mum_to_trois

Hello!

I have taken the time to go through forum topics to get an idea of cities to visit, but I would like to tailor is to my specific situation.

I will most likely be traveling as a single parent with my 3 children who would be 6 years, 7 years, and 8 years old at the time.

We will be visiting Spain most likely in November (unless you suggest otherwise?). I chose this date because I am thinking it would not be as crowded or hot during this time of year (although we are semi used to the heat coming from Nevada in the United States.

I think 7 to 9 days in Spain is sufficient enough to get a good experience without being burnt out, am I right?

It seems Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Andalucía are the places to see. We like art, architecture, museums, the experiences and vibes of historic cultures.

Please advice on itinery/cities to visit, and basically how to make this trip doable for 1adult vs 3 children. What do you suggest as far as ground transportation? What is the best city to fly into and out of?

Thank you in advance for your help, I appreciate it!

Robert2533

To begin with, changing locations that often with three minor children will be a pain.

Second, your three minor children are keen on "art, architecture, museums, the experiences and vibes of historic cultures"? I think that may be a bit of a stretch.

mum_to_trois

Thanks for your reply Robert,

Yes we like art, architecture, museums, and historic cultures...We are homeschoolers and visit museums frequently in the States, they take art classes, and we learn about various cultures. (I grew up in a few different countries and tried to pass on a healthy curiosity to my children from an early age).

What I understand from your reply is 4 different locations on one trip would be too much? I assumed because they appear close it would be okay.

Do you mind giving more detailed suggestions?

Thank you!

griz_fan

I agree with Robert - even if all 4 locations were within a 20 minute bus/train ride, its madness to arrive, change locations 4 times and leave within a 7 to 9 day timeframe, especially with 3 young kids in tow. Also, don't lose sight of the fact that your children are still very young. Day long museum crawls are probably not high on their list. Parks, beaches and other age-appropriate activities for young kids should be on your list. As a father of 4, I know the perils of not planning for the kids Also, coming from Arizona, you will need to account for jet lag, too.
I would pick two locations at most for the time you've allowed.

Robert2533

Based on your time, and with three small children, I would stick with staying at an apartment in Sevilla and taking day trips to Cordoba and Granada. You can also add in a day trip to Jerez to see the horse show, which the children should like. There are a few companies offering apartments in Sevilla, but we've had good success with Spain Select, which has a decent selection of properties you might like.

I would also consider hiring a private transfer service to take you to Granada and Jerez, instead of taking the train or bus. It would be much more comfortable.

BigRuss

<<Based on your time, and with three small children, I would stick with staying at an apartment in Sevilla and taking day trips to Cordoba and Granada.>>

This is wise. Especially considering how short a trip it is from Seville to Cordoba.

The private transfer to Granada is interesting - there is no fast train to Granada so it's not a train day-trip like Cordoba.

nytraveler

Sorry, too many kids and too many places in too few days. I too would stay in one place and do day trips - allowing plenty of time for the kids to do kid things.

Sassafrass

First, I would go earlier - very late September or early October - or in Spring - April or May, which would be perfect with gardens in full bloom. Check past temps and rain before you decide. I found it chilly at times in late October.

Spain is such a big country, things are further apart than they seem. Seven days is a very short time. If you can manage 9 or 10, do so.

Cordoba is a great day trip from Seville.

Granada is not a good day trip from Seville, especially with young children. It is too time consuming, making for a very long tiring day. If you include Granada, make it at least an overnight, preferably two.

Alec

Another possible center is Madrid, with day trips to Toledo, El Escorial and Segovia. Also there are tons for kids to do, and if they like football (soccer), they can do a tour of Real Madrid or Atlético stadiums. I too suggest earlier time than November, say October - still warm enough.

mum_to_trois

Thank you all for your advice.

You all are right - I don't want to overwhelm them.

griz_fan: thank you, glad you can relate . I did forget about jet lag. Do the beaches get overcrowded?

Robert2533: thanks for the Spain Select suggestions, I will look into it. Do you happen to know the name of the horse show, I think my children will love it!

BigRuss: thank you. Can you refer me to a train service for the trip from Seville to Cordoba. Plus I have never heard of a private transfer service before now, how pricey would that be?

nytraveler: Thank you, advice taken. I was more so throwing out suggestions to know which are the most recommended places for a first trip.

Sassafrass: Advice taken, thank you. I will change it to September/October, gardens in full bloom sounds so beautiful. Great tip on checking rainfall, I had not thought of that. Also, I will change it from 7 to 9 days.

Alec: My children love soccer, especially my 7 year old! It would be a dream to see the stadiums you mention. Perhaps the second trip around. I will take your advice on coming a month or two earlier, thank you.
So far it looks likes

Okay, I am glad it is coming together.

9 days in Spain -

Stay in Seville
2 days in Granada
a day trip to Cordoba...perhaps a couple of times?
and the rest in Seville

Am I missing something? Any particular park/museum/beach/café et cetera I should definitely include on this first trip?

Thank you

Sassafrass

Gardens are in full bloom in late April to mid-May. By fall things are past their prime, but some sunflowers may still be seen. The gardens of the Alhambra peak in mid May.
Are your nine days on the ground or do they include flight time? Are flights available to you to Seville or do you have to make a stop? Can you do a multi-city, fly into one city and out of another? If you can, and if you have nine days on the ground, consider:
Day 1 - land in Seville
Day 2 - Seville
Day 3 - Seville
Day 4 - Seville (or day trip)
Day 5 - early to Cordoba, stash luggage at the train station. Mid afternoon, continue on to Granada.
Day 6 - Granada. Get tickets for both morning and evening for the Alhambra.
Day 7 - tour a bit of the old city of Granada have lunch. About siesta time, head to Madrid, arrive in time for dinner.
Day 8 - Madrid, tour the palace and/or Prado in the AM, have lunch or pick up picnic food, spend afternoon in Retiro Park. Rent a row boat and play.
Day 9 - day trip to Toledo in the AM.

