Aashka

Please suggest how to cover Madrid, Andalucia region and Barcelona. We are interested in history, culture, people, good food (though Vegetarians) and beaches. Which places to be done specifically ? Will car rental be a good option in the Andalucia region? Could we stay in Malaga and do the Andalucia? Or we should stay at each town here?

sparkchaser

Are you true vegetarians or do you eat seafood and dairy?

The beaches are going to be cool in November so I would rethink that one.

12-13 days for Madrid, Barcelona, and a taster of Andalucia is not much. My opinion on how to cover: fly into Madrid Day 1 then on Day 4/5 fly to Barcelona then on Day 7/8 fly to Malaga and wander around exploring the area for 4 days then fly to Madrid then home.


<i>Will car rental be a good option in the Andalucia region?</i>

A rental car would be a very good idea.


<i>Could we stay in Malaga and do the Andalucia?</i>

"The Andalucia" is HUGE so no, that's not advised.


<i>Or we should stay at each town here? </i>

I am not sure what this means. Staying at "each town" is impossible. Andalucia is HUGE -- about 34,000 square miles and hundreds of towns.


Lonely Planet has an excellent book dedicated to Andalucia. I suggest you check it out.

CathyM

Honestly I think you're trying to cover too much ground in 12-13 days for your honeymoon (which I assume tou want at a non-frantic pace).

I'd advise a minimum of 4 nights in Barcelona and 4 in Madrid. This would give you enough time to recover from jetlag but probably not time for any Daytrips from Barcelona and perhaps one from Madrid. I personally wouldn't advise using Malaga as a base for all of Andalucia. I wouldn't miss staying overnight in Sevilla and Granada for a first trip to Andalucia. I'd advise a minimum of 4 nights in Cordoba (enough for a daytrip to Cordoba) and 2 nights in Granada. You could do something like fly into madrid, then train to Sevilla with a stop en route in Cordoba, then bus or train from Sevilla to Granada, fly from Granada to Barcelona and return home from Barcelona. Of course you could also do this in reverse. There's no need to rent a car as you won't have time for exploring outside of the cities and a car will only be a hassle.

The problem is even with these minimums you'd need 14 nights - and this would be the minimum I'd recommend which would be a moderate pace.

If you can add a night or two to the trip that would be great. Otherwise I'd consider dropping one of the regions and using the additional time to see more of the areas tou're chosen and relax on your honeymoon.

CathyM

I meant to say that I'd advise 4 nights minimum in Sevilla with a daytrip to Cordoba.

nytraveler

First, November is not beach weather. You can walk on them - but no sunbathing or swimming (Spain is temperate, not tropical).

Second, you can;t cover so many places in so few days.

You can do Madrid and north or Madrid and south - not all 3 - or you will be spending way too much time just getting places versus seeing/doing things.

kimhe

In Barcelona, perhaps stay at Hotel W right on the great vibe Barceloneta beach.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/w-barcelona.en.html
http://www.w-barcelona.com/

All kinds of people will be on the beach, on the promenade and in the restaurants and bars, but probably not much in the water in early november. And you'll have the local atmosphere Barceloneta neighbourhood just inland from the beach: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...taurants-spain

Major flamenco event in Barcelona every night from Oct 30 to Nov. 10. The finest flamenco artists on the current scene celebrate the greatest in flamenco dance history, the barcelonesa Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) every night at 9pm in majestic Teatre Nacional de Catalunya. This is the highlight of the Carmen Amaya year in Barcelona, 100 years after she was born and 50 after she died. Could easily be a highlight of your trip. Plain fantastic Rocío Molina dances all nights: http://www.rociomolina.net/

Perfectly fine beach and swimming conditions in Nerja some 35 miles east of Málaga city the two times we have visited in November. Then it was some 80F in the air and 70F+ in the water for two weeks (we were lucky, the past 16 years statistics for the second week in November in Nerja says average daily highs at 70F and 7 hour sun/day). The beach in tiny Maro, two miles east of Nerja, is in a clear lead to be voted best beach in Andalucía on the national tv channel Antena 3 competition, and it will probably be in the final to be voted best beach in Spain 2013. http://vimeo.com/70788865
Info: http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/maro/

Small and charming Nerja (especially the Old town) at the foot of the quite spectacular Almijara mountains is a great base for visiting Granada with the world famous Alhambra (1,5 hours with car) and wonderful Málaga city itself (30 mins). You could also easily go into the mountains and visit several small villages. Dozens of genuine tapas bars and restaurants in Nerja, as well as fine Italian, Thai, Indian, Chinese, French and Mexican restaurants. http://www.nerjatoday.com/

Photo of Nerja: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/...de6a8146_o.jpg

The famous Nerja caves: http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en

Perhaps stay in seaside Hotel Carabeo in the oldest street in town: http://www.hotelcarabeo.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_R...Andalucia.html

Alhambra in Granada: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/gran...hamhistory.htm

"Secret Spanish pleasures" in Málaga: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html

And if you stay in Nerja, you are also only about one hour driving away from wonderful Antequera. Known as "the heart of Andalucía" or "the crossroads of Andalucía". Almost right in the middle of the Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga rectangle and well off the tourist track. Here you'll find dolmens (some 5000 years old burial chambers), Roman baths, a Moorish Castle, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and Baroque bell towers. Antequera was the first of the Granada emirate towns to fall to the Christians in 1410.
http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry....era-spain.html

I love the terrace in the corner of the peaceful square in front of the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, the first partly Renaissance-style church in Spain (built 1514-1550). Up here it's totally peace and quiet. Next to the recently excavated Roman baths beneath and looking up on the 13th century Moorish alcazaba/fortress. Great views over unique landscapes (the spectacular Torcal limestone mountain etc.). http://www.wild-about-travel.com/201...ing-antequera/

The Torcal limestone rock mountain are just outside town. You can drive almost up to the top, and on a clear day you can see to Morocco: http://www.andalucia.com/antequera/torcal/home.htm

A tapas tour of Antequera: http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry.com/tapaspain.html

Egbert

12 days is just enoug hfor Madrid and Andalucia. Save barcelona for another trip unless you have two full weeks at least.

baladeuse

Bookmarking for our trip in November. Great info as usual from kimhe. Thank you!

beachies7500

Congrats on choosing a totally romantic & intriguing honeymoon! I am in the wedding business and tell couples that Sevilla is truly what they want to see in Spain! You have to walk the incline ramps to the top of the Giralda & see the ornate Catedral. Totally intimate and romantic Hotel Amadeus http://www.hotelamadeussevilla.com/en/location/ - in the narrowest street you can imagine in historic Santa Cruz section.
Agree that you can drive (prepare for stick shift) between towns, but plan to spend a couple of days absorbing the culture. Better to enjoy a few than to rush around just to "see" more locations, IMHO. You can take the high speed AVE train Madrid to Barcelona. If you want to get that incredibly unique city into the honeymoon. Way too far to drive from Seville, which I would say is a must-see!

Aashka

Thank you everyone for wonderful Responses. We will make sure that we dont rush around too much. kimhe will make sure we go and see one of the Flameco dances in those days. Secondly as we will be in Malaga for a few days we will visit Nerja. Beachies7500 we are going to be in Seville for 3 days so we will visit what yo have suggested. Was thinking of taking a Ave from Madrid to Malaga. Should that be all right? Do suggest other specific things in MAdrid, Barcelona and Seville.. Thank you again.