SPAIN -- Itinerary help
Jul 2nd, 2008, 01:40 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SPAIN -- Itinerary help
Hi
I decided to take advice and am reposting ..
Am going to Spain in July for 15 days .. Below is what I want to do .. Just need advice if I am packing too much :
Arrive Barcelona
day 2,3,4, Barcelona with day trips to Figures,Giorna
Day 5 to Madrid
Day 6 day trip to Segovia/El escorial/valley of the fallen
Day 7 day trip to Toledo
Day 8 to seville
Day 9 day trip to Cardoba
Day 10 Seville
Day 11 to Malaga
Day 12 Granada
maybe trips to Ronda and other white Villages and fly out of malaga
My concern is if I am trying to pack in too much ?? and if I am missing anything else .. I know I cant see everything ..
Thanks for any help.
I decided to take advice and am reposting ..
Am going to Spain in July for 15 days .. Below is what I want to do .. Just need advice if I am packing too much :
Arrive Barcelona
day 2,3,4, Barcelona with day trips to Figures,Giorna
Day 5 to Madrid
Day 6 day trip to Segovia/El escorial/valley of the fallen
Day 7 day trip to Toledo
Day 8 to seville
Day 9 day trip to Cardoba
Day 10 Seville
Day 11 to Malaga
Day 12 Granada
maybe trips to Ronda and other white Villages and fly out of malaga
My concern is if I am trying to pack in too much ?? and if I am missing anything else .. I know I cant see everything ..
Thanks for any help.
Jul 2nd, 2008, 01:50 PM
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's going to be hot, and you're packing in a lot of running around.
Unless Salvador Dali is very important to you, I would skip Figueres. I also think that unless you are a sucker for over-the-top cathedrals, Sevilla will do you and you can skip Girona.
I'm not such a big fan of Barcelona, so I would probably take one day away from Barcelona and add it to Madrid.
Unless Salvador Dali is very important to you, I would skip Figueres. I also think that unless you are a sucker for over-the-top cathedrals, Sevilla will do you and you can skip Girona.
I'm not such a big fan of Barcelona, so I would probably take one day away from Barcelona and add it to Madrid.
Jul 2nd, 2008, 02:02 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spain itineraires always interest me. Everyone wants to include Barcelona, which is a great town, but it seldom fits with other regions of Spain. I see Barcelona fitting with the south of France or with the Basque region and Rioja.
Spain takes 5 trips of 2 weeks each---Portugal takes at least 15 days. You are hoping to include 3 regions on this trip and you need to decide on 2 of 3. Either Catalonia and Andalusia or Centro/Madid and Andalusia but not all 3. I would do the latter and spend 5 day in the Madird/Toledo/Segovia region and then 10 days in Andalusia---my favorite part of Spain. That is my 2 cents !
Spain takes 5 trips of 2 weeks each---Portugal takes at least 15 days. You are hoping to include 3 regions on this trip and you need to decide on 2 of 3. Either Catalonia and Andalusia or Centro/Madid and Andalusia but not all 3. I would do the latter and spend 5 day in the Madird/Toledo/Segovia region and then 10 days in Andalusia---my favorite part of Spain. That is my 2 cents !
Jul 2nd, 2008, 02:25 PM
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, mrinal -
> My concern is if I am trying to pack in too much ??
While I can easily understand why you want to see all these places, I agree with your other posters that the answer is yes: You are trying to see too many places in the time you've got. As you decide what to cut, do pay attention to how much time it will take you to get from one place to another and to the fact that many things will likely be closed on Mondays.
Hope that helps!
> My concern is if I am trying to pack in too much ??
While I can easily understand why you want to see all these places, I agree with your other posters that the answer is yes: You are trying to see too many places in the time you've got. As you decide what to cut, do pay attention to how much time it will take you to get from one place to another and to the fact that many things will likely be closed on Mondays.
Hope that helps!
Jul 2nd, 2008, 02:27 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,876
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i>day 2,3,4, Barcelona with day trips to Figures,Giorna
Day 5 to Madrid
Day 6 day trip to Segovia/El escorial/valley of the fallen
Day 7 day trip to Toledo
Day 8 to seville
Day 9 day trip to Cardoba
Day 10 Seville
Day 11 to Malaga
Day 12 Granada</i>
The way I see this itin, you'll be spending 1/2 of your trip packing/unpacking, taking trains, checking-in and checking-out; and leave little time to sightsee.
Barcelona itself deserves 3 days, I wouldn't bother with daytrips.
Also, doesn't look like you're spending anytime in Madrid at all with all these day trips. On Day 5, going from Barcelona to Madrid will take 1/2 your day already.
Either you extend your trip by another week, or you cut down on daytrips.
Day 5 to Madrid
Day 6 day trip to Segovia/El escorial/valley of the fallen
Day 7 day trip to Toledo
Day 8 to seville
Day 9 day trip to Cardoba
Day 10 Seville
Day 11 to Malaga
Day 12 Granada</i>
The way I see this itin, you'll be spending 1/2 of your trip packing/unpacking, taking trains, checking-in and checking-out; and leave little time to sightsee.
Barcelona itself deserves 3 days, I wouldn't bother with daytrips.
Also, doesn't look like you're spending anytime in Madrid at all with all these day trips. On Day 5, going from Barcelona to Madrid will take 1/2 your day already.
