barcelona to granada...my mind is exploding
 

I've checked the previous posts on how to get from Barcelona to Granada and flying seemed to be the best. However the "cheap" tickets are 173.00 on the day I would like to fly! We are a family of 4 and on a budget. So now I'm driving myself insane trying to figure out alternate routes/travel means.

1.) Fly to Malaga instead....103.00 savings of 70.00x4. Then rent a car to drive to Granada. (We will be renting a car in Granada regardless because we are driving around Andalucia and it's Christmas so unfortunately we will have to pick it up and hold onto it while we tour Granada)...(unless car rentals are open Christmas day...doubt it!).

2.) High speed train to Madrid then to Antequera or Malaga. However this seems time consuming and will likely be just as expensive.

3) Go from Barcelona to Seville and then have to back track to Granada. (Tickets are 94.00 each)

I should add that we would like to see Arcos and Ronda and we have no desire to go to Madrid (time).

Also do you think the time getting to the airport and waiting (2 hrs prior right?) would add up to the 6hr train from Bcn to Malaga?

this trip is blowing my mind!!
thanks in advance!

How about the day before or after your desired flight date ? May be cheaper.

1) Seriously bad idea, IMO: Although many people are not aware of it, there is mounting evidence that driving with jet lag is just as dangerous -- to yourself and others -- as driving drunk, and <b>nothing</b> you can do will prevent the microsleeps (which you might not even notice) that are the apparent culprit. Seriously -- NOT a good idea, no matter your other constraints and no matter your prior experience! And please be patient with me if you think I’m being overly adamant, but I know too many people who have died or been seriously injured in accidents to which jet lag was a contributing factor, and I know too many people who will spend the rest of their lives dealing with the knowledge that they were responsible for accidents that resulted in multiple deaths, including those of children, all because they were too confident in their ability to drive safely with jet lag. The issue has become a bit of cause célèbre for me….

2) Much better than trying to drive with jet lag!

3) Would give you a chance to see magnificent Sevilla....

Good luck!

It's about 900 km (563 miles). With a family of 4, and the cost of the direct flight on the day you wan to travel, I'd pick up a rental car and drive, overnighting in Valencia, and maybe even spend a second night on the road, say Murcia (http://turismodemurcia.es/en).

Since you're traveling during an important time of the year, you migh enjoy the Christmas celebrations going on in Valencia and Murcia.

The drive from Murcia into Granada is an easy 3 hours.

No, car rental locations, and most everything else, are not open on Christmas Day.

And remember, the days will be shorter, less light, so you need to plan your day accordingly.

kja- what did I miss? Where are they planning to drive after all-night flight?

add up to the 6hr train from Bcn to Malaga?>

More like 8 hours - quickest train I could find in quick search of www.bahn.de/en is 7:41 and leave Barcelona about 8:30am- later ones up to an hour longer - if taking train - like Barcelona to Seville direct in about 5:15 or to Granada thenbe sure to book ASAP for discounted train fares at www.renfe.com - a difficult site for many Americans to get to work - check www.seat61.com for advice with it and other sites with similar pricing - for general train info like 1st v 2nd class - check 1st too when comparing discounted prices as sometimes it may not be much more than cheapest remaining 2nd class tickets and for such a long trip I'd consider first if not too pricey - check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Train or fly -check available train fares to see how much the difference is.

Maybe consider putting Seville into your itinerary and rail there and pick up car and drive via iconic white villages to Ronda and Antiquerra, etc to Malaga.

OMG, I'm so sorry! I misread your post and (obviously) thought you were skipping Barcelona.... Please forgive my rant, and

@ PalenQ -- thanks for making me revisit so that I could see my error and apologize for it.

Silly people... we are spending time in Barcelona before the drive!!! I've worked many a night shift and have fallen asleep on the way home (me vs mailbox)...hehe.

We will be staying for at least 4 nights in Seville. I'm just not sure if taking the cheaper flight to Seville then back tracking to Granada is a better idea.... I'm thinking not.

Thanks all for the advice :)

And thank you for being so gracious about my misunderstandings!

@Bedar, I did look but we are trying to cram a lot in and the 23rd works the best for us, especially with Christmas in the mix.

