I am planning a trip to Spain June 11 to July 2. Taking my husband and 9 year old daughter. I was born and raised in Spain. So excited to show my husband and daughter all that I can in 3 weeks. We will be landing in Madrid, visiting with a relative there then headed to Extremadura. I thought of renting a car and going thru Toledo Cuidad real and Cordoba, Sevilla. After some reading I am wondering if taking a train would be a better experience for my husband and daughter.... As a child growing up I remember taking this trip in the car many many times! So much I want to share with them the castles, the scenery, the food my country! Any help or ideas would so be grateful and helpful.
Spain in June to July
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I would include Granada in the circuit.
Well I like taking the train and often a car in the cities is a pain. Plus a train trip is often something we don't do here in the US so that makes it a bit special. Maybe train to Seville, then visit Cordoba as an easy train daytrip and rent a car for just a day to two to dirve around thru the white villages. Enjoy!
Spanish trains have become so comfortable and inexp. since I first rode one in 1972. Cars are a real pain and unless you want to do the back roads and see the wonderful areas..ditch the car idea..Just don't have oodles of bags..Another pain and especially on public transport. When we travelled ir was carry on only and a daypack..It definitly can be done. Your trip sounds great. Check out RENFRE family tickets.. If you want to do back roads stay in one place and rent a car for the day as suec1 suggests..Again can be done!!!
BTW.. High spped trains, altho great for getting where you want to go, are not easy on the sightseeing eyes..They go too fast to enjoy much scenery..
Skip Cuidad Real (unless visiting a relative) and add Granada. Although it might be fun for the 9 yr old to take a train, we find the train to be expensive and prefer the freedom of a rental car. Have never had difficulty parking in the cities. Always use AutoEurope. And, I think you'll want a car in Extremadura. Great trip to show your family your natal country !
Not many people visit Extremadura, which is one of the most beautiful parts of Spain, even if it does get rather warm in the summer. You can take the train from Madrid, and avoid the boring drive, but you will need a car once you reach your destination.
If you want to visit Toledo, then I would spend a couple of days in Madrid and take the train down to Toledo for the day. I would not drive.
Where can I get information on the train going thru Toledo? Sounds like taking the train would be fun for my little girl.
I don't agree that the scenery is just a blur on high speed trains, I still enjoy it. It isn't the speed of light.
Why do you want a train going "through" Toledo rather than to it? I'm just not clear on what you really need. There are lots of buses to Toledo from Madrid that are easy and comfortable, also, we had a thread on that recently. YOu don't have to take the train, but you can. If you want to know about trains, you should go to the RENFE website.
some info on Toledo transportation from Madrid http://www.mat.ucm.es/~ln06/imtoledo/travel.html