lovetotravel2

We have 15 nights and prefer to spend 3 nights in one place and do day trips.
We'll be traveling late May flying into Barcelona and out of Madrid. We have already been to BCN so not included in this itinerary. Husband lived in Spain for a year (over 30 years ago) and speaks fluent Spanish.

From our research it seems like it is a pain to have a car in San Sebastian so we are thinking of having the car for the first part of trip (Girona and Sitges) and then do trains after that.

We are open to the best order to do this and whether to use train or plane from Girona area (BCN) to San Sebastian/ La Rioja area.

fly home - BCN

pickup car BCN

Sitges - 3 nights

Girona - 3 nights

drop car in Girona or BCN

train or plane Girona or BCN to San Sebastian or La Rioja area

San Sebastian - 3 nights ( day trips via train or bus)

Laguardia, La Rioja - 3 nights ( visiting wineries via foot, bus)

Madrid - 3 nights

Thank you for any suggestions!

kimhe

No pain to have a car in San Sebastian, easy to drive around in the city, but no need for it in the city itself as it's so small and very walkable. Could be a great advantage though to have the car for exploring the beautiful and interesting surroundings. The mountain areas and the rugged coast are very different, but everywhere you get the fantastic Basque food. An allow enough time for fabulous San Sebastian itself.
The surroundings: http://tourism.euskadi.eus/basque-coast/
San Sebastian itself: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

But also great public transport in the area. And if you fly from Barcelona, go to Bilbao (one hour, affordable and frequent departures) and catch the direct bus from the airport to San Sebastian (70 mins).

Michael

I would keep the car for the entire time. There is a lot to see between Barcelona and San Sebastian, including out of the way sights such as Taüll and San Juan de la Peña that would be reached more conveniently by car.

These pictures are the reverse of your trip, but might give you some ideas in terms of sights to see:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...190654780/show

lovetotravel2

Our original plan was to keep the car the whole time and had thought of going via the Pyrenees to San Sebastian but it added too many nights. Need to keep at 15 and also trying to avoid one night stands.
Thanks for the replies.

lovetotravel2

Okay - your replies just made us rethink this again.

If we keep car, spend two days (1 night) driving from Girona to San Sebastian
via Pyrenees. Suggest an overnight stop?

Then 3 nights SS

And just two nights Laguardia, La Rioja and maybe drop the car in Logrono and train to Madrid.

Thanks!

lovetotravel2

We like our new plan (thanks to you!) and
will stop Alquezar for one night enroute from Girona to SS.

Many thanks!

danon

Not much in Sitges except the beach and many bars, restaurants.
I visited from Barcelona, half a day was enough.
SS is beautiful town ..if you plan on day trips, I would spend more time in SS

lovetotravel2

Hi danon - from Sitges we are thinking of day trips to Montblanc and Penedes. Thanks!

lovetotravel2

Now that we got the land itinerary figured out I ventured into the airfare and got quite a sticker shock. We usually travel in the fall but were thinking of late May this time. Fortunately we are flexible.
SFO-BCN / MAD - SFO
May 20 - June 5 roughly $1533.00
Sept 24 - Oct 10 roughly $1388.00

The hotels we want are available for both time frames and are very reasonable, assuming because of the weak Euro. As far as weather and crowds do you see any advantage to one time over another?

kja

If it matters, you'll probably have more daylight during the May / June time period:
http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/

kimhe

Both are about the best times of year to go to almost anywhere in Spain.

kimhe

And if you are anywhere near Barcelona on May 22, you should go and see fabulous flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena at Mercat de les Flors. Part of the cutting edge Ciutat Flamenco festival, and Yerbabuena is one of the two-three greatest the past fifteen-twenty years. http://mercatflors.cat/en/espectacle...flamenco-ay-4/

Clip from the performance, here in Cordoba a couple of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clCZYH5VNWw