Spain itinerary feedback
Apr 28th, 2019 | 08:55 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19
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Spain itinerary feedback
Hi,
We are a family of 4 (kids ages 11, 13) going to Spain for the first time in mid-late June 2019. Would love to have feedback on our tentative itinerary, when to drive vs train, and areas of town to stay in. We are foodies and would like to be near areas that have restaurants. We would like to do a flamenco tour. Not too much into museums, unless it is a must see and something the kids might enjoy as well.
Thanks in advance for any advice!!
Day 1: 6/15 Madrid arrive 3:40pm - stay in hotel or Air B&B
Day 2: Madrid. Flamenco tour, La Latina El Rastro outdoor market, then neighborhood for tapas
Day 3: Madrid wander, Prado
Day 4: 6/18 rent car travel to Haro- anywhere to stop along the way?? (Sleep in Haro)
Day 5: 6/19 - do Haro, sleep inHaro
Day 6: 6/20 travel San Sebastián stop along way in Rioja, wander evening in SS (keep car??). Where to stay?
Day 7: SS, day trip to Biarritz
Day 8: 6/22. San Sebastian
Day 9: drive to Bilbao (sleep in Bilbao)- makes stops along the way?
Day 10: wander Bilbao
Day 11: 6/25 - mid- day plane to BCN, then train to Girona (sleep in Girona)...aim to arrive around 5pm, dinner at Celler de can Roca
Day 12: 6/26 Wander streets of Girona, late afternoon train to BCN (sleep in BCN)
Day 13: Barcelona
Day 14: Barcelona
Day 15: Barcelona
Day 16: depart BCN in am
We are a family of 4 (kids ages 11, 13) going to Spain for the first time in mid-late June 2019. Would love to have feedback on our tentative itinerary, when to drive vs train, and areas of town to stay in. We are foodies and would like to be near areas that have restaurants. We would like to do a flamenco tour. Not too much into museums, unless it is a must see and something the kids might enjoy as well.
Thanks in advance for any advice!!
Day 1: 6/15 Madrid arrive 3:40pm - stay in hotel or Air B&B
Day 2: Madrid. Flamenco tour, La Latina El Rastro outdoor market, then neighborhood for tapas
Day 3: Madrid wander, Prado
Day 4: 6/18 rent car travel to Haro- anywhere to stop along the way?? (Sleep in Haro)
Day 5: 6/19 - do Haro, sleep inHaro
Day 6: 6/20 travel San Sebastián stop along way in Rioja, wander evening in SS (keep car??). Where to stay?
Day 7: SS, day trip to Biarritz
Day 8: 6/22. San Sebastian
Day 9: drive to Bilbao (sleep in Bilbao)- makes stops along the way?
Day 10: wander Bilbao
Day 11: 6/25 - mid- day plane to BCN, then train to Girona (sleep in Girona)...aim to arrive around 5pm, dinner at Celler de can Roca
Day 12: 6/26 Wander streets of Girona, late afternoon train to BCN (sleep in BCN)
Day 13: Barcelona
Day 14: Barcelona
Day 15: Barcelona
Day 16: depart BCN in am
Apr 28th, 2019 | 10:43 PM
#2
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 23,437
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Why a day trip to Biarritz? I would stick to Spain. It's a little late to get discount plane tickets. Drive from San Sebastian to Barcelona, with a stop along the way, maybe in Taüll in the Pyrenees. The frescoes are copies, the original in Barcelona, but there's nothing like seeing them in the original location.
Apr 28th, 2019 | 11:13 PM
#4
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,679
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I'm sure it will be a wonderful trip! Just a few comments:
I'm sure you can find flamenco along your route, but you aren't visiting areas that are strongly associated with that art form and might want to consider whether it's the best use of your time.
You might want to consider Burgos as a stop between Madrid and Haro.
"Sleep in Haro ... travel [to] San Sebastián stop along way in Rioja"
Hmmm, isn't Haro in la Rioja?
