15 day Spain trip in May. N orth or south from Madrid ?
Feb 18th, 2012, 10:54 AM
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15 day Spain trip in May. N orth or south from Madrid ?
My husband and I are planning a May trip to Spain, flying in and out of Madrid where we have 3 days of business. We dont want to spend all of our time traveling - and wonder if we should go north or south from Madrid. The area around Seville etc sounds beautiful, but all the guide books warn of rampant pick pockets and street crime. We wonder if it might be more relaxing to go north to Basque country and perhaps Rioja ? We are hoping to take trains for much of the trip. For those who have been - would you go north or south from Madrid ?
We plan on 5 days total in Madrid and surrounding area. Any input would be greatly appreciated !
We plan on 5 days total in Madrid and surrounding area. Any input would be greatly appreciated !
Feb 18th, 2012, 11:03 AM
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You could spend the balance of your time in the south or north of Madrid. You might reserch this site for a little info on both areas. www.maribelsguides.com P.S. Also go into 'view by country', just above your name. As far as pickpockets, you just have to be vigilant whereever you visit, Paris, London, New York.
Feb 18th, 2012, 11:42 AM
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I wouldn't worry about street crime in Sevilla. I've been there several times and never had a problem, and I'm an older woman--a good target for crime.
I always used a money belt, and I try to be careful. Sevilla is a wonderful city. I especially like the architecture and the Alcazar.
Either direction would be good. I enjoyed Segovia, Salamanca and Avila.
I always used a money belt, and I try to be careful. Sevilla is a wonderful city. I especially like the architecture and the Alcazar.
Either direction would be good. I enjoyed Segovia, Salamanca and Avila.
Feb 18th, 2012, 01:29 PM
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"rampant pickpockets and street crime" ?????
While pickpockets do exist I visit Sevilla every spring as a solo female traveler and have never felt unsafe, even walking around late in the evenings. If Andalucia is most appealing to you then I wouldn't let guidebook comments scare you away. May is also a wonderful time to visit - with temperatures not too hot and several festivals (depending on the time in May).
If you have 10 days outside of Madrid as a must I'd spend 4-5 in Sevilla and do a daytrip to Cordoba and 2 nights in Granada. This leaves 3-4 nights. There are all kinds of potential ways to spend this time depending on your interests. I've listed a few ideas along with the amount of time. These places are all reachable by public transportation if you don't want to rent a car.
*Ronda - 2 nights. If you wanted to rent a car you could spend 2-3 nights exploring the white villages also
*Malaga - 3-4 nights. A great city with lots of daytrip opportunities
*Cadiz - 2-3 nights. Also lots of daytrip opportunities
*Jerez - 2 nights
*Priego - 2 nights
*Ubeda - 2 nights
*Cordoba - 2 nights vs visiting as a daytrip from Sevilla. If you're going to be in the area durin the patio festival it's a great time to spend a couple of nights and fully enjoy the festival. Cordoba is a wonderful city to spend a couple of day and most people just only have time for a daytrip (which is well worth it)
*additional time in Sevilla for more day trips (Carmona, Osuna, Ronda, sherry triangle villages, Cadiz, etc...)
*additional time in Granada for day trips (Antequera, Malaga, Almunecar, etc...)
While pickpockets do exist I visit Sevilla every spring as a solo female traveler and have never felt unsafe, even walking around late in the evenings. If Andalucia is most appealing to you then I wouldn't let guidebook comments scare you away. May is also a wonderful time to visit - with temperatures not too hot and several festivals (depending on the time in May).
If you have 10 days outside of Madrid as a must I'd spend 4-5 in Sevilla and do a daytrip to Cordoba and 2 nights in Granada. This leaves 3-4 nights. There are all kinds of potential ways to spend this time depending on your interests. I've listed a few ideas along with the amount of time. These places are all reachable by public transportation if you don't want to rent a car.
*Ronda - 2 nights. If you wanted to rent a car you could spend 2-3 nights exploring the white villages also
*Malaga - 3-4 nights. A great city with lots of daytrip opportunities
*Cadiz - 2-3 nights. Also lots of daytrip opportunities
*Jerez - 2 nights
*Priego - 2 nights
*Ubeda - 2 nights
*Cordoba - 2 nights vs visiting as a daytrip from Sevilla. If you're going to be in the area durin the patio festival it's a great time to spend a couple of nights and fully enjoy the festival. Cordoba is a wonderful city to spend a couple of day and most people just only have time for a daytrip (which is well worth it)
*additional time in Sevilla for more day trips (Carmona, Osuna, Ronda, sherry triangle villages, Cadiz, etc...)
