Family trip to Andalucia, Barcelona and Northern Spain

Sounds great to me. I would not drive wherever possible but maybe it's cheaper with 5 people. 3 nights in San Sebastian is not enough for me.

Rent a place for a week somewhere near Andalucia (Costa de la Luz), Barcelona, and Madrid.

Consider a lease. There may be some stiff pick-up and drop-off fees, but given the length of the trip, it may be worthwhile. This is particularly true in that you cannot have the CDW carried by your credit card because will not insure a rental of more than 31 days. Splitting the rental in two automatically increases the per day cost of the rental.

http://www.renaultusa.com/

http://www.autofrance.net/index.html

If you have not been to Portugal, why not go to Lisbon. One of the most amazing city. I liked it the most on the entire Iberian peninsula. You can explore some more places like Sintra, obidos, Nazare etc.
I hope you are planning to visit Jerez, Toledo and Segovia and Girona.

if you're in andalucia in june you'll beat peak season so why not have some days on the coast early in your trip. for me costa de la luz is always better than costa del sol: more spanish, not built up, not so busy, way better beaches...there's no contest. as suggested, rent a place for a week - somewhere around conil/el palmar/el colorado would be good because it's very central and you could easily day trip to cadiz, jerez, sanlucar, cape trafalgar, tarifa, even gibraltar (even morocco) from there; beaches are broad and very well kept and safe. plenty of options if your search the web but i would recommend andaluciahideaways.com.
i would also think about winding up with some r&r in the north - somewhere around santiago would be lovely (in theory) in high summer though this year wasn't the best. i guess ribeirasacra will spot this thread and give you more info as the local.
poster is right, portugal lovely and lisbon wonderful but you're already doing the whole of spain. take it a bit easy and save that for the next trip.
as for driving, well in your case you have to - and it will enable you to get the most out of the trip. it's really not that bad outside a couple of cities.

Great feedback. Perhaps San Sebastian for more days and have a day trip to Bilbao and other places...I was toying with the idea of a place for a week in Andalucia on the water, lovely ideas for Costa de la luz. Conil and El Palmar look like great locations. As far as another coastal r&r location I was thinking about Costa Brava not so much about coastal areas around Santiago but do have time so welcome any suggestions....While Lisbon is tempting, I have concerns about packing too much into an already packed agenda. Jerez is a planned pass through as are Toledo (leaving Madrid) and Segovia (returning to Madrid). Had not included Girona but could do that while on costa brava. thanks also for the rental care advise!!

Sounds like a great trip! I'm glad to hear you are planning to visit Toledo. You might want to consider an overnight there - it is magical after day-trippers leave! Enjoy!

hi Mrod,

for a long trip, it does seem a bit bitty to me.

I agree with you trying to fit in another 7 day stay and I thought about San sebatian too. long stays give you the chance to rent an apartment which would be good for the kids, and I should think that it's a fairly safe place for them to wander about. our DS, then 15, had no problem going out in the mornings in Rome to buy our breakfasts, so i don't think you really need to worry about them.

have a great trip

You may consider these two options for your stays all over Spain and in the Basque area. Since you will have a van, transport will be no problem.

www.toprural.com and www.nekatur.net. It´s cozy, first class "rural" accommodation at excellent prices and many of them will fit you all in one room (or two). Very well prepared for stays with children. Some will also have a pool and offer horse riding, trekkings, activities with kids,...

You are really touring Spain!! In many areas it´s not still peak season, so prices will be lower. Climate varies enormously from one area to the other, even in close ones, so be prepared for all kind of weather.

I appreciate the kind, supportive and helpful comments. I will certainly fit at least one if not two other 7 day stays to enable us to rent an apt or villa. As for Costa de la Luz, Conil looks bigger and El Palmar and Colorado seem like they might be nice quieter places to hang out and explore away from it all...but would there be too little to do for adolescents?? any additional comments about conil/el palmar/el colorado (or other place) to help me prioritize a Costa de la Luz base camp for the family?

I will also lease as opposed to rent. While the companies each charge a $400 surcharge since they need to bring the car out of France, it is still much cheaper than a rental car. I also like the nice selection of the rural accomodations and they make for a nice balance to the urban experiences we will have. Weather is going to be a challenge but that is why we are headed South first to avoid the extreme heats that come later in the summer and will be in the North last.

