Road trip to South Spain
Sep 28th, 2017, 11:45 AM
#1
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Road trip to South Spain
Hello all; we are a family of 4 with 2 girls (10 and 2) and for the very first time in EUR we are planning to spend Christmas doing a road trip around S. Spain staring with few days in Madrid and then drive south to Cordoba, Seville, (Cadiz or Malaga) Granada, Murcia, Valencia, finish the road trip in Barcelona and then flight to Paris and spend the last few days before go back home; We might go to Bruges for the day. I will highly appreciate any valuable suggestion.
My main concerns are:
Do I chosen the right places? Am I missing any nice place? how many days to spend on each location? where should we spend Christmas eve and new year eve? Should I take any special precaution? What to do with the kids? What places to visit around Paris?
Thanks in advance
Gus
My main concerns are:
Do I chosen the right places? Am I missing any nice place? how many days to spend on each location? where should we spend Christmas eve and new year eve? Should I take any special precaution? What to do with the kids? What places to visit around Paris?
Thanks in advance
Gus
Sep 28th, 2017, 01:03 PM
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Assuming your 10-yr-old is on school break you probably have only 2-3 weeks at most.
It would take 2 weeks at least to drive that itinerary around Spain - a bigger than you think maybe country.
I would consider landing in Barcelona and taking train to Madrid and train to Seville and concentrate your driving around there (better weather) or even forget car if you want to visit just large cities and do trains.
Book trains way in advance to get discounted train fares if that option appeals - www.renfe.com site you can book your own discounted tickets- check www.seat61.com for help using that site -other sites for general train and Spain info - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Bruges is about a 3-hour each way day trip from Paris and will cost a pretty euro pence - I'd spend all your few days in Paris.
It would take 2 weeks at least to drive that itinerary around Spain - a bigger than you think maybe country.
I would consider landing in Barcelona and taking train to Madrid and train to Seville and concentrate your driving around there (better weather) or even forget car if you want to visit just large cities and do trains.
Book trains way in advance to get discounted train fares if that option appeals - www.renfe.com site you can book your own discounted tickets- check www.seat61.com for help using that site -other sites for general train and Spain info - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
Bruges is about a 3-hour each way day trip from Paris and will cost a pretty euro pence - I'd spend all your few days in Paris.
Sep 28th, 2017, 01:11 PM
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Exact dates might be helpful for recommending places with Christmas things for the kids.
Where are you coming from?
Have you booked any tickets yet? Hope not because you need your itinerary firmed up first.
Your current ideas would require about a month. How much time will you actually have, on the ground, not counting travel days, arrival or departure days.
Where are you coming from?
Have you booked any tickets yet? Hope not because you need your itinerary firmed up first.
Your current ideas would require about a month. How much time will you actually have, on the ground, not counting travel days, arrival or departure days.
Sep 29th, 2017, 05:01 AM
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Thank you all for the helpful advises, based on comments we are thinking that train might be better option, we are coming from Atlanta, GA. And we love doing road trips around US and the freedom of go anywhere at any time but looks like in EUR is different concept. We wil arrive in Madrid on the 15th and will come back from paris on the 9th of January.
Sep 29th, 2017, 06:56 AM
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You do have a good bit of time, which is great.
You do need to plan for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, since many things may be closed. Dinners are served late anyway in Spain. Plan for it.
Madrid is at a high elevation, so may be colder than you might think. Take warm clothing. Remember days at that time of year are shorter and darkness falls early. In Summer, evenings in Spain are lovely and busy with people taking evening strolls. I do not know about winter, but I am sure there are activities during the holidays.
You might want a car for the Southern part (Andalusia) of Spain.
So, tickets to arrive in Madrid and depart from Paris are already purchased? That is not bad, since you are not backtracking. Two nights in a place gives you 1 full day, 3 nights gives you 2 full days, etc. Every time you change hotels, getting from hotel to train, train time, getting to new hotel, etc. you will eat up on average a half day. Do not count that as a sightseeing day. Half days are harder to plan. Lay out an initial plan with Madrid and Paris as bookends. Then fill in with most mportant things. Normally, I would say move from place to place and stay overnight in Toledo, Córdoba, etc. but with a little one, it might be easier to do some places as day trips.
