cbr

We are thinking of going to Spain over the December break. We are travelling with the family ( two adults, two teenagers) and realize it will be cold, but how bad will the weather be at the end of December. We looked at several places to travel and Spain seemed the most affordable in Europe. Will sites be open to visit during that time? Can anyone suggest must see places. We would love to visit Spain and Portugal if we can, if not we will tour Madrid, Barcelona, and the towns around that region. We are also hard pressed to find accomodations for four, so any thoughts would be great. Will we need a car? Is public transport safe? Thank you for any thoughts on this

Pegontheroad

I was in Madrid for a month in January, and I found the weather quite acceptable, but then I was escaping from a couple of really cold Januarys in eastern Washington.

My recommendation would be to head south-=to Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, etc. It's warmer there and not at all crowded, as it would be in the summer. You can see wonderful sights in those cities.

I can't suggest accommodations for four, since I've traveled alone or with one friend. I think you'd have to check on accommodations after you decide where you're going.

I would suggest that you rent a car, since there are four of you. The roads are excellent, and you have more freedom with a car. We flew from Barcelona to Sevilla, and I think we picked the car up at the airport in Sevilla, then drove to Granada, Cordoba, Segovia, Avila, Cuenca, etc. I think we flew out of Madrid.

Chose carefully where you use the car. In many big cities, traffic is terrible and parking the car is hideously expensive. I wouldn't try to drive in the big cities like Sevilla or Madrid.

Public transport is safe and easy, though there are some places where pickpockets operate. Barcelona has a reputation, whether deserved or undeserved, for thievery, but I've never heard of any violence.

I ALWAYS use a money belt, even in countries like Germany, where there isn't much of this kind of crime. I would never go to Spain without my trusty money belt.

nytraveler

Spain is about as warm as europe will get in December. While Madrid has a real winter - it's on a high plateau - if you stick to the south the weather is likely to be mild (not beach weather, but pleasant for touring) and you can easily spend the time in Andalusia - Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Jerez, Ronda and some of the other white towns.

As for hotels, I would get 2 rooms rather than try to stuff 4 adults in one room - but if that's what you want you need to look for family rooms - and make sure the hotel knows it's for 4 adults, not small children,

As for travel, with 4 I would rent a car, much more freedom than taking trains and the cost probably won;t be much more, if any.

ekscrunchy

We were in cotton shirts during the height of the day in Granada last January.

Madrid was lovely as well with daytime temps in the 60s.

I would not rent a car.

We split 1 week between Madrid and Granada, taking the train between the two points. It was a wonderful week. Madrid is a gorgeous, vibrant city with very friendly residents, much to see, and almost all within walking distance, albeit only if you like to walk! Fabulous food.

I cannot recommend more highly, as you might imagine from the enthusiasm that comes through in this report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...k-in-spain.cfm

If you have more time, you can easily add Sevilla and perhaps Cordoba or Malaga.

ribeirasacra

Weather is going to be variable. Last winter most of Spain experienced cold, wet and some places that do not normally have it, a lot of snow. Other years it has been ok.
Site will close for Christmas day. Some areas on what you may call Boxing Day you will also find places closed too. Restaurants and a lot of shops will be closed from lunchtime on Christmas Eve until the last public holiday (see above).
In Spain hotels do not normally have rooms for four. You say your children are teenagers, what are their exact ages? You could always rent an apartment.
From your posting it is hard to determine if you need a car, because you are not clear in your plans at the moment. For example if you are only visiting cities than cars are not recommended. However if you are determined to get right out in to the countryside then a car will be essential.
This safe question is quite peculiar I always consider Europe to be safe. We do not live in bandit country in say South America or deepest jungle of Africa.

cbr

Thank you for all your replies. I will try to plan the route with the suggestions. We would like to visit at lease Madrid and Barcelona if possible and maybe a few towns if time allows. Owing to weather considerations maybe we will stick to the South. I have looked at apartments but am unsure what areas of cities like Madrid or Barcelona I should stay. We would prefer one room simply because of cost. As for safety we have lived in big cities but we know what areas to avoid and were looking for similar recommendations.

ribeirasacra

If your safety concerns are only about thieves then you should realise they move around and no barriers when it comes to areas. Thieves, in general, do not use weapons.

kimhe

In Barcelona, you could look for apartments in the charming, medieval El Born area. Great tapas bars, restaurants, cafés, sights and close to "everything": http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

In Madrid, I would suggest you rent an apartment in the Plaza Mayor, Plaza Santa Ana, Puerta del Sol area in the heart of the city: http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html

Friendlyrentals.com could be a place to start searching for places in both Barcelona and Madrid.

In Sevilla, this is a nice looking apartment in the atmospheric Arenal area with balcony and roof top terrace. Sleeps four. Close to everything: sights, fabulous local tapas bars/restaurants etc. http://www.sevilla5.com/apartments/seville.html

Public transportation is excellent in all of Spain. The high speed AVE train operates between Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla and many other of the larger cities. From city center to city center in "no time". Madrid-Sevilla would be some 5-6 hours by car and 2h 30 mins by the AVE train. Great discounts (some 50%) if you purchase your train tickets in advance at renfe.com. No need for a car in the cities, but it would of course give you more freedom to explore the countryside etc.

Weather based on past 15 years statistics for late December:

Sevilla: Daily highs between 14°C and 18°C. Average four hours sun pr. day and two days with rainfall pr. week.

