Spain May 2014 - thoughts
 

There was wonderful advice in this long thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...uld-you-do.cfm

I am revisiting my reservations and firming things up...

Myself, my husband and our daughter who will have just turned 17 at the end of March are going on the trip....last trip before she leaves for college in August.

Currently the trip looks like this:

Day 1: Depart DFW - travel day

Day 2: Arrive Madrid 10:05 am, train to Malaga, pick up rental car and drive to Marbella, check into Marriott Marbella Beach Resort for 5 nights.

For 5 days.... ? <--- I will post what we are thinking/toying with

Day 7: Drive to Granada - drop off rental car - check into AC Palacio De Santa Paula, Autograph Collection for 2 nights.

Day 9: Train to Seville - check into our apartment for 4 nights.

Day 14: check out and train to Madrid for one night - and fly home the following afternoon...

A few things that I have realized .... I thought I had two nights in Madrid. I was on heavy pain meds recovery from a surgery while I was planning this vacation and I goofed up on that...

I am worried about the 5 nights in Marbella... it does take my daughter a few days to recover from jet lag and we don't have to be going going going on vacation.

Family still really wants to go over to Morocco...

Still have some reservations about that long first day - long flight and then train and car and driving...

All of our hotels are on points - so not a ton of flexibility there - like the "free".... the apartment is the only hard cost on lodging.

How to buy tickets to the Alhambra in Granada?

http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/...bratickets.asp ?

I still feel like I may want to stay the night in Ronda ...thoughts?

Struggling a little with this trip - feel like I cannot quit wrap my mind around it and want to can the whole thing and fly to Italy (feel a better grasp on it....but am not REALLY going to do that...)

I'd fly from Madrid to Malaga instead of taking the train (and did on my trip).

You will aleady be at the airport. Why bother go into Madrid and wait for a train which will take longer than flying?

Oops... typo. aleady= already!

Your trip will be fine.. you can certainly rest on the train.. it is very comfortable. Then your drive isn`t bad and it is a highway. One day go to Mijas. A sweet village I visited ages ago.. You will have plenty to do in the area.

It sounds like a lovely trip. I'm sure once you settle in your worries will fade. Sorry I can´t help with Ronda.
The official website

http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/ind...5d637b1e38d/0/

Thank you for the reassurance. I think I am getting the pre-trip "I have never been there this is a special trip want to be sure it goes well anxiety I can get :-)"

Thank you for the link to the tickets - I had not found that official one yet.

I am looking into flights Joan - My family loves to train so I thought it might be a pleasant part of the trip and a way to rest a little...(and no worries on typos, I am on a mobile device on the fly half the time... and can be the queen of the typos!)

I would not try to drive until you have recovered from jet lag.

I enjoyed Ronda, but personally would have readily skipped it for time in Cordoba. Just my opinion.

Flying in from DFW, you will be able to rest on the AVE to Sevilla. Jet lag should not be an issue.

The drive from Sevilla to Marbella takes around2-1/2 hours following the quickest route, the A-92, but I would personally take the A-375, which takes you through Ronda. If you do, then you can spend the night in Ronda (at the Parador) and leave the next day for the quick drive to Marbella a bit more refreshed.

You could even drive south from Ronda on the A-269 and A-377 past the white villages like Benalauría. It's a great drive.

they're taking train to Malaga.. much closer.

careful booking flights or train tickets too close to arrival and possible delays as they will be a wash out if you miss them. ( unless the flight is part of your original ticket).

A nice Old Town/Casco Antiguo in Marbella: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html

Several fine and local atmosphere restaurants and tapas bars in the Old Town. For example:
El Estrecho: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Taberna la Niña del Pisto: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Taberna TierrAranda is in the same, small San Lazaro street: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserRe...Andalucia.html


Some of my favourite Málaga region specialities:

Porra Antequerana, a thicker variant of the tomato/vegetable soup gazpacho, garnished with cured ham and egg: http://nicediary.popo.lt/cold-soups-porra-antequerana/

Magro/carne con tomate, beef or port tomato stew, just have to have it everywhere...: http://www.recetasdemama.es/2007/04/carne-con-tomate/
http://azaharskitchen.wordpress.com/...ne-con-tomate/

Conchas finas, a local pride and tastes pure sea:
https://www.google.no/search?q=Conch...w=1600&bih=783

The sweet Málaga wines: http://www.andalucia.com/gastronomy/malagawines.htm

Two Michelin star restaurant Calima in Marbella (chef Dani García) serves a nine course tapas menu for 66€ and a twenty "creations" Menu degustación for 139€: http://www.thegrandselection.com/en/restaurant-calima/
http://www.guiarepsol.com/es_es/Gast...staurante.aspx

lin - I was thinking that.. I need to figure out transportation from airport to train station and tickets go on sale I think around 62 days before date of travel. I do think we will take the train as it is restful and hopefully there will be some pretty landscape.

