Repost, Itinerary advice: 12 days in Spain
 

(Reposting, thanks to Michel in Paris' advice to be specific in my title!)

My mother and adult sister are joining my husband and I for a portion of our trip to Spain this March/April.

Mom and sis are in Spain for a total of 12 full days.

It's their first visit to Spain (to Europe). They're both open minded but a wee bit nervous, esp. as they don't speak any Spanish.

We're starting in Barcelona, but as hubby and I will be visiting with his family, we will be sending my mom and sis off without us with the goal of meeting up again.

My mother would really like to see Alhambra in Granada and Seville.

What are your thoughts on this:

Day 0 (arrive 3 pm) - Day 4: Barcelona...four full days.

Day 5 am - Day 8: fly to Seville...almost four full days (want them to fly out in the am)

Day 9 - Day 11: Granada: three days

Day 12: Granada to Barcelona (fly, or train?)

(Day 13): return to Canada

I appreciate any feedback. I am already keeping an eye out on Iberia flights for the internal trips.

Is this too much to see? Mom and sis will only be travelling alone (without my husband and I) for the Seville portion of the trip, as hubby and I will join them in Granada.

An alternative, with less travel, is sending them to Valencia (recommended by a friend) instead of Seville, and then to Granada.

Any feedback is most appreciated!

I replied to your original post and copied below:

These 3 cities in 12 days is fine.

A couple of comments:

-I'd take a day out of Granada and add a day to Barcelona or Sevilla. I'd use the additional day for an easy daytrip to Girona or Tarragona (Barcelona) or Jerez de la Frontera, Carmona, Osuna or Cordoba (Sevilla).

-Why fly from Sevilla to Granada? There are 4 trains daily and a similar # of buses. In fact, another option would be to take the day from Granada and spend the night in Ronda. There are buses from Sevilla to Ronda, then Ronda to Granada. Ronda is a beautiful white village and would be a lovely place to stay for a night.

When is your trip next March/April? If it is during Semana Santa particularly in Sevilla you'll need to make reservations immediately if you have any hotel preferences. Palm Sunday is March 16th and Easter is the 23rd in 2008. A couple of weeks later in Sevilla is the Feria - it will be another week of (very different) festivities and you'll need to reserve hotels far in advance for this time also.

Thank-you for your help, Cathy.

We arrive in Barcelona after Easter (March 28)and my sis and mom leave April 11.

It looks like the Feria is the second half of April, and they will be in Seville the first week of April...I'll take your advice and confirm the dates.

You cannot fly between Seville and Granada. There's no flight !!

Hi, goodgrace -

I second the idea of adding a stop in Cordoba - the Mezquita is quite remarkable!

Hope that helps.

we just got back from Spain ,3 days in Granada is too long. A night visit to Alhambra , a day visit to Alhambra; the rest of Granada can be seen in an afternoon.
You may wish to visit Cordoba on AVE from Seville.
We had 7 days in Barcelona and loved it, wished we could have stayed stayed a few more days.
I would not take a train from Seville to Barcelona - you can get a flight for about 50 euros. ( most of the countryside is not very interesting)

How long to spend in Granada really depends on what you want to see and experience! I spent about two and half very busy days there, and loved every minute. I could easily have enjoyed spending more time there!

I think you're spending too much time in both Granada and Seville. I'd spend a little more time in Barcelona and I'd also see if there's something else you can do in Andalusia.

Agree with previous posters about Granada--3 nights IMO is too long. Also, why fly back to Barcelona if only for a day. Would be better off doing an open-jaw ticket and flying out of Malaga (or Seville).

As others have suggested, you really should get reservations asap considering how things book up around Easter. Also, travel arrangements (trains, planes) can be difficult during that time as well.

But it sounds like a great trip--not too much in that time.