We are landing at Barajas Airport, Madrid and planning to rent a car for two days to go visit Segovia/Avila. We will be staying at the Hotel Infante Isabel.
We are renting a car at the airport and currently have plans to return it to the airport, then to take a taxi in to Madrid. An alternative is to drop the car off at Segovia and take the AVE train from Segovia to Madrid. Thoughts?
Also, would love any suggestions for "must sees" besides the Alcazar and the Aqueduct and of course, restaurant suggestions in the area.

Thank you.

How much time will you have overall?
Can you break down the # of days/cities?

You can browse through the many excellent Spain trip reports here (many of which include Segovia) for ideas:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...tripreport.cfm

I have stayed at the Infanta Isabell twice--love the location and the ambiance. There is a security gate now that stops you just before the Plaza Mayor---you have to tell them that you are a hotel guest. See Maribels guides for more about Segovia and places to eat. Here is a sneak preview for you:
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4290

Enjoyed bobthenavigator's photos. I was surprised that Susan has on a jacket in May, so I am wondering what to expect for late November.

I visited Segovia as a day trip this past March. We had lunch at Casa/ Mesón Duque
http://www.restauranteduque.es/

It was delicious! Their specialty is the cochinillo, but ono person in the group had flounder and also liked it a lot . And the desserts were out of this world! I highly recommend it.

Cochinillo is specialty of the region. If it is done right the pig will be cut with a plate before cut into serving portions.

FWIW, I was watching "Spain - On the Road Again" show on PBS and caught the episode where they were in Segovia. They ate at Meson de Candido and the waiter did cut the pig with a plate. (I also ate there for lunch last year, and it was delicious.)
http://www.mesondecandido.es/

Amsdon,

We will pick up the car about about 3 pm at the airport and currently have it for 48 hours. We have two nights booked in Segovia. Everything else is flexible during this period.

Maribel's trip reports and great and thanks for all the suggestions. Still interested in thoughts about whether we should drop the car off in Segovia and take the train into Madrid or drop the car off at the airport.

Thanks!
Flying away

Oh my, the infamous red jacket in Spain in May--IT SET RECORDS FOR RAINFALL THAT MAY--HENCE THE JACKET.

There is alot to see in Segovia
Check out the part that says "what to see" on the English pages http://www.turismodesegovia.com/cont...sp?id=49&ban=1

If you are not in a huge hurry, keep the car & take a drive through Segovia province. You could drive back & stop at the other castle, La Granja de Ildefonso which we enjoyed alot. We did the reverse, Madrid to La Granja to Segovia, but it can be reversed just as easily. We went to Pedraza as well. Next time we get a chace we want to go to some of the other areas mentioned in Maribel's guides.

We also loved the Infanta Isabel. It was 5/07 & it was indeed somewhat cool & drizzly. At that same time in Madrid it was unseasonalbly hot & in the 80s/90s!, so be ready for anything.

At the Infanta Isabel we had breakfast every day in the very small cafe downstairs. We did not realize that the price included eggs & other things made to order. The first day we just enjoyed the small selection of yummy breads & breakfast cakes & pastry with coffee. But the next day we learned that you could order eggs and ham or whatever for the same price. I do not know if this is still the case but be sure to ask as it makes a big difference in the value.

And of course ask for a room facing the plaza.

We also had dinner at Candido like many other Fodorites.
I also highly recommend Narizotas which has a more varied & lighter menu. The menu ws great, fish, lamb, pork all sorts of specialties, I think we had a late lunch there
http://www.narizotas.net/

Lastly, be aware that many (not all) of the shops in Segovia close for siesta between 2-5ish.

Whoops, I just realized we did not dine at Candido rather at Jose Maria. There was alot of deliberation on which would be better. But we did indeed lunch at Narizotas and that I am sure of.

Sorry for the confusion. If you every read my agonizingly long & rambling trip report you will figure it out. Dining played a huge part in our experience in Spain

flyingaway,
I agree with amsdon regarding keeping the rental car to make a stop on the way back to Barajas airport either at the Bourbon Palace of La Granja, in medieval Pedraza or the spectacular Duratón gorge (best seen from the Hermitage of San Frutos-follow the driving directions from Sepúlveda in my Segovia guide), so that you can see a bit more of the province.

There's lots and lots to see in the province of Segovia.

I've had great meals in all the big 3 competitors, hornos de asar, in Segovia. I think it comes down to which type of ambiance pleases you more and which best fits your pocketbook. The product, cochinillo (or in Segovia called tostón), is basically the same and the preparation virtually identical.

All of the 3 hornos de asar, Cándido, Duque and José María in the city serve roast lamb as well, along with great ponche segoviano for dessert.

Beejie,
When we've visited in late November, we've wrapped up. It can get quite chilly and can even snow.

Maribel I still want to get to Meson Gonzales to dine int the kitchen of the butcher....have you returned?

Hi amsdon,
No, we haven't returned yet because on our last Segovia province adventure we wanted to take our friends to Tinín in Sepúlveda proceeded by a trip down to the Hermitage of San Frutos so that they could see the magnificent gran cañon, the Duratón gorge.

I'm trying now to figure out when we'll have time to dine in the butcher shop this winter. During high season, they open up the dining room in their hostal. Because we went in Nov., we got to partake of our lechazo in the butcher shop kitchen annex. Then we had one glass too many of their complimentary digestif, their homemade licor de hierbas and almost didn't make it back in the pitch darkness to our cute posada in "blip-of-the-road" Sebúlcor. Quite the adventure!

Fun Fun Fun ! I know that has a definate kick to it.
Well next time you could always stay in one of their little rooms. I wish we were going there soon, but as you know we are headed for the south, so no complaints.