12 days pre-cruise trip in Spain
#1
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12 days pre-cruise trip in Spain
We'd like to spend 12 days around Andalucia and Madrid prior to our reposition cruise which departs Barcelona Nov. 11. to Mia.
We like to visit Madrid (2 nights), Toledo (1), Cordoba (1), Sevilla (2), Ronda (1), Malaga (2), Granada (1)and Barcelona (2).
Would appreciate suggestion as how our itinerary should be arranged, which city shall be our starting point with Barcelona being our departing city. We intend to travel by public transport of Air, train or bus.
Shall be book all our hotel/transport ahead, or can we wing it as we go in Nov.
We look forward to your comment and guidance.
We like to visit Madrid (2 nights), Toledo (1), Cordoba (1), Sevilla (2), Ronda (1), Malaga (2), Granada (1)and Barcelona (2).
Would appreciate suggestion as how our itinerary should be arranged, which city shall be our starting point with Barcelona being our departing city. We intend to travel by public transport of Air, train or bus.
Shall be book all our hotel/transport ahead, or can we wing it as we go in Nov.
We look forward to your comment and guidance.
#2
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Well you can easily visit Toledo while staying in Madrid and I would also combine Cordoba and Seville. Obviously I don't like to pack up and move every day! I assume you'll start in Madrid, then its easy to south by the AVE to Seville / Cordoba. We got a car in Seville to go down to Ronda and the coast, seems like train connections were not so good. Maybe other posters have more info on that part of your trip.
Even tho Nov. should not be busy, I would still book hotels ahead of time just because there is so much to see I don't want to spend time looking for accomodations. As for the transportation - its been several years since we took the AVE. Hopefully another poster will let you know if you can save money by booking ahead of time. In France, you can save so much money with the PREM fares - don't know if RENFE offers simimlar savings or not.
Even tho Nov. should not be busy, I would still book hotels ahead of time just because there is so much to see I don't want to spend time looking for accomodations. As for the transportation - its been several years since we took the AVE. Hopefully another poster will let you know if you can save money by booking ahead of time. In France, you can save so much money with the PREM fares - don't know if RENFE offers simimlar savings or not.
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thanks suec1,
shall we combine Ronda, Malaga and Granada as well? Which is a better base, Malaga or Granada?
According to YK's report, RENFE offers 40% saving by booking ahead on the net! You are right about saving time if rooms are booked ahead.
shall we combine Ronda, Malaga and Granada as well? Which is a better base, Malaga or Granada?
According to YK's report, RENFE offers 40% saving by booking ahead on the net! You are right about saving time if rooms are booked ahead.
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Hi, samuell -
While I can understand your desire to see all of these places, I wonder if you are taking into account how much time it will take to travel from one location to another. I think you will end up with little time to actually see any of these wonderful places! So you might want to consider trimming your list of destinations.
Hope that helps!
While I can understand your desire to see all of these places, I wonder if you are taking into account how much time it will take to travel from one location to another. I think you will end up with little time to actually see any of these wonderful places! So you might want to consider trimming your list of destinations.
Hope that helps!
#5
I would certainly cut this back with only 12 days! Madrid, Toledo, Granada and Barcelona alone could easily take longer than that. However, I wouldn't do Toledo as a day trip - it's one of those popular places that rewards overnighters. I also wouldn't consider a southern Spain trip that omitted the Alhambra, although I would drop one of Cordoba and Seville. I would fly into Madrid and then take the train.
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This itinerary would be a little too aggressive for me in terms of moving around and time to really take in the culture and feel for each city.
Personally (and I know not all will agree), I'd drop Madrid and Toledo and focus on spending time in Andalucia then Barcelona. Two very different parts of Spain in less than 2 weeks is still not alot of time.The weather should be nice in these areas in November.
Where are you flying into Spain from? If you haven't booked your airfare yet and are coming from the US Delta just started non-stop service from JFK to Malaga.
Personally (and I know not all will agree), I'd drop Madrid and Toledo and focus on spending time in Andalucia then Barcelona. Two very different parts of Spain in less than 2 weeks is still not alot of time.The weather should be nice in these areas in November.
Where are you flying into Spain from? If you haven't booked your airfare yet and are coming from the US Delta just started non-stop service from JFK to Malaga.
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Thank you, everyone!!
we will be flying in from Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
Malaga or Sevilla was our choice of entry point, was going to make our way up to Madrid then Barcelona.
May be we should drop Madrid and focus on Andalucia!!
Too many places and too little time!!
we will be flying in from Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
Malaga or Sevilla was our choice of entry point, was going to make our way up to Madrid then Barcelona.
May be we should drop Madrid and focus on Andalucia!!
