Spain Questions
 

Has anyone taken the Barri Gothic tours in Barcelona given by Context Tours? We would love feedback before we book it.
Also, we plan on renting a car. Should we do it in Madrid or Toledo? Will it be an issue to take our luggage on the train from Madrid to Toledo?
Thanks.

There won't be any problems taking luggage on trains. People do it all over the world.

Try to bring a small enough bag to fit on the overhead rack above your seat so you can keep your luggage near you. These racks fit 21" bags and perhaps could accommodate 24" bags but no larger. Larger bags need to be stored at the end of the train cars.

I've not taken any Context Tours in Barcelona but have done so in Rome. They are very very good tours, given by educated and knowledgeable guides.

DO NOT RENT A CAR FOR MADRID OR TOLEDO. It is a really bad idea to rent a car just to exlore Madrid or Toledo when public transportation in/around both cities is tops.

What is your itinerary? We rented a car at the Madrid airport and drove to Toledo. No problem.

But we need to know more of your itinerary to comment.

Thanks for the responses. I think we need to get smaller suitcases for the train rides. We are definitely taking the AVE from Barcelona to Madrid. We were planning on the train from Madrid to Toledo and then were going to rent the car in Toledo but are rethinking it and may get the car in Madrid. From toledo we go to Cordoba, Granada and end the trip in Seville where we will turn the car in. We have also taken Context Tours in Rome - I was just hoping for feedback for Barcelona. Certainly any suggestions are appreciated - first time to Spain!

What you can do is take a day trip from Madrid to Toledo, there are scores of comfortable and reliable buses and trains between those cities. Then you can take the AVE form Madrid to Cordoba.

From what you've said of your itinerary, there's no reason to rent a car -- take trains or buses and avoid dealing with the need to find parking, navigate narrow streets, etc. (In many of these places a car would actually be an impediment.)

I wholeheartedly recommend at least one overnight in Toledo, which is quite different after day trippers leave. I, for one, thought it worth 2 full days / 2 full nights; YMMV.