MKT

We are traveling to Spain in September for the 1st time. We'd like to get your input to see if what we have planned seems reasonable. We are seasoned travelers, like to see the major sites, but also like time to see things off the beaten path, experience the people and the culture. We have 2 weeks. This is what I'm thinking:

Madrid: 4 nights
Day trip to Toledo

Train to Sevilla
Sevilla: 4 nights
Day trip to Cordoba
Rent car
Ronda: 2 nights
Granada 2 nights
Train to Madrid
Madrid 2 nights
Day trip to Segovia

Is there something we are missing? I thought between the time in Ronda and Sevilla, we could explore other areas such as possibly Jerez de la Frontera or Arcos de La Frontera. Would you recommend that I take one night off of Sevilla or Madrid and use that for a night somewhere near the coast, such as Cadiz or?. We live in San Diego, so the beach time isn't necessary, but it there is something we should see, or if it is a nice break, we could throw it in.

I welcome any input!!

Graziella5b

It is a reasonable itinerary . I would not add any other destination. In Seville you are staying only four nights and one day will not count because you are going on a day trip to Cordoba.
When back in Madrid you can make a decision to include or not a day trip to Segovia or to any other place you might fancy to go or remain in Madrid all the time. Buena suerte.

CathyM

I agree - good itinerary. Not too fast paced but definately not too slow either. I wouldn't take a day from Sevilla s you really only will have 2 full days for the city as one day you will be arriving and another is spent on a daytrip to Cordoba. You may consider storing your luggage at the bus station in Cordoba and visiting as a daytrip when you're on your way from Madrid to Sevilla. It's easy and will save you the extra trip. This would give you 3 full days in Sevilla. You could visit Cadiz or Sanlucar (or Carmona, Osuna, Ecija, etc..) as an additional daytrip from Sevilla but with 4 nights and one day dedicated to Cordoba you probably won't have time - you could play it by ear. Alternatively you could take a day from Madrid to add to Sevilla to give you time for these daytrips - but it would likely be at the price of giving up a daytrip to Segovia. Although with 4 nights at the beginning in Madrid you may be able to squeeze in 2 daytrips (it would be tight though). So it's a decision on which would be more important to you. On my first trip to Spain we did exactly what you suggested - picked up a car in Sevilla, drove to Jerez to visit a bodega then drove to Ronda.

Graziella5b

I think that Cathy M has a great idea, will save time and money, get off at Cordoba , and then proceed
To Sevilla I am not sure if there is a fast direct train between Madrid and Cordoba ,but in my experience we took a regular train Madrid to nearby Jaen and it was just fine and it also took a reasoble time.

CathyM

You can take the AVE form Madrid to Cordoba (1 hr 45 minutes).

Then from Cordoba to Sevilla there's the AVE (45 minutes) or the AVANT. The AVANT takes about the same time as the AVE but is nearly 1/2 the price. There's also a MD that's 1 hr 15 mintues and 1/3 the price as the AVE.

Be sure to take advantage of the greatly reduced web and estella fares on renfe. They're generally offered about 60 days before the trip but can go quickly. With a September trip they should be coming available any day. You'll just need alot of patience and perseverence dealing with the renfe site.....

MKT

Great idea. I heard that they do not allow you to store your luggage at the train station any more, is that true? If so, should we just plan on spending the night in Cordova and then go on to Sevilla?

Any recommendations for car rental companies?

CathyM

You can't store bags at the train station BUT there is luggage storage in the bus statin just across the street. It's very easy - just walk across the street and when you enter the bus station make a right. You'll see the lockers on your right hand side before you reach the restrooms. It's not a large station so they're not difficult to find. Cordoba is a great place to overnight but given you have 5 overnights in a 2 week trip and it would only be a 1-nighter I'd probably just visit as a daytrip.

Can't help you much on car rentals. When I've visited with a car I let my friends handle this and am charge of the navigating! I believe we may have used Auto Europe without any issues.

illnative

We did a trip very similar to this in 2001. Loved it. We only spent one night in Granada - which was fine for us as we really only wanted to see the Alhambra. We did spend a night in Cordoba and highly recommend that - its a different place when all the daytrippers go home. Sounds like you have done your homework though and tailored a trip to your interests - so take all of our advice and then do what you want! Have a great time.

NanBug

I'd go straight to Seville instead of starting with 2 nights in Madrid. Lump all your Madrid days at the end.

You could then stop in Cordoba when traveling from Granada back to Madrid.

