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

Calling out to all Spain lovers! 2 weeks in mid Sep - need some new ideas!

Calling out to all Spain lovers! 2 weeks in mid Sep - need some new ideas!

Old Apr 26th, 2015, 04:40 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Calling out to all Spain lovers! 2 weeks in mid Sep - need some new ideas!

Hi fodorites! I'm planning to spend two weeks in mid to end Sep in Spain with my parents. Could really use some fresh idea since I've spent 3 weeks in spain a couple of years back. Here are some critieria for the trip:

- 13 full days, excluding first and last day
- flying to Spain from London Heathrow as we're meeting up in LHR from different parts of the world
- Am thinking to split the 2 weeks between Andalusia and Madrid. Would love to go back to San Sebastian and Bilbao but I think it's too much travel unless we fly between Andalusia and the North. Thoughts?
- I've been to Seville, Granada, Malaga, Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Bilbao and SS. Don't mind repeating some of these stops with my parents but would also love to go to some new places. Suggestions?
- I'm guessing we would probably fly into Seville or Malaga if flying direct from Heathrow.

Questions
- thoughts on overnightstops on a one week to 9 days itinerary in Andalusia? Any small towns worth visiting if we are planning to drive
- how is the driving in Spain? This would give us a lot of freedom!
- would love to do Andalusia and the north (and that means skipping Madrid) or would you suggest Madrid/Andalusia?

Would love to hear your suggestions!

Thanks in advance.
Piccolina is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2015, 04:54 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
September is a great time to visit Spain, less tourists, great weather. Driving is easy in most of Andalusia, except of course in the large city's. We always rent a car, as you said, you have so much flexibility and get to see off the beat attractions.
We also will be in Andalusia in September (Zahara de los Atunes) a beautiful little village directly on a beautiful beach. From Zahara, we have day tripped to Cadiz, Jerez, Tarifa, Vejer de la Frontera, Cabo de Trafalgar, El Puerto de Santa Maria-all great towns.

Mike
mike1728 is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2015, 06:01 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Piccolina:

I think Valencia can be agood place to visit in september. A most beautiful city.
This is my report of a visit to Madrid and Valencia.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-valencia.cfm

Plus, from Madrid, I think you can add visits to Avila and/or Cuenca .
And of course...Barcelona is wonderful to stay no less than three or four days....even more of course.

Enjoy your planning and trip.....don't hesitate tocask if I can help in any way.
jelopez33 is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2015, 08:42 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mike, Jelopez33 - many thanks.

A complicating factor is that British Airways doesn't fly direct from Heathrow to anywhere in Andalusia. They have a new flight from London Stansted (or Gatwick) to Seville this year but it's not reasonable to transit from LHR to one of these airports on the same day. As such, we would probably make a 2night stop in London which means 2 fewer days in Spain!

Ideally, we would end our trip in Madrid and then fly back to Heathrow to catch our long-haul fights home.

So Andalusia's segment is proving a bit difficult logistically. Am tempted to go to Madrid and San Sebastian (BA flies direct to Bilbao from LHR) but I feel like my parents must see Andalusia to experience Spain. Thoughts??
Piccolina is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2015, 09:57 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Check Vueling, Ryan, and Easy Jet for alternative flights from various London airports to various Spanish destinations. They are discount airlines that are reliable but with severe penalties for violating their rules. Also check Iberia routes.

This will give you considerably more options.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2015, 11:20 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Antequera, the so called heart of Andalucia, 30-40 mins drive north of Malaga city. The first of the Granada emirate towns to fall to the Christians in 1410: http://wild-about-travel.com/2011/07...ing-antequera/
http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry....era-spain.html

The IV Bienal de Arte Flamenco de Málaga ends with a grand closing gala performance in Teatro Cervantes on Sept 20th. The famous Farruquito and his two younger brothers Farru and Carpeta etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOoIqwfHSdQ
http://www.malagaenflamenco.com/bien.../gala-clausura

I'll come back with more...
kimhe is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 01:26 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A lot of things are happening in Malaga right now. The city recently opened branches of two major international museums, and they put a great deal of effort into support of the local art scene through the so called Soho Malaga district project: http://www.sohomlg.com/

Some articles about Malaga city from the last month or so:

The Guardian: "City of museums: Málaga bets on culture to draw tourists and talent": http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...-culture-spain