Too many places and too little time!!
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Hi Samuell,
I'm planning a trip to Spain for 15 days and after going in circles for a while we decided to skip Madrid and focus on the Andalucia - we actually cut Barcelona out as well, but obviously you want to end up there!
We're doing two nights Seville, three nights Cordoba, two nights Granada and then a week in Nerja to lie about on the beach.
We're booking rooms ahead but are going to wait on most of the transport as we plan to take buses - just in case we want to be a bit more flexible. If you are taking trains though, it's definitely worth booking ahead (the buses are cheaper and we're on a super tight budget) - online train reservations are much cheaper than walk-up.
I'm planning a trip to Spain for 15 days and after going in circles for a while we decided to skip Madrid and focus on the Andalucia - we actually cut Barcelona out as well, but obviously you want to end up there!
We're doing two nights Seville, three nights Cordoba, two nights Granada and then a week in Nerja to lie about on the beach.
We're booking rooms ahead but are going to wait on most of the transport as we plan to take buses - just in case we want to be a bit more flexible. If you are taking trains though, it's definitely worth booking ahead (the buses are cheaper and we're on a super tight budget) - online train reservations are much cheaper than walk-up.
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Personally that would be way to rushed for me. That said, I would drop Malaga completely which would free you up to add those nights elsewhere. Both Granada and Cordoba and indeed all the others (in my opinion) are worth way more time than Malaga. Others will no doubt disagree.
I would also second others views to focus on Andalucia - it is a very big area with much to see.
I would also second others views to focus on Andalucia - it is a very big area with much to see.
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At first pass if I wanted to see all the cities you listed with the exception of Madrid and Toledo I'd probably do something like this:
Sevilla - 3
daytrip to Cordoba
bus to:
Ronda - 1
Malaga - 2
Granada - 2
Barcelong - 4
This is still not alot of time in each city but it is sufficient and doable with public transportation. You could drop Malaga and add a day to Sevilla and Granada but I recently returned from a visit to Malaga and really enjoyed the city.
Sevilla - 3
daytrip to Cordoba
bus to:
Ronda - 1
Malaga - 2
Granada - 2
Barcelong - 4
This is still not alot of time in each city but it is sufficient and doable with public transportation. You could drop Malaga and add a day to Sevilla and Granada but I recently returned from a visit to Malaga and really enjoyed the city.
#12
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thank you all for your most valuable imput.
RS's Spain 2007 recommends
3 days: Madrid and Toledo
6 days, add: Sevilla, Granada
10 days, add: Barcelona, Andalucia
13 days, add: Costa del Sol, Morocco
We have 12 days,
I really hate to have to lose Madrid and Toledo........
He also said "you can travel at any time of year without reservation (hotel)", Is this true in your experience?
I think buses do offer more flexibility, Again, how critical is reservation?
Has anyone travel with RS's books, I haven't.
thanks for all your help.
Sam.
RS's Spain 2007 recommends
3 days: Madrid and Toledo
6 days, add: Sevilla, Granada
10 days, add: Barcelona, Andalucia
13 days, add: Costa del Sol, Morocco
We have 12 days,
I really hate to have to lose Madrid and Toledo........
He also said "you can travel at any time of year without reservation (hotel)", Is this true in your experience?
I think buses do offer more flexibility, Again, how critical is reservation?
Has anyone travel with RS's books, I haven't.
thanks for all your help.
Sam.
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Hi again, Sam -
I must admit that I find that itinerary advice quite poor - IMO, there is simply too much to see and do in these wonderful places to warrant that kind of pace. But it depends on what you want to see and experience. It might help if you consult some other travel books to get a clearer sense of what you most want to do in each of these places.
I must admit that I find that itinerary advice quite poor - IMO, there is simply too much to see and do in these wonderful places to warrant that kind of pace. But it depends on what you want to see and experience. It might help if you consult some other travel books to get a clearer sense of what you most want to do in each of these places.
#14
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I used Rick Steves as one of several sources on my first trip to Spain in 2001. I think it's probably useful for someone who's never traveled independently or been to Europe but quickly discovered his hotels and restaurants are not very secret once the book is published and his information is not necessarily up to date. In addition, I don't consider his "off the beaten path" areas to be truly that at all.
Rick Steves may say you don't need reservations but I'd disagree - particularly if you're relying on public transportation. If you're going to have more than a light piece of luggage do you really want to be going from hotel to hotel trying to find a place to stay? If you're on a budget what happens if there are no hotels in your budget range? Do you want to waste time looking for a hotel once you arrive in a city when you've already got limited time? I prefer to stay in smaller boutique-type hotels in the city centers and not the business hotels on the fringes of the city. These small hotels may only have 10 rooms and you'll be less likely to get one without a reservation.
