Trip around Spain
Dec 5th, 2013, 01:51 AM
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Trip around Spain
Hi,
Im planning a trip around Spain, starting in February for my gap year. I want to get a flgiht from the UK to Seville, then visit Granada and Cordoba before going back to Seville. Then I want to get a domestic flight to Barcelona and then the train to Madrid. I want to stay in each city for a few days-basically this part of the trip should take 3 weeks up to a month.
At this point, depending on how much money I have, I may get a train to Salamanca and then Leon in order to do the Camino de Santiago where I will fly home, or I will just fly back from Madrid if I am out of money.
I have some questions though if anyone could help me:
1. Firstly, does this seem like a good plan? I want to see a lot of Spain but also have time to take in each place.
2. What would be the best way in terms of transport? I have looked at the renfe train pass, but it is quite expensive and I think it is probably cheaper to buy individual tickets. Does seville to Barcelona count as 1 journey on the renfe pass? Or is a flight better? Any thoughts would be appreciated hahah!
3. In terms of accomodation, I am thinking of doing a mixture of staying in hostels and couchsurfing. Has anyone done either of these? Is it very important to book far in advance or can you just turn up to a hostel and get a bed?
Thank you and I apologise for the length of this post and the number of questions! But I would love any help or thoughts about my trip!
Emile
Im planning a trip around Spain, starting in February for my gap year. I want to get a flgiht from the UK to Seville, then visit Granada and Cordoba before going back to Seville. Then I want to get a domestic flight to Barcelona and then the train to Madrid. I want to stay in each city for a few days-basically this part of the trip should take 3 weeks up to a month.
At this point, depending on how much money I have, I may get a train to Salamanca and then Leon in order to do the Camino de Santiago where I will fly home, or I will just fly back from Madrid if I am out of money.
I have some questions though if anyone could help me:
1. Firstly, does this seem like a good plan? I want to see a lot of Spain but also have time to take in each place.
2. What would be the best way in terms of transport? I have looked at the renfe train pass, but it is quite expensive and I think it is probably cheaper to buy individual tickets. Does seville to Barcelona count as 1 journey on the renfe pass? Or is a flight better? Any thoughts would be appreciated hahah!
3. In terms of accomodation, I am thinking of doing a mixture of staying in hostels and couchsurfing. Has anyone done either of these? Is it very important to book far in advance or can you just turn up to a hostel and get a bed?
Thank you and I apologise for the length of this post and the number of questions! But I would love any help or thoughts about my trip!
Emile
Dec 5th, 2013, 10:29 AM
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You'll need a lot more time to cover the ground then what you're currently looking at.
If you plan ahead, then booking individual trains (promo fares) will be less expensive, but you have to maintain your schedule. Miss a train and you loose out. If flying, you have to consider the time spent at the airport. Are you comfortable speaking Spanish?
Overall, February would not be an ideal time to do this trip, especially if you are planning on 'couch surfing' and including walking part of the Camino. It will be rather chilly and wet in the north and can be very cold everywhere else in Spain.
Turning up at a hostel in the dead of winter looking for a bed shouldn't be a problem. You'll probably be one of the only ones in residence.
If you plan ahead, then booking individual trains (promo fares) will be less expensive, but you have to maintain your schedule. Miss a train and you loose out. If flying, you have to consider the time spent at the airport. Are you comfortable speaking Spanish?
Overall, February would not be an ideal time to do this trip, especially if you are planning on 'couch surfing' and including walking part of the Camino. It will be rather chilly and wet in the north and can be very cold everywhere else in Spain.
Turning up at a hostel in the dead of winter looking for a bed shouldn't be a problem. You'll probably be one of the only ones in residence.
Dec 5th, 2013, 10:44 AM
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How much total time do you have? Three weeks to a month for the first part is O.K. Obviously you will not be able to see everything, but you should have time to see quite a bit and also relax.
As to the Camino, it appears to take 15 to 16 days to walk from Leon to Santiago. There are hostels quite regularly.
As to the Camino, it appears to take 15 to 16 days to walk from Leon to Santiago. There are hostels quite regularly.
Dec 5th, 2013, 11:20 AM
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You’re concerned about the budget, so follow a more logical geographical route: Barcelona - Sevilla - Cordoba - Granada - Madrid. Why? Because trains from Granada (or Sevilla or Cordoba) to Salamanca or to Leon only go via a change in Madrid. So whether you can still afford to go there after Andalucia, or whether you simply end your journey in Madrid, this make the most sense.
The train from Barcelona to Sevilla only takes five and a half hours, I see adult fare of 35 Euros - see www.renfe.com. That’s probably cheaper than the cheapest flights, and no slower when you count the airport trip etc.