NYT: "Málaga, Spain’s Self-Appointed New Arts Hub": http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/25/ar...-hub.html?_r=0

El Pais: "Málaga - beyond Picasso" http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/03/16/...82_645608.html

See also "The emerging fine food scene in Málaga and around": http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...taurants-tapas

Drive 20-30 minutes east of the city to Torre del Mar. Mile long beaches and popular with Spanish tourists. Some very local atmosphere tapas bars and cafes right in the city center, and you'll not find better and more fresh fish and seafood in all of Andalucia than in traditional La Cueva in Torre del Mar: http://www.freidurialacueva.es/restaurante.html
http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...Andalucia.html

Close by Cafe Centro and Cafeteria Andalucia (on the other side of the street) are excellent and local atmosphere places: http://www.minube.com/rincon/cafe-bar-centro-a1078921

Picturesque Nerja is a short distance further to the east along the coast: https://www.flickr.com/photos/trondj...n/photostream/

A very nice Old town in Nerja with tens of excellent tapas bars and restaurants where you get delicious free tapas to choose with every glass of beer/wine in the bar area for some 1,50-2€. These are some of my favourites:
La Puntilla:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...a.html#REVIEWS
El Pulguilla: http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres.../el-pulguilla/
El Velero: http://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant...Andalucia.html

And you are then close to the spectacular Nerja Caves, lived people here more than 30 000 years ago (a 40 min drive from Malaga city, and 3 minutes from Nerja): http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en

And a drive up into the mountains above Nerja is highly recommended. Evenually you'll perhaps stop in Alhama de Granada: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...d-of-town.html

About the Axarquia region east of Malaga city: http://www.rusticblue.com/andalucia_...a_axarquia.php

--
Something completely different:

The 63rd edition of the San Sebastian film festival goes on from Sept 18-26: http://www.sansebastianfestival.com/in/
kimhe is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 02:17 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And you have of course Cordoba, once the most advanced city in the western world. Around 1000 AC there was a population of about 500 000, some 300 public baths and the largest library in the world. And of course home to the world famous Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral). Easy to reach from both Madrid (100 min), Sevilla (40 min) and Malaga (50 mins) with the high speed AVE Train. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/mosque.htm

A wonderful city, and this gives you an idea of the Cordoba "life and spirit": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk

If you go here, be sure to visit "Roman Cordoba" around central Plaza de las Tendillas some three hundred meters north of the Mezquita. Many great and affordable tavernas up here, and wonderful local atmosphere at the bars and outdoor terraces long into the nights, at least in the week-ends. http://english.turismodecordoba.org/...n/roman-temple

A list of some traditional tabernas in Cordoba: http://www.cordoba24.info/tavernen/h...vernen_en.html
kimhe is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 02:19 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,815
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bookmarking for my upcoming trip
progol is online now  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 02:33 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If Andalucia is a must for you then you should think about visiting Valencia, it's relatively close and it's a nice region. City can be visited in a couple of days, but I would really stay some days in inland Valencia. Inland Valencia is full of history, cultuer, arquitecture and wonderful food and wines. If you're looking to spend some relaxing days and getting immersed in culture then I reccomend you inland Valencia... there's a tiny area known as the Valencian Tuscany that really worthwhiles... google it and have a look. This place is as unknown as amazing!
simon_travellerUK is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 05:58 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Everyone - thank you for all the tips so far. Keep them coming please!

Simon - this is my first time hearing of Valencian Tuscany! Am checking it out. Thanks for this!

Kimhe - wow, THANK YOU so much for all the recommendations. i haven't gone through all the links yet but am very interested in Antequera. In fact, you gave me some really good tips on Malaga a few years back and I ended up having a great time there! So thank you for that and now this wealth of information!

If I have between 7-9 nights in Andulusia and want to travel at a fairly leisure pace, how would you suggest I split up my nights? With 7-9 nights, I think we could do 2 locations, 3 maximum. It would be easy to just split among Granada and Seville - can I do day trips to Antequera using Granada as a base?

Any destination paradors you know of in this area? Haven't stayed in a parador before and would really like to try this this time around.

Sounds like there's so much to in Andalusia. It's a shame that I need to get back to Madrid so that I could fly direct into LHR for our flights home! Otherwise we could spend all of our time in Andalusia!