Seville - 4 nts
Granada - 2 nts
Madrid - 3 nts

Robert2533

The horse show is the Fundación Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, the dancing horses of Andallucia (www.realescuela.org/en/). There is also another horse show in Cordoba, but not quite the same.

kimhe

I suggest genuine and 3000 year old Malaga city by the Med as your base. Here you have beaches, and numerous historic sights (Roman theater, Moorish fortress, 16th Century cathedral, Picasso museum, Picasso's birth-house ++ museums) right in the city center. Fabulous tapas bars, cafes and laid-back atmosphere. And the largest airport in Andalucia.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html

Malaga is a museum city, now some 28 museums in the city centre: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/museums.htm

Art, flamenco, archeology museums etc. etc. and also take a look at this small Art and Popular Customs museum:
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/mala...-populares.htm

50 mins with the high speed AVE train to Cordoba, 1h 30 mins by bus to Granada and 2h with train to Sevilla. Perhaps suggest one day-trip each to Cordoba (the Mezquita) and Granada (Alhambra), and leave Sevilla for another trip.

In Malaga, you are also close to the famous Nerja caves a little to the east on the coast and wonderful Antequera just inland.

Nerja caves, lived people here 30 000 years aso: http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en

Antequera, 40 mins by bus from Malaga city, is known as "the heart of Andalucía" or "the crossroads of Andalucía". Almost right in the middle of the Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga rectangle. Here you'll find dolmens (some 5000 years old burial chambers), Roman baths, a Moorish Castle, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and baroque bell towers. Antequera was the first of the Granada emirate towns to fall to the Christians in 1410: http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry....era-spain.html

And I use to swim in Malaga in November, but I'm from Norway...

suec1

Hope our replies are helping you plan a nice trip for your family.

First of all - where are you landing? I assume you are coming from the US so, are you flying into Madrid? If so you may want to spend a day or two there getting over jet-lag and doing a bit of sightseeing. Excellent museums there or day trip down to Toledo.

Then you can take the train to Seville as a good base. Cordoba is EASY daytrip from from there - 45 minutes by train? or you could even stop there on way from Madrid. Wonderful mezquita in Cordoba. In Seville is the Alcazar which IMO is almost as amazing as the Alhambra and much easier to visit, logistically. The trip is a whole lot easier if you do not go to Granada but others will insist you visit the Alhambra.

While based in Seville I think you could do the horse show in Jerez or maybe Cordoba.

Kimhe makes a good case for basing in Malaga too - if you get nice weather you can have some beach time. If you can visit Cordoba and Granada based in Malaga, IMO you don't miss much skipping Seville. Cordoba and Granada are excellent examples of Moorish Spain. You can find info on the Spanish rail system at RENFE. You could take either a bus or group tour from Malaga to Granada.

Have a great time with your kids! They are fortunate you are taking them to Spain at this point in their lives - it certainly is a wonderful country for history and "other" culture experience!

bilboburgler

Just a note to everyone, some of the best advice I've seen on Fodors for ages, caring, concise and informative.

Mum d t as they say above.

mum_to_trois

Sassafrass: Thank you! I had not considered a multi-city plane ticket, I will definitely look into that now, and see if it is doable. Thank you for breaking it down, we would absolutely love the opportunity to rent a row boat, sounds surreal.

Robert2533: thank you for the name and the link to the horse show, I hope we can make it!

kimhe: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have never heard of these amazing places, and it makes me want to add more days to the trip. If only money grew on trees . I am so happy you added your perspective, I have not heard of Malaga, but it sounds story book perfect with lots of things to see, and central to other places with things to offer. I will look it up and research it as I think this may be the answer.

suec1: Yes, thank you, all the replies have been so helpful in giving be a much better idea of Spain, and the wonderful things there are to experience. Much more detailed and "real" than google . I had assumed landing in Madrid was the only option, but I see Seville has an airport as well. I think I did read of the Alcazar! Is it the castle I think? Okay, so you are saying Seville is not a "must"? Kimhe definitely makes Malaga sound perfect. Thank you for the Spanish rail system information, I will look it up and see how to make it work, and remember not to overwhelm the children, and myself Spain does sound wonderful, and we will probably have to visit a few more times to soak everything in!

bilboburgler and everyone: I am so happy I found this site, these answers are the best I could have hoped for. Now I am going to spend a few hours trying to make them fit . Thank you so much, I took hope I can be of help if anyone ever decides to visit Nevada, United States!

kimhe

... and Malaga is in the Primera Division, arguably the best soccer league in the world. They play their home games at the Rosaleda stadium, and November would be high season. http://www.malagacf.com/en

Sassafrass

The kids might enjoy a horse and carriage ride around Seville.

mmodrich

Hi! So we just did 3 1/2 weeks in Spain with our 4 year old and 2 year old. We were in Barcelona, Malaga, Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla and Madrid. The kids loved Barcelona, Cordoba and Madrid the best. One awesome thing about the museums is a lot of them actually have free kids version audio guides. My 4 year old loved this! It was one of his favorite parts of the museum. Another thing we did with the kids was buy post cards in each location and took them to the museum with us and the kids had a scavenger hunt looking for different artwork, gardens, etc. Granada is awesome for the Alhambra, but there weren't as many playgrounds for our kids which the other cities had an abundance of. Not sure if your kids are into playgrounds. But that was important for us. I think Sevilla would be a good home base for you