Hi,

This will be my first time to Spain. We have only 10 nights in total. I was initially planning on spending all our time in Spain. But have found a good deal - i.e. 55,000 points with a stop over in Lisbon. I understand that we need 3 nights in Lisbon. I would like to spend 5 nights in Barcelona. We enter/exit Spain through Madrid, so that leaves us 2 nights. Ideally I would like to skip Madrid. (So maybe do day trips i.e. Toledo)

We will be travelling at the end of May.

If we don't use the point our tickets are ~$1,000 rountrip Barcelona from New York.

So my question is: I have a choice between Lisbon or visiting Seville/ Antalucia or any other place in Spain. For 3 nights.

Which is better? Please keep in mind that I will save money if I see Lisbon. But the better place is also important.

"Which is better?"

That's a very difficult question to answer - there really is no correct answer. Both Lisbon and Sevilla are beautiful cities to visit.

When is your trip? I assume it's sometime during high season as the cost of the trip from NY is $1,000. What are your interests? If you really don't want to visit Madrid it's a pity you have to fly in and out of there.

I don't think there is an objective answer as to which is better. But if it were me, and I would be saving money by spending three nights in Lisbon, I would happily go to Lisbon. It is a beautiful, interesting city, and it is very different from Spain in many ways. I like vacations that have contrasting destinations, and I have combined stays in Portugal and Spain on three occasions.

I am very confused by your situation and route. If you enter and leave where does Lisbon fit in?

With ten days I would minimize the inter-city travel.

You must decide whether the points will dictate the trip or not.

Hi, angel,
I agree that there is no clear answer here. I know both Andalucia and Lisbon -- in three days you will only get a taste of what each has to offer and they are both terrific destinations. So if it were my decision, I would follow Aduchamp's advice to figure out a route that minimizes the inter-city travel and maximizes real visit time.

And my other observation is that Madrid is a wonderful city and with two days you can get a glimpse of its monumental beauty and avoid yet more travel back and forth on day trips. But I know that wasn't what you were asking, I just added that thought because I find that so many people dismiss Madrid as just a big congested city and it is so much more than that! in my opinion anyway. Laurie