txtree

I'm in the early stages of planning a 10-day trip to Spain in mid-March with my 77-year-old parents and our teenage boys. We have been to Madrid, Sevilla and Granada before but we'd like to explore some of the other parts of Andalucia, especially the far south. Goal is to keep boys interested but not exhaust my parents too much. What do you think about this:

Arrive Madrid in the morning, rent a van and drive to Cordoba
3 nights in Cordoba
drive to Jerez, stopping for lunch in Sevilla
5 nights in Jerez (exploring El Puerto, Cadiz, Arcos etc.)
drive from Jerez to Ronda (stopping in Vejer and Tarifa)
2 nights in Ronda
Drive back to Madrid

Is that do-able? Fun? Thank you for your thoughts.

kja

I love that you are giving Cordoba and Ronda plenty of time! Can't comment on Jerez ... haven't been there yet.

One question: Are you sure that renting a van for the entire trip is your best option? It might make sense to consider using Spain's excellent high-speed trains to get to and from Madrid.

kimhe

Jerez is a cradle of flamenco culture, known for the wine, the horse culture etc, but I would perhaps suggest that you base yourself in Cádiz by the sea, 3000 year old Gadir and home of the liberal 1812 constitucion "La Pepa".
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cadiz.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33JUrGwZQLY http://www.cadizturismo.com/que-hace...ncia-de-cadiz/

anyegr

The thing I want to know is why you must fly into and out of Madrid? If you aren't actually staying there it feels like a waste of time.

I liked Cordoba. With three days there you could do a visit to the ruins of Azahara. Or you could walk around Cordoba and see all the interesting sites there. I had two days and did not have time to see everything.

Haven't been to Jerez or Ronda, so I can't comment on those.

txtree

anyegr, you are so right. I was thinking Madrid because I'm simple minded. I am accustomed to flying to Madrid or Barcelona because those are the two cities with easy flights from NYC. But maybe it's best to connect to Malaga and start our Andalucian loop from there. Though truthfully we drove from Madrid last time and it was a pretty easy drive.

kimhe, if you think Cadiz is a better base, I will definitely consider that.

Also, kja, if we weren't with my parents, I would have considered the train (that's how we traveled on our last trip). But I think it will be easier getting my folks and their luggage in and out of a van rather than onto and off of various trains. May be a non-issue if we fly to Malaga.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

txtree

Oh, one more question: if we fly into Malaga, is it worth spending a night there?

txtree

And one more question - I had originally selected Jerez because the accommodations looked especially lovely (Hotel Villa Jerez). Cadiz seems more iffy - the new Parador gets really mixed reviews on TA and the other hotels don't capture my attention. I'm not sure how much that should play into my decision making. Your guidance appreciated.

kimhe

Cádiz, and adjoining Sanlucar de Barrameda, San Fernando etc, would normally be more interesting than Jerez for most visitors because of the very rich history, the characteristic old town, the fabulous beaches, the light and the light-hearted gaditanos themselves. But if you are into flamenco, sherry and horses, there are no better place than Jerez (for the two first reasons, it's a total shame that I haven't been yet).

<Oh, one more question: if we fly into Malaga, is it worth spending a night there?>

Very much, yes!

Málaga is a wonderful city, one of my favourites in the country. Genuine and laid-back atmosphere. Great tapas bars, cafés, terraces, restaurants, theaters, nightlife and 3000 years of history. Within 300 meters in the city centre you'll find the newly excavated Roman theater just beyond the 8-11 century Moorish Alcazaba, the 16th century cathedral, Picassos birth-house, the Picasso museum, the new Carmen Thyssen museum, the fabulous new marina Muelle Uno etc. etc.
"Picasso's city of hidden treasures": http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...-breaks-travel
"Secret Spanish pleasures": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html

Some tips in the very center of Málaga:

Casa Aranda is one of my favourite cafés in all of Spain after some 25 years of intensive travelling in the country.
http://www.casa-aranda.net/

The Atarazanas food market is next door: http://www.sarahmelamed.com/2012/11/...overed-market/

La Campana, a couple of hundred meters away on the bustling Calle Granada, for the best seafood tapas and great atmosphere: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

I also love rustic El Cortijo de Pepe, just where Calle Granada meets large Plaza Merced: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

A couple of more upscale but also very affordable restaurants:
Dom Vinos (going here in a couple of weeks): http://www.azahar-sevilla.com/vivala.../01/dom-vinos/
Meson de Cervantes: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...Andalucia.html

The new Carmen Thyssen Museum, just off nice and very central Plaza de la Constitución: http://www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org/en

And when in Málaga, be sure to taste the local and fabulous conchas finas, a mix of pure heaven and pure sea: https://www.google.no/search?q=conch...iw=935&bih=486

I recommend to stay in the center, and the location doesn't get much better than great value Don Curro: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hoteldoncurro.en.html

And, if you happen to be interested, here's an almost day to day guide to serious flamenco events in Málaga that is always updated: http://www.flamenka.com/html/agenda/...da%202013.html

txtree

Thank you, Kimhe. We will plan to spend a night in Malaga, although it doesn't sound like enough time!

kimhe

For just one night in Málaga, I would suggest a stroll along the excellent and new Muelle Uno marina right in the city center to take in the sea and the atmosphere. Also excellent views of the Alcazaba, the cathedral etc. from here.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html

Close to the marina (in Alameda Principal, 18), you could have a taste of the typical Málaga wines in Antigua Casa de Guardia from 1840. Not much have changed since then. Here they also serve the divine conchas finas: http://www.antiguacasadeguardia.net/

Perhaps have a tapa in La Campana and/or El Cortijo de Pepe in the midst of the historic center on your way to dinner (people seldom go out to eat before 9pm) in Meson de Cervantes or in Dom Vinos (the last one is a short taxi ride).

The next morning I highly recommed chocolate con churros in Casa Aranda, and a look in the next door and fabulous Atarazanas Food market. Perhaps take in the cathedral, the Roman theater or the Picasso museum before taking off, all are in five minutes walking distance from Hotel Don Curro.

"Tales of the city" to get you into the Málaga mood:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored...ales-city.html