Madrid: Daily highs between 8°C and 13°C. Often below freezing point at night. Average four hours sun pr. day and two days with rainfall pr. week.

Barcelona: Daily highs between 11°C und 16°C. Average four hours sun pr. day and two days with rainfall pr. week.

Málaga city on the coast (also connected to Madrid via AVE train in some 2h 30 mins): Daily highs between 15°C und 19°C. Average four hours sun pr. day and two days with rainfall pr. week.

(source: wetteronline.de)

These sites give great info:
Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do
Sevilla: http://www.exploreseville.com/
Málaga: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm

kimhe

Regarding the apartment in Sevilla, you should click on the "Antonia Diaz" apartment (two bedrooms, 90€/day) to see the one I recommended. Also lot of other options on this site, but having been in Sevilla a lot in recent years, this would be my first choice: local feel and great tapas bars/restaurants etc on your doorstep, yet very close to both the tourist attractions in Santa Cruz, the commercial centre around C/Alfonso XII and the vibrant Triana district across the river, a cradle of flamenco culture: http://www.sevilla5.com/apartments/seville.html

cbr

Thank you for great advice going to check out the apartments and train now. We would prefer not to rent a car if we can get from the trains to apartments easily. Would it be worth it to rent one to explore smaller cities? I agree we would not need one in the major cities and save it for other travel. Also has anyone taken a flight to Barcelona from Madrid or vice versa? Does it sound to much to go from Barcelona to Madrid and then south for ten days. How much time would we want if we did the two cities plus Sevilla and Granada?

kimhe

Would be some 5-10€ with taxi from the train stations to all the apartement areas I've suggested. Even walking distance. AVE train between central Madrid and central Barcelona will probably be faster than the flight (less than 3 hours and some 60-70€).

Buses/trains to most smaller towns around all these cities.

ekscrunchy

For me, with 10 days, I would visit only Madrid and Barcelona, taking the train between them and making day trips from both places. But then, my travel style dictates fewer places with more time in each. That might not be yours. You do not need a car even in the smaller cities, and you can do the daytrips by train or bus.

Alternate plan: Madrid plus Seville and other towns in Andalucia.

Weekender

Ekscunchy:

Thanks in great part to your winter trip report on Madrid and Grenada, I went to Madrid for Memorial Day weekend. Loved it! For whatever reason, Madrid, along with Lisbon, fly under the travel radar and should not. Both are vibrant cities. Thanks again for the push...

ekscrunchy

I am so glad you enjoyed! For the life of me I cannot understand why Madrid does not get more attention here....I thought it was every bit as captivating as Barcelona, and probably even more so.

cbr

Madrid along with Lisbon sounds intriguing. How long does it take? Since this is our first time in Spain is it worth it to skip an area to do Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon. We want to allow time in each area but is that to much?

nytraveler

I'm confused - you're saying you want to stay in the south and then you say Madrid and Barcelona. Barcelona is the north of Spain and Madrid is in the center. the south of Spain is SEville, Cordoba, Granada, Jerez, the white towns and the coast.

If you are only doing 2 cities then a train makes ore sense. If you want to see the countryside and some smaller towns, then a car makes much more sense - esp for 4 people.

cbr

Looking at the costs of travel we are trying to figure out is it better to look at flying to either Barcelona and then going to Madrid/ Toledo or just going to Madrid skipping
Barcelena and then going South. We realize that going to both Madrid/Barcelona and the southern region is going to be costly between planes, trains and possibly car. Any thoughts which might be better to do for first time travellers, especially in the winter time

kimhe

In the winter time and as first time travellers, go to either Madrid or Barcelona and then definitely to the South.

Madrid would be my clear first choice if you want to experience "Spain". Barcelona prides itself of being anything but Spanish (although it very much is) and a more international city.

Spain is a very diverse country, and even if both Madrid and Sevilla for a great many would stand out as perhaps the most quintessential Spanish cities, they are hugely different. Relatively young and metropolitan Madrid (did not enter center stage before the 16th century) is majestic with a joyful big city pulse. Smaller Sevilla (pop. some 700 000) is much older and lives up to the image of the excotic South with a strong both Roman, Moslem and Jewish heritage. Sevilla was very much the nucleus of the Spanish empire after Columbus' journey to America in 1492, and it was the center of the Golden age in Spanish art and litterature from the late 16th century. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm

txtree

We visited Spain late last November. We flew to Madrid then took the AVE from Madrid to Sevilla, the train from Sevilla to Granada, then rented a car in Granada and drove back to Toledo for one night before dropping our car off at the airport in Madrid for our flight home. Very easy logistics. Lovely weather, except for some rain in Sevilla, and a really wonderful dose of Spanish culture and food. The Alhambra is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

I would save Lisbon and Barcelona for separate trips. Or as ekscrunchy suggested, stick to a Madrid/Barcelona itinerary.

cbr

Great suggestions. We prefer cities, historic sites and the like. We live in Southern Florida, which has beaches and warm weather fairly year round so we like something different for our travels and mountain areas not necessarily a draw. After all the comments it comes down to which route will be the best for travel time, cost and enjoyment. The kids are studying Spanish so we want to enhance that as well. It is obvious we will need an apartment, the car is the question though. If we take the trains to Granada or Seville can we get to the center of towns without issue and will we need a car to get around?