Spain/Portugal Travel for Older Couple

Old Mar 26th, 2017, 06:58 AM
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Spain/Portugal Travel for Older Couple

My wife and I (60's) are planning a trip to Spain and Portugal and need advice about how to travel without car rentals. We have been to Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona which we enjoy and would return to, especially Lisbon and Barcelona.
Now we have 16 - 21 days and want to see Southern Portugal and Spain (Seville, Cordoba, Costa del Sol), even Morocco, if the last makes sense to add. We are used to being on our own, savoring the local atmosphere with some culture and hiring half-day private car/drivers to see local areas. We are unfamiliar with how to get around cities in these areas, e.g. local transportation, trains, planes, etc.
There are several tour groups (G Adventure, Intrepid, Cosmos) but we are unfamiliar with them and cannot find much about the quality of the experience from testimonials. Some itineraries look rushed. Intrepid at least looks to be oriented to smaller groups.
Any advice on how to cover the area within the time frame and whether to do on our own or with a small tour group?
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 07:13 AM
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I have only driven in Portugal, so I have not taken their buses and trains.

The train and bus system in Spain is excellent and if you see the identification AVE, it is Spain's high speed which has a growing network.

Besides Iberia there is Vueling, Ryan, and Easyjet for cheap-o flights. They all have strict rules and penalties for their version of overweight luggage.
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 08:48 AM
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go with the tour
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 09:20 AM
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It's perfectly easy to travel in these areas on your own. Good guidebooks -- and I do recommend that you consult some! -- will cover your transportation options, both intra- and intercity. You can get some preliminary ideas using rome2rio.com, but be sure to check anything you learn there as it is not sensitive to seasonal variation and isn't always up-to-date.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 11:53 AM
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Thanks to all three repliers!
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 02:55 PM
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When do you plan this trip? It can get very hot in southern Spain in the summer.

Have you considered going to Granada to see the Alhambra? By consensus, it's the top sight in Spain.

No matter what you do consult some guidebooks. I get them from the library or buy them. A good guidebook will tell you how to get around and what to see. Even if you decide to take a tour, some background will enrich your experience.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 07:20 PM
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You don't need to go with a tour group, although i know that Intrepid has an excellent reputation and they have been around for a long time.

My husband and I (late 60's) travel independently all the time. We have a trip planned to Madrid and Andalusia for this September, and i have planned the whole trip with the advice of people on this forum, and reading travel guidebooks. I recommend Lonely Planet, Michelin Green Guide, Rough Guides, and Rick Steves. Even though we have rented cars on other trips, we are traveling by train and bus on this trip because a car will be a hindrance in the cities. Check out websites for Rail Europe, Renfe, and Loco2 to get prices and schedules.

Train tickets don't go on sale until usually 2 to 3 months in advance of your travel date. You can set alerts with Loco2 and RailEurope; they will let you know when the tickets are on sale.

Hope this helps. Oh, the bus company is ALSA.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 08:22 PM
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We are in late 60's and we still travel independently. Unless you have a mobility issue, there is no reason to join a tour in Spain. You are going to well-trodden areas where they are totally familiar with tourists.

One SIL walked the 500 mile Camino when she was 74.
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Old Jan 7th, 2020, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by m2m496
My wife and I (60's) are planning a trip to Spain and Portugal and need advice about how to travel without car rentals. We have been to Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona which we enjoy and would return to, especially Lisbon and Barcelona.
Now we have 16 - 21 days and want to see Southern Portugal and Spain (Seville, Cordoba, Costa del Sol), even Morocco, if the last makes sense to add. We are used to being on our own, savoring the local atmosphere with some culture and hiring half-day private car/drivers to see local areas. We are unfamiliar with how to get around cities in these areas, e.g. local transportation, trains, planes, etc.
There are several tour groups (G Adventure, Intrepid, Cosmos) but we are unfamiliar with them and cannot find much about the quality of the experience from testimonials. Some itineraries look rushed. Intrepid at least looks to be oriented to smaller groups.
Any advice on how to cover the area within the time frame and whether to do on our own or with a small tour group?
How was your trip. We are 3 70+ women trying to plan a trip to Portugal & Southern Spain in May.
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