Spain itinerary and railway advise

Old May 26th, 2017, 01:22 AM
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Spain itinerary and railway advise

HI all.

Our first time in Spain, a long waited trip... 3 adults and a 4 year old who has traveled with us in all our trips. The age is a bit difficult but we find it manageable as we divide the day between her activities and ours.

So here is the plan we fly in to madrid and out from Barcelona and we have about 13 nights End of june.

Day 1: madrid arrive around noon.
Day 2: madrid
Day 3: madrid
Day 4: take train to seville
Day 5: seville
Day 6: seville
Day 7: train to cordoba
Day 8: day trip to Grenada to see Alhambra
Day 9:cordoba
Day 10: train to barcelona
Day 11: barcelona
Day 12: barcelona
Day 13: barcelona
Day 14: fly back home from Barcelona

I need your advice regarding the plan if it is doable and sounds reasonable, my concerns are regarding the train lines in Spain ( if someone can suggest a website to find the best fare).

Is the day trip to granada from cordoba possible, and through which form of transportation?

I was torn between Andalusian cities and finally had to rule out malaga and granada because the other two seemed more appealing and offered more things to do and see, but if there is any suggestion of something I have missed it will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance
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Old May 26th, 2017, 04:59 AM
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I suggest going to The Man in Seat 61 who has lots of advice about Spain. He is particularly useful about buying tickets since the Spanish national rail website purchases can be something of a challenge. www.seat61.com
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Old May 26th, 2017, 07:19 AM
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I, personally, wouldn't try to do a day-trip to Granada from Cordoba for purposes of seeing the Alhambra. It's theoretically doable, but why? Just spend the night in Granada.

You indicate that you've dropped Malaga and Granada for time in Seville and Cordoba. I, personally, wouldn't have included Barcelona on this trip and would have instead focused on Andalucía--with a few days in Madrid at either end of the trip, but if you've already booked airfare, then I suppose it's too late to cut Barcelona out of it.
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Old May 26th, 2017, 07:35 AM
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My somewhat random thoughts. I would not stay in both Seville and Cordoba - either or, pretty close to each other, easy 45 minute train ride. Then you could add either Malaga or Granada. I know there are guided tours to the Alhambra from Malaga - it is closer to Granada than Cordoba or Seville.

Now my very personal opinion that many do not agree with is, if you see the Alcazar in Seville, it is not necessary to see the Alhambra. Both are excellent examples of the Moorish architecture - true, the gardens at the Alhambra are more extensive but again, I really don't think you need to do both on a limited trip.

You might want to do Madrid, Cordoba (or Seville), Malaga - will be nice to be by the water in June! and then Barcelona. Have a nice trip!
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Old May 26th, 2017, 09:25 AM
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Thank you for your suggestions... Though I am now confused again.

If I skip cordoba and go to granada from seville, spend the night and go to malaga or vice versa malaga then granada... Then wouldn't it be more difficult to get to barcelona( which i don't want to leave Out)from there?.
For us there is no such thing as no need �� but I guess we won't know until we have done it. We are interested in architecture as we are in the design and construction field, our other interests are food and culture. Which is why we want to get a different experience between the cities to understand a bit more the contrast.
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Old May 26th, 2017, 09:30 AM
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I could however skip seville for this trip and do as you suggested.. Madrid, Cordoba and malaga then barcelona. I will give it a thought, even though the things I read about seville is more appealing than malaga.
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Old May 26th, 2017, 10:56 AM
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Trains - www.renfe.com - Spanish Railways official site to book own tickets - far in advance to get limited number of discounted tickets - yes www.seat61.com will be of big help in booking as tghe renfe.com site can be a real flummoxing one for novice encounterers to get to work-general info www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Seville to me is really nice -I'd cut Granada if anything - besides Alhambra a so-so IMO big city. I'd do Cordoba maybe as a day trip from Seville.
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Old May 26th, 2017, 11:10 AM
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If anything, I'd cut Malaga. Stick with Seville, Cordoba, and Granada. Then go to BCN by train or fly.
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Old May 27th, 2017, 02:30 PM
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Bedar >>> how do you suggest to cover the 3 in 6 nights? train From madrid and then to barcelona.
what would be an adequate time to spend in each is what's difficult, on the one hand I want to go to all 3, on the other, not very comfortable with a 2 nights stay idea as too much traveling we are not going to be able to settle.
I have looked at trains but still did not decide which is the best way to arrange the trip.
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Old May 27th, 2017, 02:41 PM
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Seville, Cordoba, and Granada>

