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Base city to see Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, Granada?

Base city to see Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, Granada?

Old Aug 28th, 2013, 11:05 AM
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Base city to see Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, Granada?

In October we plan to fly in to Madrid, spend a few days, and then hopefully take the train south to see Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, and Granada.
If we choose to do day bus excursions from one base city, which would you recommend?
Marbella?
We then (hopefully) plan to take a train to Barcelona.
Suggestions would be helpful
Thank you
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 11:34 AM
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I wouldn't advise usingone base city for all of these places.
Personally I'd spend 4 nights in Sevilla and I'd stop en route from Madrid in Cordoba. Then I'd spend 2 nights in Granada. I wouldn't spend any time in Gibraltar unless you've already visiting many cities in Andalucia that are more worthwhile IMHO.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 01:14 PM
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IMHO Gibraltar is a huge waste of time.

And you really need to stay in the other cities to see much of them. How much time do you have all together for Andalusia?
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 02:05 PM
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I agree with Cathy---drop Gib. and stay in Sevelle and Granada.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 03:51 PM
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You really need to spend some time with a map and a few pins. A single base city is not practical given the amount of territory you want to cover. What is your total on ground time? Makes a big difference.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 03:53 PM
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Meant to ask if you were using an open jaw ticket?
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 04:05 PM
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Here is our itinerary for our upcoming trip to Spain.

Fly into Barcelona and stay 4 nights

Train to Cordoba & stay 2 nights.

Train to Grenada & stay 3 nights

Pick up car & drive to Ronda & stay 2 nights & explore the countryside

Drive to Cadiz, return the car & stay 1 night

Train to Madrid & stay 1 night (were there for 4 nights last year), and fly home the next morning.

Stu Dudley
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 04:31 PM
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Unless you have visited Sevilla before you are missing out on the gem of all these cities.

If you haven't visited Sevilla before I'd drop a day in Granada, drop the overnights in Cordoba and Cadiz and spend 4 nights in Sevilla. Visit Cordoba as a daytrip from Sevilla and fly from Barcelona to Sevilla.

Alternatively skip the overnights in Ronda and Cadiz and visit Cadiz as a daytrip from Sevilla. Go from Barcelona to Granada (fly) to Sevilla, Cordoba and then Madrid.

If you've visited Sevilla in the past (and for some reason don't want to return) then I'd fly from Barcelona to Granada, spend 2 nights in Granada, stick with the plans to rent a car and visit Ronda, then go to Cadiz for 2 nights (drop the car in Cadiz), train from Cadiz to Cordoba and then Madrid.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 05:23 PM
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>>Unless you have visited Sevilla before you are missing out on the gem of all these cities
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 05:44 PM
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OK - now it makes more sense

I'd still consider tweaking by taking a day from Granada and adding to Cadiz. I not only personally hate 1-nighters but I love Cadiz, one of my top 3 cities in Spain. 2 days is adequate for Granada IMHO.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 08:38 PM
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Stu - I love your itinerary! My only very minor question would be whether it might make sense to shift a night from Granada to Sevilla, but your 3 - 3 plan could easily be best, depending on when you plan to arrive and depart from each. Enjoy!
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 09:18 PM
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>> 2 days is adequate for Granada IMHO.
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Old Aug 28th, 2013, 10:32 PM
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If you have everything reserved it's a coin toss. Just play it by ear.
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Old Aug 30th, 2013, 09:56 AM
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Ronda is beautiful but a bit sleepy and quiet compared to Cadiz.
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