Depending on where you decide to go, train is better in some cases and bus is better in others. If you plan to take the AVE train I'd buy my ticket ahead. I've only had an issue one time with not purchasing a bus ticket ahead but I only had to wait a couple hours for the next one. Unless you're traveling during a holiday I wouldn't worry about the bus tickets.
I would also research both the bus and train timetables prior to finalizing our itinerary (and confirm once you arrive).
Rick Steves may say you don't need reservations but I'd disagree - particularly if you're relying on public transportation. If you're going to have more than a light piece of luggage do you really want to be going from hotel to hotel trying to find a place to stay? If you're on a budget what happens if there are no hotels in your budget range? Do you want to waste time looking for a hotel once you arrive in a city when you've already got limited time? I prefer to stay in smaller boutique-type hotels in the city centers and not the business hotels on the fringes of the city. These small hotels may only have 10 rooms and you'll be less likely to get one without a reservation.
Depending on where you decide to go, train is better in some cases and bus is better in others. If you plan to take the AVE train I'd buy my ticket ahead. I've only had an issue one time with not purchasing a bus ticket ahead but I only had to wait a couple hours for the next one. Unless you're traveling during a holiday I wouldn't worry about the bus tickets.
I would also research both the bus and train timetables prior to finalizing our itinerary (and confirm once you arrive).
#15
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I'm not sure if this helps but we did this itinerary in 2006 (kind of the reverse of what you are doing) and had a GREAT time. We had a few more days and we spent more time in Madrid than you are planning (we had friends there) and we did not try to get to Malaga. I would highly recommend renting a car for the "white villages" part of the trip. I'm not sure how this will look because I just did the copy/paste thing from a Word document to here. I'm envious of your trip around Spain and then a cruise on top of it. Have fun!!!!
Spain Itinerary
Oct. 10 Leave Atlanta Delta flight 114 at 8:15 PM
Oct. 11 Arrive Barcelona at 11:05 AM
Oct. 11-12 Raco del Pi Hotel
Carrer del Pi, 7, Barcelona
+34 933 42 61 90
www.hotelracodelpi.com
Oct 13 Overnight train to Granada Leave 9:30 PM arrive 8:57 AM
Renfe T-Hotel berth 41 - 45
Oct. 14-15 Alhambra Palace Hotel
Plaza Arquitecto Garcia de Paredes, 1, Granada
+34 958 22 14 68
www.h-alhambrapalace.es
Oct. 16-18 Rent Avis car in Granada – drive to Ronda
Parador de Ronda
Plaza de Espana, Ronda
+34 952 87 75 00
www.parador.es
click on English
click on the arrow by To Paradors
scroll down and select Ronda
Day trips to Gibraltar and the “white villages”
Oct. 19-20 Drop car off in Seville
Hotel Cervantes
C/ Cervantes, 10, Sevilla
+34 954 90 02 80
www.hotel-cervantes.com
Oct 21 Take AVE train to Cordoba
Store luggage in locker, tour Mezquita
Continue on AVE train to Madrid arrive early afternoon
Oct 21-24 Stay with friends in Madrid
Day trip to Toledo
Oct 25 Leave Madrid Delta flight 109 at 11:25 AM
Arrive Atlanta at 3:05 PM
Spain Itinerary
Oct. 10 Leave Atlanta Delta flight 114 at 8:15 PM
Oct. 11 Arrive Barcelona at 11:05 AM
Oct. 11-12 Raco del Pi Hotel
Carrer del Pi, 7, Barcelona
+34 933 42 61 90
www.hotelracodelpi.com
Oct 13 Overnight train to Granada Leave 9:30 PM arrive 8:57 AM
Renfe T-Hotel berth 41 - 45
Oct. 14-15 Alhambra Palace Hotel
Plaza Arquitecto Garcia de Paredes, 1, Granada
+34 958 22 14 68
www.h-alhambrapalace.es
Oct. 16-18 Rent Avis car in Granada – drive to Ronda
Parador de Ronda
Plaza de Espana, Ronda
+34 952 87 75 00
www.parador.es
click on English
click on the arrow by To Paradors
scroll down and select Ronda
Day trips to Gibraltar and the “white villages”
Oct. 19-20 Drop car off in Seville
Hotel Cervantes
C/ Cervantes, 10, Sevilla
+34 954 90 02 80
www.hotel-cervantes.com
Oct 21 Take AVE train to Cordoba
Store luggage in locker, tour Mezquita
Continue on AVE train to Madrid arrive early afternoon
Oct 21-24 Stay with friends in Madrid
Day trip to Toledo
Oct 25 Leave Madrid Delta flight 109 at 11:25 AM
Arrive Atlanta at 3:05 PM
#16
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thankyou once again kja, cathyM
john183, your itinerary does look the same in reverse, we really do not want to drive, would bus work for "white villages".
