Thoughts on our trip to southern Spain?

[Deleted]

This is very preliminary but we're planning on going from Spain before Memorial Day. We would leave on Thursday 5/17 (so arrive on Friday) and then stay until Memorial Day (Monday the 27th). That would give us 10 days to do stuff (and one day of travel on the 27th).

We were thinking of going to Madrid, Seville, and Granada.

Is that doable in the amount of time we'll have? Are those three cities you'd recommend seeing? How would you allocate your time between the three? Would adding a day trip to Cordoba at some point be too much?

Thanks so much!

[frlcb]

Nov 18, 2012 14:23:10 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Also, make sure you check the temperatures for Spain (especially Seville/Cordoba/Granada) during your planned travel time. A month later (we were in that region June 21-27) they were hovering in the 105-108 degree range and it was pretty miserable. I would only go back to that area when temperatures were below 90 - otherwise it's just too blasted hot to walk around.

Toledo is a great trip from Madrid.

Also, we have been to Spain many, many times and one time we were there at the end of May and the hotel was so hot and they said that hotels typically don't turn on the a/c until June 1, so be prepared in case that is true for your hotel. It can be hot that time of year.

[gracie2762]

Ditto pps. I would only spend a day in Granada. The Alhambra is amazing but there's not much else to see there. Toledo and Cordoba are also beautiful day trips. I personally liked Seville more than Madrid so I would try to stay there longer.

[frlcb]

Leon is a cool city as well. I have to say that one of my favorite parts of Spain is the Galicia region, A Coruna, Pontevedra, and Santiago de Compostela, and it is near Portugal, not far from Porto, which is a great city.

Check out the paradors wherever you go, they are luxury hotels in historic buildings (castles, monasteries, convents, fortresses, etc) and they are always awesome! www.paradores-spain.com/

[anna7602]

Ditto pps- end of May in Seville is hot. I've lived there that time year and traveled back to Seville that time of year as well. However, Madrid is lovely in May and you'll be getting there just in the middle of the San Isidro celebrations (they kick off on May 15th- if this kind of thing interests you at all).

We spent two weeks in the south of Spain around that same time of year about 5 or 6 years ago. As I said, Seville was very hot already, but Granada and the foothill towns in the Alpujarras were quite pleasant (higher elevation). We also traveled through a bunch of small towns in the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga. My favorites were Grazalema and the town just south of Granada where the Las Chimeneas guest house was. I found this link to information about it:

alpujarra-tours.com/

It is one of my favorite places I've ever stayed.

Alternately, if you're not tied to the idea of going south (although I do love Andalucia), the north of Spain is great that time of year. I've been to both Santiago and Barcelona in May and the weather has been perfect.

[Deleted]

Thanks so much for all the information everyone!

This is what I'm thinking right now:

Fly from NY to Madrid on Thursday, arriving Friday.

Stay in Madrid from Friday to Tuesday morning (3.5 days, 4 nights)

Tuesday morning take train to Granada. Stay in Granada from Tuesday to Thursday (1.5 days, 2 nights)

Thursday morning, take train to Sevilla. Stay in Sevilla from Thursday to Monday (3.5 days, 4 nights). Take day trip to Cordoba while there.

Does that sound about right to you?

Also, looking at flights, there are lots of direct flights from NY to Madrid but none really from Sevilla to NY, so we'd probably end up connecting in Madrid. Flights from Sevilla --> Madrid --> NY are $80 more expensive and 3 hours longer than the Madrid --> NY segment on its own. But in that case, flying from Sevilla to Madrid to connect to NY is a no-brainer compared to taking a train for that leg of the journey, right?

[anna7602]

Nov 19, 2012 12:52:26 GMT -5 v said:

Also, looking at flights, there are lots of direct flights from NY to Madrid but none really from Sevilla to NY, so we'd probably end up connecting in Madrid. Flights from Sevilla --> Madrid --> NY are $80 more expensive and 3 hours longer than the Madrid --> NY segment on its own. But in that case, flying from Sevilla to Madrid to connect to NY is a no-brainer compared to taking a train for that leg of the journey, right?

