Drive or take the train in Portugal and Spain
 

I'm planning a trip to Southern Spain and Portugal in late September/ October and want to know if I should plan on renting a car, or if I can reach my destinations easily via public transport. Here is my itinerary: <BR> <BR>Portugal: <BR>Lisbon 3 days, 3 nights (3rd in Sintra) <BR>Nazare, one day <BR>Marvao, 2 nights, one day <BR>Spain: <BR>Cordoba 2 nights, 2 days <BR>Granada 2 nights, 2 days <BR>Arcos 2 nights, 2 days <BR>Sevilla 3 nights, 3 days <BR>Evora 2 nights, 2 days <BR>Portugal: <BR>Cascais 2 nights <BR>home <BR> <BR>I would prefer to take the train if at all possible, but I was led to believe there isn't a good system in these two countries. We could also take the train part of the time and rent a car part of the time, if that is a good option.

Hi, Monica. I got back from Spain about 3 weeks ago. I traveled by train. For us, two ladies, it was a lot easier, fast and clean. Besides, the streets are narrow and winding in Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada. <BR>If you have to pay attention to the road you will miss some of the views. <BR>Sounds like a great trip! Good luck!

Monica: While Mora is right about the confusing, winding streets in Spanish cities, I did not rent a car on my trip to Spain and Portugal last year (except for two days & nights) and boy did we regret it!! I do admit we spent almost an hour lost in Sevilla because we couldn't navigate to our hotel with all the confusing one way streets and a main thoroughfare that happened to be closed. However, it was August (a big factor, Sept/Oct is probably not) and the trains were crowded and slow. We really enjoyed the freedom to drive where and when we pleased once we left Sevilla. <BR>You can really cover a lot more ground when you can come and go on your own schedule. The driving on Spanish highways was a pleasure. I have also used many train passes in the past and my boyfriend and I have decided we aren't going to buy one ever again. If we do take the train, which we really do enjoy, we're going point to point. Also, train service in Portugal isn't the greatest. We took a bus which was slow and required us to make an unscheduled transfer in the middle of god knows where. We took a few other uncomfortable buses in Portugal. I vote for a car.

Monica, I have done this route and I do <BR>not know how you could do it without <BR>driving. I love your itinerary. How did <BR>you find out about Marvao--one of my <BR>favorites. You have defined the best of <BR>Potugal and Andalusia---you will have <BR>a great time, but you have no choice but <BR>to drive.

From my experience in Seville and Granada in the early '80s was that Spanish drivers [in that region at least!] view stoplights as "advisories." I blithely started to cross whe it was green only to be pulled back by my friend [who was in Seville on a Fulbright] who then explained "pedestrian rights" [or the lack there of!] <BR> <BR>To translate for the driver: Don't start going through the intersection on a green light until you are SURE the cross traffic has decided to stop!

<BR>I'd say go with the car too. We rented a car for a trip this past April/May in Spain and Portugal, and it allowed us more freedom in our schedule. Driving will be ok, just use caution as you would normally anywhere where they drive crazy! Enjoy your trip - we especially loved Portugal.