Spain in 18days -finalizing itinerary and a special bday celebration!
Feb 19th, 2014, 04:50 PM
#21
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HOTEL BOOKINGS - advise in choosing ..best location??..we would like the best location in terms of easy access to sights..as to reduce the walking as much as possible for kids and to be able to get back to hotel for an afternoon break..
Barcelona -Catalonia Portal de l'Angel or Catalonia cathedral.
or any other rec?
Granada - last available,GROUND floor room in Santa Isabel La Real (which was advised against) or Palacio de Santa Inés
Madrid - Room Mate Alicia or Catalonia Las Cortes or Ibis Styles Madrid Prado (could not find El prado on booking.com which was highly recommended on this forum!)
Barcelona -Catalonia Portal de l'Angel or Catalonia cathedral.
or any other rec?
Granada - last available,GROUND floor room in Santa Isabel La Real (which was advised against) or Palacio de Santa Inés
Madrid - Room Mate Alicia or Catalonia Las Cortes or Ibis Styles Madrid Prado (could not find El prado on booking.com which was highly recommended on this forum!)
Feb 19th, 2014, 07:50 PM
#22
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granada, palacio de santa confirmed due to the proximity to plaza Nueva.
So now to decide on Madrid and Barcelona hotels only!!
Kimehe, would greatly appreciate your advise re visiting sierra nevada area, should we do this on our way to granada from nerja?..any specific villages to visit/driving routes to take!! not much info on this area on this forum..I need to get some other guides besides LP..!!
So now to decide on Madrid and Barcelona hotels only!!
Kimehe, would greatly appreciate your advise re visiting sierra nevada area, should we do this on our way to granada from nerja?..any specific villages to visit/driving routes to take!! not much info on this area on this forum..I need to get some other guides besides LP..!!
Feb 20th, 2014, 07:39 AM
#24
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Las Alpujarras/Sierra Nevada will be on your way from Nerja to Granada.
About Sierra Nevada/Las Alpujarras: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html
A normal driving route will be Lanjarón, Órgiva, Pampaneira to Trevélez and back to the main road to Granada.
Lanjarón: http://www.andalucia.com/province/gr...jaron/home.htm
Órgiva: http://www.rusticblue.com/andalucia_...ras/orgiva.php
Pampaneira (Bubión and Capileira):
http://www.andalucia.com/province/gr...neira/home.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ0N4ne8YAg
Trevélez: http://www.andalucia.com/province/gr...velez/home.htm
About Sierra Nevada/Las Alpujarras: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html
A normal driving route will be Lanjarón, Órgiva, Pampaneira to Trevélez and back to the main road to Granada.
Lanjarón: http://www.andalucia.com/province/gr...jaron/home.htm
Órgiva: http://www.rusticblue.com/andalucia_...ras/orgiva.php
Pampaneira (Bubión and Capileira):
http://www.andalucia.com/province/gr...neira/home.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ0N4ne8YAg
Trevélez: http://www.andalucia.com/province/gr...velez/home.htm
Feb 21st, 2014, 09:49 AM
#26
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I can't remember if you will driving into Madrid or not. We did since we were driving back and forth to France. So we wanted a hotel that had parking. This is where we stayed and the location was excellent:
http://www.hotelmexico.es/index.htm
It is super simple-but has free wifi and the parking is relatively good-you enter from a smallish street with a tight turn but otherwise it is okay.
It was great spending a month in Spain. At the time my husband and I were "hanging out" in France because we had applied to the Peace Corps and we were waiting to hear about which country we were going to be invited to serve in. We are French dual nationals so we thought we would be going to French speaking Africa, but instead we got invited to serve in Mexico! So we packed the car and spent a month in Spain to take some language lessons in Nerja and hang out in Spain trying to practice the language! Now after serving in Mexico my French is all screwed up! But we are going back to France in May to live and I hope once I am there I will get better.
I think you have an amazing trip especially with your kids! One think that may shock you is seeing little kids in Seville running around 9 10 11 PM-life is incredibly late in Spain you may want to train your kids to more of night owls before the trip-otherwise you will never get out to eat
http://www.hotelmexico.es/index.htm
It is super simple-but has free wifi and the parking is relatively good-you enter from a smallish street with a tight turn but otherwise it is okay.
It was great spending a month in Spain. At the time my husband and I were "hanging out" in France because we had applied to the Peace Corps and we were waiting to hear about which country we were going to be invited to serve in. We are French dual nationals so we thought we would be going to French speaking Africa, but instead we got invited to serve in Mexico! So we packed the car and spent a month in Spain to take some language lessons in Nerja and hang out in Spain trying to practice the language! Now after serving in Mexico my French is all screwed up! But we are going back to France in May to live and I hope once I am there I will get better.