It might be worthwhile get an open jaw ticket arriving in Barcelona and departing from Madrid. That way you could spend your time in Barcelona without paying for parking the car while visiting the city, take the train to Perpignan to pick up the car and then start your tour of Spain. You would only have to pay the drop-off fee in Madrid.

I too recommend Toprural website.
For things to do in Galicia read www.turgalicia.es The official website for tourism in Galicia. But no reviews of accommodation, but any Galician accommodation you find is not listed there it is illegal and you should steer clear.
You have said you want to stay in SdC for 3 nights and A Coruña for 2. It is too many nights. I have some ideas but I would like to know more about what you want to see and do on this trip. I.e. do you only want to see cities? Do you want countryside wine tasting or other things?
As for transport I would also suggest you look at renting a long term Renault or Peugeot. I think they can be picked up in Spain too. The English usage of the word van means a vehicle to carry goods. You need to look for a people carrier or in Spanish monovolúmene. Just ensure it ahs a big enough carrying capacity for your luggage. Getting say a 6 seater can mean a small luggage space.

Peugeot 807, Citroën C8, Lancia Phedra, Seat Alhambra, Mercedes Vito, Ford Galaxy, Renault Grand Space...may be good options for 5 people and a good trunk.

el palmar/colorado...you're right in as much as they are spread out communities with the focus on proximity to the beach. but...you will do well to follow the local pattern in terms of using your days. Many Spaniards don't go to the beach until after 6pm in the summer (though many do). That's because it's a bitt cooler though still v pleasant and because it will be light in June until 10ish.
It would make sense if you follow this sort of programme: Morning - beach for a couple of hours. Afternoon - long lunch if out, relax in villa (presumably with pool) if at home. Evening - out to beach, back home, shower, out to venta (like a cross between a bar, cafe & restaurant) or restaurant for supper.
Alternatively you could get out early while the day's still cool and do sightseeing in the mornings and wind up back at home late afternoon.
The kids will have plenty of chance to meet other kids on the beach - lots of nationalities down there, surfies, a really lively scene for youngsters. There are a couple of very pleasant ventas on the beach at el palmar so you could even be there all day, have a good lunch and watch the kids playing as you do so.
Towns like conil even Vejer (v pretty white hill town) are close by and good to visit in the evening. I think they'll be happy spending their time out in the open.
if you do book through andalucian hideaways speak to the guy who runs it - Gary. He was a director of one of the UK's biggest villa holiday companies before setting up on his own and knows the area as well as anyone

portuense, that is applicable to southern Spain...in the north we go to the beach early, as sunny days are scarce...

These forums are great! I am a newbie and impressed at the wealth of knowledge. Michael, open jaw is a great idea to save $200 pick up fee and parking costs for a week. Downside is it has us starting up in Barcelona and costa brava ending up in Andalucia closer to August when it is hotter...

ribeirasacra, I appreciate your caution about too many nights between A Coruna and SdC. We want to see, taste and smell the various cultures in Spain and stay in places long enough to meet some locals and relax while enjoying the surroundings..this would certainly include some wine tasting but given ages of our kids (6,13,15) will not want to do too much of that lest we invite a multitude of complaints...We live in Los Angeles so while visiting some cities is a must in Spain, we would like to balance with Spanish countryside offerings. Thanks also for the language information about cars..

Mikelg thanks for your specific suggestions of cars that I could lease and may fullfill our needs of comforts with luggage space. Thanks also for pointing out some North/South differences

portuense I appreciate your suggestion of el palmar/colorado...Sounds to me that el palmar has the edge at this point for a generally great spot to park it and relax as well as for the kids to enjoy the scene and meet some friends...

Be prepared to find big differences in climate, landscape, food, language, architecture... between the various regions of Spain you are going to visit. Flamenco and paella are not common in many parts of Spain, as you already know. This relatively small country is really heterogeneous, 17 autonomous communities (kind of states) and each with a strong personality.

I forgot the Volkswagen Sharan.

Andalucia in July and August is not a good idea. It is crazy hot, like western texas. That's when you want to be on the north coast.

