Having hard time deciding on Greece or Spain for 11 days spring break vacation. We are 2 adults with our two teenagers and have traveled throughout the Europe except Spain and Greece. If we go to Greece, we would like to visit Athens, santoini, Mykonos, and in Spain visit Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Seville and if possible fly out of Barcelona. Please help me decide.
Thanks.

They are both wonderful destinations in springtime. If you want help deciding, you will have to describe your family's travel interests and pet hates.

You'll have to forgive me, but it looks like you want to spend your spring break traveling instead of enjoying anything. Too many places, too little time.

Thanks for your responses. We love to meet the local people, see the villages, experience the culture, food, and nature. We are used to overnight trains and are very organized and timely so seeing few cities in 11 days is not a problem.

Is there something about Greece that attracts you? Spain? There are extremely different places.

Hi

Spain for sure. Spring would be too cold for the Greek islands but perfect to sightsee beautiful Spain.

I would say Spain as there is a lot more there and you would be staying on mainland Spain. Greece would not be as hot as Spain that time of year, and on the islands (necessitating a ferry or flight) you would find many places still shut and not yet open for the summer tourist season.


The Costa del Sol (southern coast of Spain) is nice. Consider flying into Malaga (local airport). Barcelona is a driving nightmare. If you go there, park in a parking garage near the centre and walk around. They tow badly parked cars there.

Madrid has a good metro system for getting around. Be aware that if you drop your car off at a different place from where you picked it up, you could face a big penalty fee, because someone else will have to drive it there, and return.


You can get cheap flights within Spain (on the internet), and for instance spend a day in Barcelona or Madrid rather than driving hundreds of miles each way.

Thank you all for your advises.

nessundorma:
Both countries are attractive to us because:
warm, friendly people
rich culture, history, beauty of their land, all the beautiful colors of nature. I am now concern if Greece will be too cold during April.

We went to Andalucia in Spain for 12 days in March. I wrote a trip report. It was fabulous. It was cool but that was great for sightseeing. I think your children would find it fascinating. We have also been to Greece in May a couple of years' ago. We cruised and it was very cool weather but again few tourists so a fun trip. I would, however, highly recommend Andalucia (Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Jerez and get into the white villages..oh can't miss Ubeda and so on and so on...). I don't care for Barcelona (okay don't all yell; I am the only person I know who feels that way) and I think that culturally the south has a lot to offer. You could get the train up to Madrid from Seville, but you would have to cut out some of the white villages etc. as you would not have time to breathe in 11 days. We flew to Malaga as we came from a few days in England and flew back Seville-LHR-LAX.

re car rental. i have found that many times there is NO dropoff charge within spain.

check it out before assuming there is.