Possible Spain trip - what would you do?
Jul 2nd, 2013, 04:15 AM
#86
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Cookery courses are a great way to find our about local food there's a list of courses across Andalucia here http://www.andalucia-for-holidays.co...y-courses.html
Jul 2nd, 2013, 04:32 AM
#87
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Thanks Spainola!
Ann - glad to hear that you think four nights will be good!
So the plan is:
5 nights in Marbella (day trips to Ronda, possible day trip to Morocco)
2 nights Granada
4 nights Seville
2 nights Madrid
I am going to look into flights to Malaga - since we are already at the airport in Madrid... it might be easier than taking the train...
Ann - glad to hear that you think four nights will be good!
So the plan is:
5 nights in Marbella (day trips to Ronda, possible day trip to Morocco)
2 nights Granada
4 nights Seville
2 nights Madrid
I am going to look into flights to Malaga - since we are already at the airport in Madrid... it might be easier than taking the train...
Jul 2nd, 2013, 05:32 AM
#88
mom- good idea about the flight to Malaga. Shame you won't be staying there - we really liked it, and felt that one night was not enough.
once your dates for Granada are fixed in, do get booking your tickets for the Alhambra. for the daytime visit, i suggest going in the morning as that will give you the whole day there, so long as you have entered the Generalife before 2pm [which is when the afternoon session starts] A friend of ours didn't do that, and wasn't allowed in.
as for the evening session, i don't think that the time really matters that much. I think that there is a special garden tour that you can do which didn't exist when we went a few years ago.
if you can get there early enough, i would suggest doing the evening session on the day you get there, and the day time the next day.
once your dates for Granada are fixed in, do get booking your tickets for the Alhambra. for the daytime visit, i suggest going in the morning as that will give you the whole day there, so long as you have entered the Generalife before 2pm [which is when the afternoon session starts] A friend of ours didn't do that, and wasn't allowed in.
as for the evening session, i don't think that the time really matters that much. I think that there is a special garden tour that you can do which didn't exist when we went a few years ago.
if you can get there early enough, i would suggest doing the evening session on the day you get there, and the day time the next day.
Jul 2nd, 2013, 07:09 AM
#90
joannyc - we hadn't planned to go at night as well as in the day, but we were staying just across the road, and it was a nice evening, so we thought "why not?"
it is very beautiful when it's all lit up, and another advantage is that they let in far fewer people so you can really experience the Nasrid palaces without the crowds.
it is very beautiful when it's all lit up, and another advantage is that they let in far fewer people so you can really experience the Nasrid palaces without the crowds.
Jul 2nd, 2013, 09:23 AM
#91
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Your most recent itinerary is great. I wouldn't change it. (Well I wouldn't spend 5 nights in Marbella but since you have Marriot points I'm sure you will love it.) I would not ruin a dreamy trip to Andalucia by going to Tangier unless you are really, really bored. You can always drive around Ronda and the white pueblos if you get bored. Sevilla might be your favorite part of the trip. A daytrip to the old part of Malaga would be nice too.
Jul 2nd, 2013, 09:23 AM
#92
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Your most recent itinerary is great. I wouldn't change it. (Well I wouldn't spend 5 nights in Marbella but since you have Marriot points I'm sure you will love it.) I would not ruin a dreamy trip to Andalucia by going to Tangier unless you are really, really bored. You can always drive around Ronda and the white pueblos if you get bored. Sevilla might be your favorite part of the trip. A daytrip to the old part of Malaga would be nice too.
Jul 2nd, 2013, 02:03 PM
#93
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Egbert,
We plan on doing day trips from there..it is due to staying for free on points... I could stay one less night and add another night onto another area but thought that with jet lag we will really most likely hang low on the first day there, enjoy the resort beach area...and get over the jet lag that seems to hit us all pretty hard...
Little glitch with the apartment... the agency emailed me after I booked it and said "no children" and asked for our daughter's age. Hopefully since she will be 17 at time of travel it won't be an issue.
Ann & Joan - thank you for all the input and tips! Yeah!!!
We plan on doing day trips from there..it is due to staying for free on points... I could stay one less night and add another night onto another area but thought that with jet lag we will really most likely hang low on the first day there, enjoy the resort beach area...and get over the jet lag that seems to hit us all pretty hard...
Little glitch with the apartment... the agency emailed me after I booked it and said "no children" and asked for our daughter's age. Hopefully since she will be 17 at time of travel it won't be an issue.
Ann & Joan - thank you for all the input and tips! Yeah!!!
Jul 2nd, 2013, 03:02 PM
#94
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We got home from Spain on Thursday. We have spent sixteen weeks- 2 trips- in Spain this year (so far!) so you might surmise that we love that country! We are Americans, BTW
I have some opinions to add.....just opinions but I may have some creds for taking 18 trips to Spain over the past sixteen years.
First of all, congrats on scoring your FF flights! Your Marbella timeshare looks great, on the beach.
Your first day may be long and arduous. You will have to get to the Atocha station to catch your train. Madridman.com is a great site which has lots of info including the bus from the airport to the station. Check out his blog- January 25, 2012 for detailed information. For some reason I can't copy and paste it here.
It may be a gamble to buy AVE tickets in advance as you wouldn't know when you will arrive at Atocha. IMO, first class train tickets aren't necessary. It may be hard to get some sleep with the scenery going by. The first part will be the plains but closer to Malaga is more interesting.