I think you have an amazing trip especially with your kids! One think that may shock you is seeing little kids in Seville running around 9 10 11 PM-life is incredibly late in Spain you may want to train your kids to more of night owls before the trip-otherwise you will never get out to eat
Feb 22nd, 2014, 06:36 AM
#27
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No one has given any input on the 2 Madrid hotels so here goes! Roomate Alicia has super small rooms and bathrooms that open into the room-no doors.
Catalonia las Cortes is older but much higher standard.
I prefer the Vincci hotel just further down the street-There's a huge lizard on the building made out of thousands of CDs!
Plaza Santa Ana has a kids playground hard to find in Madrid!
Make sure you walk down to the Palace hotel and find a spot across from it to watch the musical clock-the kids will love it! I can't remember the time-around or before noon- it plays but the hotel will know!
Catalonia las Cortes is older but much higher standard.
I prefer the Vincci hotel just further down the street-There's a huge lizard on the building made out of thousands of CDs!
Plaza Santa Ana has a kids playground hard to find in Madrid!
Make sure you walk down to the Palace hotel and find a spot across from it to watch the musical clock-the kids will love it! I can't remember the time-around or before noon- it plays but the hotel will know!
Feb 27th, 2014, 10:07 PM
#29
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A few more things to iron out!!please help!
The restaurant in Seville for bday celebration..??would like it to be a special place with great food/atmosphere..(cannot really figure it out from reviews on TA) 'Azotea' and 'Enrqiue Becerra' are on my radar at the moment..but would really appreciate some advise here please!!
for the Sierra Nevada excursion , should we be looking at visiting Pradolanno OR Bubion/Capileira area. would like mountain scenery!!and if possible snow fun.
do we have to book the toledo/cordoba train tkts in advance for the days trips (being April)?and how about flamenco in Seville during semana-santa - do we have to book in advance??
The restaurant in Seville for bday celebration..??would like it to be a special place with great food/atmosphere..(cannot really figure it out from reviews on TA) 'Azotea' and 'Enrqiue Becerra' are on my radar at the moment..but would really appreciate some advise here please!!
for the Sierra Nevada excursion , should we be looking at visiting Pradolanno OR Bubion/Capileira area. would like mountain scenery!!and if possible snow fun.
do we have to book the toledo/cordoba train tkts in advance for the days trips (being April)?and how about flamenco in Seville during semana-santa - do we have to book in advance??
Feb 28th, 2014, 12:38 AM
#31
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For flamenco in Sevilla, book in advance. At Casa de la Memoria they used to reserve tickets only one day in advance. Info and reservations: [email protected]
27 restaurants in Sevilla mentioned in the Guia Repsol, the Spanish counterpart to the Michelin guide. Both Eslava and Azotea are on the list: http://www.guiarepsol.com/Gastronomi...taurantes.aspx
Abantal has got two "soles" (equvivalent to the "stars" of the Michelin guide"), Tribeca and Egaña Oriza one "sol" each.
http://www.abantalrestaurante.es/
http://www.restaurantetribeca.com/
http://www.restauranteoriza.com/
But I would have chosen Enrique Becerra for the genuine Sevilla Food and atmosphere. Trust Azahar, she lives here and knows what she's talking about: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...rique-becerra/
27 restaurants in Sevilla mentioned in the Guia Repsol, the Spanish counterpart to the Michelin guide. Both Eslava and Azotea are on the list: http://www.guiarepsol.com/Gastronomi...taurantes.aspx
Abantal has got two "soles" (equvivalent to the "stars" of the Michelin guide"), Tribeca and Egaña Oriza one "sol" each.
http://www.abantalrestaurante.es/
http://www.restaurantetribeca.com/
http://www.restauranteoriza.com/
But I would have chosen Enrique Becerra for the genuine Sevilla Food and atmosphere. Trust Azahar, she lives here and knows what she's talking about: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...rique-becerra/
Feb 28th, 2014, 02:28 AM
#32
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thnx Kimhe!!! i will read Azahar's reviews!! didnt chk them bfr. I have taken note of all your comments on other threads too
for the Sierra Nevada excursion , should we be looking at visiting Pradolanno OR Bubion/Capileira area.
Would Capileira give us a chance of snow fun for kids? or do we need to head to Pradolanno for that?
(We will be visiting the white villages of Grazalema and zahara area as well..so looking for something different)
for the Sierra Nevada excursion , should we be looking at visiting Pradolanno OR Bubion/Capileira area.
Would Capileira give us a chance of snow fun for kids? or do we need to head to Pradolanno for that?
