Hi all. I am new to this message board and have read some great recommendations. But, now I am overwhelmed. We are going to Barcelona for 10 days in mid-August 2004. We are staying with friends there, so we're all set for Barcelona and day trips from there. But, afterward we have 5 days to play with outside of Barcelona and can't decide where to go. We are open to renting a car, taking trains or possibly flying. However, I am conscious of both the heat and the crowds at that time of year. It will be the first time in Spain for 2 of us, and I have only been to Barcelona once before. We will be flying into and out from Barcelona. Any suggestions?? Thank you.

With 5 days available maybe you shouldn't restrict yourself to Northern Spain. By air, you can get almost anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. With 5 days, and being that you haven't been anywhere else in Spain, I'd suggest that you go to Seville, with a couple of day trips to Granada and Cordoba. What I'd do is fly to Seville and rent a car there for 2 days.

However, I've been in Seville in summer and it is not comfortable at all. A cool 110 farenheit from 11 to 4.

Another option I can think of is Santiago de Compostela. Weather should be nicer, and it is a really beautiful place.

Or head upwards, in altitude - - to Montserrat and then to Seu d'Urgell - - a place I dearly loved (ten years ago).

Or head along the coast. Collioure (in France) gets a lot of rave reviews here.

Best wishes,

Rex

Seu d'Urgell, Puigcerda, Ripoll, Llivia etc. - all these small towns in the Pyrennees are nice and refreshing after spending days and days in a large city like Barcelona. About 2 hour one-way driving time.

When we were in Barcelona years ago, we rented a car drove up for daytrips to those towns. Also drove across the border to Southern France and spent 3 nights at Arles. The driving time to Arles took about 3.5 - 4 hours excluding stops along the way at Carcassone, Montpellier, Sete, Nimes and Figueras (for the Salvador Dali museum).

The Basque Country is great that time of year. I'd recommend both San Sebastian and Bilbao. The drive from Barcelona to there is about 5 hours. You could also fly between Barcelona and Bilbao and rent a car.

If you do visit Bilbao, you could also spend a night or two along the Costa Verde in the north. The coast is beautiful -- nice beaches and beautiful coastal mountains. Also, the weather is great in August. Its about two hours from Bilbao to the heart of the Costa Verde by car.

-- Chad