If you mean ANOTHER stop in la Rioja, you might look at Vitoria-Gasteiz.
"Day 7: SS, day trip to Biarritz"
I'm sure you can find flamenco along your route, but you aren't visiting areas that are strongly associated with that art form and might want to consider whether it's the best use of your time.
You might want to consider Burgos as a stop between Madrid and Haro.
"Sleep in Haro ... travel [to] San Sebastián stop along way in Rioja"
Hmmm, isn't Haro in la Rioja?
If you mean ANOTHER stop in la Rioja, you might look at Vitoria-Gasteiz.
"Day 7: SS, day trip to Biarritz"
Why Biarritz? You have SOOooooo many other options!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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Apr 29th, 2019 | 10:38 AM
#8
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 12
Are you going to Haro for the bodegas? If not, there isn't much else there. Maybe a better choice with the kids would be Laguardia, a neat medieval walled town. They also have some bodegas if that's what you're looking for.
And, another vote for Taull!
And, another vote for Taull!
Apr 29th, 2019 | 10:42 AM
#9
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
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A day trip by interurban train from San Sebastian to France is easy with the neat little train that runs thru the streets of Basque villages to Hendaye, France train station - then take train to nearby St Jean de Luz a lovely seaside town - just to be in France if naught else and the train ride is fun.
Apr 29th, 2019 | 08:56 PM
#10
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19
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Thank you for the great feedback.
I was thinking of renting a car when we end in Madrid and then dropping it in Bilbao to catch a plane to Barcelona. Is it better to keep the car and make the drive to Barcelona? I just didn’t want to waste a whole day of driving. Google maps said it was 5hr 30 minutes...and that’s without stops along the way. Is it worth it to drive instead and make the stop in Taull?
Kga- yes, was thinking one more spot in Rioja. My husband and I are into wine and want to explore what Spain has to offer. Of course, we don’t want to bore our girls too much.
Joannyc (&others)- do you recommend Haro? I was interested initially because I saw a cute hotel and heard it was known for wine in the area. While I am well versed in California wine, I am not as familiar with Spanish wines on where to go.
StCirq, kja, and PalenQ- we added the day trip to Biarritz based on a recommendation from a friend that they have great shopping there. Is it not worth wasting a day to make the trip there?
Thank you all for your feedback!
I was thinking of renting a car when we end in Madrid and then dropping it in Bilbao to catch a plane to Barcelona. Is it better to keep the car and make the drive to Barcelona? I just didn’t want to waste a whole day of driving. Google maps said it was 5hr 30 minutes...and that’s without stops along the way. Is it worth it to drive instead and make the stop in Taull?
Kga- yes, was thinking one more spot in Rioja. My husband and I are into wine and want to explore what Spain has to offer. Of course, we don’t want to bore our girls too much.
Joannyc (&others)- do you recommend Haro? I was interested initially because I saw a cute hotel and heard it was known for wine in the area. While I am well versed in California wine, I am not as familiar with Spanish wines on where to go.
StCirq, kja, and PalenQ- we added the day trip to Biarritz based on a recommendation from a friend that they have great shopping there. Is it not worth wasting a day to make the trip there?
Thank you all for your feedback!
Apr 29th, 2019 | 09:35 PM
#11
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,051
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If you don't like museums why go to the Prado? Of the big three it's likely the one the kids will like the least. It's also the most expensive.
IIRC Google is still using the old Spanish speed limits. They were lowered years ago. Divide the distance by 120km/h and see if it's inline with the Google time. Even if it is you need to add at least one rest stop.
IIRC Google is still using the old Spanish speed limits. They were lowered years ago. Divide the distance by 120km/h and see if it's inline with the Google time. Even if it is you need to add at least one rest stop.
Apr 29th, 2019 | 09:56 PM
#12
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 12
Haro is a great town to visit the bodegas! There are quite a few within walking distance from the center of town. I loved the hotel there where I spent 2 nights. I wasn't sure if you were going there because it was along your route heading north or because you have an interest in wine. Enjoy!