(We will be visiting the white villages of Grazalema and zahara area as well..so looking for something different)
Feb 28th, 2014, 03:11 AM
#33
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Think you'll have to go up to the Sierra Nevada ski resort to have some snow fun in mid April. Will normally be at the end of the season. http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Sierra-Nevada
webcams: http://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort...evada/webcams/
http://en.sierranevada.es/estacion/e...a/webcams.aspx
webcams: http://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort...evada/webcams/
http://en.sierranevada.es/estacion/e...a/webcams.aspx
Feb 28th, 2014, 05:37 PM
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Dedicated foodie that I am, I can't help mentioning the possibility of considering Eslava for lunch the same day and then maybe Flamenco at night. Seems like a really special birthday rates 2 special meals
Mar 4th, 2014, 11:01 PM
#37
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What would the best day be to experience Semena santa - would the processions be on friday (i.e. starting on Thursday night)? ...or would it be on Thursday morning/afternoon?
Just trying to decide on whether we should add an extra day to Barcelona(currently 3 full days only) and we fly to seville on the Thursday morning!!. we have 5 days in Seville which includes a day trip to cordoba.
seems like there is more to do in barcelona than seville? so should we arrive Thursday evening. options are a 11am arrival or 7.30pm arrival seville on vueling.
Just trying to decide on whether we should add an extra day to Barcelona(currently 3 full days only) and we fly to seville on the Thursday morning!!. we have 5 days in Seville which includes a day trip to cordoba.
seems like there is more to do in barcelona than seville? so should we arrive Thursday evening. options are a 11am arrival or 7.30pm arrival seville on vueling.
Mar 5th, 2014, 06:35 AM
#38
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The absolute highlight of the Semana Santa in Sevilla is the so called madrugá from midnight Thursday through the night and into Friday morning/noon. http://sevillanlife.com/2012/04/08/h...na-la-madruga/
The six madrugá processions and their respective routes/timetables:
http://www.semana-santa.org/sevilla/...omadrugada.pdf
The two most famous (and crowded) processions are the ones from Basilica de la Macarena (La Macarena, starting at midnight an ending 2.30pm on Good Friday) and Capilla de los Marineros (Esperanza de Triana, some 11 hours starting at 2am).
You should find out/plan when to be where, and perhaps have a nice night out before the processions start. And a good, long siesta earlier in the day..., and perhaps catch one of the processions arriving at the home church at 1.30-2.30 the next day.
Not lack of things to do, see, experience in Sevilla either to say the least: http://www.exploreseville.com/
The six madrugá processions and their respective routes/timetables:
http://www.semana-santa.org/sevilla/...omadrugada.pdf
The two most famous (and crowded) processions are the ones from Basilica de la Macarena (La Macarena, starting at midnight an ending 2.30pm on Good Friday) and Capilla de los Marineros (Esperanza de Triana, some 11 hours starting at 2am).
You should find out/plan when to be where, and perhaps have a nice night out before the processions start. And a good, long siesta earlier in the day..., and perhaps catch one of the processions arriving at the home church at 1.30-2.30 the next day.
Not lack of things to do, see, experience in Sevilla either to say the least: http://www.exploreseville.com/
Mar 5th, 2014, 07:41 PM
#39
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thanks kimhe! We will be at Hotel Amadeus, so hopefully close to all the action..and be able to have a glimpse of the procession.
Am I correct in assuming that we will be better off with 4 days in Barcelona and that the 4 full days we are left in Seville will be sufficient to enjoy Seville with a day trip to Cordoba?
This would be our only trip to Spain...so I do want to make the correct decision in splitting our time between the cities...such a hard thing to do when we we are short on days!
Am I correct in assuming that we will be better off with 4 days in Barcelona and that the 4 full days we are left in Seville will be sufficient to enjoy Seville with a day trip to Cordoba?
This would be our only trip to Spain...so I do want to make the correct decision in splitting our time between the cities...such a hard thing to do when we we are short on days!
Mar 5th, 2014, 08:05 PM
#40
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I would stay in Nerja and visit Granada for a daytrip from there being as your children are quite young. I think they will love Nerja. For this reason, I would stay in Nerja for as long as possible. From there, if you get bored, you could explore the coast.
I would suggest that you spend 3 days instead of 4 in Barcelona, purely because the weather is likely to be better in Southern Spain.
It you do a daytrip to Granada from Nerja, you will see the Sierra Nevada as well as a lot of other interesting scenery. From Nerja, if you want more places to see, Malaga is an easy option for a daytrip, and Mijas, a beautiful inland village near Fuengirola is interesting.
I would suggest that you spend 3 days instead of 4 in Barcelona, purely because the weather is likely to be better in Southern Spain.
It you do a daytrip to Granada from Nerja, you will see the Sierra Nevada as well as a lot of other interesting scenery. From Nerja, if you want more places to see, Malaga is an easy option for a daytrip, and Mijas, a beautiful inland village near Fuengirola is interesting.
