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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 11:05 AM
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Totally revised Spain itinerary - advice

I’ve been planning a 10 day trip to spain in June and having a lot of trouble deciding where to go and how long to stay. I just want to see it all!!
But I think I’ve narrowed it down enough now, what do you think?
Madrid 3 nights
Granada 1 night - for the Alhambra
Sevilla 5 nights -with day trips to cadiz, jerez and ronda
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 12:16 PM
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Sounds good - a few suggestions: You might want to do a night or two in the white villages (Ronda, etc) or Cadiz instead of day tripping from Seville. Seville is a big city, complete with traffic. Taking 3 day trips could be a pain. It might be a nice change of pace to stay in a more rural setting one or two nights. Also 3 nights in Madrid might be too much unless you are planning a day trip to Toledo.
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 12:28 PM
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Great!! I really appreciate the feedback the planning can be so confusing.

I think I'll knock a night off Madrid and Sevilla, Then spend two nights in Cadiz, visiting Jerez on the way and keep the one day trip from Sevilla to Ronda.
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 12:32 PM
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zootsi brings up a good point: traffic in and out of the city.

If you have a car, I would recommend going to Segovia. But I am biased and love that place for a day visit. Search it and you will find my ideal itinerary.

Claire
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 12:39 PM
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I'm not sure how welcome this dissenting view is going to be, but:

Two days are not enough in Madrid, in my opinion. If you are at all interested in art, Madrid has three superb museums: the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia, in addition to many house museums, interesting churches, etc.

Also indispensable is a day trip from Madrid to Toledo. Toledo is almost untouched by time, a tiny town that overflows with fascinating art and architecture.

Sevilla does not merit five days; I'm not sure it merits four.

Cordoba and its Mezquita - a huge, sprawling mosque with a Catholic cathedral plunked into it - is as unique and unforgettable as the Alhambra in Granada. It should be on your list.

I admit I do not know Cadiz and Jerez. Ronda is good for a day, for the old bullring and, above all, its unique geographic formation.
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 12:46 PM
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Well lucky museums are not our thing so I'm not worried about madrid.

Cordoba was on the list but I've been told it not worth more than a day. Maybe I can add it as day trip between Sevilla and Granada, would that be doable?

Really I'm trying to avoid packing and unpacking as much as possible
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 12:59 PM
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I don't know how you travel, because whether I am day-tripping or moving around, I am still packing and unpacking the same amount.

Cordoba is for sure worth the visit, particularly for the Mosque/Cathedral and for eating. . . el Churrasco was one of my most memorable meals ever.

I personally think that Segovia is better than Toledo for a day trip. . . and I agree that Madrid is expendable, especially if museums are not your thing.

Are you driving? If so, then you can do a really nice circle: start Madrid, go to Cordoba, continue on to Granada, then head to Cadiz passing by Ronda, From Cadiz (which is not passing, but a nice respite), you go to Sevilla via Jerez. I would spend the night in Jerez and get happily plastered tasting sherries.

Claire
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 01:00 PM
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no car just plane trains and buses
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 01:03 PM
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I had an unforgettable meal in Cordoba at El Caballo Rojo, just off the Mezquita square.

I'm not looking at a map, but according to mappy.com it's about 2.5 hours from Granada to Cordoba and another 2 hours from Cordoba to Sevilla, so you could fit in the Mezquita and lunch on the day you go from Granada to Sevilla.
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 01:07 PM
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Uh-oh, that is going to make your travel in Andalucia considerably more complicated.

You'll have to try to plot it out at
www.renfe.es.

I don't remember which cities it was between, but there was one train trip that called for a transfer in Bobadilla, which, as far as I could tell, consisted mainly of the train station, with a few houses thrown in...

Sometimes a bus is much faster and less complicated, but I don't know a single good Web site for buses in Spain.
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Old Feb 24th, 2006, 01:09 PM
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That changes everything, Jibboo!

I would say that the circle I proposed still stands. Ronda and Cadiz are going to be harder to get to (smaller place and further distance), and I usually do Andalucia with a car, but in the transport experiences I have had (mostly between Malaga and other destinations, all by bus, and one train trip with my Dad), things were accessible.
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