baldchick

I am a 60yr female with intermediate level of Spanish

I am planning a road trip for June 18-30.

My hope is to rent a car and explore food, wine and culture in small towns. I would like to begin and end in Madrid. I don't expect to cover all of Spain on this trip but perhaps one sector (NW, NE, SW, or SE). I would love any suggestions for a circle of travel... especially if I can avoid driving amongst the masses.

Thanks

Maria

joannyc

11 nights on the ground...

Arrive Madrid on Jun 19, train to Atocha train station, train to Toledo

Jun 19 - 21: 3 nights in Toledo. You could rent a car at Europecar outside the walls and do a day trip to Consuegra to see the windmills and castle. Take a taxi from your hotel to AutoEurope (rented via Kemwel.com or AutoEurope.com). If doing this on a day other than your last day, you can park the rental car in a free lot by the bus station and take a bus back into Toledo, then take a taxi with your luggage back to the rental car.

Jun 22 - 24: 3 nights in Salamanca

Jun 25 - 26: 2 nights in Avila

Jun 27 - 28: 2 nights in Segovia. Stop to see la Granja on the way.

Jun 29: Back to Madrid. Stop to see Valley of the Fallen and El Escorial on the way. Check into hotel then return rental car.

Jun 30: Fly home

joannyc

Oops, sorry... Meant the yellow express airport bus to Atocha from the airport

IMDonehere

Each area has it owns charms, history, language, and regional cooking. But castilian is spoken everywhere.

NW-Galicia, verdant, Celtic influence, Santiago is the end of the Camino, gallego spoken. The coast is beautiful

NE-Baque country-Best food in Spain, Belle Epoque San Senastian/Donostia, Bilbao with the Guggenheim, Basque spoken

SE-Catalonia-Barcelona is the the cultural and economic center of Catalunya. Unique city with its moderisme architecture and spirit. Catalan spoken

SW-Moorish Spain with a wealth of architecture and history.

Once you decide what is best for you, people can offer suggestions. Spain has an excellent bus and train system, but to see certain small town, you will need a car.

joannyc

In August 2013, I visited northwestern Spain.

From Barajas airport in Madrid, I took a bus to Burgos. I picked up a rental car when leaving Burgos and returned it to the car rental (Avis this time again through Kemwel or AutoEurope) by Atocha train station after dropping my luggage at my hotel in Madrid.

Here is my TR in pictures. There is a a lot of text if you play it in slide show mode. The first pic of each town/city is noted on the pic itself.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-pictures.cfm

kja

With the time you have and your commitment to flying in and out of Madrid, I think joannyc has given you a great plan in her proposed route for Toledo, Salamanca, Avila, and Segovia. If you want to see Madrid, too, then I think you could consider starting with that plan, but shifting nights as necessary to Madrid in ways that best meet your interests.

Of course, NONE of us can say what YOU will want to see and do. I strongly recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, check their opening/closing times on the internet, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation (viamichelin.com gives the most accurate driving time estimates for this area, IME), add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together.

BTW, note that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.

Enjoy!