@PalenQ, I'm beginning to thing we should drive. My husband loves to in all countries. And we will be out on Christmas Day so we could think of it as an adventure if we pack a great picnic!

@kja, sorry to scare you :P

You have to decide what matters to you most. I don't think you can have all. You are traveling at a peak flying time. The travel time chosen is incompatible with the budget travel. You are probably paying at least twice to three times the non-peak fare. Viamichelin.com says it is 9 hours drive if you don't stop from Barcelona to Granada. Train is 8 hours per renfe, but unlike driving, you don't have to stop to rest or eat.

If Sevilla is a destination, which is not clear from your limited itinerary listing, you can reverse Granada and Sevilla without back track. Sevilla first with lower airfare, then drive to Granada. I don't know how you are ending your trip.

I think Robert's idea to drive is an alternative worth considering - given your specific circumstances.
The drive along the coast via AP-7/A-7 is a nice one, mountains, the sea, deserts along the way. If you don't want to drive in/out the larger cities for a stopover, you also have many small towns to break the trip like Elche.
Since the major rental car companies do not charge extra for one-way rentals, it's worth doing the math how much this alternative will cost eventually (gas plus some motorway tolls, esp. in Catalunya).

Gracias, Cowboy! I think driving is an excellent alternative being familiar with traveling in the area at that time of year. Driving gives you a number of excellent options.

@Greg the Christmas travel time is unfortunately what works out with work/school schedules so we do the best we can.
True that the 8 hr train ride may be more relaxing. I'll check the prices. We are going to Seville and will fly out of Lisbon to the states.

@Cowboy thanks for the reply, I'll check out the tolls etc and see which option is going to work.

If you love to drive then drive for sure.

cheapest too no doubt.

If driver needs glasses to drive I understand Spanish law dictates driver carry spare pair of spectacles in car at all times - weird but TMK so!

While you might save some money flying to a different city and driving to Malaga, how much are all those lost hours (x4) worth to you? After all, time is the most valuable and scarce resource we have when we travel.

My advice: spend the extra 70x4 and take advantage of a day in Malaga. Don't waste those precious hours on the road.

but if someone loves to drive... and Christmas Day may as well be spent on the road - they think of it as a 'great adventure' and that is what they are looking for- kids not so sure?

Agree with travelhorizons. Don't waste all those hours on the road. Better to fly to Malaga and either spend Christmas there or go directly to Granada. Believe me, all that autoroute is NOT interesting at all !

So many choices... so little time and money! However I do love the planning phase! It's half the fun IMO!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

@travelhorizons- I do know what you mean and we are trying to see I'm sure too much in our 12 days. Driving would take a day away from andalucia and there is soooo much we want to see there. I just might have to bite the bullet. I always end up splurging in the end.

@PalenQ- kids... two 17 yr olds. And since nothing is open on Christmas driving would be something to do...I just wish it was 6 hours instead of 9! But it is still doable in one day... just not as much fun. Guess I'm going to have to get the family input :)

And maybe what you see during the car trip may be sweet too - not sure it is a scenic drive but you could stay in some rather nice towns - especially on the coast, such as Alicante - a really neat seaside town. To me as nice a town as others you are heading to.

The itinerary is:
2N Barcelona
2N Granada
3-4N Seville
a few nights somewhere else... maybe Ronda or Arco.
Then NYE either Lisbon or Seville.
Fly out of Lisbon on 1/2
Yes it's a lot but we don't plan on museums, just food, food markets, Gaudi, Flamenco, Alhambra, and adventure/experience

Of course still in the planning phase so it is all subject to change!!

Here is the problem.
If we leave BCN on the 23rd and drive to ?Valencia? or Murcia, spend the night. Then we end up in Granada late morning on the 24th. So...
If we plan to stay for 2N, we would have to see the Alhambra that afternoon.
1. Is there time to see it in the afternoon?
2. What would we do for food because it would be too late to shop, and "everything is closed late 24th to the 26th"

Do you already have the plane tickets? If not, how about reversing the itinerary?

unfortunately yes... we have the tickets

1. I spent a full day at the Alhambra -- literally, from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then from 8 to 10 p.m. Most people do not spend that much time there, but I wouldn't have given up a minute! You might not have the option of an evening visit when you plan to be there. And of course, there is FAR more to Granada than just the Alhambra, even if it is it's most brilliant star.

