Spain Itinerary
 

Dear Fodorites,

Merry Xmas

I prepared the following itinenary after avidly following this forum. Special thanks to Maribel for her files and invaluable advice.

Seville - 2 nights Casa Numero 7

Arcos De Frontera - 2 nights Cortija Fain

Ronda - 1 night Casona De LA Ciudad

Granada - 1 night Alhambra Palace. The parador is unfortunately fully booked on that date

Flight From Granada to Santander

Santillana De Mer - I night Parador Gil Blas

Alles Besnes - 2 nights La Tahona De Besnes

Cudillero - 1 night Casa Del Pio

Taramundi - 2 nights Hotel La Rectoral

Leon - 1 night Hostel San Marcos

Pedrazza De La Sierra - 2 nights La Posada de Don Mariano

Madrid - 2 nights Casa Madrid

Oops I omitted to state that I would appreciate your comments on the proposed itinerary.

I would skip Arcos de Frontera, or make it a stop on the way to Ronda. Add the two nights to Seville (my preference, using half a day for a quick train ride to Cordoba to see the Mesquita) or split them between Seville and Ronda.

We really enjoyed Casona del Pio and Hotel Rectoral. Have a great trip!

You've come up with a few stops that I am not familiar with but I'll put my two ents in anyway, if you don't mind.


Arcos is is a neat town but I'd just do one night and use that free night in Granada. No way you can do more than "check off" Granada if you are there only one night.

Santillana del Mar: You might consider two nights here. While it is a tourist Mecca, it's a good base to visit the area and it's worth something not to have to pack up and move.

Pedrazza: This is the one I feel most strongly about! I have stayed in Pedrazza and it was not good. It is a beautiful small town - maybe one of the prettiest around. There is an absolutely superb silver/pewter smith there. However, it was absolutely deserted after 5pm. Really strange but no one was there. You could have shot a cannon down the street and not hit a thing. I'd take those two nights and stay in Segovia [Infante Isabel or Las Linajes] and visit Pedrazza as a day trip from there.

Dear Marija and Weber6560

Thanks for your feedback.

I would like to spend another night in Seville but accommodation cost is too steep. Casa Numero 7's peak rates apply even after Easter week and hence I am better off spending the third day in Seville and driving to Arcos in the evening.

I will heed your advice on Arcos and spend the extra night in Granada instead.

Pedrazza does sound sleepy midweek. Perhaps I should stay two nights in Salamanca instead.

shs,

Please don't go to Spain/Madrid and not see Cuenca. It will be the highlight of your trip. Stay at the Parador in Cuenca and spend an entire day there. It is 90 minutes or so east of Madrid.

We went to Spain 3 times in 2003 and are heading there January 1 and Maribel's file has been invaluable.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Cuenca will certainly be on the list for my next trip to Spain. Being east of Madrid , it unfortunately does not fit into my Cantabria,Asturia and Castille itinerary.

Can't quite decide between Segovia and its nearby villages or Salamanca. Any thoughts ?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL FODORITES

SHS,
Hi, just was reading back and saw tht you were going to Tahona de Benes. How did you like it? We have one night there in august, then on to a newer place (old building though) called posada del cotero, below unquera. Also, was Tahona hard to find based on web site directions>
Thanks for any help.
astur