Feedback on Spain Trip
 

Hello!

I am going to Spain in June and would like to ask for any feedback to below plan. On this trip will be mom (58), daughter (15) and myself (38) - all girls trip! I've tried not to pack too much in, and always find Fodor's feedback valuable. I've listed where we're sleeping next to each date (accommodations all booked) Thanks in advance!

Wed. June 15 - Fly from Boston

Thurs June 16 - Arrive Barcelona 8:00am
- Tickets to a performance in the music hall 8:30pm

Fri June 17 - Barcelona
-Monserrat (going with local friends early morning)
-Swim with the Sharks at Aquarium 4:00 pm reservation - mom will take pics

Sat June 18 - Barcelona
- Gaudi walking tour 11:00 am (already booked)
- Sagrada Familia 2:30pm reservation
- Ghost tour 8:30 pm reservation

Sun June 19 - Granada
- Fly to Granada Arrive 1:00 pm
- Walking tour reserved 4:00 pm

Mon June 20 - Granada
- Alhambra Morning reservations

Tues June 21 - Granada
- Day trip to Nerja

Wed June 22 - Seville
- Pick up car and drive via Ronda
- Drop car in Seville

Thurs June 23 - Seville
- Walking tour 11:00am
- Library
- Flamenco Show at night - not sure which one? Reserve in advance?

Fri June 24 Seville
- Alcazar - Reserve in advance?
- Cooking class reserved for 6:00 pm

Sat June 25 Seville Fly to Amsterdam for next leg

Thanks also for great suggestions via comments on other threads and trip reports! In particular kimhe and maitaitom!

That looks good to me. I assume you have reservations for the Alhambra. You have to book them pretty far ahead of time.

I've never had a reservation to the Alcazar, and I don't think I reserved a flamenco show ahead of time. Maybe I just don't remember, though.

Any special reason for a day trip to Nerja?

I can only speak to Barcelona and I think it looks good. I would need a nap and good shower to stay awake for a concert that first day!

Enjoy!

Thanks for the responses. Pegonthroad-Yes we have reservations for the Alhambra.

Chapla - We're going to Nerja for some time near the ocean and daughter wants to do the caves as well.

TDuTwo - haha I know, we're planning on doing just that!

I'm not a fan of Nerja,prefer Malaga but... Why not stay overnight in Nerja then and forget about going back to Granada,just drive from Nerja (2hrs) to Ronda(another place not worth visiting but...) and onto Sevilla.

In addition to visiting the Alhambra during the day, I thought seeing the Nasrid Palace in the evening absolutely magical. If you can still get tickets, you might consider it.

I consider Cordoba's Mezquita among the world's greatest treasures, so you might see if you can fit in a day trip while in Sevilla.

Enjoy!

Sorry we are staying overnight on Nerja, I left that out Thanks for your perspective you're not a fan, but it fits the bill of all of the group's interests.

kja - I really wanted to see the Alhambra at night but there are no tickets at night on our dates for some reason. I'm strongly considering a trip to Coroba but I didn't want to cut Seville short. Thanks for your comments!

chapla - Lots of people think Ronda is a place worth stopping, could you please be more specific as to why you don't think so? I'm open to another village, but it was recommended by a trusted source so we thought we'd stop in.

In Nerja make sure your hotel has a pool. The sea is contaminated by sewage. Ronda, while not a top highlight of Spain, is interesting enough for a drive by. Just make sure you visit Cordoba !

The Nerja Cave is well worth a visit, quite spectacular, and I can give you recommendations for many great restaurants for both lunch and dinner here, of course based on what you're looking for. Lots of genuine local atmopshere tapas bars and restaurants, as well as high end places etc. etc.

When it comes to flamenco in Sevilla, I would go for one of the following three intimate places with only top of the shelf artists. Here it's no food, no drinks, just flamenco. And less than half the price of the often more touristy tablaos (flamenco restaurants).
Casa de la Memoria: http://www.casadelamemoria.es/
La Casa del Flamenco: http://www.lacasadelflamencosevilla.com/
Cutting edge Flamenqueria by the Guadalquivir river: http://www.flamenqueria.es/

And just had to inform you that there are some fabulous flamenco dancers performing in the Palau de la Musica on June 17th, if you're interested. Karime Amaya's carrer is taking off right now. She's the grand-niece of the greatest flamenco dancer in history, the barcelonesa Carmen Amaya (1913/17-1963). Jesus Carmona from Barcelona is also a rising star.
http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/vivir-...d=False&cycle=

Karima Amaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklXLAvSIyc
Jesus Carmona: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hErjWb7Ht9c

Thanks kimhe! We will look into the performance on the 17th as well as the places in Seville you mentioned. For some reason I was having trouble planning a flamenco night, this is really helpful.

I would love recommendations on restaurants in Nerja! We would like to experience some local atmosphere tapas bars. We are adventurous eaters, really the only consideration for us is that it's appropriate to bring a 15 year old, which I imagine it is nearly if not everywhere.

Bedar - thanks for your comments. We will have a lovely pool in Nerja for swimming and we will keep the beach for walking.

My mom really wants to see some of the white villages and Ronda is the picture she has in mind (also a good friend loved it). I am more than open to alternatives though if anyone has any suggestions for a smaller village stop in between Granada and Seville.

Some very enthusiastic comments about Cordoba. I was afraid we wouldn't have time, but now I'm thinking we should definitely squeeze it into the plan.

For a village between Granada, Nerja, and Seville, Ronda is fine. There's not much to see in the so-called white villages. Better to see them on the hillside at a distance !! Yes, yes, yes to Cordoba !

As usual, I completely agree with kja' advice!

Oops... that should be "kja's" advice

@ joannyc: :-)

<We would like to experience some local atmosphere tapas bars. We are adventurous eaters>

Then I can higly recommend:
- The Nerja classic La Puntilla in the heart of the Old town: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...Andalucia.html

- Loud and crowded El Pulguilla. Plain fabulous fish, seafood, meat and sausages tapas grilled right in front of your eyes: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...Andalucia.html

- La Marina, as good as you get a seafood freiduria in all of Andalucia. Have splurged here on many occasions: http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm

- Atmospheric, traditional, family-run and a little more upscale El Niño: http://mynerja.com/view/bars/el-nino/

All these places serve both tapas and sit down meals. And note: Like in most local tapas bars and restaurants in Nerja, you'll get a free and delicious tapa to choose with every glass of whatever in the bar area. A glass and a tapa will set you back some 1,50-2€. http://themaritimeexplorer.ca/2015/1...rawl-in-nerja/

<really the only consideration for us is that it's appropriate to bring a 15 year old, which I imagine it is nearly if not everywhere.>

Very appropraiate with 15 years olds in tapas bars and restaurants all over Spain, small kids and youngsters are with their parents in tapas bars and restaurants at all hours.

And Cordoba is only 40-45 mins away from Sevilla with the high speed AVE train. And this video will most likely put you in the Cordoba mood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk

Had to go into a bit more detail...

Mussels and pincho moruno tapas in El Pulguilla in Nerja:
http://themaritimeexplorer.ca/wp-con...-Pulguilla.jpg

The delicious baby squid tapa in the same place: http://themaritimeexplorer.ca/wp-con...-Pulguilla.jpg

And any one of these - and many more - small plates of great food with a glass of a heavenly ice cold and dry manzanilla wine is 1,70€...

Thank You kimhe!!!!!!!