SPAIN-September of 2012
 

Now working on our trip to Spain with friends in September, next year. We only have 15 nights and we will be north of Madrid. So, R/T from NY to Madrid. We will have a car. Between each overnight, we will have a stop or two. Our hotel budget is $200 US per night. Will use Karen Brown, look at Paradors and of course your recommendations. Old towns/cities, architecture, church concerts, fiestas and lastly museums are what interests the group. We like good food, but we don't need michelin suggestions. Just good, local restaurants. Our method is to stay three nights, with places to visit between stops. There is just much to see north of Madrid, so I came up with drawing an oval from Madrid. First west, then north and finally, east. This is now our itinerary. 1. Pick up the car and drive to Salamanca, with a stop in Avila. [3 nights] 2. Drive to Leon. [3 nights] 3. Drive to the small town of Santillana Del Mar [2 nights] If we don't get to Oviedo on a day trip from Leon, we will take the whole day and spend time in Oviedo and a little time in Lastres, before getting to our hotel. 4. Drive to San Sebastian [3 nights] 5. Drive to Burgos [3 nights] and finally a night within an hours drive to the airport for an afternoon flight 6. Segovia [1 night.] This will probably be our route. Will listen to any hotel or restaurants suggestions. Plus any old towns to visit convienent considering our routes itinerary. Thanks Richard P.S. Keep in mind, I am usually good for up to three hours driving after an overnight flight. Avila will be a good break from driving. I think from the airport to Salamanca is about 130/140 miles, so easily doable

Of course I will also be using www.maribelsguides.com

Any suggestions? Thanks

Cadogan, a lesser known series of travel guides, has an excellent, if not stodgy, book for Northern Spain.

Be sure to see Altamira II when visiting Santillana del Mar and there is a very nice parador in that town.

There is also a nice parador in Avila which has direct access to the wall.

Thanks Adu; It's always possible we may stay the night in Avila in that Parador. We have been to Avila before, but it was about ten years ago. It could be a good overnight after the night flight. Will also look at the other Parador you suggested. Cadogan guide ordered. Richard

No time in Madrid? I know it isn't everyone's favorite, and you do say that museums aren't that high on your list of priorities....

> drive to Salamanca, with a stop in Avila. [3 nights]

I loved Salamanca, and think it deserves at least 2 full days. It's nice to see someone give it the time it deserves! Avila should make a perfect stop on the way.

It's been far too long since I traveled in Spain for me to have confidence in hotel or restaurant recommendations. I remember a wonderful salmon in cava with white asparagus in Salamanca, delicious beef in Avila, and superb suckling pig in Segovia.

Sorry I can't be more help!

Don't know if you have a specific reason to stay in Burgos 3 nights. I stayed 2 nights and it was more than enough time. I would suggest staying there 2 nights and add one night to San Sebastian.

Also, regarding 2 nights in Santillana... I visited the town while I was staying in Santander. It's ok but not for 2 nights.

Hope you get to Oviedo, its a lovely city.

All about going for pintxos in San Sebastián, with suggested routes etc: http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en

You'll be up for an affordable gourmet experience and lots of fun (each pintxo would be some 2-3€). Also try out some of the places in the Gros district across the city river Urumea. Here you'll find some of the finest and most atmospheric pintxos bars. Bar Bergara is an institution in town. The owner, Patxi Bergrara, started the Basque food revolution back in the 80's with, among others, Juan Mari Arzak, one of the most famous chefs since those days and owner of much and rightfully praised Arzak.

Had the meal of my life in one of the seafood restaurants down in the harbour in close by Getaria. Something like this: http://thepauperedchef.com/2007/12/elkano-in-getar.html

I can also highly recommend San Juan/Donibane for a great seafood lunch in a local atmosphere. Several great waterfront restaurants with bargain offers for the menu del día. I use to take first time visitors to the area here for lunch. Also possible to walk to San Juan/Donibane from San Sebastián/Donostia along the stunning coastline in some two-three hours:
http://www.euroresidentes.com/eurore...s/san-juan.htm

You should also note that Euskal Jaiak, a week long festivities celebrating Basque culture, is going on in San Sebastián in early September. Could be great fun, but be aware: http://www.lacunza.com/events/euskal-jaiak.php

Later in the month is the annual film festival when prices will be higher, and if you plan on visiting at this time you'll have to book hotel way ahead: http://www.sansebastianfestival.com/in/

[kja] Not stopping in Madrid as we have been there before. [cruiseluv]For Burgos, we will visit a town/village on the way to Burgos. Then we will spend one full day in the countryside visiting towns/villages. So that will give us 1 1/2 days in Burgos. For Santillana, we will spend the whole day visiting either Ovieto or other places before reaching Santillana. Then the next day in Santillana. But everything is still subjective and open for change. [kimhe] Good suggestions and web sites. Good to know about Euskal jaial. Sounds like fun. You have all been very helpfull. Thanks much. Richard

San Sebastian is worth 4 or 5 nights at least. I also agree with cruiseluv. Everything else looks good. Hopefully Robert will chime in too he knows a lot about that part of the world.

