Proposed Itinerary-Northern Spain
Dec 2nd, 2015, 08:42 AM
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Proposed Itinerary-Northern Spain
My main concern is that we will be in the Picos before the snow. We will probably leave Sept 6, but possibly Sept 13. We also do not want to rush the trip.
Day One-Fly Madrid from JFK
Day Two Arrive Madrid, Fly Santiago
Days Three-Seven with family in Santiago (No hotel needed)
Day Eight-Drive Santiago to Oviedo
Day Nine-Oviedo
Day Ten-Drive Oviedo to Fuente De (Will probably stay in the Parador)
Day Eleven-Fuente De
Day Twelve Fuente De to Bilbao
Day Thirteen-Bilbao
Day Fourteen-Day trip to Bermeo
Day Fifteen-Drive Bilbao-Bayonne, France
Day Sixteen Bayonne
Day Seventeen-Drive Bayonne to Donostia (drop off car)
Day Eighteen-Donostia
Day Nineteen-Train to Madrid
Day Twenty-Madrid-Day trip to Toledo
Day Twenty-one-Madrid
Day Twenty-two Fly Madrid to JFK
We would appreciate any hotel recommendations. About 100-125 Euros per night. In Madrid we might stay at the Persal or Room Mate Alicia if they price is right.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Day One-Fly Madrid from JFK
Day Two Arrive Madrid, Fly Santiago
Days Three-Seven with family in Santiago (No hotel needed)
Day Eight-Drive Santiago to Oviedo
Day Nine-Oviedo
Day Ten-Drive Oviedo to Fuente De (Will probably stay in the Parador)
Day Eleven-Fuente De
Day Twelve Fuente De to Bilbao
Day Thirteen-Bilbao
Day Fourteen-Day trip to Bermeo
Day Fifteen-Drive Bilbao-Bayonne, France
Day Sixteen Bayonne
Day Seventeen-Drive Bayonne to Donostia (drop off car)
Day Eighteen-Donostia
Day Nineteen-Train to Madrid
Day Twenty-Madrid-Day trip to Toledo
Day Twenty-one-Madrid
Day Twenty-two Fly Madrid to JFK
We would appreciate any hotel recommendations. About 100-125 Euros per night. In Madrid we might stay at the Persal or Room Mate Alicia if they price is right.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Dec 2nd, 2015, 11:03 AM
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Not a problem! In Bayonne you can check out the Hôtel Des Basses Pyrénées. The location isn't bad, not far from the Musée Basque, and should be in your price range. Another one to check out is the Amirauté Royale. Also close to the Musée Basque.
In Madrid you can take a look at NH Madrid Alonso Martinez, in the Chamberí. There is also the Hotel Sidorme Fuencarral 52 in the Chueca district. The Ayre Gran Hotel Colón is in the Retiro and the Hotel Serrano (34 rooms) in the Salamanca district are good options and well within you price range.
In Madrid you can take a look at NH Madrid Alonso Martinez, in the Chamberí. There is also the Hotel Sidorme Fuencarral 52 in the Chueca district. The Ayre Gran Hotel Colón is in the Retiro and the Hotel Serrano (34 rooms) in the Salamanca district are good options and well within you price range.
Dec 2nd, 2015, 12:24 PM
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Check the Hesperia Bilbao, Hotel NH Collection Villa de Bilbao, Silken Gran Hotel Domine, Miró, Hotel Carlton and Ercilla Lopez de Haro to see what they have for your dates. The Meliá Bilbao would also be a good option.
Both the Gran Hotel Domine and Meliá Bilbao have outstanding restaurants; Doma and Aizian - www.maribelsguides.com/mg_bilbao_2015.pdf
Both the Gran Hotel Domine and Meliá Bilbao have outstanding restaurants; Doma and Aizian - www.maribelsguides.com/mg_bilbao_2015.pdf
Dec 2nd, 2015, 03:14 PM
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Unless spending time visiting small Basque towns I would skip Bayonne and stick to Spain. The town is nice enough, but the Basque country deserves more than going to Bayonne.
Why not drive to Madrid via Burgos and Segovia?
Why not drive to Madrid via Burgos and Segovia?
Dec 2nd, 2015, 04:20 PM
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I looked up the Ayre in Oviedo.. it looks cool but its a bit of a trek (walking) to the center. No prob if you like to walk but if you want to be a bit more in the heart of the things, you could stay a bit closer in. I like the Roommate in Oviedo.
Having said that, driving in Oviedo is not the easiest so maybe the Ayre is better if you have a car. If you want to stay in Oviedo and not just use it as a base, consider taking the bus to Oviedo from Santiago de Compostela and then getting a car on your way out.