that is the order of time needed IME - Granada one day - Cordoba could be a day trip from Seville and 3 days in Seville - Granada takes 4-5 hours each way from Cordoba I believe.
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Old May 27th, 2017, 03:11 PM
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Hi Newbee86
Our experience booking Renfe tickets is this: we downloaded their app to ipad and linked it to paypal for payment, we are in Australia and have been travelling regularly to Spain. We book tickets as far out,timewise, as we can, for the best price.The most important to book ahead is Cordoba to Barcelona, you will go back via Madrid for this. Your Itinerary looks good, as it is and is certainly doable.
I also suggest you book your tickets to Alhumbra asap. We took our elderly parents last year, and booked a personal guide: parents are a hard of hearing and like to take their time; it cost alot but we made the most of the day and they loved it.We drove to Granada from Malaga, parked in the Alhumbra carpark and were met by the guide. They already had the tickets. We timed our visit to finish at lunchtime, 2.30pm,the tour company picked us up in a car and took us to a small restaurant overlooking Alhumbra, and then drove us back to our car. It was a highlight of our trip.With a little one in tow this might be an option for you.I would look at driving to Granada, or bus.
For trains such as Seville to Cordoba you can buy your tickets at the station.
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Old May 27th, 2017, 03:12 PM
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fly to Barcelona from any f the southern cities.. even granada. Do NOT day trip wit a 4 yr old to Alhambra. As mentioned, not sure I would even do granada w a 4 yr old if you are doing the Alcazar. Be sure to get tickets ahead of time for EVERYWHERE you want to visit.
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Old May 27th, 2017, 04:22 PM
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For trains such as Seville to Cordoba you can buy your tickets at the station.>

These are for the slower regional trains but if taking the high-speed AVE can't you get a discount on that trajectory? I have no idea so asking the experts-just curious???
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Old May 27th, 2017, 05:28 PM
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I kept an eye on fares for Sevilla-Córdoba in the months before our trip this past March. I never found discounted fares on high speed routes. There are a couple of cheaper options depending on time of day, but I never saw the deep discounts that I saw on other routes.

The ALSA bus is a good option between Cordoba and Granada.
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Old May 27th, 2017, 06:44 PM
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"never found discounted fares on high speed routes. "

Same here..
When we visited Córdoba from Seville the only discounted tickets were at
inconvenient hours.
Actually, there are fewer discounts on AVE for many destination than
5-6 years ago.
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Old May 28th, 2017, 11:03 AM
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Are there not non-AVE trains serving that route -Seville to Cordoba too with cheaper fares? Or only AVE? Thanks.
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Old May 28th, 2017, 11:25 AM
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Yes, there are other train..a bit less.
still, I see no discounts.

Google Renfe.
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Old May 28th, 2017, 12:27 PM
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I just ran a search for a day in late June. There are some cheaper media distance and Avant trains with cheaper fares and a handful of promo fares for Ave trains (at not particularly convenient times). It may depend on how flexible he OP is as to the timing of the train.
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Old May 28th, 2017, 09:50 PM
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Thank you for your advice. I guess I will stick to my itinerary and try to go to granada by bus from seville then cordoba,it will be safer than driving. In regards to the tickets From what I read at the www.seat61.com I can use the trainline.eu for Spain train bookings, the prices are definitely not discounted, but still ok the major one being from cordoba to barcelona.

Any particular website to book our attractions tickets? Alhambra in particular. And are they refundable in case of emergency? This is the first time I travel and have to book tickets in advance, wouldn't it be possible to book it a night or two before the visit?
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Old May 29th, 2017, 08:24 AM
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cordoba to barcelona.>

flying could be cheaper?
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