Andee01

We are planning a trip to Spain and France next year. There have been lots of recent trip reports to destinations in Spain that we will be visiting, so I am hoping to confirm that our destinations and length of stays look ok.

A bit about us, my husband and I are reasonably fit. I turn 50 next year and my husband 54. We enjoy walking and exploring the cities we stay in, and are interested in art galleries, interesting architecture and museums. While we enjoy a good food, we are not what you might call foodies...so we tend to pick restaurants based on menu choices and the general vibe.

We have our flights from Australia already booked. We will fly into Madrid and out of Paris. Here is my proposed itinerary:

Arrive Madrid 17/6
2 x nights Madrid

Train from Madrid to Seville
5 x nights Seville
Day trip to Córdoba from Seville...although considering maybe a 1 night stay?

Bus? from Seville to Granada
3 x nights Granada - visit Alhambra

Train from Seville to Malaga
4x nights Malaga
I have considered staying 5 nights here...is 4 nights enough?

Train from Malaga to Zaragoza
2 x nights Zaragoza
We just wanted to break up the trip to S.S, and Zaragoza looks to have enough to do for a day or so.

Train from Zaragoza to San Sebastien
3 nights San Sebastien
I considered 4 nights here, but given we are there in July and the cost of accomodation is high I am thinking 3 nights will be enough. Any thoughts?

Train San Sebastien to Bordeaux
4 x nights Bordeaux
Plan a day trip to Saint Emillion, and maybe Perigeux?

Train Bordeaux to Paris
5 nights Paris

Depart from Paris on 16/7.

I haven't finalised the France bit entirely yet. As we spent 8 nights in Paris in 2016, I was considering taking a day of Paris to either add to somewhere else in France - possibly Dordogne region for a couple of nights or an extra night in Malaga or to add the Córdoba stay.

I appreciate any input about what we have planned. Thank you.

PalenQ

Nice leisurely itinerary but why only 2 nights, including landing day, in Madrid.

OK for me Madrid itself was a few days but it is a great base for day trips to nearby Toledo - awesome Toledo - or to Segovia, Salamanca or Avila - all really neat cities.

Granada and Malaga are neat but I could not see staying 3 and 5 days respectively - and few really neat day trips around them.

Anyway you are taking trains so much - great - that you are one of the few who should contemplate a Spain Railpass which allows you to chose which trains to take once there (you still must pay seat reservation fees and get them before boarding) and not pre-book weeks early in stone as with discounted tickets (I believe). Anyway an 8-day Spain Flexipass - chose unlimited travel days any days within an overall one-month period - costs about $40/day (at e 1.20 = $1 means about $33/unlimited travel day (plus though about $10 per seat reservation on high-speed trains) -anyway do the maths vs a string of discounted and highly restricted tickets that have to be bought months in advance to guarantee getting as they are limited in number.

If close to the pass go for the pass and chose which trains you want to take once there (seems to be little problem getting passholder seats) and first class travel the pass is even a better deal vis-a-vis discounted fares.


Anyway for lots on Spanish trains check www.renfe.com - Spanish Railways site; www.seat61.com - great info discounted tickets; and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Andee01

Thanks PalenQ. We spent 6 wonderful nights in Madrid last year, including a day trip to fabulous Toledo. This time round we wanted the focus of the trip to be mostly south, hence our shorter stay in Madrid.

Ok, from your comment re. Granada and Malaga, you think less days. So maybe 2 Granada and stick with 4 in Malaga? We don't like too much moving, which is why we normally try for a 4 night stay when possible, and have fewer 2 night stays.

We do enjoy taking trains when we can, much more enjoyable, than navigating airports. Thanks too for the tip re. the Spain Rail Pass, I hadn't thought about that, I will look into it.

Thanks again.

joannyc

I would take one night from both Granada and Malaga, add them to your time in Madrid.

jamikins

We loved Granada...food was wonderful. We had 3 nights an thought it very worthwhile.

joannyc

We were posting at the same time. Just saw your reply regarding Madrid time last year. Ignore my comment.

PalenQ

OK - 2 nights then in Madrid perfect to rest up, etc.

What are you planning to do with four days in lovely Malaga- beach it? Take day trips along Costa del Sol (most seaside resorts I've been to, including a week in Torremelinos chaperoning a high school trip- are boring to me unless into beaching it.

I actually liked Gibraltar - much maligned here - as both a novelty and for the imposing Rock with views to Africa and the unique for Europe pesky tailless monkeys. You'd take a bus there and probably have to walk across the airport tarmac to get to Gibraltar itself - Spain often makes it as difficult as possible to get easily in with such hinderances as not allowing its buses to go into what they consider a part of Spain under illegal occupation. But many don't seem to like it but I did - even have British pubs!