The highway from Malaga to Marbella is good.
Personally, I would nix both Gibraltar and Morocco. I've never heard anyone say they can't wait to return to either one. On the other hand, people say that all the time about Nerja. If you like to drive, (and the roads are good), you may want to day trip to Nerja and the caves. Or if you plan to drive to Granada you pass by Nerja if you are going along the coast and can stop by then. Granada is about two and a half hours from Nerja. We go to Nerja every year and it is our favorite place on earth.
I was going to suggest that you don't need to go to Granada if your reason is to see the Alhambra as the Alcazar is very similar and the gardens are as nice as the Generalife but if you have already booked you will enjoy your time there, I'm sure. Be sure to book your Alhambra tickets for the second day. As you will be staying there you can book an early entry before it gets too busy.
If you day trip to Ronda I suggest you stop at Puerto Banus to see the amazing yachts at the harbor. A lot of them are Arab owned. IMO, a day trip to Ronda is sufficient.
Do you plan to day trip to Cordoba while in Sevilla? The Mezquita in Cordoba is quite a sight!
We went to Cordoba last year for three nights and liked that little city. This year we spent three nights in Sevilla and liked it as well.
If you have any questions feel free to email me at pj2592maccom (you can figure out where the @ and . go).
We have done a lot of travel to other countries but always return to Spain. We love the culture and especially the lovely Spanish people. I have a feeling you are going to love Spain as well.
Happy planning!
I have some opinions to add.....just opinions but I may have some creds for taking 18 trips to Spain over the past sixteen years.
First of all, congrats on scoring your FF flights! Your Marbella timeshare looks great, on the beach.
Your first day may be long and arduous. You will have to get to the Atocha station to catch your train. Madridman.com is a great site which has lots of info including the bus from the airport to the station. Check out his blog- January 25, 2012 for detailed information. For some reason I can't copy and paste it here.
It may be a gamble to buy AVE tickets in advance as you wouldn't know when you will arrive at Atocha. IMO, first class train tickets aren't necessary. It may be hard to get some sleep with the scenery going by. The first part will be the plains but closer to Malaga is more interesting.
The highway from Malaga to Marbella is good.
Personally, I would nix both Gibraltar and Morocco. I've never heard anyone say they can't wait to return to either one. On the other hand, people say that all the time about Nerja. If you like to drive, (and the roads are good), you may want to day trip to Nerja and the caves. Or if you plan to drive to Granada you pass by Nerja if you are going along the coast and can stop by then. Granada is about two and a half hours from Nerja. We go to Nerja every year and it is our favorite place on earth.
I was going to suggest that you don't need to go to Granada if your reason is to see the Alhambra as the Alcazar is very similar and the gardens are as nice as the Generalife but if you have already booked you will enjoy your time there, I'm sure. Be sure to book your Alhambra tickets for the second day. As you will be staying there you can book an early entry before it gets too busy.
If you day trip to Ronda I suggest you stop at Puerto Banus to see the amazing yachts at the harbor. A lot of them are Arab owned. IMO, a day trip to Ronda is sufficient.
Do you plan to day trip to Cordoba while in Sevilla? The Mezquita in Cordoba is quite a sight!
We went to Cordoba last year for three nights and liked that little city. This year we spent three nights in Sevilla and liked it as well.
If you have any questions feel free to email me at pj2592maccom (you can figure out where the @ and . go).
We have done a lot of travel to other countries but always return to Spain. We love the culture and especially the lovely Spanish people. I have a feeling you are going to love Spain as well.
Happy planning!
Jul 3rd, 2013, 05:55 AM
#96
Little glitch with the apartment... the agency emailed me after I booked it and said "no children" and asked for our daughter's age. Hopefully since she will be 17 at time of travel it won't be an issue. >>
ditto what uhoo_busted said.
ditto what uhoo_busted said.
Jul 3rd, 2013, 08:29 AM
#98
I was going to suggest that you don't need to go to Granada if your reason is to see the Alhambra as the Alcazar is very similar and the gardens are as nice as the Generalife >>
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with Judi here. Both the buildings of the Alhambra and the gardens [which are in both the Alhambra proper and the Generalife] are far more extensive than those of the Alcazar in Seville. The sites are different too in that much of the Generalife is on a sloping site which leads to extensive water gardens which are very lovely.
Don't get me wrong, the Alcazar is very beautiful and has the advantage of [at least when we were there] fewer visitors, but the Alhambra is renowned throughout the world, and IMO rightly so.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with Judi here. Both the buildings of the Alhambra and the gardens [which are in both the Alhambra proper and the Generalife] are far more extensive than those of the Alcazar in Seville. The sites are different too in that much of the Generalife is on a sloping site which leads to extensive water gardens which are very lovely.
Don't get me wrong, the Alcazar is very beautiful and has the advantage of [at least when we were there] fewer visitors, but the Alhambra is renowned throughout the world, and IMO rightly so.
Jul 3rd, 2013, 08:52 AM
#100
Also disagreeing with Judi about both the Alhambra/Alcazar issue and the dismissal of Morocco. While it might be true that it's best to give it a miss if all you can swing is a day trip to Tangier, Fes, Marrakech and Essaouira will reward a two or three day visit.
Morocco is very exotic -- far more than you might expect -- and it may be a bit out of the comfort zone for some travelers.
Morocco is very exotic -- far more than you might expect -- and it may be a bit out of the comfort zone for some travelers.