We had nearly an identical itinerary last year and had a great time.

kja

I think you have a good basic plan, but I don't know enough about your specific interests to say whether its the best plan for you or not. For example, I spent almost 2 days in Toledo and 2 nights (about 1.5 days) in Cordoba, finding more than enough to keep me happily busy. I was very glad to have had the chance to roam around both places (and especially Toledo) after day-trippers had left, but I don't mind changing hotels with some frequency and would prefer to do so rather than give up magical evenings in places like these. In contrast, I thought a day and night more than enough for Ronda - charming as it is, I had seen everything I wanted to see there and was ready to move on after less than a full day. Personal choice!

The good news is that you'll be visiting some wonderful places, no matter how you divide your time. Enjoy!

MKT

Thank you all for your input. I'm beginning to feel like my itinerary is solidifying! I originally had Barcelona in there too, but felt we were trying to do too much at one time.

I planned to 2 nights in Ronda just to have a little down time. I booked a room at the Hotel La Fuente de La Higuera which looks to be a little respite from the busy cities that we will have visited. Is anyone familiar with this hotel and am i thinking correctly?

Graziella5b

After a second thought if you wish a place to have a respite I would switch Ronda for Ubeda.Such a fascinating Renaissance city, quiet .,peaceful, a real jewel.I would stay in the Parador feel totally relaxed and have a banquet ofpalaces,churches,towers,spectacular doorways decorated with coat of arms, enjoying : " The greatest triumphs of the Rennaissance echo through its silent streets"
There are walk tours of the city by a private company, cost is minimum and those tours are a wonderful experience.
Most likely you will think that Ronda where everybody feels compeled to go is a better choice....
each of us makes different choices ,mine would be to drive to Ubeda visiting a totally different
Place, as I said quiet yet fascinating. buena suerte.

CathyM

Ubeda is a great choice - it's not touristy at all and is less than 3.5 hours drive from Sevilla. The architecture is very unique to Spain. I googled the route and you could even stop along the way in Montoro with it's beautiful square.

Alternatively, Priego de Cordoba may fit the bill. It's one of my favorite spots in Andalucia. Very little tourists, set in the mountains surrounded by olive groves. It's about 2.5 hours from Sevilla along the way to Granada. There isn't a Parador but one of my favorite hotels in Spain is Casa Banons de la Villa. It's in the most atmospheric part of the old quarter and has only 9 rooms. For less than 100 euros you get a decent breakfast and best of all the hotel has an Arab bath spa which is included in the room rate. You can add a massage for a very reasonable price. There's not alot per se to see in Priego but it's a great strolling city. It's also a wonderful area to explore where you can visit olive oil makers and do tastings.

http://www.casabanosdelavilla.com/


Hope we haven't confused you with even more choices!

Graziella5b

This is why I love the Fodor's forum, we can learn always a lot. I have heard of Priego de Cordoba but never have been there, I do not know what MKT will choose to do, but
I Know that next time in Andalusia I shall go there thanks to Cathy M .
I have the hunch that we are right in prefering either Ubeda and you can drop nearby Baeza in the deal, or Priego de Cordoba versus Ronda. Often I wonder that very often we are wrongly influenced by doing what most people do.
For me Ronda is cute, but to be a must, must place it is a long stretch.
Ubeda is really amazing and the Parador is located in what was the XVII century palace of a Bishop , although some rooms are not as good of others. It is located in Plaza Vazquez Molina, the most
artistic renaissance square and next to some of the most beautiful buildings in the old part of Ubeda .
Again the walking tour is great because the guide has the key to many buildings that are locked.

Egbert

Great itinerary, I too like to put 4 or 5 nights at the end of the trip for Madrid. I like to head straight to Sevilla. Don't take any nights off of there. Ronda is very quiet at night for me. I like to be in Seville, Granada, Malaga for the good night life, restaurants etc. If you like the quiet go for it. Cordoba is a great daytrip or good for a night, again it's a lot quieter at night than Sevilla or Granada. From Ronda I Might want to visit Grazalema or Zahara instead of Arcos. I also like to spend a night in Malaga, it has it's own Andalucian flavor. You can take the Ave from there back to Madrid. All in all you're set for a really great trip for a first time visit to Spain.

Kwoo

Last October while in Barcelona we rented a car from Kemwel; they are located in the U.S. www.kemwel.com
I believe we picked up the car at Hertz or Avis in Barcelona. The price was reasonable.

MKT

Thank you all so much for your input! I feel like we have a good a manageable itinerary and am excited to make our first trip to Spain!

MKT

I'm thinking of taking your advice and stopping in Cordoba on the way to Sevilla. If we take a train that arrives at 10am and leaves at 6:30pm, would that be good?

Graziella5b

To visit the MEzquita, and a short walk around. Should be enough. May be you can have lunch at El Caballo Roja, very close to the MEzquita and great food.