Help with 1st timer to Spain
Sep 7th, 2006, 04:32 PM
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Help with 1st timer to Spain
I have used this board for other trips and am hoping someone can help me. We are considering a trip to Spain, but it is such a big country. We have 14 days. Love the ocean, historic places and good food and wine. Are active, so like to hike (we love the Cinque Terra trail), bike, kayak, etc. We like to find quaint accomodations (but on the more upscale side of quaint).
My husband says Barcelona and costa Bravo, but I want to visit the south, sevilla, and such. Haven't done as much homework as I should have, but would love to hear your thoughts. These boards have been such a great resource, so thanks in advance for helping.
One other thought. Would Portugal be a better place to see the ocean instead of Barcelona?
My husband says Barcelona and costa Bravo, but I want to visit the south, sevilla, and such. Haven't done as much homework as I should have, but would love to hear your thoughts. These boards have been such a great resource, so thanks in advance for helping.
One other thought. Would Portugal be a better place to see the ocean instead of Barcelona?
Sep 8th, 2006, 06:51 AM
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Spain is a very large Country. 14-days (especially if they include arrival and departure day) go by very quickly and then it's time to start planning your next trip.
Barcelona and the Costa Brava are nice, but not rustic which I interpret to be what ypu're looking for.
Sevilla can be unbearably HOT anytime from mid-April to mid-September
The Picos de Europa are a nice place for hiking, whitewater kayaking and 4-wheeling. The proprietor at Hostal Picos de Europa in Potes rents things like 4X4's and canoes or kayaks. But I would only recommend there for June or July.
But my favorite part of Spain is Galicia, on the northwest coast. It's got the Ocean, historic places like Santiago de Compostela and Monte Tecla, and great food and wine (Albariño or Rosal). I had the best grilled Pez Espada I had ever eaten at a small restaurant just down the street from the Hotel America in Vigo (Pontevedra).
Barcelona and the Costa Brava are nice, but not rustic which I interpret to be what ypu're looking for.
Sevilla can be unbearably HOT anytime from mid-April to mid-September
The Picos de Europa are a nice place for hiking, whitewater kayaking and 4-wheeling. The proprietor at Hostal Picos de Europa in Potes rents things like 4X4's and canoes or kayaks. But I would only recommend there for June or July.
But my favorite part of Spain is Galicia, on the northwest coast. It's got the Ocean, historic places like Santiago de Compostela and Monte Tecla, and great food and wine (Albariño or Rosal). I had the best grilled Pez Espada I had ever eaten at a small restaurant just down the street from the Hotel America in Vigo (Pontevedra).
Sep 8th, 2006, 06:53 AM
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I second the recommendation for Northern Spain and the Basque region. For food and wine lovers who also love the ocean, San Sebastian is heaven on earth. If you are flying into & out of Barcelona, I would recommend touring the Basque country (both Spain & France), visiting small towns scattered throughout the coast and the Pyrenees (Zerain, St. Jean de Luz, Ainhoa, Biarritz)and end the trip in Barcelona. If you are flying into & out of Madrid, you could do Rioja Alavesa region (I recommend Laguardia as your home base) and continue onto Bilbao, San Sebastian and Hondarribia.
Check out Maribel's guide on this region. I have read a ton of stuff on this area and Maribel's guides are the most informative. Good luck!
Check out Maribel's guide on this region. I have read a ton of stuff on this area and Maribel's guides are the most informative. Good luck!
Sep 8th, 2006, 09:32 AM
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THanks so much for the recommendations. We are traveling the last 2 weeks in October, so I thought the South would have better weather. Any more advice is welcome and much appreciated.
Sep 8th, 2006, 01:07 PM
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SBROWNELL,
if arriving in Madrid,stay there for 2 nights ,take the train to Toledo for a day trip,then from Madrid take the fast train to Sevilla,stay 2 nights then rent a car and go to the Costa del Sol staying in Marbella o Torre Molinos,stay 2 nights then go to
Granada for 2 nights,make reservation in advance to see the Alhambra,then go around the coast,stopping in various villages and Valencia and then end in Barcelona,taking day trips around and exploring this beautiful city with great food,if you have to go back to Madrid then stop in Zaragoza for a few hours.
if arriving in Madrid,stay there for 2 nights ,take the train to Toledo for a day trip,then from Madrid take the fast train to Sevilla,stay 2 nights then rent a car and go to the Costa del Sol staying in Marbella o Torre Molinos,stay 2 nights then go to
Granada for 2 nights,make reservation in advance to see the Alhambra,then go around the coast,stopping in various villages and Valencia and then end in Barcelona,taking day trips around and exploring this beautiful city with great food,if you have to go back to Madrid then stop in Zaragoza for a few hours.
Sep 8th, 2006, 01:23 PM
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You can certainly go to Seville without burning up which is why a lot of people walk in the shade in that city.
IMO there are two main sites to see: the Alcazar and the Cathedral (others may also include the bullring and, of course, the chance to see some great flamenco as well as the overall architecture.
