Hi all.

I'm planning a first trip to Spain with my husband, probably in September (but not sure exactly when). So far we are planning

Madrid 5 days
Toledo 2 days
Seville 3 days
Granada 2 days

We have 2 more days to add on. Where would you spend them? We don't like to rush, so we decided to skip Barcelona this time. Not enough time.

Also, in Madrid, which neighborhoods would you stay in?

Thanks much,

Daria

I just did a very similar trip, but with a stay in Ronda between Seville and Granada. Gorgeous town, very historic, and among the little white hill towns that are so fun to see. If you like amazing amenities and funky decor, you could stay at Hotel Enfrente Arte (see http://www.enfrentearte.com/english/home.html). Also, we stopped in Cordoba en route from Madrid to Seville. VERY worthwhile to see the Mezquite.

Also, in Madrid we stayed at the Hotel Plaza Mayor on Calle Atocha -- about a block from Plaza Mayor, three blocks from the Cathedral and Palaceo Real, and 15 to 20 minutes' walk from the art museums and train station. Very convenient!

We've been staying at Hotel Emperador in Madrid. It has a great rooftop pool and sundeck. It's surprisingly affordable considering what a great place it is.


www.nycClubTaurino.com

We also stayed near Plaza Mayor at the Best Western Carlos V. I loved the location, and the hotel.

Went to Seville last year and stayed at a wonderful hotel (4-star) called Las Casa del Rey de Baeza. It is a old, charming, Spanish mansion in the heart of Seville (everything is within walking distance). It's beautiful inside. The tariff is anywhere from $150 and up (depending on time of year)- We went in February.

You can visit Salamanca. Easy bus ride on Autores or better yet add more days for Madrid or Sevilla. Do not forget Monday many of the museums are closed, so that could be a good day to travel to you next location.

If you are going to Granada to visit the Alhambra, make sure you do a day and night time visit. Both are completely different and in my opinion worth the time to do it so you mioght one to add a day in Granada to do it.

Bill
www.WilliamBert.com

Thanks so much for all of your responses. I will definitely look into everything you have recommended.

Right now, in terms of neighborhoods to stay in in Madrid, we are considering: Plaza del la Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Santa Ana, Prado or Plaza Mayor. Our main interests are museums and food. So, we will want to hit the big three museums and eat well. I also love to shop. Can anyone comment on the differences between these neighborhoods. We are used to big cities (love them) and not intimidated.

Thanks!

Daria

Hi Daria-

I did a similar trip last October.

In Madrid we stayed in 2 different hotels; one at the start and one at the end of the trip. First we stayed at the Intur Palacio San Martin which is a couple of blocks off the Puerta Del Sol. Nice hotel on a quiet square. At the end, we stayed at the Westin Palace which I got by bidding on Priceline. It's a beautiful hotel right across the street from the Prado so excellent location for museums.

With your two days to add on, why not check out Cordoba? We were only there 1 night but I could have stayed longer. The Mezquita was fantastic and I would have liked to check out more of the town.

If you plan on having a car for a couple of days, you could drive through the Pueblos Blancos which is what we did.

If you want to see my trip report, you can read it here on Fodor's (it was on the featured Trip report page) or you can check it out on my website (along with lots of photos and my restaurant recs).
http://www.wired2theworld.com

Plaza Mayor and Puerto Del Sol are very close to one another and very similar. There's lots of shopping in that area including the big department store El Corte Ingles. There's many restaurants in the area as well, and it's very walkable from there to the other areas you mention. Sanat Ana is a lively area with lots of cafes and restaurants. Prado is where the big 3 art museums are.

All of these areas are near public transportation. Madrid in general isn't all the lareg, so you can walk almost everywhere, and when you're tired you can hop on a bus or metro.

If you already havene't stumpled upon this, check out
http://www.maribelsguides.com/

Maribel used to be a frequent poster on this site and is very knowledegable of Spain. She made her notes available to everyone via this website. She's has tons of great info.

I would echo MFNYC, and add that if you want to be near restaurants and activity, the Plaza Mayor area is best. The Prado area is more grand, with large, fancy hotels; broad avenues and plazas; and huge museums. It seemed to me more of a nice place to visit than to stay.

A good itinerary, but if you can add Ronda, it is beautiful with a "small town" feel -- a little change of pace from your other destinations, which tend to be large or medium size cities.

In Madrid, we loved the Hotel Plaza Major -- and the location is great; an easy walk to the Prado, the Thyssen, and the Royal Palace, as well a the Plaza Major and Plaza Santa Ana -- home of many Tapas bars.

Thank you all!

I will definitely check out Ronda and Cordoba. I think it is a very good idea to stay in some smaller towns and didn't realize that none of what we have planned is very small. I guess I thought Toldeo and perhaps Granada were smaller.

If anyone can suggest any other small towns that would fit into this itinerary I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

We just returned two weeks ago from a trip to Madrid, Toledo (day trip), Seville and Granada. We loved all of our hotels. Madrid was Hotel Urban, Seville was Hotel Amadeus and Granada was Casa de Migueletes.

Madrid central is small and compact and most of the locations you mentioned are fine. I agree with one poster though - staying by the Prado is more of a luxury hotel setting where as Plaza Mayor and Plaza Santa Ana area is right in the action. We stayed at the HOstel Adriana and for location it can't be beat and the price 53E. Then we went south and east and our last night was at CarlosV. It is a nice hotel and we got it for 100E through the best western site - for some reason all other sites were sold out and direct from Carlos V was more expensive. It is a nice, older hotel but I liked the neighborhood of Adriana better. We walked everywhere we went in madrid. I also agree with the Cordoba recommendation the Mezquita is NOT to be missed. Toledo IS smaller and only 35 min south of Madrid by car. I would not stay overnight there unless you have a reason to but use the extra time for the other places you add on. Jeri

Also would suggest a day trip from Madrid to Segovia--fabulous place and if you go, have dinner at Restaurante Narizotasat Plaza Medina del Campo. And make reservations for Alhambra on the Internet--try to see it at night as well as the daytime (both are magical).

Check out parador.es for great places to stay.

Hi, we just got back from Spain last week. I just have to echo the recommendations for Ronda...we did a very full day trip there from where we were staying on the Costa del Sol, and it would have been nice to stay overnight for one or two nights, try some of the restaurants and just see it in more detail. It really is a lovely town, and refreshingly real.

I agree with MFNYC on the Best Western Carlos V Hotel. It's a very nice hotel just across from El Corte Ingles and has very good rates. Try the BW website and look at their web only specials. You can get a double for under 100 Euros a night. It's a small hotel and the staff was very nice. We've stayed there twice.