Hello All, My Husband and I are headed to Spain in early September. I have been searching the web and the forums but before I book everything I wanted to get feedback on our schedule. I want to make sure we are not traveling like crazy--but also want to see the sites with time to sit back and relax. We want a mix of city and beach towns. Any hotel recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thank you! -LN-

Day 1 ARRIVE in BARCELONA

Day 2 BARCELONA

Day 3 BARCELONA

Day 4 Early Flight to GRANADA

Day 5 GRANADA (day trip to MALAGA)

Day 6 GRANADA

Day 7 SEVILLE (TRAIN TO SEVILLE)

Day 8 SEVILLE

Day 9 Train from SEVILLE to MADRID (fly home)

Hi LN -
I have a thought, based on having spent 4 weeks in Malaga and a full week in Barcelona (separate trips). There is just so much to see in Barcelona, that I would focus on the city there. Of course check out the beach, but it might be a bit chilly to sunbathe or swim (I am from TX though so that could affect my opinion). While Malaga is a great smaller city, perhaps you could consider doing the Granada day trip to Nerja, which is a gorgeous tiny beach town where you could relax, and it may be warmer than the northern coast (and its a shorter drive from Granada). All in all though, I think you have a good itinerary to see a lot in 9 days!

Sounds totally fine to me. Book early for the Alhambra in Granada - you get assigned a morning or an afternoon time slot for the narrow time window during which you can enter the Palace inside the overall complex, but you can wander around the overall complex for as long as you like. Book now, then take along the exact same credit card, you will need it for verification so that the ticket machine will print the ticket before you can get in. Sounds complicated, it is not.

The only questions I have - was it cheaper to return to Madrid for your flight home, or could you simply book your flights as per "Home - Barcelona, then Sevilla - Home"? Often costs no more, or not much more.

Another thought: On the way to Sevilla from Granada, make a stop in Cordoba to see the Mezquita (www.mezquitadecordoba.org/en/‎) Comfortable buses from Granada (see www.alsa.es) go there for less than 15 Euros, then you can take another bus or the train to Sevilla, takes only 45 minutes.

I concur with Nerja---cute beach town.

I do not think you are considering the time to pack, unpack, check-in, check-out, go to and from airport or train station, and waiting time. It does not sound that relaxing. It is a lot in a nine day trip.

One alternative, and it is not the best alternative, is to go to beach at Barceloneta. This way you will more time for other things.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Catalonia.html

Would you consider renting a car?

My husband and I did so when we traveled throughout Spain.

Your trip looks good. I think your time is well allocated.

Happy Travels,
Oaktown Traveler

Yeah, this isn't a mix of cities and beach towns. Barcelona isn't a beach town, it's a group of cities, one of which isn't too far from a beach city and another of which has a beach.

If the purpose of Malaga is the beach, just skip it, do one day in Granada and add a day to Barcelona. You have too little time in both Barcelona and Seville as is.

This is quite rushed at least for me. You only have 8 nights and want to do Barcelona (3), Granada (3) and Sevilla (2). You will be traveling at a fast pace and not have alot of time to sit back and relax unless you want to miss out of some of the main tourist attractions.

My first concern would be if you are traveling from afar then you will likely be jetlagged your first day. So you'll really only have 2 days for Barcelona which is 1-2 days too short IMHO. 2 days in Sevilla is woefully short. If you insist on seeing all 3 places I'd cut a night in Granada (skip the Malaga daytrip) and add a night to Sevilla. You're also assuming your flight out of Madrid on day 9 is an afternoon flight. Otherwise it won't be possible to get from Sevilla to Madrid by train and check into the airport in time to make a morning flight.

Personally I'd focus this trip on Andalucia and save Barcelona for another time. Spend 4 nights in Sevilla and 2 in Granada. For the other 2 nights you could do several things: 1)rent a car between Sevilla and Granada and explore the white villages, 2) 2 nights in Malaga or Cadiz for your beach time, 3) 2 nights in Cordoba (at the very least with 4 nights in Sevilla visit as a daytrip) or 4) just spend 6 nights in Sevilla and do more daytrips (Cordoba, Jerez, Cadiz, Sanlucar, Osuna, Arcos, etc.....) - although this may be a bit much for you if you want to move around more.