burberry212

We are planning a trip to Europe in June-July. for 15 days.
We plan to spend 10 days in Spain covering Madrid, Barcelona and Seville.
What other country could we do other than Spain for 5 days....we have already been to France and Germany.
I was debating about Morocco...or the other alternative is London. Any suggestions?

IMDonehere

Visit the north of Spain for 5 days. It is very different than other areas and certainly worth it. In fact 10 days in those three cities is a bit of a rush considering the time you lose you will lose traveling.

But if you want to see another country, then just any one at random.

ribeirasacra

and Portugal. Less time lost to travel time.

dreamon

I would just spend the extra time in Spain. There are day trips that can be done from your chosen cities. However, if you really want to go to another country then I'd choose an adjacent one (e.g. France) or one with a direct flight. Try Vueling airlines. If you are reliant on public transport, we found connections between Spain and Portugal surprisingly infrequent (but that was about a 100 years ago). With only a short time, don't waste too much of it in transit.

OReilly

Agree with IMdonehere - don't leave Spain, travel north. It is simply glorious.



ribeirasacra helped me plan two separate trips there several years ago. I drove from the border with France across the Basque region, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia. Each region is quite unique.

burberry212

Thanks for the help guys...but we have been to France so definitely want to visit a new country.

jamikins

Than I will say London because it's one of my favourite cities, there are loads of things to do and it will be a nice contrast.

Although without knowing you I have no idea what you would like.

ira

Hey B,

The Basque country and the North coast of Spain is NOT France.

>We plan to spend 10 days in Spain covering Madrid, Barcelona and Seville.

I'd add a night to Barcelona before driving up to San Sebastian.

Then drive down to Madrid with an overnight stop in Burgos.

You can leave from Madrid.

Enjoy your visit.

burberry212

We are more of big city...enjoy culture, shopping and food.

MmePerdu

Much as I love Morocco, I don't recommend it for just a few days. If you like it, it'll be too short and if you don't like it, it's probably because you didn't stay long enough.

I think either Portugal or London would be the logical choices. But if you haven't been to London, then that would be at the top of my list for you.

burberry212

Thanks for your help again....I am going to do some quick research and mostly it will be London.

I agree with MmePerdu I always had London on top of my list and timing wise it makes sense too.

annhig

well, burbury, it seems that your mind is set on london, but I'm another who would urge you to spend the rest of your time in Spain, preferably in or near the places you have already chosen.

By the time you've lost at least 1/2 a day getting between Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, you've barely 3 days in each, and no time for Cordoba, Granada, Toledo, Segovia, etc. etc, [mostly accessible as day trips from your cities] let alone the rest of Spain.

MmePerdu

Annhig and others, you make perfect sense regarding staying in Spain. You are the voices of experience but it sounds like burberry is intent on seeing another place so you know the old saying, "don't confuse him/her with the facts, their mind is made up". No offense at all intended burberry, you want what you want. I understand.

annhig

MmePerdu - you're right I think. my problem with all this rushing hither and thither trying to "see" more is that ironically, if you stay longer in one place, you will probably "see" more.

perhaps it's the result of being brought up with family holidays which invariably comprised a week [or even 2] by the seaside spending a bit of time on the beach but usually going out for day trips. We never seemed to run out of things to do even when we went back to the same place for several years running.

i would see London and perhaps the south-east of England as another trip.

MmePerdu

Annhig, you know I agree. But it's what we learn over the years and, though amazing to me, some always prefer the other. We are a contrary species.

IMDonehere

There will always be those who want to see countries rather than the people and things in those countries.

kimhe

Take a look at Belle Epoque San Sebastián in the Spanish Basque Country. The culinary capital of Spain if not all of Europe and some of the finest city beaches on the continent, great nightlife etc. Recently voted #5 destination in the world by Condé Nast Traveler: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...y-in-the-world

A couple of quite recent articles:
Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/f...the-world.html
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/tr...anted=all&_r=0

burberry212

Thanks everyone for ur input...would appreciate suggestions rather than opinions

MmePerdu

Burberry, you've been around here enough to know that suggestions ARE opinions. It has to be fun for us and there's always chat and discussion, just how a forum works. But it has the advantage of getting straight to your topic. Otherwise there are plenty of websites and guidebooks to read. Better to just ignore what you feel isn't useful to you.

burberry212

sure peace guys