holavick

My husband and I are taking a once in a lifetime trip to Spain. We are bouncing between using a tour company and doing our own thing. IF we do our own thing, should we use public transportation or rent a car for the whole trip? I worry about lugging bags around if we go public but there's the stress of driving in a foreign country if we rent a car. What are your thoughts on tours vs. self planned trip?

Michael

I prefer to read guidebooks, discover what is of interest to me, and then travel on my own. I've done it throughout Europe with no problems, sometimes using public transportation but more often renting a car.

CathyM

Wow - need more information. Spain is a large country. How long is you trip? What areas are of interest to you? What time of year do you plan to travel?

ribeirasacra

I agree with CathyMs psoting.

But in general:
If the trip is visiting cities the consciousness is use public transport. That is buses or trains.
If you want to explore the countryside, then hire a car.
Tours are usually too fast for a lot of vacationers and leave little time to stop and enjoy your location.

holavick

We are going late June-early July. We'll be there for 2 weeks. I am a Spanish teacher so CULTURE is my main thing...and FOOD! I want to see and do as much as I can in those 2 wks and hit all of the "must see's/do's." This is probably the only time I'll make it to Spain so I don't want have any regrets!

CathyM

There is no way in 2 weeks you can hit "all of the must see's/do's" in Spain! Also, what is a "must-see" for one person isn't for another. I've been to Spain more than 20 times and still haven't seen what I'd consider all of the "must-sees".

Most people would probably first head to: Madrid, Barcelona and Andalucia (probably the big three, Sevilla,Cordoba and Granada). This is generic and doesn't take into account individual interests but these are probably what most people would consider th "biggies". It would be tight but you could do these in 2 weeks. For example, Madrid (4), Barcelona (4), Sevilla (4)w/daytrip to Cordoba and Granada (2). But it will be quite hote during this time in Andalucia and even Madrid. Another option would be to visit the Basque Country, especially if you are really into food. But if you do this then you'd need to drop Madrid, Sevilla or Andalucia.

You are walking a tightrope in 2 weeks between trying to see as much as possible and having time to absorb the culture and enjoy the food. It's a quandry faced by many!

bilboburgler

Ok, the trains in Spain are very good and very cheap. The list Cathy has proposed Madrid (4), Barcelona (4), Sevilla (4)w/daytrip to Cordoba and Granada is pretty much the way to see each of the key sites, however it will be warmish and you will not get to see say santiago de compostela or the Rioja area. Also Barcelona is a bit out on the side of this trip.

So I would get hold a Spanish guide book and really convince yourselves that those are the 5 must sees. Once you know what you want to do then have a look at the train website www.renfe.com and get a flavour of prices and times. Trains will limit you to a smaller bag (just due to the pain of dragging it around) but it keeps you off the roads.

Viajero2

You are consulting an independent traveler forum, so I don't think the tour option has a lot of fans here....

I personally would not venture anywhere South of Madrid in the Summer, but if this is IT for you then I would suggest:

with two (2) weeks try max 3 home bases and daytrip from there. Try not to backtrack, so if I were you I would fly to the southernmost destination (Seville) and work your way up to much cooler weather. Say Seville- Madrid-Barcelona. If you want a full loop, then return to Madrid.

Spain has a fantastic highway system; driving in the inner cities is another story and probably not the best way to spend your time. The rail and autobus systems in Spain are also really good and very good value.

CathyM

"Trains will limit you to a smaller bag"

Sorry - but not the case for me. I'm a chronic overpacker and trains have never been limiting for me. I just make sure to arrive early enough to get a spot to store my luggage and not be in other traveler's way.

As far as transporation during this trip - I'd let the itinerary decide the past way to get around if you do it on your own. Public transportation works in most cases. If the OP wants to see alot in a compressed time then a tour would work - but you sacrifice exposure to the culture and food. For example, you'll be given little time for lunch (that's usually the "free time" in each city or a stop at the Autogrille on the highway during travel days). Breakfast is a buffet of standard fare and group dinners are geared to all tastes which means food not very appealing to true "foodies". It also means early wake up calls - so the late night culture of Spain is difficult to experience.

greg

I think you are bouncing around between tours and doing on your own as well as between car rental and public transit because you have not defined the objectives. Once you have defined the objective = destinations and what you want to see and do there, then you should have criteria to test which type of travel makes sense. Also think about if your assumptions are valid. You worry about lugging luggage with public transit. You are not necessarily home free with car rental either since you cannot necessarily be able to drive right up to the front door and expect a parking space at the premise.

holavick

All good and much appreciated insights! We are definitely going to plan our own trip and use public transportation. We are serious foodies so Basque Country mentioned by Cathy caught my attention but I had been leaning towards an itinerary of Madrid and Andulucia. Wondering how to do laundry if I were to pack light?? No way I can pack for 15 days and get it into 1 suitcase...and if it's HOT, I won't be rewearing things. Yuck! Any suggestions? I've been told laundry mats aren't going to be where my hotels will be in the city center.

greg

At the beginning, I used to carry normal clothes and washed in my bathroom. However, in order for clothes to dry overnight I needed a warm enough room (not problem in summer) with good enough air circulation. I had enough no iron, water washable. But since the cotton things don't always dry overnight, I usually ended up doing wash and dry over two nights. However, over the years, if I had choices, I have replaced all my travel clothes to be quick-dry non-wrinkle types. Now most things I carry dry in a fraction of sleeping hours even outside of summer. Consequently, I don't carry dirty laundries in my luggage during the trip. Since quick dry garments are usually also light, this wardrobe change alone has reduce my luggage volume to be perhaps one third of what I used to carry. Since quick-dry, non wrinkle clothes that breathe tend to be hiking clothes, it took me quite a while to collect enough business wares of this type. Someone said it is a sign of a travelholic if one looks at every purchase to see if it is compatible for trips. Well that is what I do so that what I own are automatically compatible for trips.

I carry inflatable hangers so that shirts don't show creases as they dry. As I bonus, if an accommodation does not supply enough hangers, I always have couple hangers with me.

CathyM

How to do laundry - well, if you rent an apartment most will have a washing machine. Laundrymats aren't common but they do exist. Once you determine the itinerary you can try to find a self service laundry in advance. I wouldn't over worry about the packing situation. I usually travel solo and manage my 2 large bars all by myself using public transport.

CathyM

Meant to type "my two large bags" - not bars! Silly auto-correct.....

Viajero2

Anybody who travels to Spain planning to use public transportation and carrying two or more large bags (by themselves...?) is asking for it... I have witnessed two (2) instances of tricks been played on train passengers where somebody walked away with one of their bags. It is only a matter of time.

Pack for one week; you will find the concept of laundry is well developed in Spain.

Barblab

Once you get your accommodations ask them where the closest laundry is. Drop off your laundry in the am and pick up that pm. Not that much more than doing yourself and worth the cost in time savings. I pack for a week and drop laundry once a week after that. Packing light is liberating.

CathyM

Vierjero2 - I think how much I pack is my own business as long as I don't expect anyone to assist me. As for "asking for" being a crime victim I've never had any issues and I use public transportation traveling around Spain 5 weeks a year with a 21" (actually qualifies as a carry-on) and 26" bag. Are there negatives, yes. For example the cost of intra-Spain flights on Vueling and the extra bag charge But it's my decision on weighing the negatives and positives based on my itinerary. . I wouldn't neceassrily encourage someone to pack heavy - just not overly worry and weigh the pros and cons. By the way, I don't take the metro with luggage as I don't feel comfortable with it for potential safety issues.