Need advice on Spain (Madrid and Barcelona)
 

I am taking my 72 year old mother to Spain/France and I would like to know what beautiful day trips we can make from our base which is Madrid, that wouldn't be so stressful for her. I hear Toledo (though hilly) is beautiful. Can anyone tell me about Segovia and Salamanca?
What about Sevilla?
IF we take an overnight train from Barcelona, would it be cheaper to buy a last minute train ticket or a last minute plane ticket? We would save on hotel if we took the overnight train?

Thanks so much for the advice all!

I think that the best day trip from Madrid for anyone is Segovia. I have taken the bus and the train (bus is faster) and the first thing you see is the aquaduct, which is such an impressive sight. Right in the plaza is Cándido, a restaurant specializing in cochinillo (suckling pig). I highly recommend it. There is a big hill which heads up to the cathedral, but there are taxis that can take you there. They just can't go under the aquaduct, so you have to go around if none are inside. The cathedral is up at the top and there are lots of little coffee shops and restaurants in that plaza. Any one is good for coffee. Visit the cathedral, which is one of my favorites in Spain, then head down the hill to the Alcázar, a palace that served as Disney's model for the castle in Snow White. Spend a few hours there looking around, then head back to the station to go home.

I wouldn't miss Segovia for the world.

As for the Madrid-BCN trip, I can tell you right now that no 72 year old mother of mine would take a train trip, much less an overnighter that is only 7 hours long (limiting possible sleep to an uncomfortable 5 in reality). Search for flights on rumbo.es and vueling.com and see what you come up with. They are cheap and so much better than the train.

Sevilla is more than a day trip, as is Salamanca.

Seville is more than a day trip. Tarin is very comfortable. You don't have to book into international hotels at the edge go for smaller hotels and pensions in the centre.

Toledo is a forbidding fortified city with old oak doors and stone walls every where. Bus is best but think about where whe is going to rest out the heat of the day?

Madrid and Toledo are very hot in summer, cold in winter. Depending on her strength both great but at 45 I found the heat killing. So plan stops and restaurants. Really worth doing as the natives do and take siesta

I agree w/laclaire; Segovia is a dream daytrip from Madrid. I would even dare say that given your Mom's age, it would be more enjoyable than Toledo. The area around the Aqueduct is very nice, flat terrain, many nice stores. I have visited Segovia as a daytrip from Madrid and also stayed for extended period of time and while my favorite was the time I stayed there, I really was able to appreciate it as a daytrip. Another nice trip is to Avila with its incredibly preserved city walls. I would also suggest Alcala de Henares, a very beautiful, quaint town.

As far as Sevilla and Salamanca, I have spent time in both and would not just day trip from Madrid for a day. They are two of the most gorgeous, fantatstic, amazing cities in Spain and a day trip would be incredibly unfair to you and to the city.

This is another vote for vueling. Their flights are early but only take about an hour and fifteen minutes from Madrid to Barcelona (we took one just last month). The cost was only 33 euro and that included all fees.

Baldworth

I agree that flying is the way to go to Barcelona. Flights are inexpensive, but I think it is best to book them before you leave the US on the internet. Check out Iberia as well as Vueling on the web. It is very easy to get to both airports from both city centers, and cabs are not terribly expensive.

You don't say when you are going but if it is at all in warm weather, budget for taxis and think twice about hauling luggage up and down train stairs.