Egbert; As this will be our last trip to Spain, we want to see as much as possible with our 15 nights. We will leave Santillana early and have perhaps 2 1/2 days in San Sebastian. Thanks

'kja'; Stu Tower asked me to tell you hotelsandhighways.com in playing in DC on the 30th of this month. They will be at the Mansion on "O" street. We saw them last spring and met Stu's granddaughter. We really enjoyed the band.

Richard - thanks so much for passing on Stu's message! I'm marking it on my calendar now.

Any more suggestions? Thanks

If this is to be your last trip to Spain, I certainly would include Santiago de Compostela, if you haven't visited it yet.

Thanks Bedar; If we had another week, but with only 15 nights we had to make choices.

How your schedule fits in Santillana del Mar and leaves out Santiago de Compostela is baffling to me...specially given the "likes" you listed :-?

Viajero2; I chose a northerly route with our 15 nights. If we were to chose a westerly route with Santiago de Composteia, we would then have to leave out San Sebastion. WE will be driving. No arrangements have been made. I will look at an open jaw, Santiago and Madrid.

Don't mean to harp on your choices , but I wouldn't stay 2 nights in Santillana. I understand that you're planning to see other things around the town, but still...just wasn't so enamoured of the place and was glad I saw it as a brief day trip from Santander.

cruiseluv; Appreciate the suggestion. If we only did one night we would probably stay a second night in Segovia. We won't arrive until early evening and Segovia deserves a full day. So, while I am still thinking the northly route, I am looking at Viagero2's suggestion of Santiago de Composteia. I had reviewed the city and it looks like a great place to visit. So much to see anywhere north, east or west of Madrid.

You will not get any argument from me if you decide to tweak your trip to include Santiago, my favorite city in Spain!

I Live in Galicia and whilst I normally say visit this that and everything else in Galicia I do feel that this trip Galicia should not be planned in.
Besides there are much better places in Galicia than SdC. Puts tin hat on.
Have you thought about Soria. There are a huge amount of places that are worth a visit, and hardly anyone does.
http://www.sorianitelaimaginas.com/
There some fiestas held towards the end of September/beginning of October.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiestas...io_%28Soria%29

ribeirasacra; Thanks for your response. I now have decided that my first option will work with a few changes suggested by you and others. 1. Three nights is Salamanca with a short stop in Avila [We have been to Avila before]. 2. Three nights in Leon with a stop in Zamora. We will also do a full day trip to Oviedo from Leon by bus or train. 3. One night in Santillana del Mar. 4. Three nights in San Sebastion 5. Three nights in Burgos [will consider the suggestion of Soria and could do a day trip by bus or train.] and 6. Two nights in Segovia and we will find a stop or two on the way. That's how it looks but we are eleven months away from this trip. Things could change.

Looks more and more like a great plan!

marking for later

Thanks kimhe; Now I will start working on hotels. Everything will be then shared with our friends, We invited them, but will give then a LITTLE input. We have been to Southern Spain with these friends. Met them in Ireland in 98 and have been traveling with them ever since.

Use the bus or train?
I thought you had a car. hence my suggestion of Soria.
I was also thought you was looking for a stop over of several days. Whilst Soria is small and I feel you could see everything in one day, the area around deserves far more.
I do not know anything about bus and train timetables.
Maybe look them up on www.renfe.com and www.alsa.es
Then you can see if these trips can be fitted in a day, personally if you want and meaning to the visit rather than a tick box I doubt it.

Hi ribeirasacra; We do have a car. Rather than using the car from Burgos, we thought we could take a train or bus for a full day. We will be in Burgos three nights. If we could not find a convienent train or bus schedule, we could use the car. [We are doing the same thing from Leon, when visiting Oviedo.] I think there is so much to see wherever we stay, choices have to be made. Unfortunately, we can not see everything. But you have helped.

Started to research hotels. For Leon, it looks like the Parador de Leon. For Burgos, it looks like AC Hotel Burgos by Marriott. Any thoughts?

I don't know if things have changed in the Parador in Leon, but when I was there in 2004 I was strongly advised by Maribel not to stay in the old part unless I was staying in one of the superior rooms or suites. Apparently the standard rooms in that section where dark, small and depressing. We stayed in the newer section and were happy with our accommodations. It's a very impressive building and we enjoyed staying there but I'm planning to stay at the NH hotel which is in front of the Cathedral. It takes about 15- 20 mins to walk from the Parador to the town center. In Burgos stayed at the NH Palacio de la Merced and liked it a lot. The AC looked nice from the outside.

cruiseluv; Thanks for the suggestion on the Parador in Leon. Love the building and will stay there. In Burgos, I had looked at the Merced and will stay there or at the AC. Richard P.S Seems like two decisions made and four to go for hotels. However, I will consult with our friends, but they usually agree with my suggestions.

BOOKMARK

For Segovia I am looking at Hotel San Antonio el Real. Any thoughts?