Travelegs

Hi,
it's the Seniors again still looking to firm up our plans. At this point I have planned 12 days near the end of Oct. & feel that maybe we could add on another day or so. Am using FF miles & the airline tells me that I have just another week to hold the reserve , I could change this around at this time, but I need more ideas. It seems a shame, since we are in Spain already, not to add on another day or so---

We now have:
fly into Madrid & continue with air to Barcelona arriving about 9:30AM. Spend 5 nights in Barcelona. One of those days we will try to go to a small town. Not sure which yet. Don't want to go to Monstserrat. Can Sitges or Girona be reached by bus or is the train just as easy? If staying somewhere over night I hestitate to use the train as hoisting lugguge overhead is hard for us. Would either of these make a good over night place but--we would have to be back in Barcelona for a 10:40 flight to Bilbao using AA FF miles.

I have 2 nights planned in Bilbao. Perhaps this is where I should add another night?? We could go to ??? for a day & would that be easy by bus?? Or go to some little town for a night or two? Where would you suggest for overnight or a nice day trip to a small place. Could we take a guided bus tour for a day.

From Bilba we fly to Madrid using SpanAir. I see there are several flights out during the day except for Sat & Sun.
Madrid we have 5 nights & leave from there at 1 PM back to JFK in New York. We plan to take a day visit to Segovia or perhaps we could do a organized day bus tour to Toledo.

So back to my original question, where could I add an extra day, could we go to a small town for a night or two that would be easy with our air plans--we could extend them of course at this time.Although I'd like to try to get to Biarritz or Carassone, I think we'll keep this trip all in Spain.

Night life is not an interest for us except for music & food. To all you great planners out there, please remember we're probably the age of your parents , if not some of your grandparents!!

Many thanks.

Travelegs

Sorry.
That title should have read "How can I extend this 12 DAY trip"

car

You can go to San Sebastian from bilbao about 1 hour and a half by bus.
Biarritz is nice but I will say better San Sebastian.
Carcassone is a beautiful trip but it will take you more than a day from Barcelona. And certanly too far from Bilbao.

Travelegs

ttt

CathyM

On Girona: I'm not sure about the bus but the train is very frequent. I never lift my suitcase in the overhead bin (wouldn't fit!), but just leave either in a small luggage compartment when you enter the train (sometimes they have them, sometimes not) or put just outside the entrance and keep my eye on it. Girona is beautiful but it is quite hilly.

I'd also agree that San Sebastian makes a perfect trip from Bilbao. In fact, I'd stay in San Sebastian and visit Bilbao as a daytrip. From San Sebastian it's only a 45 minute bus ride to Hondarribia. I loved this small town on the border of France. It has a wonderful old town with a parador and nice restaurants and shops. Personally, I wasn't too impressed with Bilbao, other than the Guggenheim.

Marija

If food is an interest, San Sebastian won't disappoint. Consider staying in San Sebastian for any "extra" days you have.

Travelegs

Hmm--San Sabastian looks interesting now. I just read some of the other posts on the board.

I think we will stay with the original plans & fly in & out of Bilbao. Does 3 days there seem excessive? We could be in Bilbao the first arrival day & then go to San Sabastian for one day & then the 3rd day perhaps another small town.
Since we're flying in & out of Bilbao, I think going to SS for a night or so may be too difficult. Also, not sure what the weather would be like towards the end of Oct.

Would like to get some input from Cova & Christina if they're around.

Thanks to you all for your thoughts.

mharrigan7986

San Sebastian is wonderful. The tapas bar in the old town are an experience not to be missed. Not too far from San Sebastian just into France is a place I happened upon last May called Ainhoa, voted the prettiest village in France by the board of tourism. With three weeks in Spain and France it was by far our most memorable meal. Hotel Ithurria and its first class gourmet restaurant was outstanding. If you can drive a little further, it is worth it.

Travelegs

Thanks mharrigan for your suggestion but we aren't driving on this trip. Doing this trip by plane & maybe buses. We'll have to let Ainhoa go until another trip--I hope.