Gram

Thanks to all of you (especially Maribel), our trip to Spain is nearly planned. Will be there in late April/early May. Barcelona for 6 days, San Sebastian 6 days, then the Pays Basque for a few days returning to Pamplona. Here's the problem. How much time will it take us to drive from St. Etienne de Baigorry to Pamplona? Trying to book the 12:32 train back to Barcelona. Have to allow time to return the rental car. Is this doable or should we spend the night in Pamplona and go the next day?

Same question about time to drive from Barcelona to Cadaques? We will only have 4 days to spend somewhere an hour or two from Barcelona before we fly out on the 19th. Maybe Cadaques is too far? Other suggestions? We prefer to go to one destination and stay the entire time. Food and just relaxing in the sun away from mobs of people is what we enjoy most. Thanks for any help. Your suggestions will complete our three weeks in Spain.
DM

Robert2533

Baigorry to Pamplona should take around 1-1/2 to 2 hours, depending on traffic, following the N-135 over the pass at Roncesvalles.

The train station is southwest of the old city, so I would allow another 20 minutes to reach the train station. You can check Google Earth, which has an excellent map of Pamplona and the route south from Baigorry.

Cadaques is a little over 2 hours from Barcelona. It shouldn't be a bad drive, but the airport is to the west of the city, so I would allow at least 3 hours since you are not familiar with the road and the traffic can be heavy at times. You can either follow the route through the city, or take the ronda to the north around the city. We drove in from Begur the last time with no problems.

Maribel

Hi Gram,
Ditto to what Robert has told you about St. Etienne de Baigorry and the route to Pamplona.

I do think Cadaqués is too far, particularly if driving on a weekend, and if you have a before noon departure from El Prat. It will take more than 2 hrs.

I just wouldn't go that far north, and the drive from Roses up to Cadaqués can be very slow going due to the thousand curves.

If you don't have too early a departure from the BCN airport,
I would stay in the quiet (no mobs in early May) and very scenic Begur-Pals-Palafrugell area of the lower Empordà.
I do love the atmospheric town of Begur and surrounding coves like Aiguablava.

There's so much to see and do-well restored medieval towns like Peratallada, Monells, Madremanya and Pals, and there's Pùbol (part of the Dalí triangle), the Iberian ruins just north of Ullastret, etc.

And some very fine restaurants
(Mas Comangau in Begur, Cuina del Teatre in Regencós, La Plaça in Madremanya, El Fort in Ullastret, Tragamar in Calella de Palafrugell) and good wines from the Empordà-Costa Brava D.O.

The drive from Begur to El Prat will take 2 hours. From the Hotel-Restaurant La Plaça in Madremany, a charming medieval village on the Empordà plain, outside very interesting Girona, the drive takes 1 hr. 40 min.
www.laplacamadremanya.com

Gram

Thank you both for your very helpful responses. I can now complete our plans for Spain. Maribel, I wish you had a great travel guide for Croatia. That will be our next stop after Spain.

Gram

I love the idea of spending a few days in the Begur area. Suggestions on where to stay? We do not do luxury hotels. Prefer small hotels, apartment, or even a room. Anyone have a suggestion for Begur or Palafrugell?

Maribel

In Llafranc there are several small family hotels that won't break the bank and are right at the waterfront. The Llafranch and the Llevant are 2 that some to mind.

www.hllafranch.com
www.hotel-llevant.com

In Begur, there's the cute little family run Hotel Bliss Begur that just opened in Jan. 07. The family gave us a tour, and we liked both the father and son who run it and the stylish rooms. It also has a nice Italian restaurant.

www.blissbegurhotel.com

In Aiguafreda, there's the tiny husband and wife run hotel/restaurant Sa Rascassa which is next to the diving school, tucked away in this tiny cove. Very good food, very moderate prices.

www.hostalsarascassa.com

Maribel

Gram,
One more small, family owned hotel for you to consider:
Hotel Rosa, in the center of beguiling Begur, run by a couple who also own the well regarded
Fonda Caner restaurant across the street.
Their April and May rates are inexpensive.

www.fondacaner.com

Wed and Sun in Begur are market days.
And the view from the top of the castle in ruins is spectacular!