Looking for help planning a Spain visit.

We plan to fly into Madrid on Saturday, see a soccer game on Sunday(9/20/09), and then go north to Rioja region for a couple days, Ribera del Duero for a couple days, then back to Madrid for a couple days before leaving.

So many questions..Do you rent a car or use a guided tour? What Bodegas should we visit? What towns should we visit and stay? When is the wine festival in Logrono? Are there other wine festivals in these regions. etc..

In Madrid, we want to stay in the heart of the city at a really nice hotel but for something less than the Ritz price. Any suggestions.

wow better hurry...start reading here with Maribel's Rioja guide
http://maribelsguides.com/mg_larioja.pdf

Hello there! Here are some useful tips for you: Hotels in Madrid that are good value and in good locations: NH Paseo del Prado and Palacio San Martin. Wineries in Ribera open to general public (you must make appointment beforehand and visits are not free): Legaris, Abadia Retuerta. Lovely place to stay in Ribera: Castillo de Curiel (they can also arrange for horseriding in the vineyards and a tour of their own small wine cellar). You either need to rent a car in Madrid or hire a driver as there is no public transportation between wine estates and estates are generally far apart. On the way to Rioja, don´t miss Burgos with the most beautiful cathedral in Spain and some excellent meat orientated restaurants. In Rioja, you can stay at the inexpensive Villa de Abalos. Nearly all the wineries in Haro offer (paying) tours in English including Muga. Lopez de Heredia offers a free tour (it is courtesy to buy a bottle after). There are many festivals in Rioja, here is a very informative site: http://www.lariojaturismo.com/ Enjoy your time in the wine country!

Thanks for the advice. I have started reading Maribel's Guide.and will do some checking into your suggestions in Madrid.

With my wife & I being first timers to Spain, would you suggest paying for a three day tour or trying to do it yourself??

If you want to sample some wine then maybe you should take a guided tour then you avoid the strict Non drinking and driving laws in Spain. Simply use the car to get to and from the area(s).
In September you may find the Bodegas closed to tours as it is the time of the harvest. You should check this with the ones you plan to visit.

The festivies in Logrono will start Sept 19 and go through Sept 26. The biggest day is Sept 21, San Mateo. If you plan on staying in Logrono during this period you need to book your hotel soon, particularly if you want to stay in Logrono.

Honestly with only 7 days and 2 tied up in Madrid (not counting the time to return to Madrid) I'd focus on La Rioja. Logrono is full of excitement and it's a beautiful time to see the bodegas with the fruit just hanging from the vines. I visited last year and am returning again next month. Maribel's guides are excellent for this entire area.

Again, thanks for you input. For convenience and driving issues, I am leaning towards a prearranged guided tour for the 21st through the 25th but all group tours that I am coming across start & end in Bilboa.

I am comfortable renting a car and driving to the region. Do you have any suggestions on group tours that start and end in the Rioja region. The asking price for luxury private tour for two is 400-500 euro/person/day. This is too rich for my budget.

On the internet I see that Epicurean Ways has a tour for about $1,300/person for 3 days and four nights with transfer to and from Bilboa Airport.

I am looking for something similar with or without the transfer but if so, to Madrid. I would also like to visit at least 2 wineries per day - maybe even three like Maribel's guide suggest is possible.

Any suggestions....

Thanks again for your help

Since you are comfortable driving maybe you just need a planner & travel agent that might be able to arrange everything including the car & for some private guides in certain areas?

You might contact Iberian traveler http://www.iberiantraveler.com/
or Totally Spain http://www.totallyspain.com/