I have tentative plans for a 3 week trip in Europe that will include the Basque country NW Spain and SW France. Also the SE coast of Spain around Cartagena and on to the Algarve. Is this too ambitious? I would love to see the small towns as I come from a large city so a real vacation to me is anything but that. Has anyone visited a town or village that has been very special? I will most likely be driving most/all of the way if it is not too hard to pick up a car in one country and return it in another. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I think this forum is wonderful! <BR>

I, too, would agree that this is probably a bit too ambitious, especially if you enjoy visiting small towns. You'll want to take a more leisurely pace, I think. It's also better to spend two or three nights at each location, rather than packing, checking in, unpacking, every day.

Thanks for your advice. We have confirmed our stay at La Manga Club in Murcia/Cartagena so we will need to make our plans from there. It will be late December, Mike, so wouldn't the Northeast Spain areas be rainier? <BR>Are there daytrips or short stays we can take from Murcia? Why not the Algarve afterwards? What do you know of Basque country? This is a lot, I know, but there is so so much to choose from! Thanks for your help! <BR>

Hi, Beverly. <BR>I also think like Michael. Itīs quite an ambicious plan. At the beginning I didnīt know which time of the year you were planning to travel, and I was going to endorse Mikeīs opinion of travelling along the north coast of Spain, but I would have headed up the Atlantic coast of France. Itīs different, itīs not the typical idea you can have of our country, a little bit like Ireland in the sun, and plenty of small villages, harbours, mountains, cows, culture and yummy food. <BR>But seeing that you have decided for Murcia, and in December... The Basque Country is on the other side of Spain, around 12 hours continuous driving, and although I love my place, the weather is not exactly brilliant during winter. I would use the word WET to describe it. From Murcia you can go down to Granada, go up to Valencia, plenty to do and see. <BR>But of course, if you need more info on the Green Spain, you can always a-mail me. <BR>Covadonga

Thanks for your advice, Covadonga. I tried to e-mail you directly but was unsuccessful. I was really looking forward to visiting the towns of San Sebastian, Pamplona, Biarritz, and see the new Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. I know you said your place is WET in December. Does that mean occasional daily showers or constant downpour and uncomfortable? Will it be the same weather in Murcia or on the French Mediterranean coast? Have you heard of the La Manga Club in Murcia (the Hyatt Regency and Casino is on the resort, too)? <BR>Maybe we'll change our plans to visit Algarve but won't it be much warmer there for a change? Thanks so much. Please e-mail me directly if you'd like. <BR>