Madrid to Estepona
Aug 17th, 2006, 09:05 AM
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Madrid to Estepona
Hi all...have had to make some major travel plan changes and will now fly into Madrid and then drive down to Estepona..am negotiating with AutoEurope for a rental car as I am using one from them for a trip through Italy and Croatia. Need help with the following: Recommendations for an overnight stop along the way..Ronda perhaps? to include hotel, restaurant etc. Will drop car off upon my return to Madrid..and want to find a hotel close to a metro stop from the airport to stay that evening as well as a couple of restaurants in the center of town...any suggestions? Sorry this is last minute..and thanks for suggestions, Bob
Aug 17th, 2006, 01:31 PM
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From Madrid Airport to Estepona, the distance is 630 km, good hiway, with one toll stretch outside Madrid (I am not sure if you reach it from the airport) and another between Fuengirola and Estepona, and it takes 7 hours non stop. For details and maps, you can check www.guiacampsa.com . If you anyway want to make a stop, I'll make suggestions.
Aug 17th, 2006, 01:40 PM
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As you say you are in a hurry, I will only add a couple of things:
Ronda is a very nice city, but it is completely off your road.
Your overnight stop depends on the hour you begin your drive. In any case I may recommend the town of Montilla, Cordoba province, 450 km from Madrid. It is a nice town, with little tourist visitors, worth visiting; with hotel Don Gonzalo in the very road (not on the highway), phone 957650666; Restaurants: Las Camachas, very good; or at the very hotel.
Ronda is a very nice city, but it is completely off your road.
Your overnight stop depends on the hour you begin your drive. In any case I may recommend the town of Montilla, Cordoba province, 450 km from Madrid. It is a nice town, with little tourist visitors, worth visiting; with hotel Don Gonzalo in the very road (not on the highway), phone 957650666; Restaurants: Las Camachas, very good; or at the very hotel.
Aug 17th, 2006, 02:50 PM
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BYoung,
Josele is absolutely correct. Ronda is only an hr.drive north from Estepona, so it makes a perfect day trip from your Estepona base-not an overnight.
Another idea for your overnight on the Madrid-Estepona drive:
Jaén at the Parador above the city. It has amazing views of miles and miles of olive groves, plus a baronial, castle-like dining room and pool. The Parador is actually a modern structure but built next to the Moorish castle.
But if you plan to make this drive immediately after arriving at Barajas airport in the a.m. (from a transatlantic flight??), I certainly wouldn't drive that far.
I'd stop at the Parador in Almagro. Almagro is a totally charming, highly photographed, typical Manchegan village where time seems to have stopped, with atmospheric, porticoed and unusually shaped main square surrounded by green shuttered houses, some dating from the 1600s.
We've stayed and dined at the Parador there (a former 16th century Franciscan convent), which has 14! little secluded patios with fountains, a pool and a very prettily decorated dining room-lots of brass, polished red tile floors, fine, relaxing atmosphere. It's a great place to try the local wines, pisto manchego (think ratatouille) or the local eggplant (berenjena). The German banking family, the Fuggers, brought the art of bobbin lace to the town in the 1600s, and the local ladies, dressed in black, still practice the craft. We buy small pieces from the lacemaker who has set up shop at the Parador.
www.parador.es
We always, always try to make Almagro a stop on our way to the coast from Madrid. It's only a 33 km. detour from the NIV.
Manzanares, on the NIV, also has a Parador, but it's more like a roadside motel, not nearly as interesting.
If the Paradors are booked (or too exp. at 135&euro
, try the equally charming Casa del Rector in Almagro, a Rusticae property.
www.casadelrector.com
Josele is absolutely correct. Ronda is only an hr.drive north from Estepona, so it makes a perfect day trip from your Estepona base-not an overnight.
Another idea for your overnight on the Madrid-Estepona drive:
Jaén at the Parador above the city. It has amazing views of miles and miles of olive groves, plus a baronial, castle-like dining room and pool. The Parador is actually a modern structure but built next to the Moorish castle.
But if you plan to make this drive immediately after arriving at Barajas airport in the a.m. (from a transatlantic flight??), I certainly wouldn't drive that far.