This is only a sample for planning, not even a suggestion of places or days, but how to look at the trip realistically. Cut or add, depending on what YOU want to see or do in each place.
Dec. 15, arrive Madrid, get to hotel. Take a walk, etc.
Dec. 16, Madrid
Dec. 17, daytrip to Toledo, 25 minutes by train or bus
Dec. 18, Madrid (consider Segovia as a daytrip)
Dec. 19, travel to Seville by train, 1/2 day in Seville
Dec. 20, Seville
Dec. 21, Daytrip to Córdoba, 1 hour by train
Dec. 22, Seville
Dec. 23, travel to ?
Dec. 24, 25, etc.? Granada?
You will have to figure out trains, busses, flights. Between Seville and Granada is where a car might be handy. You would likely want to fly between Granada (or Malaga) and Barcelona
NYE? Barcelona? Malaga?
Jan 1, Barcelona
Jan 2, Barcelona
Jan 3, Barcelona
Jan Jan 4, depart Barcelona, arrive Paris by plane or train
Jan 5, Paris
Jan 6, Paris
Jan 7, Paris
Jan 8. Paris
Jan 9. Depart Paris
You do need to plan for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, since many things may be closed. Dinners are served late anyway in Spain. Plan for it.
Madrid is at a high elevation, so may be colder than you might think. Take warm clothing. Remember days at that time of year are shorter and darkness falls early. In Summer, evenings in Spain are lovely and busy with people taking evening strolls. I do not know about winter, but I am sure there are activities during the holidays.
You might want a car for the Southern part (Andalusia) of Spain.
So, tickets to arrive in Madrid and depart from Paris are already purchased? That is not bad, since you are not backtracking. Two nights in a place gives you 1 full day, 3 nights gives you 2 full days, etc. Every time you change hotels, getting from hotel to train, train time, getting to new hotel, etc. you will eat up on average a half day. Do not count that as a sightseeing day. Half days are harder to plan. Lay out an initial plan with Madrid and Paris as bookends. Then fill in with most mportant things. Normally, I would say move from place to place and stay overnight in Toledo, Córdoba, etc. but with a little one, it might be easier to do some places as day trips.
This is only a sample for planning, not even a suggestion of places or days, but how to look at the trip realistically. Cut or add, depending on what YOU want to see or do in each place.
Dec. 15, arrive Madrid, get to hotel. Take a walk, etc.
Dec. 16, Madrid
Dec. 17, daytrip to Toledo, 25 minutes by train or bus
Dec. 18, Madrid (consider Segovia as a daytrip)
Dec. 19, travel to Seville by train, 1/2 day in Seville
Dec. 20, Seville
Dec. 21, Daytrip to Córdoba, 1 hour by train
Dec. 22, Seville
Dec. 23, travel to ?
Dec. 24, 25, etc.? Granada?
You will have to figure out trains, busses, flights. Between Seville and Granada is where a car might be handy. You would likely want to fly between Granada (or Malaga) and Barcelona
NYE? Barcelona? Malaga?
Jan 1, Barcelona
Jan 2, Barcelona
Jan 3, Barcelona
Jan Jan 4, depart Barcelona, arrive Paris by plane or train
Jan 5, Paris
Jan 6, Paris
Jan 7, Paris
Jan 8. Paris
Jan 9. Depart Paris
Sep 29th, 2017, 01:10 PM
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sass's itinerary looks great to me.
. And we love doing road trips around US and the freedom of go anywhere at any time but looks like in EUR is different concept>
Yes indeed - Spain's trains go up to nearly 200 mph - driving around all those Spanish cities would takes ages on the road in scenery that IME is rather tedious except along coasts.
And cities are not conducive to cars. But yes a driving trip around Andalusia where distances between tourist places are not that great and trains and buses not that fast for many rent a car perhaps.
