zeevfl

We are couple around age 50.planning trip to Madrid and its neighbored and from there to the south of Spain about two weeks approximately, begin from middle October ( constraints of time ). The track includes cities, history, Judaism and sceneries)
Day 1 and 2- landing Madrid ( lodging 2 nights ),
day 3- departure Madrid in a rented vehicle, continue to Segovia ( lodging in the city)
day 4- continue to EL ESCORIAL VALLE DE LOS CAIDOS and to TOLEDO. (lodging in the city)
Day 5 - departure to Cordoba ( lodging Cordoba ).
day 6– to Sevilla ( lodging in the city ).
day 7 - continue towards Jerej de la frontera and from there to Cadiz
Continue in the area of the beach Trafalgar Tarifa and Gibraltar ( lodging in the area ).
day 8 - continue to Estepona, Ronda, and the white villages that between Ronda, Acros de la Frontera. ( lodging in the area ).
day 9-
– From Ronda southward towards the sea, through Marbella, Malaga, Nerja and Almeria lodging in the area( Nerja or Almeria ).
Day 10- continue through Motril towards Granada ( lodging in the city ).
day 11 - continue to Granada to Guadix ( houses by the caves ) and continue to the park Cazorla ( lodging in the area ) .
day 12- returned towards Granada and SIERRA NEVADA ( lodging in the area ).
day 13- continue to Malaga ( lodging in the city ) and the next day flight to Madrid .
We will be happy to receive an opinion from those who experienced the similar trip or parts from this tour. We will be happy to receive ideas how to plan a better plan. ( As a result from the visit Park cazorla there are long journeys in the area of Granada).
To Malaga we can arrive in the end of the trip because we take off from there.
Any tips will get accepted with thanks.

kja

Hi, zeevfl -
Sounds like you'll drive through some lovely places, but you aren't leaving yourself very much time to see anything in these wonderful places. You might want to consider staying a 2nd (or even 3rd!) night in some places. Given your stated interests, a little extra time in Sevilla, Toledo, Granada, and/or Cordoba might make sense. Hope that helps!

blackduff

zeevfl
On day 7 you will leave Sevilla and head towards Jerez, Cadiz, and heading towards Gibraltar.

Yet you're going to head back towards Arcos. This village is just next to Jerez. You are making a big loop and afterwards you're going to return to Ronda.

I think you should get a decent map and try to plan this out a little more.

As the previous mentioned, you're not giving enough time to view your destinations. Give at least two or three days at Sevilla.

I guess we all travel differently but this is going to be like boot camp.

Again, give another look at your plan and maybe cut down the places you're trying to visit.

Blackduff

zeevfl

thanks.
1 ) The itinerary is built before the tour .distances and driving time from point to point are calculated by using Michelin website. For example: from Toledo to Cordoba 350 km about3.5 hours .
2 ) in order to the save time places of the lodging are invited in advance.
3 ) I have previous experience from similar trips.

janisj

you asked for tips and suggestions - but your last post (if I understand what you meant) says:

1) you are happy w/ the distances because Michelin says they are OK

2)You have already booked the hotels in advance

and 3) you have taken this sort of trip before

You have received suggestions that you are going to far and trying to do too much. If you are set with this itinerary, what other advice do you want?

zeevfl

thanks.
i am not so happy about the distances.
i can cut or change.
after i will be sure about the itinerary il will book hotels.

fall06

Are you sure you want a car for the first leg of your trip? Were it me, I would stay in Madrid for 4 nights, and do Toledo and Segovia as day trips. Then I would take the fast train to Sevilla for 2 nights, using one day for the easy day trip to Cordoba. Then pick up the car.

blackduff

zeevfl
Just a few notes and I'll get off this subject.

From Sevilla, and visiting Jerez. There is a serious horse school which will take most of an afternoon. Plus, Jerez has many Bodegas which can be visited-free. These visits always offer a drink of sherry. The history of the sherries can be seen on that stop.

Leaving Jerez, you're going to pass El Puerto de Santa Maria. This is a small village across the Cadiz bay. This is a 3,000 year old city. Is this worth passing without looking.

You have missed a few other sites just to this period. Sanlucar is lovely and it's the start of Columbus' towards finding the flat world.

Jumping across the Cadiz bay, you'll have to follow the main road to the center of Cadiz. You will have to park the car, if you want to see something of Cadiz. There's a large section of Cadiz which is submerged, so you won't see this when you're riding in the car. Cadiz is another 3,000 city with bags of history. You mentioned about Trafalgar but the English navy sunk a big amount of the Spanish fleet right there in Cadiz. Leaving Cadiz it's needed to return on the same road you visited, unless you travel along the coastal road.

Heading down south towards Tafalgar, Tarifa and finally Gibraltar you should stop once in awhile to see the sites. Between Cadiz and Tarifa is a full of lovely villages, awaiting your visit.

In my opinion, Gibraltar will be the low level of that day's visiting. Each person has their own opinion but Gibraltar can be broken down to what to see. There's a high street with lots of electronic shops. Then you have the rock which provides a cave to visit, see the monkeys (okay, they're apes)and a visit to the gun emplacements.

I lived in Puerto de Santa Maria and during that time I was back and forth to Sevilla, Gibraltar, and all of the other places in this post. When I return that area, I spend a lot more time than just a day.

As the useful term-Sometimes less is better than more.

Blackduff

zeevfl

Hello.
Thank you very much for your effort, your kindness and your desire to help. Your help excites me. I am sure that you are right and my plan is ambitious and wrong.
I am working now on alternative and shorter itinerary.
When I finish it I will be glad to know your opinion.
Best regards