*additional time in Granada for day trips (Antequera, Malaga, Almunecar, etc...)
Feb 19th, 2012, 02:43 AM
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Travelled intensively almost all over Spain for some 25 years, and safety has never been an issue for neither my wife nor myself.
North is fabulous, but I think I would recommend to go South on this trip. May in Andalucía is as good as it gets, full spring blossom and the summer heat is a couple of months away. And Sevilla is the queen of all Spanish cities. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm
The high speed AVE train takes you from Madrid to Sevilla, Córdoba and Málaga (on the coast) in the South in no time (Córdoba: 1h 40 mins, Sevilla and Málaga: 2h 30 mins). Buy tickets online in advance and save more than 50%. http://www.renfe.com/
Spain is serious festival turf, and May is festival time in both Madrid and Andalucía. Most of the festivals goes way back in time and are primarily local events. Great opportunity to experience the culture.
In May, Andalucian towns celebrate the "Cruces de Mayo": http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/spani...es-de-mayo.htm
Córdoba in May is something special, the "cruces" celebration is followed by the patio competition leading on to the flamenco inspired Feria by the end of the month.
Córdoba patio exposition and competition: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/patios.htm
The Feria in late May: http://www.andalucia.com/festival/co...pring-fair.htm
Córdoba is 50 mins away from both Sevilla and Málaga with the high speed AVE train.
The Jerez Horse Fair is also celebrated a week in May. Jérez - known for its horses, wines (Jerez/sherry) and flamenco - is about one hour from Sevilla by bus/train. http://www.andalucia.com/festival/jerez-horse-fair.htm
May is also the month of the San Isidro festival in Madrid, the celebration of the city's patron saint: http://www.madrid-guide-spain.com/san-isidro.html
AND, if you are in Sevilla on May 8, you might see the flamenco dancer Rocío Molina in Teatro Central. National Dance prize winner in 2010 and the most cutting edge flamenco dancer on the current scene. Could easily be the highlight of your trip.
"...one of the finest soloists in the world today"
New York Times, 2009
"Molina has genius: irresistible, all-consuming, all-powerful"
Financial Times, 2011
North is fabulous, but I think I would recommend to go South on this trip. May in Andalucía is as good as it gets, full spring blossom and the summer heat is a couple of months away. And Sevilla is the queen of all Spanish cities. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm
The high speed AVE train takes you from Madrid to Sevilla, Córdoba and Málaga (on the coast) in the South in no time (Córdoba: 1h 40 mins, Sevilla and Málaga: 2h 30 mins). Buy tickets online in advance and save more than 50%. http://www.renfe.com/
Spain is serious festival turf, and May is festival time in both Madrid and Andalucía. Most of the festivals goes way back in time and are primarily local events. Great opportunity to experience the culture.
In May, Andalucian towns celebrate the "Cruces de Mayo": http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/spani...es-de-mayo.htm
Córdoba in May is something special, the "cruces" celebration is followed by the patio competition leading on to the flamenco inspired Feria by the end of the month.
Córdoba patio exposition and competition: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/patios.htm
The Feria in late May: http://www.andalucia.com/festival/co...pring-fair.htm
Córdoba is 50 mins away from both Sevilla and Málaga with the high speed AVE train.
The Jerez Horse Fair is also celebrated a week in May. Jérez - known for its horses, wines (Jerez/sherry) and flamenco - is about one hour from Sevilla by bus/train. http://www.andalucia.com/festival/jerez-horse-fair.htm
May is also the month of the San Isidro festival in Madrid, the celebration of the city's patron saint: http://www.madrid-guide-spain.com/san-isidro.html
AND, if you are in Sevilla on May 8, you might see the flamenco dancer Rocío Molina in Teatro Central. National Dance prize winner in 2010 and the most cutting edge flamenco dancer on the current scene. Could easily be the highlight of your trip.
"...one of the finest soloists in the world today"
New York Times, 2009
"Molina has genius: irresistible, all-consuming, all-powerful"
Financial Times, 2011
