you might not even notice) that are the apparent culprit. Seriously -- NOT a good idea, no matter your other constraints and no matter your prior experience! And please be patient with me if you think I’m being overly adamant, but I know too many people who have died or been seriously injured in accidents to which jet lag was a contributing factor, and I know too many people who will spend the rest of their lives dealing with the knowledge that they were responsible for accidents that resulted in multiple deaths, including those of children, all because they were too confident in their ability to drive safely with jet lag. The issue has become a bit of cause célèbre for me….

2) Much better than trying to drive with jet lag!

3) Would give you a chance to see magnificent Sevilla....

Good luck!

Robert2016

It's about 900 km (563 miles). With a family of 4, and the cost of the direct flight on the day you wan to travel, I'd pick up a rental car and drive, overnighting in Valencia, and maybe even spend a second night on the road, say Murcia (http://turismodemurcia.es/en).

Since you're traveling during an important time of the year, you migh enjoy the Christmas celebrations going on in Valencia and Murcia.

The drive from Murcia into Granada is an easy 3 hours.

No, car rental locations, and most everything else, are not open on Christmas Day.

And remember, the days will be shorter, less light, so you need to plan your day accordingly.

PalenQ

kja- what did I miss? Where are they planning to drive after all-night flight?

add up to the 6hr train from Bcn to Malaga?>

More like 8 hours - quickest train I could find in quick search of www.bahn.de/en is 7:41 and leave Barcelona about 8:30am- later ones up to an hour longer - if taking train - like Barcelona to Seville direct in about 5:15 or to Granada thenbe sure to book ASAP for discounted train fares at www.renfe.com - a difficult site for many Americans to get to work - check www.seat61.com for advice with it and other sites with similar pricing - for general train info like 1st v 2nd class - check 1st too when comparing discounted prices as sometimes it may not be much more than cheapest remaining 2nd class tickets and for such a long trip I'd consider first if not too pricey - check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Train or fly -check available train fares to see how much the difference is.

Maybe consider putting Seville into your itinerary and rail there and pick up car and drive via iconic white villages to Ronda and Antiquerra, etc to Malaga.

kja

OMG, I'm so sorry! I misread your post and (obviously) thought you were skipping Barcelona.... Please forgive my rant, and

@ PalenQ -- thanks for making me revisit so that I could see my error and apologize for it.

rivermama

Silly people... we are spending time in Barcelona before the drive!!! I've worked many a night shift and have fallen asleep on the way home (me vs mailbox)...hehe.

We will be staying for at least 4 nights in Seville. I'm just not sure if taking the cheaper flight to Seville then back tracking to Granada is a better idea.... I'm thinking not.

Thanks all for the advice

kja

And thank you for being so gracious about my misunderstandings!

rivermama

@Bedar, I did look but we are trying to cram a lot in and the 23rd works the best for us, especially with Christmas in the mix.

@PalenQ, I'm beginning to thing we should drive. My husband loves to in all countries. And we will be out on Christmas Day so we could think of it as an adventure if we pack a great picnic!

@kja, sorry to scare you

greg

You have to decide what matters to you most. I don't think you can have all. You are traveling at a peak flying time. The travel time chosen is incompatible with the budget travel. You are probably paying at least twice to three times the non-peak fare. Viamichelin.com says it is 9 hours drive if you don't stop from Barcelona to Granada. Train is 8 hours per renfe, but unlike driving, you don't have to stop to rest or eat.

If Sevilla is a destination, which is not clear from your limited itinerary listing, you can reverse Granada and Sevilla without back track. Sevilla first with lower airfare, then drive to Granada. I don't know how you are ending your trip.

Cowboy1968

I think Robert's idea to drive is an alternative worth considering - given your specific circumstances.
The drive along the coast via AP-7/A-7 is a nice one, mountains, the sea, deserts along the way. If you don't want to drive in/out the larger cities for a stopover, you also have many small towns to break the trip like Elche.
Since the major rental car companies do not charge extra for one-way rentals, it's worth doing the math how much this alternative will cost eventually (gas plus some motorway tolls, esp. in Catalunya).

Robert2016

Gracias, Cowboy! I think driving is an excellent alternative being familiar with traveling in the area at that time of year. Driving gives you a number of excellent options.

rivermama

@Greg the Christmas travel time is unfortunately what works out with work/school schedules so we do the best we can.
True that the 8 hr train ride may be more relaxing. I'll check the prices. We are going to Seville and will fly out of Lisbon to the states.

@Cowboy thanks for the reply, I'll check out the tolls etc and see which option is going to work.

PalenQ

If you love to drive then drive for sure.

cheapest too no doubt.

PalenQ

If driver needs glasses to drive I understand Spanish law dictates driver carry spare pair of spectacles in car at all times - weird but TMK so!

travelhorizons

While you might save some money flying to a different city and driving to Malaga, how much are all those lost hours (x4) worth to you? After all, time is the most valuable and scarce resource we have when we travel.

My advice: spend the extra 70x4 and take advantage of a day in Malaga. Don't waste those precious hours on the road.

PalenQ

but if someone loves to drive... and Christmas Day may as well be spent on the road - they think of it as a 'great adventure' and that is what they are looking for- kids not so sure?

Bedar

Agree with travelhorizons. Don't waste all those hours on the road. Better to fly to Malaga and either spend Christmas there or go directly to Granada. Believe me, all that autoroute is NOT interesting at all !

rivermama

So many choices... so little time and money! However I do love the planning phase! It's half the fun IMO!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

rivermama

@travelhorizons- I do know what you mean and we are trying to see I'm sure too much in our 12 days. Driving would take a day away from andalucia and there is soooo much we want to see there. I just might have to bite the bullet. I always end up splurging in the end.