In 2007 we went from Paris to Montreux - Florence - Rome - one of our favorite parts was honestly the trains.... we really loved it.

Thank you for all those sweet links Kim! Looking forward to checking them out.

Robert - we will be taking the train back from Seville to Madrid the Sunday before we depart but on the way in we will go to Malaga which is closer to Marbella.

Kja - I will look into it! We have the 5 nights in Marbella from which I know we will want to go out and explore the region - we will have a rental car those nights. Day trips are at times easier than moving (for us). The hotel has two bedrooms and a kitchen area as well as being on the beach will have a little downtime.. I think our first full day we may just chill out - (Wed) recoup etc. I have only done two trips with the family to Europe and both times our daughter needs more than her fair share of recovery from jetlag. I am hoping this time going direct from DFW to Madrid it won't be "as" bad... Last time it was LAX to Paris and the time before was a ton of rerouting due to weather which led to over 24 hours in travel - so we were all a little zonked.

And when in Marbella, I would strongly recommend to do a day trip to Málaga city. Genuine and easy-going Andalucian atmosphere, great tapas bars, cafés, restaurants and sights right in the center of town.

Within some three hundred meters you'll find the newly excavated Roman theater (1st century BC). Reopened to the public in 2011: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/mala...tro-romano.htm

...at the foot of the 8-11th century Moorish Alcazaba (palace/fortress), some 600 years older than Alhambra in Granada:
http://www.calaceiteresidencial.com/...laga-spain.php

"Next door" you'll find the wonderful "one-armed" 16th century cathedral: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/cathedral.htm

and the Picasso museum (Picasso was from Málaga): http://www.andalucia.com/cities/mala...assomuseum.htm

two minutes away, you'll find Picasso's childhood home: http://www.andalucia.com/province/museums/casanatal.htm

And here are some suggestions in the same area:

A great variety of Málaga wines in Antigua Casa de Guardia from 1840 in Alameda Principal, 18. Not much have changed since it opened: http://www.antiguacasadeguardia.net/home.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html

Close by Casa Aranda is perhaps my favourite café in Spain after nearly thirty years of intensive travel in the country. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Next door to the wonderful Atarazanas food market. A couple of great tapas bars in here as well: http://www.spain-holiday.com/blog/at...ral-market.php

Excellent tapas, especially seafood tapas, in local feel La Campana: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Great atmosphere and traditional tapas in close by El Cortijo de Pepe: http://www.travbuddy.com/Cortijo-de-Pepe-v471506

Have dinner in Mesón de Cervantes, close to the Cervantes theater: http://www.elmesondecervantes.com/eng/index.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Bodega El Pimpi is an institution in town. Just in front of the Roman theater and the Alcazaba and a great place after dinner: http://www.elpimpi.com/en/
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzLkFsVJdhc

Perhaps visit the Arab bathouse Hammam Al-Andalus: http://malaga.hammamalandalus.com/en/

And for those interested, all the shopping you could want in and around the pedestrianised main street Calle Marqués de Larios: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...-shopping.html

... in Marbella you are also close to Antequera. Spectacular scenery and a wonderful town well off the tourist track.

Antequera is known as "the heart of Andalucía" or "the crossroads of Andalucía". Almost right in the middle of the Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga rectangle. Here you'll find dolmens (some 5000 years old burial chambers), Roman baths, a Moorish Castle, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and Baroque bell towers. Antequera was the first of the Granada emirate towns to fall to the Christians in 1410.
http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry....era-spain.html

I love the terrace in the corner of the peaceful square in front of the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, the first partly Renaissance-style church in Spain (built 1514-1550). Up here it's totally peace and quiet. Next to the recently excavated Roman baths beneath and looking up on the 13th century Moorish alcazaba/fortress. Great views over unique landscapes (the spectacular Torcal limestone mountain etc.). http://www.wild-about-travel.com/201...ing-antequera/

Close by Torcal limestone rock formations. You can drive up here and do several walks, and on a clear day you can see to Morocco:
http://www.andalucia.com/antequera/torcal/home.htm

A tapas tour of Antequera:
http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry.com/tapaspain.html

When in the area, perhaps do the Camino del Rey! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw

Wonderful tips - thank you so much! We are starting to get very excited! :-) We have been planning for so long that it is hard to believe it is just 3 months away now!

