Spain Itinerary Help!
 

Hello, all. I will be traveling with my family - wife and two teenage daughters. Because of work obligations, we are limited to traveling for Thanksgiving. We like sunny weather and coastal areas, so it thought the Andalusia region of Spain would be s good place (we LOVED Greece, fyi). We enjoy nice, smaller towns (as opposed to big metropolitan area). We are not big on museums but we do enjoy historical architecture. We like good food, but aren’t concerned with robust nightlife. We want to maximize our chance for warm, sunny days. I don’t mind jumping around locations but I would like to avoid too many overnights given that we have the girls with lots of luggage (so I’d like to avoid a single night stay anywhere).

I’ve already booked flights (SAS - $563 connecting through CPH) - we arrive at Malaga AirPort on 11/19 at 5:40 pm and leave 8:00 pm on 11/28. I am renting a car. Here is my initial itinerary:

11/19 - rent car and stay in Nerja.
11/20 - Rest and relax in Nerja. Maybe go see the caves. Night in Nerja.
11/21 - checkout Nerja. Lunch in Frigiliana. Travel to Granada. Night in Granada.
11/22. Granada day. Visit Alhambra, etc. Night in Granada.
11/23 - checkout Granada. Road trip to Seville. Antequera for lunch. 7:30 pm food tour in Seville. Night in Seville.
11/24 - Seville day (see the big sites). Night in Seville.
11/25 - high speed train to Cordova at 10:30 am. Return same day at 8:50 pm. Night in Seville.
11/26 - checkout Seville. Road trip to Estepona, stopping in Jerez for horse show and lunch. Take coastal road to Estopena. Night in Estopena.
11/27 - Estopena day. Night in Estopena.
11/28 - checkout early. Lunch in Ronda. Visit Sental de las Bodegas. Make 8:10 pm flight from Malaga.

I have zero Spain experience, so all suggestions are appreciated! I am kicking around an idea that I suspect will be controversial on here. I am thinking about dropping Granada altogether and staying two nights in Cordoba instead. I am concerned about the weather in Granada and believe my family might enjoy the, what I perceive to be, quant, chill vibe in Cordoba, rather than the hustle and bustle (and grit?) of Granada. On the other hand, my current itinerary allows us to see both places, albeit without an overnight in Cordoba. I would sincerely appreciate some thoughts on that decision. Again, I do not purport to know anything about this region, other than what I could gleam from the internet.

thank you!

I assume you are traveling at the end of November. The wether in Granada could be chilly and damp.
. Alhambra is one of the biggest attractions in Spain, deservedly so.

It's potentially going to be wet all over. I wouldn't call that time of year sure fire sunny.

I think you're rushing around way too much. You'll be ticking off boxes not really seeing anything. Dealing with the car is also going to be a pain in the cities.

Sorry, but I see some problems.

First, if you are coming from the U.S., you will not be safe to drive for at least 36 hours after landing. Not safe for yourselves or for anyone else on the road! And that’s true even if you sleep on the plane – the problem is microsleeps (which you might not even realize you are having) that stem from your body’s internal clock. You need time to adjust.

From my perspective, you are cutting your time in each of the three biggies very short. The Alhambra alone can take the better part of a day; you aren’t allowing time for anything else there. I can’t imagine seeing all of Seville’s “big sites” in one day, let alone any of it’s other treasures. I know many people visit Cordoba as a day trip, but I filled every moment of two full days there.

With the time you have, I think you could enjoy Sevilla, Granada, and Cordoba. MAYBE one other place if you push it. I could be wrong!

Have you marked everything on a calendar? With time for checking in and out of hotels, time for meals, time to get to various places (and to get lost), etc.? Are you considering weather? (consult weatherspark.com) Are you considering the time when the sun will set at that time of year? (same resource)

I would strongly encourage you to trim your plans. And I think you would do well to get a decent guidebook or two (or consult some at your local library) rather than relying on internet searches only. Maybe the Rough Guide or Michelin Green.

I hope that helps!

I agree with kja, and I also agree with the advice not to drive upon landing, and as another poster suggested, maybe the trip would be easier without a car. Perhaps take a bus to Nerja, or bus or train directly to Granada at first? You have 8 days on the ground, 9 if you count arrival/departure days. With that time, choose 2 places to do well (perhaps 3+3) and 2 nights in one other place. Maybe you could do a day trip from one of those locations. It’s always difficult to decide but IMO slowing down a little will make a more enjoyable trip for everybody.

Plus you would want to spend some time seeing Malaga which is quite pleasant and may provide the warmest and sunny weather. Granada is high elevation and you might possibly have rain mixed with snow. Actually my husband and I had to spend an extra day in Granada many years ago because of torrential rain and road was washed out.

I would consider a horse show during the daytime a waste, instead of spending time seeing Jerez. It's an ok activity for nighttime when you might have nothing better to do.

Agree, and also agree with KJA on your allocation of time.
One day in Sevilla? Not nearly enough.

