Seahunt

Hi everyone, my husband and I are planning a 2 week honeymoon for the first two weeks of November. I was hoping to get some help for our itinerary, particularly in the South of Spain.
We would like to explore different areas there but because it is our honeymoon I would hate schlepping around too much. Do you think its feasible to stay in Seville and just do daytrips? If so what are the places you suggest besides Cordoba and Granada (already have those on my list). Or should we just suck it up and split Seville up with somewhere else for 2 nights to maximize our time?

If anyone has any recommendations on where to stay for any of the places we are traveling to it would be appreciated. We are mid-range budget travelers but we are willing to splurge a bit as well since it is our honeymoon.

Lastly does our overall itinerary seem feasible for a 2 week trip? Please feel free to comment on any or all of the above. Thank you so much for your input!

10/30/2015 Fly to Paris
10/31/2015 Paris
11/1/2015 Paris
11/2/2015 Paris
11/3/2015 Paris
11/4/2015 Paris --> Seville
11/5/2015 Seville
11/6/2015 Seville
11/7/2015 Seville
11/8/2015 Seville
11/9/2015 Seville → Barcelona
11/10/2015 Barcelona
11/11/2015 Barcelona
11/12/2015 Barcelona
11/13/2015 Barcelona
11/14/2015 Fly home

Sassafrass

I would take one day from Barcelona and give an extra day to Paris because your first day may be a bit jet lagged, giving you really only three whole days in Paris, and IMHO, there is more to do there than in the other two places.

I would take it from Seville except that Seville is good for some day trips. Cordoba is a great day trip from Seville. However, Granada is a bit too far from Seville for a good day trip. Plan on at least an overnight there, perhaps fly from there (or from Malaga) to Barcelona.

Your plan is quite reasonable. It depends on what you wish to do in each place.

jent103

I'd agree with Sassafrass - there's more to do in Paris than Barcelona (depending on your interests), plus it's more honeymoon-ish. I had about that amount of time in Barcelona last year and it was pretty leisurely.

As far as where to stay, what exactly is your budget? My mid-range is someone else's "budget," so a dollar amount really helps! Meanwhile, these threads helped me out a lot on my trip to Paris a few years ago - you'll need to check current reviews, but they're very helpful to get started.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ank-thread.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ank-thread.cfm

I can't help on Seville. For Barcelona, if you want a modern hotel/area, you should look in the Eixample district; if you want something that feels older and more like something we can't get in the States, look in the Gothic Quarter. Either area is fine from a sightseeing standpoint, although l'Eixample is very large and you'll need to look for somewhere near a metro stop.

pariswat

I'd agree with above except that trip is in november.
Paris weather can be miserable in nov, Barcelon and Seville (never been) should be warmer.

I love Barcelona but have been several times for short durations so cannot really comment.

For Paris however I would recommend you look into the following hotel, where I would go on honeymoon :
Montmarte Mon Amour, all rooms decorating zaccording to romantic couples.
It is in 18th at the foot of Montmartre, I find the place suitable for a young couple.

But all of Paris intramuros is nice, so don't focus on one place of course.

pariswat

shoot...
Montmartre.
Decorated.
according.

kimhe

Stay in the medieval and vibrant El Born district in Barcelona. Some of the best tapas bars and restaurants in town, a cradle of Catalan Identity and culture with great sights, top class shopping and excellent and easy-going nightlife: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

Great value Banys Orientals might be the hotel you're looking for. http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/

Honeymoon suggestions in Barcelona:

Fun and fabulous tapas from heaven in Tickets, now ranked among the 50 best restaurants in the world. Have had fantastic 13-17 tapas meals here the past ccouple of years, very affordable for what you get. 70-80€ pp with cava/beer/drinks. Must book 60 days in advance at midnight Barcelona time, ten min after midnight all tables are normally gone: http://www.barcelonabook.com/tickets...estaurant.html

Embelmatic 7 Portes from 1826, an institution in town: http://www.7portes.com/angles/index.php

Gourmet lunch with wine incl for 20€ in Somodo, or nine course tasting menu for 35€: http://www.somodo.es/english/

Small, family-owned and traditional Ca l'Estevet: http://www.restaurantestevet.com/

Romantic, old school and rock'n roll Xemei in the local atmosphere Poble Sec district. Had one of the best meals of my life here a couple of months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lvcjtoh0tU

The Poble Sec district: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...%20bodega.html

The "theater city" at the foot of Montjuic (Jewish mountain), just above Poble Sec: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...el-teatre.html

The Barceloneta area, just inland from the beach. Fun and laid-back: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...taurants-spain

Montjuic: the castle on top with spectacular views of both the city and the sea, world class museums, several 1992 olympic arenas and lots of greens: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montjuic.html

And Sevilla is the undisputed queen of the cities in the South of Spain: http://www.exploreseville.com/

kimhe

I suggest you stay in Sevilla. Plenty of fabulous day-trip options.

- Cordoba, once the most advanced city in the western world, is 40 mins away with the high speed AVE Train: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/mainsights.htm

- Small and picturesque Carmona is close by, an important city in Roman times, and the Roman gates still stand: http://www.andalucia.com/province/se...rmona/home.htm

Jerez de la Frontera - famous for sherry (Jerez), brandy, horses and a cradle of flamenco culture - is one hour away with bus/train: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/jerez.htm

- 3000 year old Cádiz (Phoenician Gadir) is a 90 mins drive from Sevilla, 1h 45 with train: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cadiz.htm

- I also recommend a visit to the ruins of the Roman city Italica. A thirty minute bus ride out of town (15 minutes with taxi). The bus leaves frequently from the Plaza de Armas bus station just by the river a little north-west of the Santa Cruz district. Italica’s amphitheater seated 25.000 spectators, the third largest in the Roman empire, and it's very much intact. Roman emperors Trajan - allegedly the best of them all - and Hadrian were born here. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/italica.htm

A nice little tapas bar/restaurant right across the street from the entrance, or maybe visit the neighbouring village Santiponce itself: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres...antiponce.html

kimhe

Many, many excellent hotels in Sevilla, but here are a couple of options in the famous Santa Cruz district:

Casa 1800: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/casa-1800.en-gb.html

Hotel Bequer: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/becquer.en-gb.html

Puerta del Principe: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/home...mes.en-gb.html

Apartamentos Murillo: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/apar...llo.en-gb.html

Suites Murillo: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/suit...llo.en-gb.html

And in Sevilla you should experience real deal flamenco, the powerful and beautiful art so important for both the city and the region. Casa de la Memoria and La Casa del Flamenco are intimate venues with only top of the shelf artists. All nights include all the basic elements of flamenco: song (cante), guitar (toque) and dance (baile). No food, no drinks, just flamenco for some 60 minutes.
Casa de la Memoria: http://www.casadelamemoria.es/
La Casa del Flamenco: http://www.lacasadelflamencosevilla.com/

Pastora Galvan was voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics, and she has danced in Casa de la Memoria about once a week the past 6-7 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SBUcrJgeQ

The greatest flamenco artists also regularly perform in Sevilla theaters. Program is updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos...n-sevilla.html

Christina

I don't agree that there is more to do in Paris, but I guess that depends what that means. There may be more total museums in Paris, but most people don't go to any but a few of the top ones, anyway. Otherwise, I think there is just as much if not more in Barcelona.

I'd take a day away from Seville myself to add to Paris, at least if you are just staying in Seville the whole time. If you are renting a car and leaving to drive around, that can add time.

ON the other hand, being November, it may be more pleasant in Spain, in which case don't change the days.