EricaB85

We are planning a trip to Spain and Italy- 6 days in each location.

Spain we are looking to fly into Madrid and rent a car. Traveling from Madrid to Sevilla, Sevilla through Granada and up the coast to Barcelona. Either take a train from Barcelona to Nice and then into Italy (Genoa, Florence, Rome). or just take a plane from Bacelona to Rome. We are on a pretty tight budget. Does anyone have any suggestions

IMDonehere

Yes you far too ambitious in Spain and the trains are excellent and the car will be a burden in Sevilla. Recalibrate your trip by subtracting at least 1/2 day every time you move. BTW gas about twice the price that is in the US and renting an automatic transmission is expensive. Also double check if there is a drop off fee from Madrid to wherever you going to turn it in.

It is equally ambitious in Italy.

Chris_Cutler

If you are on a tight budget, please reconsider the train and look at flights from Barcelona-to-Rome on a low-cost carrier like Vueling, EasyJet, or Ryanair.

I am going to Italy, and my husband will join me a few weeks later. We were going to train it from Bologna-to-Barcelona, but the cost and, more importantly, time spent on the train were way too high.

I then checked out those airlines and got a flight on Vueling for 54 euro/pp from Genoa-to-Barcelona. I could get the same price (or lower) from Rome, Milan, Verona, etc. Because we have to check a bag each,I chose the 54 euro flight since 1 bag is included. Had we not had a bag, the flight would have been 39 euro.

Sassafrass

What do you want to see in each country? This itinerary will be mostly traveling from place to place with little time to see anything. Your "tight" budget may not allow for so much moving about. That costs a lot and eats up sight seeing time. Choose one city in each country and fly between or see only one country.

You plan to land in Madrid. Do you plan to see anything in Madrid? The palace, the Prado, Toledo, Segovia? That takes two or three days, minimum. If not, land in the place you want to see. Do you plan to see the cathedral or anything else in Seville, day trip to Cordoba? Allow a half day to get from Madrid to Seville and longer to get from Seville to Granada. You need a day in Granada if you plan to see the Alhambra.

It is a very, very long drive to Barcelona - check the time and distance. What to you plan to see in Barcelona? Just to see minimal highlights will take two days.

Seriously, you need to get a map, check times and costs and decide if you want to see things or have a long drive. That is certainly OK if that is what you want.

kimhe

Here are some excellent value basic hotel standard budget places (private bath, tv, AC, safe, 24h desk etc) in Sevilla, Granada and Barcelona. Not stayed in the one in Granada, but it gets raving reviews. All are in the best location, close to "everything":

Sevilla, Hostal Museo: http://www.hostalmuseo.com/
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-museo.html

Granada, Hostal Rodri:

Barcelona, Hostal Orleans:

kimhe

...
Granada, Hostal Rodri: http://www.hostalrodri.com/
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-rodri.html

Barcelona, Hostal Orleans: http://www.hostalorleans.com/
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/host...ans.en-gb.html

All are about 50€/night for a double.

IpMarc

You will lose a whole day traveling by car from Seville to Barcelona. I think it's better travelling by AVE (high velocity train).
I think it will be cheaper. You have to have the car rental price, oil, parking and road tolls.
with the number of days that each country you visit you will have no time to visit many things, for example to visit Barcelona in two days only you could see the most important, whenever you have a clear path and you run without enjoying the city.

EricaB85

Thanks Kimhe for the links I will definitely look into those. I was also looking at airbnb. We are wondering if train may be better now and taking a plane to Rome. I really would like to see Seville in Spain and my partner would like to see Barcelona. Our original plan was to just do Spain but we figured we don't know when we will actually get back to Europe and we also want to see Italy. As far as Italy, we are reconsidering possibly just Rome and Florence.