Seniors in Spain. Itinerary questions.
 

I’ll be going to Spain in late September, early October with my wife, mother and cousin (2 early 40’2 and 2 late 70’s)
I read virtually all the postings but still am uncertain about our itinerary.
Here it is:
sat 23 Fly from Toronto/Canada
sun 24 Arrive in Madrid- Drive to Segovia after lunch
mon 25 Leave Segovia to Madrid. Board night train to Barcelona
tue 26 Arrive in Barcelona
wed 27 Barcelona
thu 28 Barcelona - Board train to Granada
fri 29 Granada
sat 30 Leave Granada by car to Ronda
sun 1 Ronda and Pueblos Blancos
mon 2 Ronda and Pueblos Blancos
tue 3 Drive from Ronda to Sevilla
wed 4 Sevilla (Cadiz?)
thu 5 Sevilla to Madrid - Night or AVE train next morning?
fri 6 Madrid
sat 7 Day trip to Toledo
sun 8 Madrid
mon 9 Fly to Toronto
How does it sound?
And do you have any special advice for traveling with seniors around Spain?
I am open to any suggestion.
Also, on a trip to Italy/Paris 3 yeas ago, I was able to book all my hotels on the spot, at those little offices at train stations. Do they have those in Spain or I’m better off booking from Canada? I really don’t like to feel tide up to a place if I don’t like it…
About driving: I got conflicting info from different sources. Do I need an International Driver’s Licence or my Canadian one will do?
That’s all for now. Thank you in advance.

Cassio

I think you may be too much on the move, especially in the beginning. You are not leaving any time for jet lag.

Are you going all the way into Madrid to eat lunch? Or are you renting the car at the airport? Just to drive to Segovia for one night? Will things be open there?

A night train is usually difficult for everybody. I wouldn't want to take a night train to Barcelona.

Iberian airlines has inexepensive flights if you book on line. Check them out.

I would recommend that you skip Segovia and Barcelona and take it easy. Fly to Madrid and spend a few nights in Madrid adjusting to the time change and the fact that you can't eat dinner until 9pm.

Then fly to Granada, for 2 nights. Try to book the parador in the Alhambra or Hotel America to make it easier to tour the Alhambra without a lot of climbing.

Rent the car in Granada and make your way to Sevilla. Spend a few days in Sevilla (with perhaps a day trip to Cordoba?)

Go back to Madrid, spend a few days and include a day trip to Toledo. In fact, spend the night in Toledo if you can.

As to whether you should wait until you arrive to book, definitely don't do it in Granada. As for the other places, you should ask the 70 year olds if they are willing to do that. Personally, I wouldn't want the responsibility of making other people put up with a lousy hotel choice if my luck ran out.

I agree with Nessundorma about the no jet lag time. Some people do not suffer, but most do, and it really takes away from doing what you want to do. On principle, I would never leave Segovia out, as it is my favorite place to visit in the world. Sunday, though, is a horrible day to visit any place in Spain, particularly the non-cities (because nothing is open). So, I would either go to Segovia and stay until Tuesday or just skip it and head on down to Granada, putting your Southern itinerary first.

Do not take a night train to Barcelona! They are total hell and planes can actually be cheaper. Look at rumbo.es and vueling.com. Vueling is a fabulous and reliable budget travel airline. In fact, you could get from Madrid to Granada by train (4 hours), then do the white villages, get to Sevilla and fly from there to Barcelona (65 minutes) easily. Then you do Barcelona and return to Madrid by air, then doing Toledo, then heading home.

I like to book ahead, but understand your hesitance to be required to stay somewhere you don't like. So, once you have your travel arrangements set, then you can work with hotels. I would go ahead and get the BCN hotel, as it makes things so much easier. Same for your last night in Madrid. If you want specific accommodation somewhere (Parador in Granada, for example) then yes, reservations are pretty much required, but if you and yours are not picky, I think that you should be able to wing it, particularly for the time you are traveling.

Leave Cadiz out unless you want to see an empty beach in October.

If you have any specific questions about Barcelona or flamenco performances throughout Spain, they are my pets.

Oh! So, the trip would look like so:
sun 24: arrive in Madrid, eat at airport, drive to Segovia.
Mon 25: Segovia
Tue 26: drive to Granada (see if you can do this, as for 4 people, it might be cheaper and more convenient than the train)
W27: Granada
Th28: drive Granada to Ronda.
F29: Ronda and pueblos blancos
S30: drive to Sevilla
Sun1: (celebrate my birthday!!!!!) Sevilla
Mon2: fly Sevill to BCN
T3: BCN
w4: BCN
Th5: fly BCN to MAdrid
F6: Madrid
S7: day trip to Toledo
Sun8: Madrid
Mon9: to Toronto.


Hope this was helpful!

Great tips nessundorma and laclaire. But the funny thing is that, 3 years ago, I suffered from the jet lag more than my mother. I'll definitely consider flying, but the reasons for the night train were: 1)save some money; 2)gain some time. I checked the flights and they are unbelievably cheap. Will give a second thought.

I agree with both nessundorma and laclarie regarding the overnight trains! I had considering taking them as well, and once I truly thought about it they were nixed! Truly, can't imagine anything more uncomfortable once one is past their 20s. (We are in our 40s and 50s)

I can imagine that those who are in their 40s might have an easier time with getting hotels on the fly than those in their 70s, but that is not always the case. I know with my 70 something mother it is! So, I would check with them. As stated, staying close to the Alhambra is a big plus, but reservations (especially at the parador, if your wallet can afford it!) are necessary.

As to the International Driver's Permit? You will be able to rent a car without it. And chances are you will never, ever have to show it. But, yes, it is required. When I researched this last year I got a bunch of conflicting information as well. So I went to the Spanish tourist board and asked them. It is also stated on their website.

Thank you Chele60, apparently the overnight trains in Spain are not as good as the ones in Italy and France.
And I'll get my International Driver's Licence just in case.

if you do take train anywhere remember to ask for senior discount also at the paradors.
they have a special rate for seniors..

become "amigo del parador" "friend of the paradors " for some special perks.. free parking, etc.

slow down and enjoy the trip.
you should be able to do a lot of what you propose in 12 days, but i would arrange the trip in such a way you can actually "leave out" something if it is just too rushed.

also, all these websites also have tax and booking fees, so the final price is usually about 20-40 euros more than you first thought/per ticket.

Laclaire: I just noticed that I hadn't mentioned about my birthday on the original posting. An incredible coincidence, I'm turning 40 on the 1st of October too!

Cass- well, congrats, twin! Actually, though, I am turning the big 26. . . officially pushin' 30. but it is going to be fun. I will be in Barcelona, so I might even get people together for something outlandish.