Yes, it is beastly hot in August. I remember being in a town between Seville and Cordoba around 2 p.m., and not even the lizards were out. On the other hand, one really appreciates the water gardens of the Generalife, and others in Seville and Cordoba.

Ok so you wish to keep the kids occupied, That normally means the beach, but a bit of culture would not go a miss too.
So how about staying near SdC to visit the coast both Galician cities too boot. From the same location you could even visit Lugo. That should cover 4 days. That gives you one day extra. Now in and around the area I live (see my posting name) you can find horse riding and other sports, boat trips; even a Zodiac boat trip. You (the parents) could even see some historic places of interest or relax in one of the many thermal baths around the area. But then you may have to skip something to get all of that in. Also if you want to see some wilderness then head for O Coural and do some walking.
It can get hot in Galicia too. The city of Ourense is the hottest place in Spain several times a year. The advantage we have is that it cools down at night so you can sleep.

BTW next year it is Xacobeo year so SdC will be very very busy the Government of Galicia is spending millions of Euros pushing the year. There are many famous acts lined up to play concerts etc to add to all of this. It all sounds great but hotel rooms will be booked up during the height of the summer with all of this going on.


Let me know if you want more info.

ribeira, you´re good at pulling people towards Galicia...

Ribeira, I like your idea of staying near SdC...WHile the kids like the beach my kids also appreciate culture so please bring it on. Never heard of a Zodiac boat trip...Any suggestions for places to stay near SdC as a base camp?

thanks!

Downside is it has us starting up in Barcelona and costa brava ending up in Andalucia closer to August when it is hotter...

I doubt that it will be that much hotter. The car will have A/C. We were there with no A/C (including the hotels) and survived quite nicely.

This was our 1985 trip:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/574689249lckhmd

I live near SdC so i personally do not have any recommendations on exact establishments. Also price comes into it. But if you stayed on the coast somewhere like Noia it would be good to as it is some 45 minutes away from SdC with good access to beach and the Costa Morte etc

http://www.noiahistorica.org/index.php?len=1
As for reviews Toprural only has two Casa Rurals listed in and around Noia one of them has some good reviews but nothing up to date for some reason.
Here is the list of official accommodation around the town
http://tinyurl.com/yea5yot

Yes Mike sometimes I feel like I am working for Turgalicia, but I am not. You do just as good a job for your part of Spain too. Living somewhere and having enthusiasm for the area all helps.

sorry forgot The Zodiac boat trip runs on the Rio Miño some way south of your planned location for Galicia. I believe there area few surfing schools around Nioa will that bea good alternative?

When in Andalucía, why not go to Antequera, the so called heart of the region? "Guidebooks to Andalucia tend to focus on the justifiably world-famous cities of Seville, Granada, and Cordoba. However, the historic but far less well known town of Antequera is equally worth a visit and its relative lack of fame means that its essential Andalucian charm remains undimmed by coach parties and souvenir shops".
http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry.com/antequera.html

The town is close to a wide and quite idealistic "Wolf Park" open to the public since 2004, and the spectacular mountain natural reserve park of El Torcal is also just outside town.
http://www.lobopark.com/
http://www.andalucia.com/antequera/torcal/home.htm

Antequera is a fascinating town with 5000 years old dolmens, Roman baths, a Moorish Castle, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and baroque bell towers. Be sure to visit the Museo Municipal and see what is arguably the finest piece of Roman sculpture found in Spain, the boy Efebo. Also a very interesting first floor that bear witness of the towns history on the border between Christian and Moslem Spain before the final takeover of Granada in 1492. Antequera was the first town of the Granada Emirate to fall to the Christians in 1410.

Photo essay and slide show on Antequera:
http://www.fmschmitt.com/travels/spain/malaga_province/Antequera/AntequeraStart.html

I would also definitely recommend you to spend some more time in San Sebastián. The article "A different kind of Spain" gives you an idea why: http://marshlands.blogstream.com/
It seems from your tentative schedule that you will be there around the annual and famous jazz festival (July 21st to 25th): http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=35122

If you want to rent an apartment: http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/apartments/sansebastian/accommodation-5.htm