Either you extend your trip by another week, or you cut down on daytrips.
Jul 2nd, 2008, 03:22 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,657
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes you are packing too much in.
Is this your first Spain trip? I'd suggest you spend days 2,3 and 4 in Barcelona. There is plenty to see and do there. Then go to Madrid. Do you want to see Madrid? Spend days 5-7 in Madrid.
Decide then, what you want to see from the other places -- Seville and Toledo and then Malaga and Granada. Don't worry about all these extra "daytrips"
What IS your focus on this trip? Art? History? Music? Scenery? Food? Wine?
We spent 3 weeks driving all over Basque Country, Rioja and finally to Barcelona (where we spent a week) before we drove back up to the South of France. (This was part of a much longer "road trip."
We had to decide to leave Madrid, Seville, etc for another trip. You will go back, don't worry.
Is this your first Spain trip? I'd suggest you spend days 2,3 and 4 in Barcelona. There is plenty to see and do there. Then go to Madrid. Do you want to see Madrid? Spend days 5-7 in Madrid.
Decide then, what you want to see from the other places -- Seville and Toledo and then Malaga and Granada. Don't worry about all these extra "daytrips"
What IS your focus on this trip? Art? History? Music? Scenery? Food? Wine?
We spent 3 weeks driving all over Basque Country, Rioja and finally to Barcelona (where we spent a week) before we drove back up to the South of France. (This was part of a much longer "road trip."
We had to decide to leave Madrid, Seville, etc for another trip. You will go back, don't worry.
Jul 2nd, 2008, 04:20 PM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Pick Barcelona or Madrid. If Madrid, dump El Escorial and valley of the fallen, and perhaps just stick with Toledo and Segovia.
Go then to Seville, stay for couple nights, pick Granada for the next day. See parts of Malaga or Cordoba.
Plan the next trip for cities missed!
Go then to Seville, stay for couple nights, pick Granada for the next day. See parts of Malaga or Cordoba.
Plan the next trip for cities missed!
Jul 2nd, 2008, 04:26 PM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No - you will not be seeing too many places. You will be NOT seeing most of them. Way too many diferent destinations - and way too much travel in transit.
I would do either Barcelona and Madrid or Andalusia (which IMHO needs 10 days to see SEville, Cordoba, Granada, white towns and a day or two relaxing on the beach).
I would do either Barcelona and Madrid or Andalusia (which IMHO needs 10 days to see SEville, Cordoba, Granada, white towns and a day or two relaxing on the beach).
Jul 3rd, 2008, 11:40 AM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for all your responses.
Yes its my first time to Spain .. and the more I read the more places I have included.
I will take your advice and rework my itenary .. so if there is a toss up between madrid & barcelona .. I think madrid would win .. what say ..???
Yes its my first time to Spain .. and the more I read the more places I have included.
I will take your advice and rework my itenary .. so if there is a toss up between madrid & barcelona .. I think madrid would win .. what say ..???
Jul 5th, 2008, 06:11 AM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Believe me, you simply don't have the time for either. I really recommend that you read http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34954915.
Jul 5th, 2008, 09:13 AM
#18
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The tem. in Spain are usualy 90- 100 degrees that time of the year ( not in the North though) ; Africa would not be my choice.
Once I visited Spain (Madrid and Anadalucia) in August - thought I was in hell .
Jul 9th, 2008, 06:45 PM
#19
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,
Can't comment on the weather, but my wife and I recently did a 12 day trip in early June (haven't written a trip report): did 5 nights in Madrid (w/ 1 daytrip to Segovia), easy bus ride to Granada (2 nights), flew to Barcelona (4 nights). We thought the pace was pretty comfortable with ample time to see the sights and chill out too. We didn't see _everything_ but then again, we weren't trying to either.
As for Madrid v. Barcelona, both are amazing cities. All I can say is that we are planning to revisit Barcelona... not so sure about Madrid.
Can't comment on the weather, but my wife and I recently did a 12 day trip in early June (haven't written a trip report): did 5 nights in Madrid (w/ 1 daytrip to Segovia), easy bus ride to Granada (2 nights), flew to Barcelona (4 nights). We thought the pace was pretty comfortable with ample time to see the sights and chill out too. We didn't see _everything_ but then again, we weren't trying to either.
As for Madrid v. Barcelona, both are amazing cities. All I can say is that we are planning to revisit Barcelona... not so sure about Madrid.
Jul 9th, 2008, 07:11 PM
#20
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok - for what its worth, we did the same length trip (roughly) 3 years ago. we flew into Madrid and spent 3 nights there; saw the palace, prado, parks, etc. Took the train to Seville and spent 4 nights there; we saw the alcazar, bull fight ring, exposition center, took a day tour with Connie from seville walking tours - excellent; walked the various neighborhoods, went to a flamenco show, relaxed a little bit then picked up a rental car and drove to Malaga for 3 nights- the first night was our arrival after driving through the white villages; we did a day trip to Granada and though I'll be struck by lightening, I didn't like Alhambra at all; we flew from Malaga to Barcelona and spent 4 nights there touring the city; flew from Barcelona back to Madrid and then home. Iberia had very cheap incountry flights that allowed us to see both Malaga and Barcelona without spending tons of time in transit.
