charron53

I always use Fodorites for great advice so I am hoping you can help me this time.
My DH and I are fun loving people, (50's), love to travel with only carryon luggage. We've been together for 6 years and have been to France several times(Paris honeymoon!), Spain(Madrid and sourrounding towns), Portugal, Italy, Brazil, and many caribbean countries, various cruises etc. We love to travel! DH speaks fluent French and Spanish so no promblem with language barrier.
My DH and myself are planning on using aa miles to go to Spain, France and Morrocco for 20 days total in April 2011. We want use use public transportation ( trains,planes and buses.)
We can fly in or out of Nice, France or Spain(MAD or BCN)
The reason for Nice is we want to visit friends there for about 4 days at the beginning or end of our trip.
We would like to spend 7 days in Seville, Granada,Cordoba and Malaga?
7 days in Marrakech and sourrounding areas, including an overnight desert trek.
4 days in South of France.
My question is do we fly into Spain(MAD) go straight to south of Spain for 7 days, then fly to Morocco for 7 days , Morocco to France then home or the other way around? Do I rent an apartment in Spain and Morocco for 1 week each? Which cities? Marrechech and Seville? I love renting an apartment as a home base.
Please help me plan as I know you Guys are a great source of information.
Thanks so much

CathyM

This is a very ambitious itinerary.

For the Spain portion, it will be difficult to base youself in on place to visit all 4 of these cities. Granada can be a daytrip from Sevilla but it's a VERY long day and you really shortchange Granada.

If your trip falls at Easter time in Andalucia it is a great tiem to visit but you don't necessarily get to see as many "sites" as you would at a normal time. It can also be very crowded.

charron53

We are willing to spend the 7 days in less cities but which ones- I do want to see Seville the most.

CathyM

I'd probably do 4 days in Sevilla (with a daytrip to Cordoba), 2 days Granada and 1 in Malaga.

nytraveler

We have been to Andalusia twice - once for 10 days and once for 12 days - traveling by car - and still have a lot we want to see. Spending 7 days will be rushing through and I'm not sure how much time you'll waste on public transit. We did the basics - Seville, Cordoba, Granada, a couple of nice smaller places - Ronda and Ubeda - several days relaxing at the beach in Marbella (April is beach weather there), Jerez and Gibralter (don;t bother with the latter).

You really can;t stay in one place and see Andalusia - we moved to each town for 2 or 3 days to really see it - at night as well as during the day (the moorish influence is much more noticeable in the evening after a lot of the tour buses have left). If you try to trip from one center you will see one sight in each place but not really get a feel for any of them.

I think you need to either bag Morocco or reduce your time in the south of France to do justice to Spain.

charron53

Thanks for the help so far,I will take the above advice and also maybe cut out France this trip. Will plan to stay in each town 1-3 days each with a total of 9 days in Spain.
I would like to keep Morocco in my plans as I really want to go there.
9 days Spain
7 days Morocco
2 days free (11 Spain?)
Total 18 (20 with travel)

charron53

Update on travel plans.This is my final plans as airflights are all purchased.
Arrive MAD at 845am on AA leave at 12:45 on Royal Air Morac to Marrekech, Morocco.

5 days Marrekech Riad Miski (day trip to Atlas Mountains)

Ryan Air to Seville

5 days Seville(renting an apartment)-side trip to Cordoba
1 night Ronda at Don Miguel
2 nights Granada(tickets bought for The Alhambra)Hotel Albero
2 nights Segovia -Hotel Infanta Isabel
2 nights Toleda- Hotel Santa Isabel
1 night Best Western Barajas
DH flies back to USA-I fly to South of France(Spainair) for 1 week with my girlfriend who lives there!
So far I have managed to just miss all the Holidays, so maybe it won't be so crowded.
Now if I could just figure out the train site I'll be doing good! Can't wait!
I do have 1 question - Is it best to fly,bus or train to Madrid(Segovia) from Granada?
Thanks for all your help.

Egbert

That's a great itinerary except you're skipping Madrid. You can always see it on another trip. I guess it's best to fly to Madrid, otherwise bus and train are equal except no bathrooms on buses, just a stop at a diner to break up the 5 hr. trip. I like cutting down 7 nights in Marrakesh to 5. I also like doing that first as the vibe in Spain is a lot different than in Morroco.

kimhe

Semana Santa/Holy week is HUGE in Andalucía (17th to 24th of April). Sevilla puts on display one of the world most spectacular easter celebrations. Devotion and fiesta hand in hand. Málaga and Granada is not far behind. http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/seville/holy-week.htm

I have a particularly soft spot for Málaga, wonderful city on the coast with perhaps the most easy-going people in all of Andalucía. Spectacular sights in the center of town, excellent cafés, bars, restaurants etc. Maybe go just east of the city center to Pedregalejo for the freshest fish and seafood in one of the many affordable waterfront restaurants. Very popular with locals. Also nice beaches. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm

CathyM

Your itinerary looks much better paced. As far as Granada to Madrid it's kind of a toss up. Bus and train are about the same amount of time. There's a 9:10 train that arrives in Madrid (Atocha) at 1:35. From there you'd have to connect to Charmartin station (very easy) for the 30 minute train to Segovia. Flying is quicker but you do have to arrive at the airport earlier, wait for baggage (assuming you are checking in luggage) then get to Chamartin station. By the way your hotels in Segovia & Toledo are my personal favorites. Be sure you ask the hotel in Ronda for a room overlooking the gorge. I stayed once at the Hotel Don Miguel. The rooms are basic and clean but the rooms overlooking the gorge have amazing views!

Have a wonderful trip.

charron53

Thanks so much for the help!
Egbert- The reason we are cutting out Madrid is we spent an week there 4 years ago. We have also been to Segovia and Toledo but the are my DH personal favorites and he really wanted to spend 2 nights in each instead of 1 night like we did 4 years ago.
Kimhe- I really thought about Malaga- can still put it in after Granada? If I can convince DH to cut out Segovia?
Cathy M -We have also stayed in Segovia and Toledo in those hotels-loved the one in Toledo but only heard construction work in Segovia but thought I would give it another chance!
Ronda-asked for a room overlooking the gorge-Thanks!
Guess I will take the train to Madrid.
PS I only take carry on luggage.If fact I have it half packed already, I am so excited!