. And we love doing road trips around US and the freedom of go anywhere at any time but looks like in EUR is different concept>
Yes indeed - Spain's trains go up to nearly 200 mph - driving around all those Spanish cities would takes ages on the road in scenery that IME is rather tedious except along coasts.
And cities are not conducive to cars. But yes a driving trip around Andalusia where distances between tourist places are not that great and trains and buses not that fast for many rent a car perhaps.
Sep 29th, 2017, 02:56 PM
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The OP said they are driving. Right?
You might wish to spend a few days in Madrid before taking day trips or moving on.
Parking and driving in Córdoba, Seville, Granada could be a chalange
but with careful planing it can be done.
You might wish to spend a few days in Madrid before taking day trips or moving on.
Parking and driving in Córdoba, Seville, Granada could be a chalange
but with careful planing it can be done.
Sep 29th, 2017, 06:12 PM
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I applaud your decision to consider trains and buses -- in Spain, they are, IME, comfortable and convenient.
(@ canon: see the OP's post on Sep 29, 17 at 9:01am)
I think Sassafrass has given you a good starting point, and agree with her that you need to adjust it to suit YOUR needs and interests. As you do so, note that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.
(@ canon: see the OP's post on Sep 29, 17 at 9:01am)
I think Sassafrass has given you a good starting point, and agree with her that you need to adjust it to suit YOUR needs and interests. As you do so, note that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.
Oct 3rd, 2017, 12:55 PM
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Many thanks to all of you and special gratitude to Sassafrassfor the itinerary.
Anyone will recommend Murcia to stop by for a night or so? Also what do you recommend to do in Paris with kids? We were thinking to spend 1 day in Disney, I know we have Orlando at driving distance for our location but still Kids never got tire of that. In Paris beside to get familiar with the city we were thinking instead of go to Bruges we can visit some close small towns for a day trip such of Reims, Bouges or Orleans.
Last question... how safety is to travel in train with family at night time and also at the train stations?
Anyone will recommend Murcia to stop by for a night or so? Also what do you recommend to do in Paris with kids? We were thinking to spend 1 day in Disney, I know we have Orlando at driving distance for our location but still Kids never got tire of that. In Paris beside to get familiar with the city we were thinking instead of go to Bruges we can visit some close small towns for a day trip such of Reims, Bouges or Orleans.
Last question... how safety is to travel in train with family at night time and also at the train stations?
Oct 3rd, 2017, 02:26 PM
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Last question... how safety is to travel in train with family at night time and also at the train stations?>
Have taken zillions of overnight trains never saw any unusual problems as long as you get a private compartment with doors that lock from the inside - and train stations fine IME.
Very safe IMO and IME - take same precautions as in daytime. If waiting for a night train there will be others waiting too and stations recently have buffed up security at all levels I hear.
Nothing to worry about - specifically what stations and trains are you thinking of?
Have taken zillions of overnight trains never saw any unusual problems as long as you get a private compartment with doors that lock from the inside - and train stations fine IME.
Very safe IMO and IME - take same precautions as in daytime. If waiting for a night train there will be others waiting too and stations recently have buffed up security at all levels I hear.
Nothing to worry about - specifically what stations and trains are you thinking of?
Oct 3rd, 2017, 03:00 PM
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IMO, you don't have time to visit Murcia. In fact, I think your plan is too rushed as is -- but my opinion is irrelevant, as what matters is whether you can see and do what YOU want.
As for Paris, I strongly recommend that you start a new thread, as this thread was specifically labeled with a reference to southern Spain and is tagged for Spain, not France. And you might consult some of the guidebooks that identify specific activities for children, such as Fodor's, Framers, or the Michelin Green Guide.
As for Paris, I strongly recommend that you start a new thread, as this thread was specifically labeled with a reference to southern Spain and is tagged for Spain, not France. And you might consult some of the guidebooks that identify specific activities for children, such as Fodor's, Framers, or the Michelin Green Guide.
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