I would not want to stay at the parador in Fuente de. I have not stayed there, but I have drank there and ate there. Its remote and while the views of the mountain are great its not exactly hopping. I would stay in Potes.
Having said that, driving in Oviedo is not the easiest so maybe the Ayre is better if you have a car. If you want to stay in Oviedo and not just use it as a base, consider taking the bus to Oviedo from Santiago de Compostela and then getting a car on your way out.
I would not want to stay at the parador in Fuente de. I have not stayed there, but I have drank there and ate there. Its remote and while the views of the mountain are great its not exactly hopping. I would stay in Potes.
Dec 2nd, 2015, 05:02 PM
#12
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The trip is long enough without driving to Madrid. And if he go Burgos, we must visit friends. We eliminated Altima TT, Sorria, burgos, and Olite due to the length of the trip.
Will take a look at the other choices in Oviedo.
we will have a car in Santiago as the family lives outside of town and it gives us freedom.
Will take a look at the other choices in Oviedo.
we will have a car in Santiago as the family lives outside of town and it gives us freedom.
Dec 2nd, 2015, 05:15 PM
#13
Just visited Bayonne for the second time - great base for day trips. Went to Biarritz for the first time and liked it a lot more than I expected.
See: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ng-in-bayonne/
See: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ng-in-bayonne/
Dec 2nd, 2015, 05:34 PM
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"Day Ten-Drive Oviedo to Fuente De (Will probably stay in the Parador)
Day Eleven-Fuente De
Day Twelve Fuente De to Bilbao"
Sounds to me like a LOT of time for Fuente De! I agree with rialtogrl -- consider staying in Potes instead.
"Day Nineteen-Train to Madrid
Day Twenty-Madrid-Day trip to Toledo
Day Twenty-one-Madrid"
As I recall, you aren't really looking to visit Madrid this trip? If so, you might consider going right on to Toledo, staying there for two nights (MORE than enough to keep you busy!), with just the one night in Madrid before your flight. Toledo is one of those places that, IMO, is noticeably more evocative after daytrippers leave and as night falls than it is during the day -- and it's pretty darn impressive during the day!
"I was trying to put both France and Spain in the country line and I messed up."
Triangle your own post and ask the editors to add a tag for France.
Day Eleven-Fuente De
Day Twelve Fuente De to Bilbao"
Sounds to me like a LOT of time for Fuente De! I agree with rialtogrl -- consider staying in Potes instead.
"Day Nineteen-Train to Madrid
Day Twenty-Madrid-Day trip to Toledo
Day Twenty-one-Madrid"
As I recall, you aren't really looking to visit Madrid this trip? If so, you might consider going right on to Toledo, staying there for two nights (MORE than enough to keep you busy!), with just the one night in Madrid before your flight. Toledo is one of those places that, IMO, is noticeably more evocative after daytrippers leave and as night falls than it is during the day -- and it's pretty darn impressive during the day!
"I was trying to put both France and Spain in the country line and I messed up."
Triangle your own post and ask the editors to add a tag for France.
Dec 2nd, 2015, 08:22 PM
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Thank you for all your suggestions. We are going through Madrid, because it is the cheapest way to travel. There are no longer direct flights from London to Santiago and the air fares to anywhere from Biarritz/Bayonne are insane.
My wife is not a fan of Madrid but we have not been to the new wing of the Prado. Although we understand Toledo glimmers at night we will go to the Parador for lunch and its spectacular view of the City. Toledo is also in the wrong direction as we will be leaving from Barajas.
We shall certainly consider Potes. The reason for the extra day is that we are getting older and want to slow down the town to town traveling.
Our last overseas trips with a rental car were to Turkey and Belgium/The Netherlands and were too much of a whirlwind for us. We want to build in some resting time.
As we get older, we wanted to visit countries where we have not been, but some of our relatives are getting on in years and we not seen them since 2008, when my wife walked the Camino. Thus we will see SOME places we have never seen and a few we have not seen in a long time such as Toledo, which we have not been to since 1973.
Thank you all again. As we get closer to the trip, I will impose upon you again for some restaurant suggestions.
My wife is not a fan of Madrid but we have not been to the new wing of the Prado. Although we understand Toledo glimmers at night we will go to the Parador for lunch and its spectacular view of the City. Toledo is also in the wrong direction as we will be leaving from Barajas.
We shall certainly consider Potes. The reason for the extra day is that we are getting older and want to slow down the town to town traveling.
Our last overseas trips with a rental car were to Turkey and Belgium/The Netherlands and were too much of a whirlwind for us. We want to build in some resting time.
