Suggestions of where to go for a 12 day car hire in Spain
Jul 24th, 2015, 08:15 PM
#1
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Suggestions of where to go for a 12 day car hire in Spain
Hi everyone,
We are hiring a car for 12 days in Spain in January 2016 and would love a suggested itinerary of the best places to visit during that time. We pick up the car in Madrid and need to drop it off to Barcelona 12 days later. We just want to know that un-missable places to go in that time. Is it realistic to include a drive to the French Pyrenees mountains for 2-3 days as we would dearly love to include some mountain scenery too? Is the Spanish part of the Pyrenees as good as the French part & are we just being unrealistic about the driving distances etc. Is it fully snowing in the Pyrenees at that time of year and if so where in the Pyrenees would be the best place to go.My husband and I will be travelling with our 2 daughters aged 12 & 14.
Looking forward to your responses!! Thanks in advance!!
We are hiring a car for 12 days in Spain in January 2016 and would love a suggested itinerary of the best places to visit during that time. We pick up the car in Madrid and need to drop it off to Barcelona 12 days later. We just want to know that un-missable places to go in that time. Is it realistic to include a drive to the French Pyrenees mountains for 2-3 days as we would dearly love to include some mountain scenery too? Is the Spanish part of the Pyrenees as good as the French part & are we just being unrealistic about the driving distances etc. Is it fully snowing in the Pyrenees at that time of year and if so where in the Pyrenees would be the best place to go.My husband and I will be travelling with our 2 daughters aged 12 & 14.
Looking forward to your responses!! Thanks in advance!!
Jul 24th, 2015, 09:10 PM
#2
It's interesting to hear about trips planned in exactly the opposite way that I'd do it. This isn't, by any means, a criticism, more a comparison.
When I'm planning, I look first at the possibilities available by public transport. Or, I start with destinations in mind and see how I can get there by public transport. If that's not possible and I want to see them badly enough, then I proceed to a car rental. So to start with the car, to my way of thinking, is beginning at the end. Not the wrong end, just the opposite one.
I know you'll get plenty of suggestions and fill in the days. I'll be watching to see how it transpires.
When I'm planning, I look first at the possibilities available by public transport. Or, I start with destinations in mind and see how I can get there by public transport. If that's not possible and I want to see them badly enough, then I proceed to a car rental. So to start with the car, to my way of thinking, is beginning at the end. Not the wrong end, just the opposite one.
I know you'll get plenty of suggestions and fill in the days. I'll be watching to see how it transpires.
Jul 24th, 2015, 10:00 PM
#3
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So many wonderful places to see in Spain - medieval walled cities, castles, cathedrals, mosques, great architecture, historical sites, museums, beaches in summer. Must sees are different depending on your interests - hiking, art, history, food? What interests your girls?
Are you into winter outdoor activities? Are mountains a primary interest?
Just a few places on many tourists' lists besides Madrid and Barcelona: old world Seville, the Alhambra in Granada, Malaga, the great cathedral in Toledo, the aqueduct and castle in Segovia, the Mosque in Cordoba as well as all these lovely towns and cities for themselves
It might be best to decide what is important to each/all of you and how much time each of those places will take, then put together an itinerary and the logistics that works for those things.
IMHO, the drive between Madrid and Barcelona is very long and very boring, not a good use of time. I did it once - never again!
Are you into winter outdoor activities? Are mountains a primary interest?
Just a few places on many tourists' lists besides Madrid and Barcelona: old world Seville, the Alhambra in Granada, Malaga, the great cathedral in Toledo, the aqueduct and castle in Segovia, the Mosque in Cordoba as well as all these lovely towns and cities for themselves
It might be best to decide what is important to each/all of you and how much time each of those places will take, then put together an itinerary and the logistics that works for those things.
IMHO, the drive between Madrid and Barcelona is very long and very boring, not a good use of time. I did it once - never again!
Jul 24th, 2015, 10:20 PM
#4
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There are lots of good trip reports and several posters who are real experts on Spain, but these come to mind right off. You might enjoy MaiTaiTom's Insane for Spain trip report, and any reports by Bob the Navigator, as well as Lincasanova.
Jul 24th, 2015, 11:26 PM
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You might want to consult the Michelin Green Guide for the area. For distances and driving times, check viamichelin.com . For climate, see just about any guide book or reliable source of information on travel in Spain.