5 nights in Marbella is way too much for me. Everything else sounds great.

Egbert - Yes, I am thinking that too... wondering if it makes sense to spend 3 nights there - recoup from jet lag etc - and then go to either Cordoba or Ronda for 2 nights and then head to Granada..

You already know my answer -- do consider visiting Cordoba! The Mezquita is, IMO, an incredibly special place!

Kja - I am working on it... :-) Trying to move things around a bit ....

Agree with Egbert--give up time in Marbella for someplace else.

For me, Ronda is a good day trip.
If you do go to Ronda, and pass anywhere near Gaucin, please try to dine at Caserio Ananda. (I wrote about it in that trip report from 10/12)

Initially the thought was to use Marbella as a base because we can stay at the Marriott
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...-beach-resort/
on points for 5 nights in a comfortable 2 bedroom place (three of us traveling one being our teen daughter) -
Day one - travel day...
Day two thinking of perhaps relaxing by the beach - chilling - ? (playing this by ear)
Day three - day trip to Ronda or another village...
Day four - day trip to Tangier ? http://www.viator.com/tours/Malaga/M...140MLGTMOROCCO

It just feels like a lot of days there... the family also may want to go to Gibraltar ... so that could fill in a day as well...

Your trip sounds spectacular. My sister and I did a similar trip from DFW in November. We spent 3 nights at the same hotel in Granada. I loved the hotel! Everything was within walking distance - front desk was extremely helpful. Hope you, too, have a positive experience there. Courtyard was beautiful at night. We enjoyed sitting outside with drinks soaking in the ambience.

Just repeat that genuine Málaga city would be a very obvious daytrip from Marbella:
"Secret Spanish pleasures" (Telegraph): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html
"Picasso's city of hidden treasures" (Guardian): http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...el?INTCMP=SRCH

Kimhe - that sounds wonderful!

dorkforcemom - that is so great! I am happy to hear the positive feedback about the hotel in Granada!

You will love Alhambra! It is one of the most interesting places I've ever visited. I was anxious about the visit - timing, for example. Nit was very well laid out Nd organized for visitors. Be sure to share your experiences upon your return.

Goto AAA and obtain idp for $20 or risk 200 euro cash must be paid on the spot fine for not having one.

Marble - not sure what you mean?

Spain requires non EU residents to obtain an international drivers permit. This is essentially a different form of your passport, but required by law in spain. You obtain one at your local AAA for $20. Folks go and get by without one, the car rental folks will not even ask for it. But, get stopped without one and the fine must be paid in cash and on the spot. Don't take the risk!
Btw: i have done all the places you listed in spain, the following is my two cents. Take the Ave from madrid to malaga. Purchase second class tickets on the renfe site for the ave. The ave is a great experience. Rent the car at the malaga train station, get a gps. From train station to marbella is less than an hour, an ez highway drive. Suspect you are using points for the marriott so must stay the five days. Thats ok, do the pool/beach on the second day and the on the third venture out. Fyi: road from marbella to ronda is a two lane mountain climb. Beautiful, but do not try to keep up with the local drivers. I pity the person in the back seat due to potential of being car sick. I would not drive back after dark on this road. I would spend the night in ronda and then continue the trip to granada. Drop the car when you arrive in granada as you do not want to drive in old town. Take a taxi from where you drop the car.
I would skip morroco.
Two nights in madrid would be best. Can you drop one night in marbella?
Enjoy!
A former Tylerite

Thanks Marbleskies -
My daughter has a huge carsick issues :-(

We are using points but I can shorten it... I am thinking today of staying just a few days and heading out from there.
thanks for your the tip on the AA International Drivers Permit.

You can take a long route via highways through malaga, adds about an hour. I would shorten by a day .

I am rethinking things... (too much thinking!)
How is this area for Madrid?
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...ph-collection/

C Santo Mauro, Autograph Collection®
Zurbano 36
Madrid, Madrid 28010 Spain

I am thinking of staying in Madrid when we arrive for a few nights....

So I talked with my daughter and we are toying with not going to Marbella at all -

She wants to hike...