I would consider flying between some points and IF you go on line to the Iberia, Spanair, or Vueling websites and book early enough you can often get some very economical one-way fares which can help to cut the country down to size a little bit.
Last year we flew from Granada to Barcelona for way less than 100 Euros and cut a most-of-the-day-by-land trip down to 1 hr and 10 minutes.
AVE between Madrid and Seville is 2.5 hours and you can stop off in Cordoba on the way.
I am sure if you plan carefully AND early enough you could get to the beloved northern areas as well.
IMO there are two main sites to see: the Alcazar and the Cathedral (others may also include the bullring and, of course, the chance to see some great flamenco as well as the overall architecture.
I would consider flying between some points and IF you go on line to the Iberia, Spanair, or Vueling websites and book early enough you can often get some very economical one-way fares which can help to cut the country down to size a little bit.
Last year we flew from Granada to Barcelona for way less than 100 Euros and cut a most-of-the-day-by-land trip down to 1 hr and 10 minutes.
AVE between Madrid and Seville is 2.5 hours and you can stop off in Cordoba on the way.
I am sure if you plan carefully AND early enough you could get to the beloved northern areas as well.
Sep 9th, 2006, 06:10 AM
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You ALL are sooo funny! Maribel's Guides are terrific but I'm having a problem with one of my companions who expects Spain to be like Italy in that we would rent villas and search out from there vs. Paradors we can go to market and cook "in house". I could use some help here. I am salivating over getting back to the Basque region since I was first there B.C.
Sep 9th, 2006, 06:41 AM
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Don't miss Barcelona! I 've heard incredible things about Portugal but you should be able to do both. Check out vueling.com for cheap in-country flights in Spain. It will save you lots of time. We flew for 10 euro plus 23 euro for taxes etc... from Madrid to Barcelona in July. You should be able to see a lot in 14 days without traveling all the time. I recommend the magic fountain and Park Guell as well as anything by Gaudi in Barcelona.
Baldworth
Baldworth
Sep 9th, 2006, 06:46 AM
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You can rent houses in Spain too 
In fact, is what most spanish tourists do while visiting our own country if we are going to have an extended stay, paradors are too expensive for the general tourist here.
I always smile when I read "ocean views" because we just have a little portion of the Atlantic Ocean here (Cadiz province and Galicia in the north) , all the rest is sea
There's a lot of places with nice views, though. But for the Ocean, yes, better Portugal, all their coast is actual Ocean
In fact, is what most spanish tourists do while visiting our own country if we are going to have an extended stay, paradors are too expensive for the general tourist here.I always smile when I read "ocean views" because we just have a little portion of the Atlantic Ocean here (Cadiz province and Galicia in the north) , all the rest is sea
There's a lot of places with nice views, though. But for the Ocean, yes, better Portugal, all their coast is actual Ocean
Sep 9th, 2006, 07:07 AM
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Johnthedorf-- I have quite a Bookmarks files on rural houses in Spain! I have found them to be plenty, gorgeous, cheaper, and more tempting than the equivalent file on Italy's!
SB-- if you are going in Oct and seaside/oceanside is your foremost priority then you are better off heading South. Spain isn't going anywhere; plan on giving focused attention to Northern Spain and Barcelona at some point. Twelve (12) days isn't a lot of time to do both.
SB-- if you are going in Oct and seaside/oceanside is your foremost priority then you are better off heading South. Spain isn't going anywhere; plan on giving focused attention to Northern Spain and Barcelona at some point. Twelve (12) days isn't a lot of time to do both.
Sep 9th, 2006, 09:06 AM
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everyone is so right who has said that spain is all about the weather. the time of year you are planning to go is important to know if it will be conducive to partaking in the activities you wish to do in the places you have arranged.
there are inexpensive rates to fly form barcelona to lisbon .. in october 20 eurso plus tax one way..( and sevilla, of course) if you do want to add portugal to your itinerary)
see www.vueling.com
iberia also sometimes matches their fares...
you can use a local website www.rumbo.es to see other options.
www.toprural.com is a great website for all types of housing in the outskirts of towns and deep in the countryside.
you may just want to read up on alot of the great trip reports and copy most of what these people have done. i love to see all the nicks and crannies people find and recommend here. have fun planning.
www.rusticae.com are more upscale charming accmodations in general. maribel lists lots of great places in her guides.
there are inexpensive rates to fly form barcelona to lisbon .. in october 20 eurso plus tax one way..( and sevilla, of course) if you do want to add portugal to your itinerary)
see www.vueling.com
iberia also sometimes matches their fares...
you can use a local website www.rumbo.es to see other options.
www.toprural.com is a great website for all types of housing in the outskirts of towns and deep in the countryside.
you may just want to read up on alot of the great trip reports and copy most of what these people have done. i love to see all the nicks and crannies people find and recommend here. have fun planning.
www.rusticae.com are more upscale charming accmodations in general. maribel lists lots of great places in her guides.