I'd stop at the Parador in Almagro. Almagro is a totally charming, highly photographed, typical Manchegan village where time seems to have stopped, with atmospheric, porticoed and unusually shaped main square surrounded by green shuttered houses, some dating from the 1600s.
We've stayed and dined at the Parador there (a former 16th century Franciscan convent), which has 14! little secluded patios with fountains, a pool and a very prettily decorated dining room-lots of brass, polished red tile floors, fine, relaxing atmosphere. It's a great place to try the local wines, pisto manchego (think ratatouille) or the local eggplant (berenjena). The German banking family, the Fuggers, brought the art of bobbin lace to the town in the 1600s, and the local ladies, dressed in black, still practice the craft. We buy small pieces from the lacemaker who has set up shop at the Parador.
www.parador.es
We always, always try to make Almagro a stop on our way to the coast from Madrid. It's only a 33 km. detour from the NIV.
Manzanares, on the NIV, also has a Parador, but it's more like a roadside motel, not nearly as interesting.
If the Paradors are booked (or too exp. at 135&euro
, try the equally charming Casa del Rector in Almagro, a Rusticae property.www.casadelrector.com
Aug 18th, 2006, 02:01 AM
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Last night I was considering if I should have included places nearer to Madrid, so I fully agree with Maribel (as usual). I'll include other possibilities,as the mentioned Parador at Manzanares, on the very roadside (110eur. and you can take the sidetrip to Almagro)) or the NH La Perdiz at La Carolina (after the Despeñaperros pass). At La Carolina there is also Orellana Perdiz hotel and restaurant. I am afraid there is little room availability everywhere.
Aug 19th, 2006, 03:44 PM
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Josele/Maribel..thank you so much for your wonderful suggestions. Based upon what you have said we will not try and go all the way to Estepona that first day. Am looking in to the Parador in Jaen or even considering driving west towards Montilla..found a small hotel in the town of Zuheros "Hotel Zuhayra" that sounded very interesting. I am going to be returning the car to the airport in Madrid and would then like to find a hotel somewhere close to a metro line but on the airport side of Madrid...any suggestions? Perhaps something aroung Avn.Americas? Thanks again for all your help. Bob
Aug 19th, 2006, 04:16 PM
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HiByoung,
Zuheros is a really cute place (we liked it more than Cabra), and the Zuhaya is a nice little budget hotel, included the Guy Hunter-Watts Small Hotels and Inns of Andalucía guide.
If you want a hotel near Avendia de las Américas so as to take line 4 of the metro Mar de Cristal then to Barajas
(metro goes only to Terminal 2, doesn't extend to T4 which requires a 10 min. free shuttle bus ride), then consider the following:
I've stayed at the first and know the second well, both in the upscale Salamanca quarter, just a brief walk to the A de A metro-they get my stamp of approval:
Aparthotel Madroño (with kitchenette-quite nice) on General Díaz Porlier 101
NH Principe de Vergara on P. de V. , corner of María de Molina (my former neighborhood)
NH Nuñez de Balbao is just a block o two futher away from the metro.
You should be able to find a discounted rate for these on any of the internet hotel booking sites.
Zuheros is a really cute place (we liked it more than Cabra), and the Zuhaya is a nice little budget hotel, included the Guy Hunter-Watts Small Hotels and Inns of Andalucía guide.
If you want a hotel near Avendia de las Américas so as to take line 4 of the metro Mar de Cristal then to Barajas
(metro goes only to Terminal 2, doesn't extend to T4 which requires a 10 min. free shuttle bus ride), then consider the following:
I've stayed at the first and know the second well, both in the upscale Salamanca quarter, just a brief walk to the A de A metro-they get my stamp of approval:
Aparthotel Madroño (with kitchenette-quite nice) on General Díaz Porlier 101
NH Principe de Vergara on P. de V. , corner of María de Molina (my former neighborhood)
NH Nuñez de Balbao is just a block o two futher away from the metro.
You should be able to find a discounted rate for these on any of the internet hotel booking sites.