Me? I'd skip Nerja and Estepona.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Based on suggestions, I have trimmed down my plans a bit. My new itinerary is:

11/19 - Nerja
11/20 - Nerja
11/21 - Nerja (day trip to Granada/Alhambra)
11/22 - Cordoba (lunch in Antequera)
11/23 - Cordoba
11/24 - Cordoba
11/25 - Seville (night food tour)
11/26 - Seville
11/27 - Seville
11/28 - 8:10 pm flight from Malaga (lunch in Ronda/site seeing before flight)

Still planning to rent a car upon arrivall? Unnecessary and dangerous.

A day trip to the Alhambra from Nerja? I wouldn't like that! In fact, I would hate that.

Only a day and a half or so in Sevilla?

Trying to have lunch in Ronda on a day that begins in Sevilla and ends with a flight out of, what, Malaga? Not my idea of a good plan!

Your trip, your call.

I left a day off. We would have two full days in Seville. Flight is 11/28.

In that case:

Still planning to rent a car upon arrivall? Unnecessary and dangerous.

A day trip to the Alhambra from Nerja? I wouldn't like that! In fact, I would hate that.

Two full days in Sevilla? Better than your original plan. I found 4 full days barely sufficient.

Trying to have lunch in Ronda on a day that begins in Sevilla and ends with a flight out of, what, Malaga? Not my idea of a good plan!

Your trip, your call.

I'd also skip Nerja.

Curious - why the suggestions to skip Nerja?

Your plan is to land at Malaga at 17:40hrs.
In airline talk that means wheels touch the runway at that time.

By the time you arrive at the gate, get off, collect luggage (if any), complete the car formalites, so on and so on, it will be close to 20:00hrs.

You will be driving in the dark with an unfamiliar car on unfamiliar roads with three tired, cranky passengers.

Stay in Malaga the first two nights.

Personal opinion based on a very short visit in Nov, 2019.

Nerja is a tourist dump, geared toward the budget Northern European traveler.
Lousy food, empty beach save for one pasty white British couple, mostly boarded up with "Te Koop" signs on most of the properties.

I still do not understand this plan, and argee that you could skip Nerja with such a short time frame.


And driving from Sevilla to Malaga on the day of departure, stopping at Ronda with all your luggage in the car....and then driving to Malaga airport?

Cannot comment on Nerja, but Malaga is a very nice spot with things to see.
It is the end of November.., although the temperatures are mild , it is hardly a beach season.

Back to the drawing board. I am taking the Granada out completely, although I suppose I still have the option to day trip from Cordoba. Here is what I am thinking now:

11/19 - Estopena
11/20 - Estopena (rest day)
11/21 - Estopena (visit Ronda/Sentinel de las Bodegas)
11/22 - checkout Estopena. Drive to Cordoba, stopping in Antequera.
11/23 - Cordoba
11/24 - Cordoba (with day trip option to Granada possible via train)
11/25 - Seville
11/26 - Seville
11/27 - Seville
11/28 - Checkout Seville, travel to Malaga for evening flight (driving along coastal road)

I hate to miss Granada/Alhambra but this is a much more relaxed trip.

You haven't asked but giving unsolicted advice is what this forum is all, so here is mine.

In Ronda, park at Paking Ronda (Calle Cordoba 6), about a 20 minute walk to the main attraction.

In Cordoba, we always stay at the Eurostars Palace, a modern hotel with parking and a short walk to Mezquita and old town.
Try to have churros and chocolate at Churros Bar Marta.
The river front area has a lot of cafes, tavernas and restaurants.
Have a "fiti-fiti"
https://diversionanddiversity.blogsp...-cocktail.html

FWIW, we have been going to Spain for the past 12 years, sometimes twice a year and have yet to set foot in Granada.

You can take a bus or airport transfer from Malaga's airport to Estepona (note spelling) and then, on the 21st or 22nd, rent a car for the rest of your trip. That way, you won't pose a danger to yourselves or others. Though why you would want a car for this trip escapes me -- parking in these cities can be a pain, and Spain has excellent public transportation.

Cordoba, Seville, and Granada may be the best cities in Andalucia in Southern Spain. I spent 4 nights in Seville, 2 in Granada, and 2 in Cordoba. I didn't make time for anything else in Andalucia. If I was going to add other locations in Andalucia, I would probably add Malaga and Nerja. There is a town on the Mediterranean cost of Spain called Estepona. Your latest supposed itinerary will work ok. A lot of travelers overpack. I have learned to pack just two extra changes of clothes in a travel bag or gym bag, addition to any cold weather items and whatever is not clothes in a separate backpack. But I am a single man traveling solo.

Cdnyul, we are currently planning a 20 day trial to Spain, late March to mid April and am still busy planning the itinerary. I'm curious as to why you've never visited Granada in the 20 years that you've been traveling to Spain.

Twelve years, not twenty.
Primarly, for logistical reasons, our travel dates are usually finalized 48 hrs. before departure and frequently we advance our return dates.

I agree with taking the airport shuttle to Málaga. I don't agree that 'parking in the cities can be a pain'. You may recall that we always rent a car, wherever we travel. Every city in Spain has public parking garages close to the centre where you can leave your car safely. In top tourist season it's better to make a reservation but in November there will be plenty of parking spaces. When you travel by car you can stop wherever you want and discover soms gems that you won't see traveling by train. For instance, the very pretty town of Carmona on the way from Córdoba to Sevilla.