Hello fellow fodorites.
We are attending a conference in Marseille in May 2012 and then spending a week in Provence (which we have visited before and love!)
I am then planning another 13 days in Spain before flying out of paris on the 14th day - can't change to a Spanish city unfortunately with this fare.

My current thought is:
Day 1 Provence to Barcelona (drive, we will already have had a car in Provence)
3 nights in Barcelona (ditch car)
2 nights Malaga (having flown from Barcelona?- pick up new car)
4 nights Vejer
3 nights Sevilla
fly from Sevilla to Paris - Vueling??
Depart Paris 1200 next day.

Is this reasonable? We are interested in Spanish culture, very keen on photography and looking to see some of the unique Moorish culture/architecture. Some museums (not every day!) food and wine. We try to avoid moving too frequently if we can.

Not sure about the Vueling flight, better options from Madrid but would have to cut a day somewhere else.

Thanks for any input from those that 'have travelled this road.'

12 nights for Barcelona and a taste of Andalucia is reasonable. However, I'd question why you are choosing to stay 4 nights in Vejer and seem to have overlooked Granada.

Personally if I had 12 nights for Barcelona & Andalucia and it was my first trip to Spain in May I'd probably do something more like:

*Barcelona- 4 nights
*Sevilla - 4 nights; daytrip to Cordoba or if you choose option 3 below then daytrip to Jerez, Sanlucar or Cadiz
*Granada - 2 nights

For the other 2 nights I'd choose between

1) Malaga city (in this case you wouldn't even need a car as you could fly in from Barcelona and bus from there to Granada

2) white villages for 2 nights (arrive in Malaga and rent a car)

3) Cordoba for 2 nights (again no need for a car). This would be particularly nice if your visit was during the Patio festival where locals open their patios to visitors and the patios are spectacularly decorated with pots and pots of flowers

Another note: if this is during the time of the Spring Feria in Sevilla you're in for a treat - but hotel prices will be at a premium particularly something moderately priced so you'll want to book soon.

I'm sure others will give alternative advice so just weigh what fits best with your interests and either way you can't go wrong with Spain in May!

Have you checked into what the rental car drop fee will be for picking up in France and dropping in Spain?

Yes joan beat me to that question.

I may be in the minority, but white village hunting is one of Spain's more over rated avocations. Vejer looks like a beautiful town but four days there seems a bit too much, considering all there is to see in the south.

Please note that driving in Spanish cities can be unpleasant and some small towns have narrow streets that may be hard to navigate.

I have flown Vueling and it is fine, another cheap-o airline.

I was in Spain this past May and I liked CathyM's itinerary. We found Malaga and the entire Costa del Sol to be underwhelming but Granada and Cordoba were fabulous! Vejer looks lovely but 4 days seems too long.

Nothing wrong with Vueling, but you will need a LOT of time at CDG between your Vueling landing and your return flight - you need to retrive your bags and then recheck to your next airline and also re-clear security (which can be a LONG process at that dumphole of an airport).

I like the idea of Cordoba for 2 nights - nice little city and worthy of more than a rushed day trip.

Consider dropping your car in France and taking the train to Barcelona. First, it may be faster. Second, it WILL be less expensive than a cross-border drop.

Thanks guys. I had based my rough itinerary on another that I seen in a trip report here but I have about 6 nights less than the original poster so wasn't sure how to 're allocate.'
I will have another look based on CathyM's suggestions above, thank you!
Also, I should add it will actually be June 2 when we hit Spain, will be last week of May in France.
Re the car question, we have always done a Citroen lease previously but I think we won't actually need a car long enough to do a lease this time so any suggestions on where we WILL need a car would be helpful.

Lastly, re Vueling... I had planned on flying to Paris the night before our flight home which leaves at 1200 simply because I am too scared to risk a connection on same morning!
If we depart from Sevilla, the Vueling flight is either at 1650 or 0700 I think, the 0700 arriving at 0915 and it arrives into Orly not CDG. So, I think we will have to take the 1650 the night before to be safe.

I really like the look of Ronda as well. CathyM (or anyone else) where would that best fit in please?

You could stay in Ronda and a couple of nights and use it as a base to visit the white villages (I'd rent a car if you decide to take this option). If you took my suggestion above it would just mean sacrificing Malaga or Cordoba (as an overnight). But you can't do it all in 12 nights.

OK, so maybe:
4 nights Barcelona, fly to Granada
2 nights Granada (collect car)
2 nights Ronda
4 nights Sevilla (day trip to Cordoba)
fly Sevilla to Paris

is that reasonable?
Have yet to investigate one way drop fees for car, may train from Marseille to Barcelona.
Thank you

Sounds like a good plan to me. I loved Ronda.

If you enjoy horseback riding, there is a 3 hour sunrise ride through the gorge.

Funny you should mention that joannyc, love riding - will look into that, thanks.

Sounds great - can I come along

Yuu may have issues with car rentals cross-border (very expensive) and need to take the train to Barcelona. But at least you have time to investigate.

There have been some excellent posts on the white villages in this forum - just do a search on Ronda, Grazalema, Zahara and you should find some further recommendations.

If you're into wine you may want to detour to Jerez on your way to Sevilla and visit a couple of sherry bodegas. You could still arrive in Sevilla in the late afternoon/early evening and if you don't have to leave Sevilla until the afternoon of your final day this will give you an entire morning in Sevilla to make up for the detour.

A great site for Sevilla:
http://exploreseville.com/

And don't forget about Maribel's guides. She has city guides specfically for Barcelona, Sevilla and Granada. Her hotel and restaurant reservations are excellent.

maribelsguides.com

Thank you so much,I feel less overwhelmed now that I have a plan and can start investigating accommodation and transport etc.
The one way fees for the car are starting to look less attractive so maybe fly from Marseille or train from Avignon -its been a while since I tackled the scnf website though!!!

Joanny who did you ride with?

Found the horse ride through my Ronda hotel...there was a flyer at the desk (years ago).

It was great! I'm sure it's still available.


Have a wonderful trip.

I think I have managed to talk DH into another two nights - any thoughts on what to do with them?
Include Malaga or maybe add Madrid onto the end and fly Madrid to Paris instead of Sevilla to Paris??? Some people seem underwhelmed by Madrid it seems but obviously we are all different, really just wondering which is better logistically (or maybe something entirely different?)

topping

Madrid is a great (and very big ) city.
Visiting for a day or two at the end of the trip is not
doing it justice. I would spend less time in Ronda and add to Madrid (especially if you are interested in art)
Malaga is a very nice town ....if you wish to stay in Andalusia and relax by the sea, 2 days is fine there.

Thanks danon, may have seen enough art/museums by then! Malaga might be an option then.

Málaga city is a good idea for the end of the Spain tour, genuine and laid-back.

"Authentic charm of an overlooked treasure": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...-treasure.html

"Malaga centre is not only the perfect place to explore the many historical monuments, atmospheric little streets and squares with delightful café culture, but it is also a wonderful shopping centre". http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/

"... beginning to be appreciated by visitors who are lured by the historic charm and character of the place - and the people". http://www.andalucia.com/magazine/en...ed2/malaga.htm

In May, I recommend you to go to Pedregalejo just east of the city center for nice beaches and a line of great and affordable waterfront restaurants. Both the beaches and the restaurants are very popular with locals.