Only thing "unchangeable" right now is our apartment in Seville - we arrive there on May 14-18 and train back to Madrid on May 18 for a departure on May 19...

Land mid-morning on the 6 in Madrid...

So we are back to the drawing board...

Thinking of staying a few nights in Madrid when we land -

And then.... ?

Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Avila?

Whelp...spent my day off rethinking this, talking with dd and figuring out alternatives...

So now we have this...:

Day 1: Flight from DFW to Madrid
Day 2: Arrive Madrid stay @ AC Santo Mauro, Autograph Collection® for 3 nights - 2 rooms
Day 3: Madrid
Day 4: Madrid
Day 5: Train to Cordoba - Stay 2 nights @ AC Hotel Cordoba Palacio by Marriott
Day 6: Cordoba
Day 7: Train to Granada stay 2 nights @ AC Palacio De Santa Paula, Autograph Collection
Day 8: Granada
Day 9: Train to Seville - stay 5 nights in Apartment http://sevilla.spain-select.com/en_U...uerta-de-jerez
Day 10: Seville
Day 11: Seville
Day 12: Seville
Day 13: Seville
Day 14: Train to Madrid - spend one night AC Palacio Del Retiro, Autograph Collection®
Day 15: Madrid to DFW -

I think we are happier with this plan... will now fill in the time... I may stay 4 nights in Granada - the hotel is not available right now but I will check back... we can hike from Granada if we do it that way... I would rather not move 2 X in those 4 days... Thanks for the feedback and help!!!

Could be a great trip!

If I understand, you are committed to flights into/out of Madrid, so I wonder if there is any possibility of putting all the time in Madrid at the end so you have one less change of hotels.

And given my personal interests, I'd be tempted to cut one night from Sevilla to have either one night (no more than that!) in Ronda OR an extra night in Madrid. But I don't think you will regret the time you have in Sevilla. And I am glad you are planning on 2 nights in Cordoba! :-)

You're going to have a great trip!

Wonderful trip with fabulous hotels. Enjoy!

I stayed at the AC Santa Paula in Granada. We were there for three nights, after four nights in Madrid. Here is the report from that week; if you want a guide in Granada, I have a great contact for you, his name, Juan Cobo, and details are in the report.


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...k-in-spain.cfm

In Sevilla, you stay close to one of my favourite traditional tapas bars in town, more than a century old Bodegas Diaz Salazar in C/García de Vinuesa, 20: http://www.minube.com/fotos/rincon/1...slideshow-mode
http://www.bodegasdiazsalazar.com/

In Madrid, you are fairly close to one of the city's most emblematic cafés, Belle Époque Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes. Grab a window table and watch Madrid life on bustling Calle Alcalá. Take the lift up to the roof topp terrace (the azotea) for great views of the city. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/cargarApl...ntificador=179
http://www.timeout.com/madrid/madrid...e-bellas-artes

Thanks again everyone! Esk - looking forward to reading your report - yes, would love the guide information - My email is Dawn Noel M at g mail dot com

I decided to rent an apartment in Madrid for the first four nights - we may take a day trip from there to Avila...

No rental car - unless we rent one in Seville to make day trips or from Granada to hike...

So here is the final ;-)

4 nights in Madrid - apartment - http://www.spain-select.com/en_US/re...ope-de-vega-ii

3 nights in Granada - Marriott

5 nights in Seville - https://sevilla.spain-select.com/en_...uerta-de-jerez

1 night in Madrid

I am planning on taking the train from Madrid to Granada and Granda to Seville - Seville to Madrid

We will rent a car for day trips I think... if need be... I will get on researching that... I am spending a little more than I wanted on lodging (before I was using Marriott points for the first 5 nights) but I feel better about not spending that first day on long travel...and think that this will work out better...

So...

Nuts and bolts of the trip

For the Alhambra...we are going to take the train from Madrid to Granada on a Sat. We have to be out of our apartment by 10 am and will go to the train station from here and head to Granada.

I am looking at tickets to the Alhambra - wondering if we should go around 5:00 pm or so that evening?

We are there Sat, Sun, Mon night...heading to Seville on Tuesday. Want to go once during the day and once at night...could do it in the evening that night... ?

Also in Madrid am looking some of the different Context Travel tours - we had great success with them in Italy...
https://www.contexttravel.com/city/m...-walking-tours

This was also recommended...seems interesting...
http://madrid-experience.com/en/category/gastronomia/
Thinking of the cooking class..my daughter would love that!