Ideas for small group tour - Southern Spain
 

Hi Fodorites!
I am starting to plan a trip with a BFF for OCTOBER 2017. Usually when I travel I don't join a group, but in this case I am thinking it might be easier, since I want to be able to enjoy to the max, and my friend has never been to Spain. We are both 50 ish and healthy, not super budget but not luxury, and are looking to see Southern Spain for a 5-7 day itinerary. My questions are:
1. Is October weather reasonable in S. Spain?
2. Does anyone have a small group tour company to recommend?
Thanks so much!

October is a good time to visit Andalusia.

No need to go with a tour unless that is your preference.

5 to 7 days is not really enough to see Andalusia. If you can add to your time, great; if not, you will need to make some difficult decisions about what to see and what to skip.

The highlights are, of course, Granada's Alhambra and Cordoba's Mezquita.

A good guidebook or two should prove invaluable, well worth every penny they cost (and, of course, you can consult them at your local library).

Good luck!

Any possible way you can extend your time? It takes a good bit of time getting from place to place in Andalusia. I would definitely not do a tour - too much time wasted waiting on other people, etc. You can do it cheaper on your own and see just the things you want to see. Do you know yet what options you have for flights? It could save time to do multi-city, fly into one city and out of another if you can do it.

Thank you - You are right, it is quite a short time. What 2-3 cities would you choose for a "taste of Andalusia"? Going out to look for a good guide book today!

Alhambra and the Mezquita are both spectacular and on top of most people's list, but endeless row of other excellent reasons to visit this fascinating region. Andalucía could be an adventure for a lifetime. http://www.andalucia.com/top10s/home.htm

To get a feel for Andalucía in 5-7 days, you could base yourself in 3000 years old, genuine, laid-back and cutting edge Málaga city by the Med, and do day-trips to Córdoba (50 mins with train) and Granada (90 mins with bus).
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga

But kimhe's suggested itinerary, while excellent, means you'll miss Seville, everybody's favorite.

Is there no way you can extend this trip? It's so frustrating otherwise.

Sevilla is of course fabulous, but much more travel time from there to Granada and the Alhambra, so when time is limited I would strongly suggest Málaga as a base. My favourite city in the region for many years (and I love Sevilla), and "everybody" (New York Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet, Condé Nast etc. etc.) now point towards Málaga, "Spain's new creative heart". http://www.cntraveller.com/recommend...u-centre-guide

Video intro to Málaga, "Spain's best kept secret": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...pt-secret.html

Fabulous food scene, both traditional and cutting edge. The Atarazanas food market is my favourite in all of Spain, also a couple of fabulous tapas bars in here. Saturday lunch here is a highlight of the week for many locals. Fabulous chriringuitos/Beach front restaurants with the freshest open air grilled seafood, and some of the most intersting new restaurants in Spain, creative and ambitious chefs now flock to Málaga.
https://eastofmalaga.net/2014/07/25/...ry-perception/
https://www.spain-holiday.com/Malaga...nt-restaurants
Málaga restaurants in the Guia Repsol, the Spanish equivalent to the Michelin guide. https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/la-gui...locality=|7367

Óleo by the river was a revelation a few weeks ago. A very sucessful Japanese/Mediterranean/Málaga mountains fusion. A wonderful outdoor terrace, the most welcoming and knowledgeable waiters, the jurel ceviche was to die for, the best steak I've had in years, and very affordable, some 60€ for two, three courses, wine, brandy etc. My best meal the past year, and that includes five days and some of the best restaurants in food mecca San Sebastián.
http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/oleo/
https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/gastro...a-y-sushi-bar/

I enjoyed Sevilla enormously. I would NOT call it my favorite.

Don't waste your precious time in Malaga. It was a squalid provincial capital which has been tarted up for today's tourists. OK to visit IF you have time which you don't. Spend a couple of nights in Granada, one in Cordoba, and the rest in Seville. Many more places to explore in Andalucia, but those will have to be saved for another trip.

Seville for 3 nights and Granada for two is a bare minimum.

It really depends on your interests. For me, the Alhambra and the Mesquita were wonderful, but I also loved the architecture in Sevilla and the geology in Ronda.

Unforgettable--all of them.

Seville, Granada, and Cordoba at a minimum and you need more time to do them justice.

I've never been to Malaga so can't comment, but with such limited time, I'd just choose two places. Perhaps Seville (possibly with day trip to Cordoba) and Granada.

If still looking for a tour, check G Adventures. However, they only have one tour that might suit and it looks rushed to me.

Peregrine have a tour which might suit better. 8 days though often with tours, the first and last days don't really count for much.

Have a look at Amber Road Tours . We have used them a few times over the years when we want a break from our usual planning/ self drive vacations.

http://amberroadtours.com/tour/andalucia/

Thank you all! Will let you know how it works out!