2. Surely you can buy some things that would last for a day or two? Bread, cheese, fruit, dried meats and nuts, some vegetables....

Two nights is very little for Barcelona if your aim is to see Gaudi's sites and flamenco while jet lagged. And if you are interested in Gaudi, you might also want to make time for one or two of the buildings by Domènech i Montaner, perhaps the Palau de la Música Catalana and/or the Hospital de Sant Pau.

Ronda and Arco may be worth visiting, but I, personally, would not give up time in Barcelona, Granada, Seville, or Lisbon to fit them in. Truth in advertising: i skipped Arco and haven't yet been to Lisbon.

I enjoyed Ronda, but I certainly wouldn't prioritize it over Granada. I consider the Alhambra the single best sight in Spain, and the evening tour is magical.

Giving the "few nights" to Barcelona would surely simplify things, and in the unlikely event you run out of things to see in Barcelona there are worthwhile day trips.

[Lisbon is one of my favorite cities.]

The Alhambra was truely interesting when I was younger and we managed to spend the night in the palace overlooking the city, but would now only include it as one of several outstanding sites one can experience in Spain.

@ Robert: I don’t know whether to envy you for having seen so many other places that you thought equally awe-inspiring, or whether to pity you for having become jaded enough to have forgotten the joy of seeing the Alhambra.

Having been to th Alhambra at least a dozen times over the years, the last time a year ago last winter, I don't feel jaded, but it's not the same as it was even a few years ago. Too many people gathering at the gate like an invading horde, most with no understanding of what that place was all about. Something to mark off their bucket list? Probably.

Luckily Granada isn't a cruise port, but then again it could be, what with all of the ships docking in Malaga.

@ Robert: So your point is about how the number of tourists have changed the experience? I can understand that. Even though I'm a tourist, there seem to me to be WAY too many places that are opening their doors to more tourists than can be reasonably accommodated. It is, IMO, truly unfortunate. Thanks for explaining.

I would forget about the extra nights in Ronda and Arco, and add nights to Barcelona and at least one to lovely Valencia -if your decision is to drive. Once you get to Granada, you can park your car in the huge Alhambra car park [at a discount if you stay at the very reasonable Hotel Guadalupe opposite] and do an evening tour of the Alhambra. In the morning, pick a early slot for the Nasrid Palaces, tour the site for as long as you like, and then spend the rest of the day touring Granada.

The itinerary is:
2N Barcelona
2N Granada
3-4N Seville

For those places trains are best - if wanting to meander thru countryside cars are great - but I'd consider trains rather than cars, a boondoggle in cities and you can do Barcelona-Seville by train in about 5 hours on very comfy spiffy trains going up to nearly 200 mph. And unlike flying you see the Spain in between-

Yes if landing in Barcelona first day may be wasted - add another night.

Ok... We added a day to Barcelona! It is going to be hard with only 3 nights but at least I think we will be able to get a decent taste. Flying Into Malaga on the 24th. Will stay in Granada 2 nights (get the rental car here) and drive on the 26th (after seeing the Alhambra in the morning) to Seville where we will stay for 4-5 nights before going to Portugal.

One question... Can I split my Alhambra visit into 2? Like do the gardens on the 24th and the palace on the 26th? (I think I got that right. I know there are 2 parts to visit but I don't know the names of the places)

@annhig do they do night visits in December (Alhambra)

Unless things change, you cannot visit the Generalife (gardens) during the night in December. (I wouldn't expect that to change -- gardens aren't usually that interesting in winter. ;-) )You can visit the Nasrid Palace (only, not the rest of the Alhambra) during the evening, but during December, I believe the evening visit is an option on only Fridays and Saturdays, so I don't think that will work on the nights you propose.
http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/ind...5d637b1e38d/0/

You might want another night in Granada before heading to Sevilla....

@kja...I keep taking nights away from Seville! But we have not booked anything for Granada or Seville so I'll mull it over. Thanks for the link, I think I do remember seeing something about limited nights.