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So many great Spain trip reports - thank you! I'd love some feedback on this plan:

14 nights - All public transportation - Early October

Madrid (1) > Granada (3) > Sevilla (5) > Toledo (2) > Madrid (3)

For some reason the transportation logistics seem harder for this trip. Transportation connections/Moving Day are the worst part of vacations for us. And, no car rental if we can help it. We are more city/town wanderers and move slower - it is a vacation for us.

Granada is the outlier and I was trying to avoid long transportation days. My current thinking is Granada at the beginning (4 hour train trip) will make the end of the trip less taxing and less anxiety over missing any train. And put the 4 hours at the beginning rather than the end trip when we might still be a bit jet lagged.

Cordoba would be a day trip from Sevilla. In Sevilla, we would get an apartment. I cut out Ronda because of the logistics.

Thanks for any feedback, I'd really appreciate it.

Is there a way to connect to a short internal flight in Spain when you land at Barajas so you can go to Granada on day one and not have to bother with overnighting in Madrid?

Like on Vueling?

Once you're adjusted to the time zone, I'm thinking it's hard to pile in 3 nights of stuff to do in Granada. But I'm not a fan of Granada.

I'd fly into Sevilla and use is as a base for a few days before heading over to Granada. From there you can fly up to Madrid and use it as a base to visit Tolelo,

That is a thought.

For a nonstop flight, I only see Air Nostrum it is about 220 euro one way - and oddly about 130 if round trip. I suppose you could use return flight back to Madrid - or maybe throw the other ticket away - but I think there could be implications for not showing up. We do like trains, but I understand that due to the train works going on, the trains coming/leaving granada are on a bus part way. Not sure if that will continue through Oct.

When planning, I did notice the great prices on Vueling one-way for nonstop flights between Granada and Barcelona.

Robert2533 - I got a great price on business class tickets SFO-MAD during a sale. I normally fly open jaw, but I was willing to forgo it for my first ever international business class experience.

When will you be there?

The Vueling options I just got for mid-July suck, but if you have more lead time they could be better.

I agree that it would be great to leave Madrid ASAP if possible, just to avoid an extra hotel stay. If nothing else, go straight from Madrid to Toledo, since you are planning 2 nights there. Yes, you have to go back through Madrid to had on south, but it's such a short trip that I wouldn't worry about it. :-)

Big Russ: Early October.

I could flip Toledo to the front:

Toledo (2) > Granada (2 or 3) > Seville (5) > Madrid (4)

Toledo is a short train ride. I was debating the merits of getting to a hotel room ASAP and getting a glimpse of Madrid in case it wasn't our cup of tea (so many different opinions) vs. a small town start in Toledo. We arrive early morning and should arrive more rested than prior trips.

The benefits of Madrid with 4 nights is I could do another apartment and an opportunity to day trip to Segovia - if we weren't connecting with Madrid.

The supposed little breakfast, lunch not until 2:00 and really late dinners have me a little bit worried about the "hangries."

I think you honing in on the key pros and cons of putting all of your time in Madrid at the end of your trip. As you say, if you find that Madrid is not to your liking, you can go on to Segovia. (Or, for that matter, Avila or Salamanca or Cuenca -- you would have a TON of options.) And of course, you probably won't be able to tell if Madrid is "your cup of tea" with just a part of a day, whether at the start or end of your trip. So if you move all your time there to the end, and find that you like it, you won't have spent any time in unnecessary changes of hotel. And if you don't like it, you will have maximized your options for time elsewhere. Seems like a lot of reasons to put Toledo first!

While it depends on your interests, Toledo has MUCH too offer. I wish I had had more than the 2 full (VERY full) days I gave it. And of course, if you are "done" sooner, you can leave earlier.

If breakfasts are a concern for you, make sure you consider the options when selecting lodging. I didn't have trouble finding places that had extensive breakfast buffets anywhere I've been in Spain. And while a late lunch might be common, I can't imagine that you will be without options for food before then.

When my hotels don't include breakfast, I go the supermarket and buy bananas, breakfast bars, cereal, yogurt, etc. and keep it in my room. Beats paying 15-25 euros for the small breakfast that I would consume at the hotel (the hotel may offer a lot of items but I don't eat very much to make it worth the cost).

davispeets,
I recently returned and did exactly what you're considering now -- took the train to Toledo for our first 2 nights. Easy train ride giving us plenty of time, even after a rest, to be able to enjoy Toledo for 1 1/2 days. We loved starting in Toledo - small enough to get good feel for the place, but so much to do and see.

We then went to Seville. Again, very easy by train. Just make sure to purchase the tickets in advance -- we took a 10am train from Toledo, getting us into Atocha by 11:00, then got a noon train to Seville, getting us in at 2:30PM (14:30). The trains are so quick and efficient that I see no reason to take a flight, unless it's at the very beginning of your trip.

And, with 4 days at the end, you'll have more time to see Madrid and/or do a day trip. I really try to avoid breaking up cities if I can avoid it, and this worked very well for us.

Today, I firmed up my plans and booked my apartments and hotels. Here it is:

Toledo (2) > Cordoba (1) > Granada (2) > Seville (5) > Madrid (4)

Progol - I am copying you and have booked both of your Toledo and Granada hotels!

For Seville and Madrid: Spain Select Apartments

Toledo > Madrid > Granada train schedules were not flowing nicely based on current schedules.

The Cordoba 1-nighter eliminates the long transit issue and the need for a later Seville-day trip.

I'd rather see the Mezquita in the afternoon on a fast train and get to Granada the next morning with better schedules and more options (bus or train).

"The Cordoba 1-nighter eliminates the long transit issue and the need for a later Seville-day trip"

And there is SO much more to Cordoba than the magnificent Mezquita! If the timing works, you might visit the Courtyards of Viana:
http://www.palaciodeviana.com/en/

<<I'd rather see the Mezquita in the afternoon on a fast train and get to Granada the next morning with better schedules and more options (bus or train).>>

The Mezquita has free entry from 8:30-9:30am, which is in silence. It was a wonderful time to be there -- not huge numbers of people, no tour groups -- and we really "felt" the place. People are then directed to leave by 9:30 so that it can reopen at 10am for tourists. We went twice at 8:30am, and found it very peaceful.

davispeets - It looks like a great itinerary you've carved out! I'm glad that you're following in my footsteps - I hope that they fit well! :)

So many places to see within 2 weeks. You have a vacation or a race?)

I think you're all set for a fantastic trip. I like putting Madrid at the end too.