Madrid to Bordeaux--Best Route?
Dec 26th, 2006, 05:14 PM
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Madrid to Bordeaux--Best Route?
Hi! I'm planning an 8-day trip and would like to visit Basque Country in Spain as well as the Bordeaux Region in France, but I'm not sure if it's feasible. We're flying in (arrive early morning) and out of Madrid and will be renting a car. The cities/villages that I'm most interested in so far are LaGuardia, San Sebastian, Santillana del Mar, Hondarribia, Biarritz, Bayonne, St. Emilion so obviously I have to narrow it down a lot. Basically, I have to find a balance between quaint medieval villages and wine country (for me) and surfing (for him) and see it all within 8 days. Also, I don't want to totally neglect Madrid and would like to see Toledo if possible. Any suggested itineraries are GREATLY appreciated because I want to see as much as possible without wasting a lot of time in the car. Thanks so much for your help!
Dec 27th, 2006, 09:55 AM
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a lot of ground to cover but i would go straight north from airport. maybe la guardia first? then save madrid for end when you have finished your other touring.
you may not have time for toledo and no more than a whirlwind bus tour of madrid.
you will have to decide your priorities.
you may not have time for toledo and no more than a whirlwind bus tour of madrid.
you will have to decide your priorities.
Dec 27th, 2006, 02:47 PM
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Can you change your flight to an open-jaw, flying home from Bordaux (BOD)?
Check out the one-way drop-off charge (if any) within Spain as opposed to taking the car into France, diff could be huge. Drop it off in SS and pick up another in Biarritz for example, train it in between.
Check out the one-way drop-off charge (if any) within Spain as opposed to taking the car into France, diff could be huge. Drop it off in SS and pick up another in Biarritz for example, train it in between.
Dec 27th, 2006, 03:28 PM
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You want to crowd what I would consider a minimum 15-day itinerary into 8-days. I don't think it's possible. It doesn't allow time to stop and enjoy the places you wish to visit. I don't know about surfing.
If you want to enjoy your Spain/France vacation, I think you should trim your itinerary back a lot.
BTW
Do your 8-days include arrival and departure days? Most westbound transAtlantic flights depart around midday (calling for an AM Check-in) and arrivals (as you are aware) drop your jet-lagged bodies before 8:00 AM. For me, both those days are washouts although I try to get where I am going before I sleep on the day of my arrival.
If you want to enjoy your Spain/France vacation, I think you should trim your itinerary back a lot.
BTW
Do your 8-days include arrival and departure days? Most westbound transAtlantic flights depart around midday (calling for an AM Check-in) and arrivals (as you are aware) drop your jet-lagged bodies before 8:00 AM. For me, both those days are washouts although I try to get where I am going before I sleep on the day of my arrival.
Dec 28th, 2006, 04:58 AM
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Thanks so much to everyone for your replies. I really appreciate it. Lincasanova, that's what I was thinking too about going to LaGuardia first since it seems to be the mid-point between everything. Wally, that's GREAT
advice about dropping the car off in Spain and getting another in France...I wouldn't have thought about that and am definitely going to check into it. I would like to do an open-jaw ticket leaving out of Bordeaux, but I'm not sure how expensive it is to change my ticket...I'll check. Nedsireland, the 8 days does include the day we arrive, but not the day that we leave. I agree that we'll probably be pretty jet-lagged, but when i went to Italy before I had the same sort of flight and was so excited to get there that I suddenly had energy again so I'm hoping that will happen this time too so I'm counting it as a vacation day. Since I definitely don't have time to visit all the places I mentioned, what would you suggest as the top places to see (and in what order)? Thanks so much!
advice about dropping the car off in Spain and getting another in France...I wouldn't have thought about that and am definitely going to check into it. I would like to do an open-jaw ticket leaving out of Bordeaux, but I'm not sure how expensive it is to change my ticket...I'll check. Nedsireland, the 8 days does include the day we arrive, but not the day that we leave. I agree that we'll probably be pretty jet-lagged, but when i went to Italy before I had the same sort of flight and was so excited to get there that I suddenly had energy again so I'm hoping that will happen this time too so I'm counting it as a vacation day. Since I definitely don't have time to visit all the places I mentioned, what would you suggest as the top places to see (and in what order)? Thanks so much!
Dec 28th, 2006, 06:38 AM
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I would drop the French part of the trip and do research on Spanish wines, but I do not know if the coast between Biarritz and Bordeaux is well known for surfing, which would be another reason to go there.