As we get older, we wanted to visit countries where we have not been, but some of our relatives are getting on in years and we not seen them since 2008, when my wife walked the Camino. Thus we will see SOME places we have never seen and a few we have not seen in a long time such as Toledo, which we have not been to since 1973.
Thank you all again. As we get closer to the trip, I will impose upon you again for some restaurant suggestions.
Dec 2nd, 2015, 09:04 PM
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I think my comment about the area around Potes was misleading -- I was very glad to have 2 nights in the AREA (to include Fuente De), and was glad to stay in Potes, which has at least a bit of life about it and at least one decent, reasonably priced restaurant (Asador Llorente). What I meant was that two nights at Fuente De -- in the parador or otherwise -- would not have been to my liking. Your call!
BTW, when I was there, Toledo did not "glimmer" at night -- or at least, that is not the memory that makes me recommend seeing it after day trippers leave. For me, part of the appeal was walking the long, dark, cobbled lanes lined by the walls of seemingly endless convents or monasteries, with nothing other than a rare cat or even rarer person whose movement broke the silence and stillness, and then unexpectedly stepping into a street that offered a view of a magnificent church facade, or a breathtaking glance across the surrounding ravine, or whatever -- and then stepping back into the shadowed corridor of a cobbled lane....
Whatever you choose, you are going to have a wonderful journey!
BTW, when I was there, Toledo did not "glimmer" at night -- or at least, that is not the memory that makes me recommend seeing it after day trippers leave. For me, part of the appeal was walking the long, dark, cobbled lanes lined by the walls of seemingly endless convents or monasteries, with nothing other than a rare cat or even rarer person whose movement broke the silence and stillness, and then unexpectedly stepping into a street that offered a view of a magnificent church facade, or a breathtaking glance across the surrounding ravine, or whatever -- and then stepping back into the shadowed corridor of a cobbled lane....
Whatever you choose, you are going to have a wonderful journey!
Dec 2nd, 2015, 11:31 PM
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We tend to go for the Parador at Fuente De. Besides, I can be in Potes in no time and there are a couple of restaurants better then what you will find in Potes, like the restaurant at the Hotel Oso (hoteldeloso.es) and and the Casona de Cosgaya (www.casonadecosgaya.com), just up the street. Great game dishes.
Dec 3rd, 2015, 02:39 AM
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In San Sebastian, take a look at great value Hostal Alemana, fine hotel standard (private bathroom, tv, A/C, safe, 24 desk, breakfast buffet etc), 50 meters from the La Concha beach promenade, close to top end Hotel Londres: http://hostalalemana.com/en/
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/host...ana.en-gb.html
My favourite restaurant in town since the late eighties Casa Urola was recently (August) voted best restaurant in all of Gipuzkoa by the major regional newspaper El Diario Vasco. You have of course all the Michelin star restaurants around, but Casa Urola is just right down to earth what the food culture here is all about; the meticulous preparation of great produce: http://www.casaurolajatetxea.es/en/portada/
http://www.casaurolajatetxea.es/es/b...a-2015_11.html
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/host...ana.en-gb.html
My favourite restaurant in town since the late eighties Casa Urola was recently (August) voted best restaurant in all of Gipuzkoa by the major regional newspaper El Diario Vasco. You have of course all the Michelin star restaurants around, but Casa Urola is just right down to earth what the food culture here is all about; the meticulous preparation of great produce: http://www.casaurolajatetxea.es/en/portada/
http://www.casaurolajatetxea.es/es/b...a-2015_11.html
Dec 3rd, 2015, 06:12 AM
#19
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Thank you all again. I appreciate the suggestions.
I don't recall if it was imagination or the true sky but when we were in Toledo the sky seemed to create an aura of mannerism, as if El Greco was more of a representational artist, rather than stylized.
I don't recall if it was imagination or the true sky but when we were in Toledo the sky seemed to create an aura of mannerism, as if El Greco was more of a representational artist, rather than stylized.
Dec 3rd, 2015, 07:31 AM
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"There are no longer direct flights from London to Santiago"...
There are flights to/from Paris - CdG on Vueling.
Have you looked at A Courña? London Heathrow with Vueling Airlines
Or Paris/Orly then fly Iberia.
If we fly from Galicia these days like most Gallegos we also look at flight in and out of Oporto. More flights and cheaper to fly.
Three airports in Galicia are falling to get their act together I am sorry to say.
There are flights to/from Paris - CdG on Vueling.
Have you looked at A Courña? London Heathrow with Vueling Airlines
Or Paris/Orly then fly Iberia.
If we fly from Galicia these days like most Gallegos we also look at flight in and out of Oporto. More flights and cheaper to fly.
Three airports in Galicia are falling to get their act together I am sorry to say.