Here's a link to my pictorial trip report that includes Haro, Taull, San Sebastian to name a few:
Northeastern Spain - A TR in Pictures
Here is where the Haro pictures begin:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...gway1jZGcxVzlR
Here's a link to my pictorial trip report that includes Haro, Taull, San Sebastian to name a few:
Northeastern Spain - A TR in Pictures
Here is where the Haro pictures begin:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...gway1jZGcxVzlR
Apr 29th, 2019 | 11:05 PM
#13
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,679
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If you like wine, I think you will find some excellent ones in La Rioja -- and elsewhere in Spain! Haro has some wonderful wineries and should make for a great stop -- as long as you either sip & spit or spend the night. ;-) Like joannyc, I loved Laguardia. And please note that most wineries in La Rioja require reservations -- you don't simply drop in. A bit of research would seem in order! You might search this board for posts by mikelg.
No need to drive to Barcelona unless you want to do so.
I haven't been to Biarritz and honestly have absolutely no interest in going there. YMMV! But you have SOOooooo many interesting and delightful options in the area that I would think it worth considering alternatives. You would, I think, benefit from consulting a good guidebook or two (perhaps from the Michelin Green or Rough Guide series) and from consulting some trip reports, including those linked in above and perhaps mine:
Four Awesome Weeks in the North of Spain and Catalunya
Good luck!
No need to drive to Barcelona unless you want to do so.
I haven't been to Biarritz and honestly have absolutely no interest in going there. YMMV! But you have SOOooooo many interesting and delightful options in the area that I would think it worth considering alternatives. You would, I think, benefit from consulting a good guidebook or two (perhaps from the Michelin Green or Rough Guide series) and from consulting some trip reports, including those linked in above and perhaps mine:
Four Awesome Weeks in the North of Spain and Catalunya
Good luck!
Apr 29th, 2019 | 11:17 PM
#14
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,679
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BTW, I'm not sure why the Prado would NOT suit! Art is, I think, a very personal thing, one which different people come to appreciate at different ages. By the age of your youngest child, I was fascinated by El Greco, and so would have loved the Prado. In contrast, even though a great fan of art, I was well into adulthood before I learned to appreciate modern art, and so would not have enjoyed the Reina Sofia when I was a youngster. The Thyssen is, IMO, an absolute delight, but I think it has a larger overlap with other major museums of art featuring works of the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and other 20th century artists than the two museums that are more strongly oriented to Spanish art. JMO.
Apr 30th, 2019 | 08:00 AM
#15
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,051
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I'm partly going off the comment the OP isn't that interested in museums. I don't want to call Prado stuffy but it's the only one of the three that you risk getting swatted if you take a photograph -) It's the most expensive.
To me the Prado is exactly the type of museum most people who don't like museums are thinking about. Okay maybe the OP isn't interested in Russian DaDa works but is the Prado going to appeal to a group that starts out by saying "Not too much into museums"?
To me the Prado is exactly the type of museum most people who don't like museums are thinking about. Okay maybe the OP isn't interested in Russian DaDa works but is the Prado going to appeal to a group that starts out by saying "Not too much into museums"?
Apr 30th, 2019 | 08:52 AM
#16
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 16,283
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Most museum, including Prado have “ free entrance “ certain times and days.
There are other small museums, many parks etc.., .you know your kids.
El Rastro is a mostly junk imo, not the best area of Madrid .
Mid to late June many areas of Spain could be very hot.
There are other small museums, many parks etc.., .you know your kids.
El Rastro is a mostly junk imo, not the best area of Madrid .
Mid to late June many areas of Spain could be very hot.
Apr 30th, 2019 | 10:35 PM
#18
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,679
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I thoroughly enjoyed Laguardia, and not just for the bodegas and wineries (and there are more within easy walking distance than those I visited). It's a beautifully situated town offering some stunning views from various vantage points, a glorious church, fascinating medieval lanes, and a nice nature reserve. I stopped in Haro, but didn't stay there.
