Maribel - More Questions, Segovia, El Escorial, etc.
 

Sorry to keep posting, but I have more questions.

El Escorial: You've recommended to get to El Escorial when it opens at 10:00 a.m. before the tour buses get there. But do you think we might also miss the tour buses if we went at the end of the day, about an hour or so before closing? That might work out better with our schedule.

Segovia: We have a reservation at Los Linajes, but wanted to extend our stay & they're booked for the second night. In one of your postings you mentioned you were staying at the Casa de Lobones outside of Segovia. How was it? This will be our first time in Segoiva. Do you think it will be inconvenient. We also want to visit La Granja.

Last question. Nerja to Malaga airport: We have an 8:30 a.m. flight from Malaga back to the U.S. & planned to stay at the Parador in Nerja the night before. We're thinking we'll have to leave the Parador by 5:00 a.m. to return the rental car & catch the plane. Is that enough time? Are we crazy to do that, or should we stay closer to the airport? On another post you had suggested the Malaga Golf Parador. We were hoping to have as much time as possible in Frigiliana & Competa that last day. And maybe we can & then drive to the Parador in Malaga in the evening. What do you recommend? Thanks as always, Carole

El Escorial
If you get there one hour before closing you will have to rush inside the huge monastery as the inside tour goes all around a very large building.
If you decide to go late, allow a minimum of two hours.

Caserio de Lobones is 5 minutes away from Segovia itself and 15 from La Granja. So you wil be right there.(By car)

Nerja and Malaga airport are well connected via doble highway surrounding Malaga.At the time in the morning that you intend to go, if you stay in the parador in Malaga you are only going to save 30 minutes.

CFW,
As car says, if you go late, you should allow 2 hrs. minimum. There's lots to see, the monastery, the pantheon, the cathedral, the art museum.

The Caserio de Lobones is where we stayed on our last visit simply because we wanted to try something new and different, we've stayed in town so many times, and we love the Rusticae properties. But... although it's only 5 min. outside of town, it's a bit tough to find, and you need to print out the EXACT directions, and don't attempt to reach it at night. The entrance is poorly signed!! It's a wonderful, tranquil hacienda, so elegantly furnished and our red room upstairs was extremely comfy and romantic. We were waited on by white jacketed butlers, and we had our run of the house, including a delicious light dinner prepared for us in the little dining room served white glove style, after dinner drinks in the exquisitely decorated drawing room. We were the only guests in sight that night. Although we loved it there, I don't necessarily recommend it for first time visitors. I think the Infanta Isabel, right on the Plaza Mayor, in town is a better bet, because it has a garage, and you have the entire city at your feet. Before booking the Caserio, I would check availability at the Infanta Isabel, a rec of Karen Brown.
If it's not available I would also check the Hosteleria Ayala de Berganza, tucked away in a quiet section of the city, but still within easy walking distance of everything. The public rooms at the Hosteleria are small and not impressive, but the rooms themselves have lovely decor. See it at www.innsofspain.com (who also represent the Caserio de Lobones).

If it were me, with a flight from Malaga airport at 8:30, I'd stay closer than Nerja. (I was afraid your flight was that early). I'd stay either at the Parador Gibralfaro atop the city or closer still, at the Parador de Golf, whichever has availability. The Parador Gilbrafaro has fantastic views, but the Parador de Golf is closer to the airport, actually west of it.
I personally wouldn't want to worry about getting up so early in Nerja, making the drive and turning the car, making sure I had enought time to check in for my flight.

Hope this helps.

We stayed at Los Linajes last year,was the worse of all of the hotels we stayed at. Not bad just not great,so I would maybe do two nights somewhere else. The tour bus was staying there so busy at breakfast and they werent very nice. Rooms were just ok,but ugly....very hard to find too,especially if youre driving,the street in front was closed.

As one who has missed a flight out of Spain, I agree with Maribel that you are cutting it too close staying in Nerja. Plus, the old city of Malaga, especially the Picasso Museum and palace are well worth seeing. And the Parador has great views (not particularly great food, but there are lots of other options.)

I second Maribel's recommendation to stay at Infanta Isabel in Segovia. We stayed there last June, great hotel, we drove up and the valet took our car and parked it for us in their garage. Ask for a room overlooking the Plaza Mayor (they are soundproofed), its fun watching all the activity, especially late at night. Hopes this helps you to make a decision.

Thanks, all. We switched to Malaga Golf Parador since it is closest to the airport. Also, at Maribel's suggestion we booked the Hosteria Ayala Berganza, which looked beautiful on the web.