Wiser husband has modified his itinerary for Spain and Portugal - Comments?
Nov 11th, 2003, 07:34 AM
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Wiser husband has modified his itinerary for Spain and Portugal - Comments?
Hello to everyone - thank you all so much for the great information you have already provided. My itinerary has shifted a bit due to all the great feedback I have received. It will be busy still, but we like to see lots of different things and expect to come back to Spain soon after getting the teaser in about 6 months. The itinerary is as follows with my questions following:
May 28 - Madrid for a full day
May 29 - Madrid for a second full day
May 30 - Toledo for a day
May 31-June 3 - Seville for 4 romantic days
June 4-11 - Portugal (Algarve) for relax
June 12 - back to Madrid to fly home
Questions:
1.) which hotel should we stay while in Madrid. We have a top budget of 100 Euros per night. We value location and charm most, as we want it to feel like Europe and like to walk most everywhere - Hotel Preciados, Hotel Europa, Hotel Emperatriz, other?
2.) would you spend more than one day and night in Toledo and is the Hostal del Cardenal worth the money?
3.) where to stay in Seville - Hotel Becquer or Hotel Amadeus or other?
4.) how would you travel from Madrid to Toledo and then from Toledo to Seville - train or rent a one-way car rental from Madrid to Toledo to Seville, dropping off in Seville
5.) where to eat, where to eat, where to eat?
6.) I understand that the invaluable Maribel has files available that would be most helpful for someone like me trying to plan his first trip to Spain - any idea on how to get them?
7.) Any other advice, suggestions, helpful tips, opinions, constructive criticism, etc?
Thank you to everyone for your help!
May 28 - Madrid for a full day
May 29 - Madrid for a second full day
May 30 - Toledo for a day
May 31-June 3 - Seville for 4 romantic days
June 4-11 - Portugal (Algarve) for relax
June 12 - back to Madrid to fly home
Questions:
1.) which hotel should we stay while in Madrid. We have a top budget of 100 Euros per night. We value location and charm most, as we want it to feel like Europe and like to walk most everywhere - Hotel Preciados, Hotel Europa, Hotel Emperatriz, other?
2.) would you spend more than one day and night in Toledo and is the Hostal del Cardenal worth the money?
3.) where to stay in Seville - Hotel Becquer or Hotel Amadeus or other?
4.) how would you travel from Madrid to Toledo and then from Toledo to Seville - train or rent a one-way car rental from Madrid to Toledo to Seville, dropping off in Seville
5.) where to eat, where to eat, where to eat?
6.) I understand that the invaluable Maribel has files available that would be most helpful for someone like me trying to plan his first trip to Spain - any idea on how to get them?
7.) Any other advice, suggestions, helpful tips, opinions, constructive criticism, etc?
Thank you to everyone for your help!
Nov 11th, 2003, 10:03 AM
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I replied to your original post, but you replied at exactly the same time I was posting, and I don't know if you might have missed it. In there (sorry for the extreme length), I recommend the Dona Maria hotel in Sevilla. The website is http://www.hdmaria.com/ - I stayed here and the location is perfect, it's full of charm, and very reasonably priced. 2003 prices for a double standard with bath are a little over your limit at 123 E/night, but it is definitely worth it... There is a beautiful pool and terrace bar on the rooftop, overlooking the Catedral and much of Sevilla, and a courtyard through the center of the building... Highly recommended. As for food in Sevilla, there are a number of great tapas bars in the neighborhood of this hotel (right by the Catedral) - walk into just about any of them and you can't go wrong.
Nov 12th, 2003, 02:06 AM
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You're getting close; but you will miss the Feria del Campo and Romeria de la Virgen del Rocio by just a bit. It's a pilgrimage to el Santuario de la Virgen del Rocio that ends on Pentecost Sunday (May 30). The Santuario is located on the west edge of the Donana reserve in the Province of Huelva (about 80km from Sevilla). The people go by horseback, by pony cart or on foot, dressed in Rocieras (ladies) and Trajes Cordobeses (men), singing and playing guitars, etc. as they go. You can figure on close to a million people making the pilgrimage that weekend.
You may see a capsule report about it on Andalucia TVE Monday evening (31 May).
You didn't say how you will be travelling between Sevilla and Portugal.
You may see a capsule report about it on Andalucia TVE Monday evening (31 May).
You didn't say how you will be travelling between Sevilla and Portugal.
Nov 12th, 2003, 01:30 PM
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Thank you for your advice and comments. In response to a question - my intention is to travel from Seville to the Algarve by car that we will rent for a week so we have it with us during our stay in the Algarve.
The bigger question is how to get from Madrid to Toledo and then to Seville. I have read much on the value of taking the AVE, but does it only originate out of Madrid, and would I therefore have to back track from Toledo back to Madrid in order to get to Seville (seems a bit inefficient and costly). What advice can anyone offer on how best to travel from Madrid to Toledo and then on to Seville - I do understand that we do not want a car once landing at Seville, but is there any value in renting one on our way out of Madrid to get us to Toledo and Seville?
The bigger question is how to get from Madrid to Toledo and then to Seville. I have read much on the value of taking the AVE, but does it only originate out of Madrid, and would I therefore have to back track from Toledo back to Madrid in order to get to Seville (seems a bit inefficient and costly). What advice can anyone offer on how best to travel from Madrid to Toledo and then on to Seville - I do understand that we do not want a car once landing at Seville, but is there any value in renting one on our way out of Madrid to get us to Toledo and Seville?
Nov 12th, 2003, 04:10 PM
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Hi "wise husband",
I've just sent you an email with my (loooong
)
thoughts on your wonderful trip and this draft of your itinerary, plus the other info you requested. If you have further questions, I'll be glad to respond via return mail.
Regards,
Maribel
I've just sent you an email with my (loooong
)thoughts on your wonderful trip and this draft of your itinerary, plus the other info you requested. If you have further questions, I'll be glad to respond via return mail.
Regards,
Maribel
Nov 18th, 2003, 02:55 AM
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Hi - Driving from Madrid to Sevilla will take around six hours or more with stops, while AVE will get you there in three hours! Why don't you take a day trip to Toledo with one of the tours from Madrid? Or even if you want to be there overnight, you can still come back the next day. The AVE is very efficent, & worth coming back to madrid for. Even if you drive, you do lose one whole day!
Instead of spending four days in Seville, spend atleast one night in Granada to see the Alhambra. This was the hightlight of our trip.It truly is fabulous. If you find the parador there fully booked, there is the wonderful Alhambra palace hotel which is truly special, with wonderful views of the city. From Seville there is a direct train to Granada & the ride itself is very scenic. The scenery here is hilly & hence diffrent. Granada is not to be missed!
Instead of spending four days in Seville, spend atleast one night in Granada to see the Alhambra. This was the hightlight of our trip.It truly is fabulous. If you find the parador there fully booked, there is the wonderful Alhambra palace hotel which is truly special, with wonderful views of the city. From Seville there is a direct train to Granada & the ride itself is very scenic. The scenery here is hilly & hence diffrent. Granada is not to be missed!
Nov 19th, 2003, 08:01 PM
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We stayed at the Catalonia Moratin in Madrid last month - it was about 95 Euros per night (special "promotional rate" via travel-in-spain.com).
It is a nice, new hotel on Calle Atocha and it's very close to the Museums, Plaza Mayor etc. We walked everywhere without a problem, and the room was very nice. We'd definitely stay there again!
It is a nice, new hotel on Calle Atocha and it's very close to the Museums, Plaza Mayor etc. We walked everywhere without a problem, and the room was very nice. We'd definitely stay there again!