Aug 23rd, 2006, 05:57 PM
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Maribel...thanks again for the info. We have booked a room in Zuheros and are looking forward to driving up into the mountains and getting off the "Freeway". Have made reservations in the AC Avenida de America so all goes well. Hope to hop the metro and take my girlfriend into Plaza Santa Ana for some "tosca hopping" Bob
Aug 24th, 2006, 12:00 AM
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If you have a chance, visit nearby town Priego de Cordoba. Not to miss the Adarve (former jewish quarters, whitewashed walls with lots of flower pots) and the Calle del Rio, with many palaces and an incredible baroque fountain.
Aug 24th, 2006, 07:16 AM
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the hotel auditorium madrid airport area has free shuttle to town, to av. americas AND to the airport . ususally 60 euros on www.talonotel.com if there is no convention going on.
pool. but expensive bar/restaurant.
new hotel with nice decor in rooms. great value at that price.
pool. but expensive bar/restaurant.
new hotel with nice decor in rooms. great value at that price.
Aug 24th, 2006, 10:54 AM
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Hi Bpb.
I just wanted to second josele's really fine suggestion of Priego de Córdoba as a great stop.
We did it the same day as Zuheros.
I thought that in the Adarve, at the top of the town, the pretty Barrio de la Villa quarter was as charming as Córdoba's Judería (actually more so, due to the lack of tourist trinket shops).
And the views from the Balcón, the locals' promenade, are really lovely. We didn't get to see the interior of the Baroque church, Nuestra Sra. de la Asunción (closed for construction), but they say it's a Baroque gem.
A nice Fodorite recommended lunch at El Aljibe up in the Adarve, and it was perfect. The downstairs dining room has a glass floor exhibiting the remains of the Moorish cistern. The whole area of the Subbética is really pretty-nicely off the beaten path.
I didn't mention the 1/2 dozen airport vicinity hotels with free shuttle (all bookable on sites like talonhotel, bancotel, halconviajes,,,,,) because I thought you specifically wanted a hotel near the A de Américas metro stop.
Just assuming you wanted to be "in town" in a real Madrid neighborhood on your final night, with shops, tapas bars, restaurants, city life. The airport vicinity hotels don't have that, if that's what you were looking for.
The AC is closer to the Cartagena metro than A de Américas, but if you walk to the latter, you only have one line change, from 4 to 8 at Mar de Cristal, which drops you at Terminal 2.
Plaza Santa Ana is a perfect place to take your girl friend on that last night with wine bars, like Vinos Barbechera, or one of the cervecerías, or for sherry and gorgeous tiles, Viva Madrid, on tiny M. Fernández y González, btw. V de la Vega and Príncipe. Just take your pick among dozens!! Have fun!
I just wanted to second josele's really fine suggestion of Priego de Córdoba as a great stop.
We did it the same day as Zuheros.
I thought that in the Adarve, at the top of the town, the pretty Barrio de la Villa quarter was as charming as Córdoba's Judería (actually more so, due to the lack of tourist trinket shops).
And the views from the Balcón, the locals' promenade, are really lovely. We didn't get to see the interior of the Baroque church, Nuestra Sra. de la Asunción (closed for construction), but they say it's a Baroque gem.
A nice Fodorite recommended lunch at El Aljibe up in the Adarve, and it was perfect. The downstairs dining room has a glass floor exhibiting the remains of the Moorish cistern. The whole area of the Subbética is really pretty-nicely off the beaten path.
I didn't mention the 1/2 dozen airport vicinity hotels with free shuttle (all bookable on sites like talonhotel, bancotel, halconviajes,,,,,) because I thought you specifically wanted a hotel near the A de Américas metro stop.
Just assuming you wanted to be "in town" in a real Madrid neighborhood on your final night, with shops, tapas bars, restaurants, city life. The airport vicinity hotels don't have that, if that's what you were looking for.
The AC is closer to the Cartagena metro than A de Américas, but if you walk to the latter, you only have one line change, from 4 to 8 at Mar de Cristal, which drops you at Terminal 2.
Plaza Santa Ana is a perfect place to take your girl friend on that last night with wine bars, like Vinos Barbechera, or one of the cervecerías, or for sherry and gorgeous tiles, Viva Madrid, on tiny M. Fernández y González, btw. V de la Vega and Príncipe. Just take your pick among dozens!! Have fun!