Jul 26th, 2015, 07:10 AM
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A suggestion could be
- Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/
- Alcala de Henares, Cervantes' birth-place: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/876
- Teruel: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres...as/teruel.html
- Zaragoza (Roman Caesaraugusta):
http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres.../zaragoza.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/ar...varra/zaragoza
- Into the Pyrenees, Torla and the Ordesa national park is breathtaking: https://www.airbnb.no/rooms/3140997
- Barcelona: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/
- Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/
- Alcala de Henares, Cervantes' birth-place: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/876
- Teruel: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres...as/teruel.html
- Zaragoza (Roman Caesaraugusta):
http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres.../zaragoza.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/ar...varra/zaragoza
- Into the Pyrenees, Torla and the Ordesa national park is breathtaking: https://www.airbnb.no/rooms/3140997
- Barcelona: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/
Jul 26th, 2015, 08:10 AM
#7
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I don't quite understand the desire to do a driving trip in deep winter, also, especially in the mountains. In winter, I would do places accessible by train, cities.
The Pyrenees are, of course, quite cold in the winter and can get down to -15C at night om the Aragon ones, up here. Of course there isn't as much snow down in the valleys. I thin the Catalan Pyrenees may not be quite as cold, but there is often fog, also,and snow in January. Well, I'm no expert, I do go to mountain areas in winter but to do winter sports like skiing (and there are ski resorts in the Pyrenees). So you'll have to do more research on the weather and figure out what you are up to. Heres'a n interesting article on the Pyrenees in winter and their ski resorts http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/tr...pain.html?_r=0
The Pyrenees are, of course, quite cold in the winter and can get down to -15C at night om the Aragon ones, up here. Of course there isn't as much snow down in the valleys. I thin the Catalan Pyrenees may not be quite as cold, but there is often fog, also,and snow in January. Well, I'm no expert, I do go to mountain areas in winter but to do winter sports like skiing (and there are ski resorts in the Pyrenees). So you'll have to do more research on the weather and figure out what you are up to. Heres'a n interesting article on the Pyrenees in winter and their ski resorts http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/tr...pain.html?_r=0
Jul 27th, 2015, 01:50 AM
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Perhaps go to the ski resort Arette-La Pierre-Saint-Martin, pretty close to Torla and the Ordesa, spectacularly beautiful and the final of a Tour de France stage some days ago. http://www.lapierrestmartin.com/fr/index.aspx
As a Norwegian, very well used to great drives in snow and cold, it was more scary coming here in mid summer some years ago. We were far above the skies down in the valley, could not see a single living person up here and was greeted through the window of our car by a donkey who happily had our sandwiches for lunch. This is what might await you in January, not a bad part of a Spain holiday including Madrid and Barcelona. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWqDiaqH5AQ
As a Norwegian, very well used to great drives in snow and cold, it was more scary coming here in mid summer some years ago. We were far above the skies down in the valley, could not see a single living person up here and was greeted through the window of our car by a donkey who happily had our sandwiches for lunch. This is what might await you in January, not a bad part of a Spain holiday including Madrid and Barcelona. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWqDiaqH5AQ
Jul 27th, 2015, 04:59 AM
#9
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I strongly Recommend you this park - Valencia biopark
See It's Pictures. It 's really amazing. I know your daughters will really love it.
http://marvelnotes.com/the-valencia-biopark/
See It's Pictures. It 's really amazing. I know your daughters will really love it.
http://marvelnotes.com/the-valencia-biopark/
Jul 27th, 2015, 10:05 AM
#10
Pick up a copy of:
http://www.amazon.ca/Back-Roads-Spai...vel+back+roads
and a copy of:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/206...d_i=2067199552
and visit this site:
http://www.castillosnet.org/espana/index.php
I find the places and castle ruins I want to visit on Google Earth, place-mark them, and write down the Lat/Long coordinates in a pocket notebook, which I then enter into the GPS in Spain.
My only must visit recommendation is Merida. Trujillo and Guadalupe are worth a visit as well.
Stick to the back roads and create you own adventure.
There is no better way to experience Spain and avoid the tourist hordes than by car.
Mark
http://www.amazon.ca/Back-Roads-Spai...vel+back+roads
and a copy of:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/206...d_i=2067199552
and visit this site:
http://www.castillosnet.org/espana/index.php
I find the places and castle ruins I want to visit on Google Earth, place-mark them, and write down the Lat/Long coordinates in a pocket notebook, which I then enter into the GPS in Spain.
My only must visit recommendation is Merida. Trujillo and Guadalupe are worth a visit as well.
Stick to the back roads and create you own adventure.
There is no better way to experience Spain and avoid the tourist hordes than by car.
Mark
Jul 31st, 2015, 12:12 AM
#11
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Thanks so much to everyone for taking the time to give us some recommendations - it really helps us a lot. One question I have is if you could pick the best part of the Pyrenees to visit in January for 3 days where would it be? We will be travelling mostly in Spain so happy to got to the Spanish Pyrenees as it might be warmer perhaps? Can we still do some walking or are all areas of the Pyrenees snow covered and freezing. Will any visitors centres be open. A few people have recommended Torla in Oredsa National Park - is this the best?
