Spain Itinerary Help
 

What do you think of the following 2 itineraries: We will have 3 weeks available and depending on availability of FF miles, we will either fly into Madrid and out of Barcelona or into/out of Barcelona.

We have been to Madrid and Barcelona before, so not interested in spending time in those cities.

Which do you prefer? Basically trade Toledo for Malaga and Nerja:
Itinerary 1: USA-->Madrid
Arrive Madrid and train to Toledo
Toledo
Train from Toledo to Cordoba
Cordoba
Train Cordoba to Seville
Seville
Seville
Seville
Seville to Ronda
Ronda
Ronda to Granada
Granada
Granada to Barcelona to Girona
Girona
Girona
Girona to Begur
Begur
Begur to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona-Home

Itinerary 2: USA-->Barcelona
Arrive BCN-->fly to Seville
Seville
Seville
Seville
Seville to day trip Cordoba
Seville to Ronda
Ronda
Ronda to Malaga
Malaga
Malaga to Nerja
Nerja
Nerja to Granada
Granada
Granada to Barcelona to Girona
Girona
Girona
Girona to Begur
Begur
Begur to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona-->Home

There is no train service from Toledo to Cordoba. You'll have to return to Madrid first, or take a bus. Are you planning of renting a car for at least part of your time on the Costa Brava, or doing it by public transportation?

We will train from Toledo back to Madrid and then on to Cordoba. Our plan was to pick up a car when leaving Seville and return it in Granada.

For Barcelona, we would have a car for traveling to small towns from Girona and Begur and then turn in car when we get back to Barcelona.

What time of year is this trip?

We plan to go end of April or early May.

It's hard to tell the number of nights in each location. For example, on trip 1 would you be doing 2 1-nighters in a row (Toledo and Cordoba). Or is it 2 nights each?

CathyM:
Sorry, here are our thoughts:

Itineary 1:
Arrive Madrid and train to Toledo for 2 nights
Train from Toledo to Madrid then to Cordoba for 2 nights
Train from Cordoba to Seville for 4 nights
Pick up car in Seville and drive to Ronda for 2 nights
Drive from Ronda to Granada (drop car) for 2 nights
Fly from Granada to Barcelona (p/u car) and drive to Girona for 3 nights; day trips to small towns in area
Drive to Begur for 2 nights
Drop car and stay in Barcelona for 3 nights

Itineary 2:
Arrive BCN-->fly to Seville for 5 nights with day trip to Cordoba
Pick up car in Seville and drive to Ronda for 2 nights
Drive to Malaga for 2 nights
Drive to Nerja for 2 nights
Drive to Granada and drop car (2 nights)
Fly from Granada to Barcelona, p/u car and drive to Girona (3 nights; day trips to small towns in area
Drive to Begur (2 nights)
Drive to Barcelona and drop car (2 nights)

We do not like 1 nighters; almost always book at least 2 nights minimum.

I like your travel style! Both itineraries look good.

I like the idea of spending more time in Andalucia (itinerary # 2) in late April/early May as it's a great time to visit. But I'd probably tweak a little. What I don't (personally) like is 4 2-nighters in a row. This could be a little tiring. I'd consider changing up the 6 nights in Ronda, Nerja and Malaga so you have 2 3-nighters or a 4 nighter and a 2 nighther. These places are all close to each other and you could do a daytrip to any of them using the others as a base. The longer stay I think would work better.

The first itinerary has a better spacing of 2 nighters broken up by 3-4 night stays.

This is a hard choice as I do like Toledo and not as a daytrip - it's a great city to visit after the daytrippers have gone home.

With Itinerary # 1 you could whittle Barcelona to 1 night and add 2 nights in Nerja or Malaga. I hate 1-nighters too but for a final night sometimes I make do especially if it's a city you've already visited.

I'd probably do itinerary # 2 w/the tweaks I suggested. But either way I don't think you can go wrong.

By the way, you may end up in Sevilla during the spring Feria, Cordoba during the Patio festival or Cordoba/Granada during the May crosses festival. I'd consider this in my planning. Hotel prices will be at a premium during the Feria in Sevilla but it's a unique experience. If you end up in the area during the Cordoba patio festival I'd recommend spending a couple of nights in Cordoba. I'd also try to be in Granda or Cordoba for the May crosses. May crosses this year was from May 1-5. The Cordoba Patio festival from May 8-19. Sevilla Feria is usually a couple of weeks after Holy Week ends (it ends in 2014 on APril 20). Unfortunately I don't think there are exact dates for these events in 2014 but the May crosses and Patio festival are somewhat consistent dates each year.

Cathy,
Thanks for your valued input. I was actually thinking about all those 2 nighters. Would you stay in Nerja or Malaga?