Mucho gracias
Piccolina is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 07:27 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,379
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 1 Post
Great information here, bookmarking for our October trip. Thanks.

> Any destination paradors you know of in this area?

For our trip we booked the Paradors in Jaen, part of an castle high on a hill over the town, and the one in Ronda which is located right alongside the oft-photographed bridge. We tried to get the Ubeda Parador, but it was sold out for our dates, except for a very expensive suite.

Note they have a discount rate if you are over 55, but some of the other specials may actually be cheaper.
Nelson is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 07:50 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Be careful with paradores, some are modern designs and offer nothing in particular. Of course, some of the others are spectacular.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2015, 09:18 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I suggest Sevilla and Malaga as bases. Antequera, Cordoba and Granada are easy travel from Malaga (40, 50 and 90 mins) and Cordoba is easy from Sevilla (40 mins). Both Malaga and Sevilla are connected to Madrid on the high speed AVE line, both are a comfortable 2h 30mins ride from Madrid.
kimhe is offline  
Old May 1st, 2015, 07:04 PM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you to everyone with their tips, especially Kimhe!

Got some more time this weekend and had another look on the BA flight schedule. Turns out there IS a fight from LHR to Malaga on a Friday so we'll get to LHR one day earlier than our original plan. This means 15 nights in Spain!!

This is the itinerary I have in mind:

3 nights Malaga (will rent a car on the 2nd full day to see Antequera and also to drive to Granada)
2 nights in Granada (It would be an injustice to my parents if they go to Andalusia and not see Granada)
5 nights Seville (Is it possible to go to Ronda and/or the white villages as a day trip in a rental car?)
5 nights Madrid (perhaps 2 days for day trips - have been to Segovia and Toledo before. Any other suggestions? Although I wouldn't mind go back to Segovia)

Hotel or B&B recommendations for these place are welcome!

Thanks again! In the meantime, I'll be pouring over the forum for old chains and trip reports.
Piccolina is offline  
Old May 1st, 2015, 10:46 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
<Hotel or B&B recommendations>

Malaga, Don Curro, as central as it gets: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hote...rro.en-gb.html

Granada, great value Rodri: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-rodri.en-gb.html

Sevilla, Corregidor, local atmosphere and still close to the main sights: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/h10-...dor.en-gb.html
The area: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...macarena-spain

Madrid, Persal in the very heart of the city: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/persalmadrid.en-gb.html
The area: http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html
kimhe is offline  
Old May 2nd, 2015, 05:20 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks again, Kimhe! Will check these out shortly.

Do you recommend using the 2nd full day to drive to Nerja and the coast? I was thinking I could visit Antequera en route from Granada to Seville. Thoughts?
Piccolina is offline  
Old May 2nd, 2015, 06:47 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nerja and the cave could be fine for a day trip from Malaga, see the cave and have lunch in one of the several excellent restaurants in Nerja. Or you could do it en route to Granada if you go along the coast and then up the Moors sigh road to Granada from Almuñecar.

Antequera is fine from both Malaga (30-40 mins drive) and between Granada and Sevilla. Be sure to have lunch, dinner or at least a cup or glass of something at El Escribano. If I have a favourite spot in Spain, it's this peaceful plaza in front of the Real Colegiata de Santa Maria la Mayor. http://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Restaur...ia.html#photos
kimhe is offline  
Old May 2nd, 2015, 08:55 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Or you could visit Ronda one day from Malaga. Most of the Costa del Sol might be a letdown. Malaga is a great city though. Nerja has a nice view of the Med, other than that there is a good place for paella.
Egbert is offline  
Old May 3rd, 2015, 03:00 AM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think Antequera is a definite must for this trip and this restaurant looks breathtaking at dusk! Thanks for the tip, Kimhe!

Egbert - Judging from photos on google, I think I also share your thoughts on costa del sol. I've lived near the ocean all my life so seeing a beach is not a big deal for me (my parents are not beach people actually!) So great suggestion on Ronda.

My question is: the parador in Ronda looks like it is in a spectacular setting and it has availability for my dates. Is it worth to spend a night there? If so, where do I take that night from - It would have to be from either from Malaga or from Seville.

And would you add Ronda between Malaga and Granada or between Granada and Seville?

And I also have to fit in Antequera somehow...

Thanks again.
Piccolina 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 -