Would you be flying on the same airline and checking your bags through?

[litasail]

Nov 19, 2012 12:52:26 GMT -5 v said:

Thanks so much for all the information everyone!

This is what I'm thinking right now:

Fly from NY to Madrid on Thursday, arriving Friday.

Stay in Madrid from Friday to Tuesday morning (3.5 days, 4 nights)

Tuesday morning take train to Granada. Stay in Granada from Tuesday to Thursday (1.5 days, 2 nights)

Thursday morning, take train to Sevilla. Stay in Sevilla from Thursday to Monday (3.5 days, 4 nights). Take day trip to Cordoba while there.

Does that sound about right to you?

Also, looking at flights, there are lots of direct flights from NY to Madrid but none really from Sevilla to NY, so we'd probably end up connecting in Madrid. Flights from Sevilla --> Madrid --> NY are $80 more expensive and 3 hours longer than the Madrid --> NY segment on its own. But in that case, flying from Sevilla to Madrid to connect to NY is a no-brainer compared to taking a train for that leg of the journey, right?

I think this sounds like the perfect balance. We went last year and I have an email of tips and tricks that I've put together. I'll PM it to you.

[Deleted]

Nov 19, 2012 12:54:30 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Would you be flying on the same airline and checking your bags through?

MAD --> JFK would be an Iberia/AA/BA codeshare, while the SBQ --> MAD leg would be Iberia Operated by Compania Operadora DE Corto Y Medio. So am I right in thinking that's a yes? (I've actually never connected internationally!)

[anna7602]

Nov 19, 2012 13:45:28 GMT -5 v said:

Nov 19, 2012 12:54:30 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Would you be flying on the same airline and checking your bags through?

MAD --> JFK would be an Iberia/AA/BA codeshare, while the SBQ --> MAD leg would be Iberia Operated by Compania Operadora DE Corto Y Medio. So am I right in thinking that's a yes? (I've actually never connected internationally!)

As long as it's operated by Iberia, I would think you're fine. But you could call them just to make sure.

The main reason I was asking was that cheap European airlines are super strict about baggage. It would be a pain anyway to have to claim your bags in Madrid before you board your US-bound flight, but even more annoying if you had to pay 50 Euros just to get those bags to Madrid.

On a semi-related note, there's lots of good shopping in Madrid Barajas airport if you're in the right terminal. There's even an outpost of the mega-department store El Corte Ingles.

Also, it's very, very easy to get to the Seville airport from the center of town, via cab or public bus.

[librarygirl]

Nov 19, 2012 13:45:28 GMT -5 v said:

Nov 19, 2012 12:54:30 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Would you be flying on the same airline and checking your bags through?

MAD --> JFK would be an Iberia/AA/BA codeshare, while the SBQ --> MAD leg would be Iberia Operated by Compania Operadora DE Corto Y Medio. So am I right in thinking that's a yes? (I've actually never connected internationally!)

I flew from JFK to Seville with a connection in Madrid, all on Iberia. The flight itself was around an hour if I remember from Madrid to Seville. Not too bad considering.

Nothing new to add but yes May in Andalusia is abysmal! I was wrapping up my semester abroad by the end of May and the temperatures were horrendously brutal (daily highs over 100 degrees F). A/C is becoming more common in the larger/more deluxe hotels but I was living with a local family and had to do without. I did escape to the movies quite often since the theaters are air conditioned.

Cordoba as a day trip is perfect especially if you're based in Sevilla (I think Sevilla is superior to Cordoba and Granada personally). The AVE does go there and perhaps that's what a pp meant when she said train tickets were very $$$ although the normal train and buses do go there as well for a lot cheaper.

[justthetip]

I would recommend a day trip (or even short overnight) trip to Toledo while you're in Madrid. It's one of my favorite places in Spain, but I'm kind of partial to smaller towns. I also loved Cordova.