Looking for advice on what towns to use as a base
 

Hello everyone
We will be traveling to Spain in March till the first week in April. We are arriving in Madrid and will spend the first 6 days there. Then we are taking the train to Valencia and will be there for 8 days. So far, so good.
After Valencia we have a total of 17 days before we leave from Madrid.

What I would like is any suggestions on where to make our base and what towns we should add as day trips, time permitting.

We want to visit some of the towns around Alicante like Altea, Benidorm and Villajoyosa. I think that there is a tram from Alicante to these places. Our initial thought is to have Alicante as a base, but are looking for other possible options in the area. We are thinking 5-6 nights. we would prefer to not jump around (1 or 2 night in one place) if possible. However, if there is a place that is worth a night or 2, we will seriously consider that as well.
After that area we would like to visit Malaga and the surrounding towns of Nerja and Marbella. I am also looking for other suggestions of areas to explore. We can spend 5 nigths in that area as well.

Our last days (maybe 5-6 nights) we are thinking of 2 nights in Toledo and the rest back in Madrid with a day trip to Salamanca or Segovia, etc. It depends on how much we do our first 6 days.
Thank you in advance. I look forward to any input
Susan

Benidorm? That appears in my nightmares.

@mztish
I like Segovia better than Toledo.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...178437755&z=16

Hi, mztish, if you go back to the Europe category, see the airplane icon on the right and click on 'display trip reports. It should lead you to lots TRs and ideas. Looking forward to reading about your trip.

shelemm That is so interesting! Can I ask why?

Thanks! Great idea!

Benidorm, where to start? It's full of drunken Brits, the restaurants are not that good, bars are mostly drag and gay bars, very rowdy at night. What would be called "downmarket". If that's your aim, then you'll love it. We've been once in 1973. Never did go back.

What Rubicund said, and I will add the huge developments along the beach which are appalling.

OP, I just took a look at your TR for Greece. What an amazing parade of images and experiences! You are a gifted photographer, and you were able to take advantage of an impressive array of experiences surrounded by a constantly shifting landscape.

Flash forward to now, and I have now idea why you are drawn to all these Spanish beach resorts. Some have a nice feature or three, but some of these places will be a letdown form your Greece trip. Spain has a ridiculous wealth of stupefying sights and experiences, so I guess maybe you've seen them already?

This is my trip report that includes Nerja. https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...eport-1652555/
As I say here, we wished we'd spent more time in Nerja. And we enjoyed exploring the surrounding area.
We are returning to Valencia for the fourth time this coming March. We obviously love it.