italynovice

My adult children and I have plans to visit my daughter, who is living in Madrid for the year, in April 2014. We will fly to Barcelona, meet up with her there, and spend several days in Barcelona. We will then travel to Madrid where we will stay in an apartment for a week. Rather than taking the train directly from Barcelona to Madrid, we are considering renting a car as we leave Barcelona, driving through the Catalonia area, perhaps making reservations at a vineyard, then driving to Valencia where we would spend a night or two before taking the train to Madrid. I realize that traveling by train in Spain is the most efficient way to travel, but having done extensive car travel in Italy and France, we have really enjoyed it. The actual car travel time from Barcelona to Valencia is 31/2 hours, so it would allow us a leisurely pace to drive through a little of the wine country on our way to Valencia. Plus, it would be fun to have a nice meal at the birthplace of Paella. Has anyone done a similar itinerary? Any suggestions? Any recommendations on a good restaurant in Valencia, or a vineyard to sample cava or red wine?

Rubicund

The Cava area is centred on San Sadurni d'Anoia, which is to the west of Barcelona. There are some large producers here, Cordonui, Freixenet etc. I prefer the Cava from Juve y Camps and although they don't run tours every day, they will arrange one if you e-mail them. Their Cava is excellent, especially the Gran or Reserva de la Familia.

On the way south from Barcelona, you come into Penedes (great wines) and Tarragona. These two areas are closer to Barcelona and spread inland quite a way but there isn't much of note down the coast until you get to Valencia itself.

bilboburgler

With a number of people and the time to enjoy the trip I'd take the car.

The Freixenet tour is pretty good but you could also go over to Torres (one of the world's finest wine makers) and enjoy a tour there

lincasanova

I would also continue to Madrid by car and get off at the national Parador at Alarcon ( aprox. 2 hours max from valencia) for a real photo treat. Cute village and some cafés to visit and a museum.

http://www.fuenterrebollo.com/Herald...on-cuenca.html

I would then detour to charming Alcalá de Henares if you are not tired on way back to Madrid leaving the airport as easy drop off point or venture into the city to leave the car.

http://www.petitemafalda.com/2013/04...na-en-sol.html

italynovice

Great ideas! I like the idea of continuing on by car (with stops along the way) from Valencia to Madrid, where we can drop off the car. With 4 of us it probably won't add to the cost ; car one more day vs 4 train tickets, and will allow us to see more scenery. It is somewhat intimidating returning a rental to the city center, or at least was in Florence and Rome, so airport drop off might work best. Any ideas for hotel or restaurants in Valencia? We'll be there such a short time that we'll want something central for walking around and seeing a few of the major sites. Thanks for the wine area suggestions near Barcelona. I'll contact the suggested cava/wine producers and decide on one or two to make reservations at.

lincasanova

Hotel near science center will be closer to the beach and also probably free parking with easy , cheap taxi service to old town or bus service also right to main square. OR.. park in residential area near science center free and take taxi to hotel in downtown old part.. ( hotel astoria, inglés, excelsior, vinnci lys to name a few) or park downtown for about 20-25E a day but forget car except maybe to go to beach.

never leave anything in the car.. at beach or on streets.

if you come back with specific hotels you have found in your budget I'll be happy to give my opinion as I am sure others who have come, slept here, who frequent this board will, too.

jpie

ttt