Question on Spain Itinerary
Feb 19th, 2010 | 12:28 PM
#21
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 235
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Looks like a great trip to me, however you start it -- and yes, the heat is dry.
Just as an aside, I suppose there is no cracking this ideology about "first timers' and "all tourists should follow the same path." I come into a country however I feel best suits my interests and will make the best trip for me. I don't need to see a cliche picture of "Spain" as a "first-timer." I read books. I go to Almodovar movies. I know that Spain isn't tiles, bullfights, flamenco and castanets only, but a sophisticated, modern multi-cultural nation. Many people don't "like" Spain after one visit just because they never got to San Sebastian and saw the beaches and ate the food.
Just as an aside, I suppose there is no cracking this ideology about "first timers' and "all tourists should follow the same path." I come into a country however I feel best suits my interests and will make the best trip for me. I don't need to see a cliche picture of "Spain" as a "first-timer." I read books. I go to Almodovar movies. I know that Spain isn't tiles, bullfights, flamenco and castanets only, but a sophisticated, modern multi-cultural nation. Many people don't "like" Spain after one visit just because they never got to San Sebastian and saw the beaches and ate the food.
Feb 19th, 2010 | 02:04 PM
#22
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 794
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I have a flight into London (LHR) in business class using frequent flier miles. Depending on itinerary, I was going to book LHR-BCN; GRX-LHR. Or vice versa.
I did consider permutations involving another flight, but I'd like to avoid that if possible. Travel out to the airport, getting their 1.5 hours early, and then traveling from airport to city center is all rather time consuming. I don't mind train or even bus travel because it's usually city center to city center.
However, the suggestion of ending in MAD does have the advantage of eliminating the layover involved in going from GRX-LHR. Every flight I've seen does a layover in MAD. And, the flight times do work out better.
Hmm, so the options are:
- LHR-BCN; GRX-LHR
- LHR-GRX; BCN-LHR
- LHR-BCN; BCN-GRX; MAD-LHR
My initial analysis looks like that the option Greg has suggested saves me about half a day for sightseeing, but costs an extra $90. I eat up some time getting from BCN-GRX since this is an extra flight, but I more than make up for it because the flights between MAD/BCN and LHR are direct and only 2 hours and the flight schedule is better (i.e. less layover time in airports). Basically, I'd be giving up some time in Granada, but gain over half a day in Madrid for $90.
I'll have to mull that over.
Regarding the Madrid-Barcelona train ride - I was considering the slow, overnight train. It would save me money on a hotel and the travel time wouldn't interfere with sightseeing. Plus, I liked the idea of trying an overnight European train - never done that before.
I did consider permutations involving another flight, but I'd like to avoid that if possible. Travel out to the airport, getting their 1.5 hours early, and then traveling from airport to city center is all rather time consuming. I don't mind train or even bus travel because it's usually city center to city center.
However, the suggestion of ending in MAD does have the advantage of eliminating the layover involved in going from GRX-LHR. Every flight I've seen does a layover in MAD. And, the flight times do work out better.
Hmm, so the options are:
- LHR-BCN; GRX-LHR
- LHR-GRX; BCN-LHR
- LHR-BCN; BCN-GRX; MAD-LHR
My initial analysis looks like that the option Greg has suggested saves me about half a day for sightseeing, but costs an extra $90. I eat up some time getting from BCN-GRX since this is an extra flight, but I more than make up for it because the flights between MAD/BCN and LHR are direct and only 2 hours and the flight schedule is better (i.e. less layover time in airports). Basically, I'd be giving up some time in Granada, but gain over half a day in Madrid for $90.
I'll have to mull that over.
Regarding the Madrid-Barcelona train ride - I was considering the slow, overnight train. It would save me money on a hotel and the travel time wouldn't interfere with sightseeing. Plus, I liked the idea of trying an overnight European train - never done that before.
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danielef
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Sep 9th, 2004 01:52 PM
