crellston

We are thinking about a week away in September possibly using some BA miles that have been sitting around for awhile. Optimum availability from London seems to be to Madrid. We were there for a few days years ago and can't remember being that impressed. Maybe we got it wrong. Worth. couple of nights? We would most likely spend a night or two in Toledo or, more likely get the train to Seville (3hours) a city we loved when there a few years ago.

Another alternative, though not quite as readily available on miles flights would be Lisbon and Porto. Have been to Lisbon but 25 years ago . Porto we have never visited but it looks like the sort of place we would like. In this scenario we might spend a little longer with 2-3 nights in each of those places and maybe rent a car and visit a few places in between.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated. Have been going around in circles on this one and may have a case of post pandemic vacillation which may prove terminal!

KarenWoo

Regarding Madrid, I personally think it is worth a couple of nights or more. But it depends on what you like. Madrid has some outstanding art museums. We also enjoyed the Royal Palace, Retiro Park, and wandering around the neighborhoods and plazas.

Have you been to Toledo? If not, I would definitely spend 2 nights there. We spent a night in Toledo, and I wish we had an extra night. I love Seville, but if you haven’t been to Toledo yet, that is what I would do.

Haven’t been to Porto so can’t help you there.

mlgb

Notwithstanding the Prado, I also wasn't that taken with Madrid.

I think Lisbon's got it all over Madrid as an enjoyable city. Can't help with Porto but there are some very detailed trip reports as it seems that Portugal was the place that everyone needed to visit post-pandemic (maybe it was easier to get in?).

progol

We enjoyed Porto and Lisbon and if you haven’t been (or been recently), I’d recommend a visit. But we were in love with Seville and Toledo would happily go back there while we don’t feel compelled to return to Portugal. We also enjoyed Madrid, didn’t fall in love with it, but I’d say we enjoyed the city more than the Portuguese cities. We preferred Porto over Lisbon, too.

If it were me, I’d go to Spain in a heartbeat, having been to both places.

mlgb

Melnq8 always has lots of photos in her trip reports.

Greetings from Portugal

I'll just warn you to be very careful if those mosaic sidewalks are wet, I don't want another accident added to Carolyn's list!!!

crellston

Thanks all for your input. On balance, I think Madrid was always going to be a means to an end. most flights to Seville involved a change in Madrid anyway and the main reasons for going there would be the flight availability and to revisit Toledo, a place which impress when we had a few hours there 20 odd years ago. We love staying in Paradores and there is a nice one there. Delving a bit deeper into the logistics, trains from Madrid are cheap and efficient and a viable alternative to changing planes. So the plan, such as it is would be to fly Madrid, train to Sevilla fro a few nights, train to Toledo for a couple of nights ( presumably via Madrid ) and then a night two in Madrid before flying back to London.

However, as always, reward flight booking is a very dynamic environment, tickets to Lisbon no longer available on the date in September so that is off the table for now. I had planned to combine this with a back to back stay of a couple of nights apiece in Edinburgh and London (long story!) with the idea of flying out straight from Heathrow. which, for a variety of reasons , would be very convenient for us and give a good chance of decent weather.

Madrid flights are still available (just) so will have to book today or consider other datso. I want to get to either whilst there is still a good chance of decent weather. I If not it could be Mexico in March!

mlgb - thanks for the reminder! Must be getting more cautious as I get older last two trips to California and Australia and she hasn't had a single incident to add to the list

mlgb

Doesn't the Viking verbal assault get an honorable mention?

We rented a car and drove a loop (but longer than you have time for) including Extremadura which I liked, Seville, Cordoba, Ronda etc., came back up via the windmill route to Toledo.

crellston

Our Viking friend doesn't count as his actions were very much intentional rather than accidental

As I feared reward flights availabilty has reduced significantly. My cunning plan to head straight off after our trip to Edinburgh is no longer possible. May consider October for Sevilla but the mid of September marks the end of summer airline schedules in Europe. That will teach me to Carpe Diem! Mexico in March may now well be on the cards. Roll on the sales BA!

Madam397

It's been a long time since I've been to Madrid but I would visit again in a heartbeat. You can easily do a day trip from Madrid to both Segovia and El Escorial as worthwhile destinations or even overnight to Bilbao. Plenty of possibilities.

Loved our trip to Portugal including both Lisbon and Porto as part of a two week trip with many other stops. Walked all over the very hilly city of Porto and we also drove north a bit to the historic city of Guimares which actually reminded me of Rouen or places in Belgium in terms of the architecture.