I'm thinking of staying in Murcia to visit the surrounding countryside... is this a good idea? What do you recommend I see? Does anyone know any small, charming hotels in the area?Nothing isolated, no big name hotels please. Something quite Spanish. I'd love some advice... I'm not sure about this part of my trip to Spain.
Louanne

I visited Murcia for daytrips when we were staying in La Manga and really didn't care for it, but that's just my experience. I thought Alicante was more interesting.

the traffic can be horrendous going around murcia..

orihuela is a special town with a lot of religious history. there is a NH hotel there. It is a palatial home converted to hotel.

lorca is a small town, but i don´t think there is any really interesting scenery or countryside to investigate too long in this area. it is very arid except for some patches...we are usually on our way elsewhere, bu thave stopped for plesant overnights in these towns.

cabo de gata down south of almeria is UNIQUE.

i assume you have a car?

I haven't decided whether I will rent a car or use the bus. Any advice? As for Cabo de Gata, I've heard wonderful things about it. Is it a good place to spend a few days?
Thanks all!

spectacular scenry. chill out beach. arid in mountains.

google and look at pics and decide.

For discovering the countryside, a car is necessary. You will not be able to do nearly as much in a bus and though driving can be stressful here, it is definitely worth it.

I think that Murcia is absolutely beautiful, but that is the opinion of someone who is excited about arid climates, plam trees and man-planted fields of olive trees.

How long do you have to visit? Cartagena is a really cool place to see and there are not so many tourists.

As for a base, Murcia City is a nice place to stay, but if you have a car you might try to find a casa rural in the area, as they will be just what you are looking for.

ttt

laclaire! you´re back! we missed you!

louanne:

www.toprural.com has great options that will get you OUT of the horrendous in and out of city traffic and put you into the countryside you so want to discover.

Thank you all. Lots of new research for me...

I hear that the Murcia area is the warmest in Spain?

louanne,
I was going though the post wondering what time of the year you where going to do this Murcia, center of the world idea.
It is not hot it is very HOT and humid.
So traveling around in public buses, specialy waiting for them under the sun in Lorca or any other place in the surroundings in between the months of May and October it not a funny thing to do. So car with a/c for sure.
Murcia has a very attractive old center around the Cathedral and University full of small restaurants and tapas bars with a great night life, specialy during summer months.
I think the city is good for a two day visit. One hour around Murcia you can visit, Caravaca , Lorca or Yecla.
Or by the seaside, La Manga, Aguilas or cabo de gata.
My favorite in town hotel is two star hotel (yes two)called "La huertanica" with small cute rooms and a great restaurant downstairs.
Rgds

Thanks, car. Will be in the area in mid to late April.

I think Murcia is bored.
Why not La Mancha, the homeland of Don Quixote: Argamasilla de Alba, Almagro...

I though Murcia was quite pleasant. An old town with out too much tourism (a bit like Almeria). Cabo de Gata is well worh the drive and the small coast town of St Jose is great for a refreshment stop. Cartegena was also very attractive. I didn't care much for La Manga which we drove on to - loads of abandoned half finished hotels. If this was all some people had seen of Spain, they would never come back!