7 days in Spain
Hi. We have 7 days in Spain (1st week of August)-- we fly in & out of Madrid.
We would like to see some of Madrid but also Andalusia (Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada) So, we were thinking 3 d Madrid, & 1day each for Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba. Is this a reasonable itinerary? Suggestions? Any recommendations for 3-4 star hotels for 70-$110 US in any of those locations? In Madrid, I guess we would like a central hotel that is close (walkable?) to the museums/sights. I think we are planning to rent a car to drive to Anadalucia & plan to drop it off in Andalucia & take the train back to Madrid & our flight out. Thanks! |
I've been to all the places you've mentioned, and for a week, I would suggest less time in Madrid (I like Madrid, but it's a big city and I don't think it has the charm of the cities in Andalusia. I would add more days to Sevilla and do Cordoba as a day trip.
For hotels in that pricerange, you might try using Bancotel.com coupons or get them from Petrabax.com. I suggest getting tickets for Alhambra in advance--you can do it on the Internet. I hope you like really HOT weather, because these parts of Spain will be very hot in August. If you don't, you might be better off going to the North coast. I love Spain and Andalusia is wonderful. Have a great trip! |
Agree about less time in Madrid - 2 days is plenty IMHO. I loved the south much more but would not do in August since the daytime temps will be about 100 - way too hot for me to do anything except sit in an AC room. If you like the heat great! If not, I would consider the North - especially the atlantic coast at that time of year (this is where the Spanish well to do typically vacation at that time of year).
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Thanks for the advice! I'm not excited about the heat, but my wife & I REALLY want to see Andalucia. So maybe we'll do 2 d in Madrid, 2-3d Sevilla (with Cordoba as a day trip), and 1 day for Granada.
Do you guys have hotel recommendations? Also, just out of curiosity-- where would you go in the North-- I'll check it out on the web & talk to my wife. Thanks! |
jay_r writes: "Also, just out of curiosity-- where would you go in the North-- I'll check it out on the web & talk to my wife."
Most of the Beach resorts on the North and Northwest coasts will be booked solid: August is when European factories close and employees are all given their month-long vacation; and many of them head for Spain. Santiago de Compostela is far enough inland that you don't get any sea breezes but it's worth a visit this Jubilee year. BancHotel coupons are good in offseason but in August a lot of places don't accept them. In Sevilla, we stayed at a small Hotel: Acor Monte Olivos very close to Santa Justa rail station. It has air conditioning, parking and a very small swimming pool. I recommend you take AVE Madrid-Sevilla and pick up a rental car at Sevilla's rail station. |
Thanks artlover, nytraveler, and NEDSIRELAND for the advice-- there are very good deals at Bancotel.
Itinerary will be: 8/2 Madrid 8/3 Madrid (Prob. Hotel Bauza) 8/4 Rent car in Madrid, drive Cordoba. Spend 1/2 day in Cordoba, then drive to Granada. Spend night in Granada (prob. Saray hotel) 8/5 Granada/Alhambra. Drive to Sevilla that evening 8/6, 8/7, 8/8 Sevilla (plan to drop off car 8/6) 8/8 Take AVE train back to Madrid 8/8 evening, Tryp Diana hotel (by the airport) 8/9 depart from Madrid airport. Questions here: Sevilla hotel-- Hotel Fernando vs. La Casa de Mercaderes (both are 1 coupon). Both seem to be good hotels, fernando has a pool & is 4 star. Mercaderes has great reviews & is rated 3*. Has anyone stayed at either recently? Also, I've read that driving from Granada to Sevilla in the evening is a bad idea. Also, is driving to Cordoba & then to Granada later that day just too much? Making the drive from Madrid saves about $50 vs. the train. Thanks, |
We stayed at Fernando and liked it very much. The location couldn't be better and the staff we so helpful (especially when I tried to speak to them in my very limited Spanish!) The room was fine, bathroom all marble, and for 1 coupon, I'd stay there again. Don't try to drive to it though--drop rental car off first--driving in that area is insane!
Also, I highly recommend the flamenco show at Los Gallos--walking distance from the hotel. They can get you tickets--a good idea. Have a great trip! |
jay_r -
check out my web site on our trip to Andalucia. Hope it can help you. http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/57...andalucia.html |
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