You can see Cordoba in a day, in transit from Sevilla to Granada - leave Sevilla early, like on the 07:45 train that arrives at 09:04. Fare can be as little as 9 Euros, probably cheaper than the coach - see www.alsa.es. Visit the Mezquita and stroll a bit of the old town. It gets dark early, before 5PM, so make your way to Granada that evening.
Reserve your spot at the Alhambra online and long in advance, even in winter. You get assigned a narrow time window to enter the palace inside the main grounds, but you can stroll the grounds before and after that time window. Take along the exact same credit card you used to book online, as ID only, to have the ticket printed out on the spot.
You may qualify for a youth fare on trains (usually up to age 26).
As to how to book your flight home, I don’t know what to recommend - probably best from Madrid in case you get no further? Up to you.
The train from Barcelona to Sevilla only takes five and a half hours, I see adult fare of 35 Euros - see www.renfe.com. That’s probably cheaper than the cheapest flights, and no slower when you count the airport trip etc.
You can see Cordoba in a day, in transit from Sevilla to Granada - leave Sevilla early, like on the 07:45 train that arrives at 09:04. Fare can be as little as 9 Euros, probably cheaper than the coach - see www.alsa.es. Visit the Mezquita and stroll a bit of the old town. It gets dark early, before 5PM, so make your way to Granada that evening.
Reserve your spot at the Alhambra online and long in advance, even in winter. You get assigned a narrow time window to enter the palace inside the main grounds, but you can stroll the grounds before and after that time window. Take along the exact same credit card you used to book online, as ID only, to have the ticket printed out on the spot.
You may qualify for a youth fare on trains (usually up to age 26).
As to how to book your flight home, I don’t know what to recommend - probably best from Madrid in case you get no further? Up to you.
Dec 5th, 2013, 05:05 PM
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You might want to search this board for threads on Spain -- there are quite a few, and the planning threads might prove especially useful to you since they cover various views of how much time to spend in various places. I would also recommend that you get at least one (if not more) really good guidebooks. The Lonely Planet and Rough Guide are, IME, generally quite good for budget travel options, transportation, etc. You might want to look at a few in your local bookstore first.
Like others, I'm confused about how much time you actually have for travel, so it might be helpful to clarify that. FWIW, although it depends on your interests, I think it is not unreasonable to say that having time to see a bit of the places you visit would mean about 1.5 weeks (or more!) in any given region -- central Spain (Madrid +), Andalusia, Barcelona and surrounds, the north, etc.
Like others, I'm confused about how much time you actually have for travel, so it might be helpful to clarify that. FWIW, although it depends on your interests, I think it is not unreasonable to say that having time to see a bit of the places you visit would mean about 1.5 weeks (or more!) in any given region -- central Spain (Madrid +), Andalusia, Barcelona and surrounds, the north, etc.
Dec 5th, 2013, 11:13 PM
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Cheap flights to and from the UK can be found on.
http://www.skyscanner.net/
Information about all of the Camino routes can be found on this forum.
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/
Accommodation :
http://www.helpx.net/
https://www.couchsurfing.org/
http://www.booking.com/
How to book the trains in Spain, thus getting cheaper deals.
http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#.UqGG--Kri8A
http://www.skyscanner.net/
Information about all of the Camino routes can be found on this forum.
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/
Accommodation :
http://www.helpx.net/
https://www.couchsurfing.org/
http://www.booking.com/
How to book the trains in Spain, thus getting cheaper deals.
http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#.UqGG--Kri8A
Dec 6th, 2013, 04:54 AM
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Your itinerary is a bit all over the place and does have some backtracking you need to avoid. Flying out South and working your way up seems to me better, i.e. explore Andalucia (Seville, Granada, Cordova), then bus/train to Madrid and then bus/train/flight to Barcelona. Once in Barcelona decide what/where else can you afford to go. Barcelona's transportation systems are very well connected with all of Spain, and also flights to the UK, so makes your options more plausible. Do NOT discard the ALSA Bus system with incredible value, very clean, comfortable, safe, and reliable. I have taken them many times from the Barajas Airport (Terminal 4) to Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon. Cheap, no complaints. I have also taken the bus from Barcelona to Pamplona (20 Euros). You can start the Camino from there, which is from where many pilgrims start the Camino (Frances) if walking in the winter. (I just came back from the Camino!). You can get the Pilgrim's Credential at the Cathedral or Office of Pilgrim in Pamplona which will allow you to stay at the albergues (average 5 Euros/night or donativo). You would also start your Camino with other pilgrims; there is safety in numbers when it comes to walking the Camino in the winter. I do not mean to discourage you by stating that every winter we learn of pilgrims who lose their lives due to many factors including hypothermia, etc. A word to prepare, that's all.
Please let us know your planning progress.
Please let us know your planning progress.