You had two weeks, may be i too should come up with two or three more days.
Did you reserve your hotel/train/car ahead?
Thank you everyone for your kindness.
Sam.
john183, your itinerary does look the same in reverse, we really do not want to drive, would bus work for "white villages".
You had two weeks, may be i too should come up with two or three more days.
Did you reserve your hotel/train/car ahead?
Thank you everyone for your kindness.
Sam.
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Sam-
I visit Andalucia every spring for 2 weeks around Semana Santa and rely on public transportation. The white villages are doable by public transportation but it is not convenient. If you rent a car you'd be able to cover more area because you wouldn't be tied to a specific bus schedule. That's why 12 days to do all you want to do using public transportation is a quite a bit to do - you may actually have little time to visit a city due to the timetables.
I've attached a link for a pdf file I found by googling "ronda arcos autobus". It shows the schedule of buses services Ronda and is dated July 2008. I'd definately verify the times when I arrived in Ronda but it's a good indication of the options. Also, the schedule in November may be greatly reduced versus the summer months. I notice this when I travel in September and the schedules have already been reduced since the summer months.
http://www.turismoderonda.es/informa...oautobuses.pdf
Also, this good Ronda website shows the bus routes and companies that service Ronda. Just click on how to arrive, then the icon that shows the bus.
http://www.turismoderonda.es/indexeng.htm
I visit Andalucia every spring for 2 weeks around Semana Santa and rely on public transportation. The white villages are doable by public transportation but it is not convenient. If you rent a car you'd be able to cover more area because you wouldn't be tied to a specific bus schedule. That's why 12 days to do all you want to do using public transportation is a quite a bit to do - you may actually have little time to visit a city due to the timetables.
I've attached a link for a pdf file I found by googling "ronda arcos autobus". It shows the schedule of buses services Ronda and is dated July 2008. I'd definately verify the times when I arrived in Ronda but it's a good indication of the options. Also, the schedule in November may be greatly reduced versus the summer months. I notice this when I travel in September and the schedules have already been reduced since the summer months.
http://www.turismoderonda.es/informa...oautobuses.pdf
Also, this good Ronda website shows the bus routes and companies that service Ronda. Just click on how to arrive, then the icon that shows the bus.
http://www.turismoderonda.es/indexeng.htm
#18
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CathyM,
thankyou so much for your insight and the links.
We drive at home, one of the attraction of European travel is train/bus transport, will drive only if we have to, we did drive two years ago thru Algarve which was easy and enjoyable, Southern Spain seems more complicated.
That's why if we can go without hotel and train reservation, will have the flexibility needed to change our itinerary as we go.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
Sam.
thankyou so much for your insight and the links.
We drive at home, one of the attraction of European travel is train/bus transport, will drive only if we have to, we did drive two years ago thru Algarve which was easy and enjoyable, Southern Spain seems more complicated.
That's why if we can go without hotel and train reservation, will have the flexibility needed to change our itinerary as we go.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
Sam.
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I am an obsessive trip planner so I do a lot of research on the area we are going to visit and come up with an itinerary. I then go ahead and get all the reservations I can possibly do in advance (car, train, hotel, museum admission tickets – esp the Alhambra). My idea is that I would rather not have to spend valuable vacation time doing these kinds of things if I can get them done in advance from home. What I don’t do is plan every minute of every day. I have a list of the things I would like to see at each place and figure out how and what to see once I’m there. I know I am giving up the flexibility of being able to do some things on a whim but I would rather have the security of knowing where I am going to stay and how I am going to get there. Everyone has different ideas (one person that posted on this site loves to go with no reservations for anything and part of her fun on the trip is finding hotels and transportation as they go). My fun is researching and planning in advance.
I know you have said you don’t want to drive and you said you thought Southern Spain seems complicated. We rented a car in Granada, drove around for 3 days then dropped it off in Seville and found driving to be quite easy. I agree you don’t need a car on any other part of the trip but I do recommend getting one for this area.
I know you have said you don’t want to drive and you said you thought Southern Spain seems complicated. We rented a car in Granada, drove around for 3 days then dropped it off in Seville and found driving to be quite easy. I agree you don’t need a car on any other part of the trip but I do recommend getting one for this area.
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As I was reading my response, I noticed I want to clarify something. The only train reservation I made in advance was the overnight train from Barcelona to Granada. If we are just going between cities, we buy the tickets there, not in advance from home. Have a great trip!