Ronda is one really pretty city you do not include

I took bus Seville to Ronda via the iconic perched 'white villages' -stopping off for a few hours in one.

Maybe a night in Ronda en route Seville-Malaga (Ronda is physically gorgeous as bisected by a deep gorge but not a whole lot of must sights, which can be nice.

I also though Jerez-de-la-Frontera a great easy day trip from Seville by train or bus - neat Sherry tours ('sherry' being an English corruption of 'Jerez' when Brits owned the industry I believe lock, stock and wine barrels marketing it for older English 'ladies' - the tours are great and so are the practice session of the Royal Andalusia Equestrian Riding School -seeing the world-famous behemoth horses going thru their paces is sweet - not sure of schedule but think most days:

https://www.realescuela.org/en/exhibiciones.cfm.

Andee01

Looks like I need to do a little more thinking about this.

Granada doesnt seem to be as popular as other destinations. However some people really enjoy it...thanks Jamikins. I thought 3 nights in Granada would make it not too rushed given we will have 1 day out of the 3 committed to the Alhambra.

I think Malaga too, looks like an interesting destination, with enough to see and do for 4 days perhaps. I am interested in visiting the Picasso museum and the Centre Pompidou among other sights.

Joannyc - as we spent 6 nights in Madrid just last year, I think a couple of nights will be ok. I know it makes a great base for interesting day trips though...so will consider another night.

Thanks again.

Andee01

Sorry Joannyc and PalenQ we were posting at the same time.

PalenQ - I hadn't planned on going too far from Malaga during the 4 days. As mentioned a visit to some art galleries and other local sights will keep us occupied for a few days. We don't like to be too rushed and enjoy walking and exploring a destination on foot. I will think about your suggestion regarding another destination such as Ronda...great idea.

PalenQ

How long in any place is very subjective and depends on one's interests. One day in Granada was enough for me though I spent two days there. Jaimikins says 3 was great - joannyc says 2 was enough - I respect each thru their Fodor histories - I say 1 was enough - go with your gut feeling IMO. I for one rather rush around a town -not lingering in say Granada's sweet cathedral or even the Alhambra - so there are variables too.

Andee01

Thanks for feedback so far, really appreciated.

Any thoughts on whether we should stay over night in Córdoba instead of doing a day trip? Recent trip reports on Fodors have indicated it might be worthwhile.

I am also interested to know if the France part of my itinerary seems ok. If anyone has any other suggestions regarding day trips from Bordeaux that would be great.

PalenQ

I would not stay 4 nights in Bordeaux and I think most would concur on that - nice but large busy city- head to maybe the Dordogne and Sarlat area - so much in that area- old caves with art - perched medieval villages.

Andee01

Thanks PalenQ. I had been thinking about that. As we love our train travel and aren't really keen to drive in France is it possible to travel by train to visit places in the Dordogne region. I like the look of Sarlat and Perigeuex, and we can travel from Bordeaux to both of those destinations by train...but I am not sure how easy it would be to explore the region without a car.

jamikins

We did this tour in Granada our first night and it was fantastic

http://devourgranadafoodtours.com/to...flamenco-tour/

We learned about tapas in Granada and how it works (different than other cities). It made our trip fantastic.

Andee01

Thanks Jamikins for the tour idea. I will add it to my list of things to do. I have also kept note of the hotel you stayed in and recommended in Granada. I am feeling a little more confident about 3 nights in Granada now.

jamikins

We are slow travellers, we like to get a feel of a place and also leave lots of time to relax and enjoy the food and wine. If you are similar and learn the ways of Granada I don't think you will regret 3 nights!

Happy planning!

kja

Many people spend just part of a day in Cordoba. I was very glad I had 2 full days there.

Book your tickets for the Alhambra well in advance! I am VERY glad that I had 3 nights (2.5 days) in Granada. It has FAR more to offer than just the Alhambra, and the Alhambra itself can take a full days.

While it depends on what you want to see and experience, 4 nights in San Sebastian would be too many for me.

Hope that helps!

ToujoursVoyager

I spent 5 nights in Sarlat in La Dordogne area in June and it became one of my favorite trips. Like mentioned previously, consider renting a car once you arrive in Bordeaux and driving to la La Dordogne. You will not be disappointed.

kja

I agree that the Dordogne is magnificent, but think you really would need a car for that area. There are many parts of France that you could see and enjoy with public transportation.

Andee01

Thanks Kja, I remembered you liked Córdoba and were happy to have stayed. I will keep it as a possible option at this stage.

ToujoursVoyager - thanks for you input about Sarlat, it does looks like a special place.

Neither of us is very confident about driving in France, as we drive on the other side of the road here in Australia! I will do a little more research on the region, and maybe we just need to be brave.