Hello all, I just found this website a few days ago and am finding the information here extremely helpful.
I’m planning our family trip to Spain and Portugal for late June and July, 20 nights in all. Our daughter is graduating HS so I promised her a trip somewhere before she goes away to college. My wife and I haven't been to Europe in 20 years so I am sure things have changed a lot.
Here is what I have come up with so far. 2nt Granada, 2nts Seville, 1nt Evora, 3nts Lisbon, 1nt Nazare, 2nts Porto, 1 in the Douro Valley, 4 Madrid, 1nt Burgos and our last 3 in San Sebastian. I had thought about going to Alarve instead of San Sebastian but I have read mixed reviews. We stayed in Biarritz 20 years ago and briefly passed through San Sebastian on our way to Bilbao, it looked like a great place to stay. My wife and I have already been to Seville and Madrid but I can't image missing them especially since our daughter hasn't been there before. I know this is a lot of moving around in three weeks but that’s nothing compared to our trip in the 1985 when we covered France, Italy and Spain in the same time and slept in 13 cities. I'm trying to slow down. I plan to have a car for most of the time. I'm thinking of skipping Burgos and fly or bus to San Sebastian from Madrid, that way I can give up the car when we arrive in Madrid. Then I can add a day in Portugal. In the past we traveled without reservations and stayed as long as we wanted. I'm not sure if that will work now as we will be traveling during the high season and times may have changed. I'm looking for suggestions about my itinerary and any other suggestions you may have. Thanks Ken
Posts: 12 | Location: Alamo, California | Registered: 20 January 2007
Hi How nice to see someone from across the pond who doesn't mean to see all of Spain and Portugal in a single trip! However I have to start by adding to your list. Córdoba is probably my favourite Spanish city and I really thin if you are going to Granada and Sevilla, you should try to fit it in.
I think you are right to drop Burgos as it would add considerably to your alternative. I haven't been to San Sebastian and I believe it's quite a place but are you sure you want to go from the Douro Valley to Madrid without a glance at Zamora, [a much under-rated city in my view,] Salamanca, Segovia and Ávila. You certainly have it right in trying to restrict your journey to one that allows you to enjoy it but I do think a further thought might help.
Either way I know you will enjoy it and so will your daughter. All the best, David
Thanks David, I will drop Burgos and add a night in Cordoba. I had planned to see Segovia on day trip out of Madrid. Now I am undecided about San Sebastian maybe we can stay two days in Tavira and two days in Salema instead. All of this will add another day but that would add more fun. As I mentioned before we spent a few days in Biarritz and maybe San Sebastian is similiar.
I like a lazy beach town atmosphere, Tavira and Salema might be just what I'm looking for. Back in 1985 we stay in Almeria and enjoyed it very much. Then onto Malaga, boy was that a zoo. You could hardly walk the beach without fear of stepping on someone.
I appreciate you suggestions about Zamora, Salamanca and Ávila but that would take some time out our beloved city Madrid.
Posts: 12 | Location: Alamo, California | Registered: 20 January 2007
in my opinion being from there your travel is doable if a bit fast travel. i agree based on your itinerary that Burgos should be drop and since you already around Granada and Sevilla why not add it to Cordoba.good choice. San Sebastian is great you will be please to visit it. I am glad you said Madrid is your beloved city. It is mine too; lived there back in the '70's and make my pilgrimage there every year since. From Madrid you can go easily to Toledo,Segovia(visit la Granja mini versailles just near segovia), Alcala de Henares, Aranjuez and Avila; see these cities in detail with guides and if you have more questions feel free to post again. Buen viaje en España!
pedmar My last decision is San Sebastian or Algarve, I haven't been to either. Obviously Algarve is easier to do as it fits our route nicely and less expensive. What would you do? thanks Ken
Posts: 12 | Location: Alamo, California | Registered: 20 January 2007
I can't help with this as I've not been to San Sebastian and only for a short time to Tavira [I liked it!]
Just an extra few words about Córdoba, as you've decided to see it anyway. Obviously you will go to the Great Mosque [Mezquita] It would be mad not to and I experienced as much pleasure at my fourth visit as at my first.
It's also almost certain that you will have a wander round the Juderia and by the old bridge and that is fine in the dark. I think most people would put the Alcázar of the Christian Kings next but it wouldn't be in my next two choices. These would be 1. The archaeological site of Medina Azahara [various spellings] 2. The Archaeology Museum in the city itself. Cheers. David
Kenr, having been to both and even thus biased (my older boy godfather is from the algarve -Faro) I say you will get more out of San Sebastian (donostia in basque) unless you like the sunny beach town atmosphere and nothing else. San Sebastian will be sunny and beachy at your time but has more live to it with beautiful sites like the mont Igueldo for views over the ocean and attraction park.or mont Urgull, another hills with great views and a museum of military history.
So in my opinion San Sebastian is better. Now its up to you...
I have decided on San Sebastian. Now my trip has changed here is what I have so far. Granada 2x Ronda 1x Seville 3x trip day trip to Cordoba Evora 1x Lisbon 3x Caceres 1x Salamanca 1x Llanes 2x Santillana de Mar 1x San Sebastian 3x Madrid 3x
I got the help of a local travel agency in Spain. They recommended substiting Nazare, Porto and Douro and adding Caceres, Salamanca, Llanes and Santillana de Mar. Any comments on those cities? thanks
Posts: 12 | Location: Alamo, California | Registered: 20 January 2007
good travel agent in my opinion. Caceres is a World heritage site with history of extramudurian conquistadors to America. Salamanca is in a class by itself with a beautiful plaza mayor and cathedral and university. Llanes is a nice beach town just landcaping from the mountains of Sierra de cuera and Santillana del Mar glorious beach town on the cantabrian sea to the west of Santander; popular beach with spaniards, and near Spain most famous caves at Cuevas de Altamira from prehistoric times.
ok hotels ahh; well i usually either travel with the French chain ACCOR (sofitel,novotel,mercure,ibis) or stay with family and friends;sometimes i splurge as we are 5:sometime overbearing even in the best of family to cramps us in.
in Granada i have stay at Los Jeronimos, gran capitan tel +34 958 294 461 near the Real monastery of San Jeronimo Ronda, always try daytrip never stay in hotels Seville, i have stay (other than accor hotels of course) Tryp Colon, canalejas tel +34 954 222 900 part of the Melia chain of hotels in Spain. Lisbon i stay at the Mercure Lisboa jose Malhoa in the city center very near all. av jose malhoa 1684 Tel +351 21/7208000 Fax : +351 21/7208089 E-mail : h3346@accor.com in Caceres, i have taken day trips for eating and see the sites in city center but anything from Melia in Spain is very good Salamanca, i have stayed at Don Juan, quintana 6 tel +34 923 261 473 its a national artistic monument next to plaza mayor city center. Llanes no hotels that i know there Santillana del mar, yesss take the Altamira, Canton 1 tel +34 942 818 025. 16 century palace of the Valdiviesos lord of the area; and it snot expensive less than 100 euros per night!! San Sebastian, cant beat the view from the top of mont Igueldo at mercure monte igueldo Paseo del faro 134 tel + 34 943 210 211 (accor chain)
Madrid , well sometimes i stay at hostal la plata when i go too often with the whole gang. gran via, 15 tel +34 915 211 725 email: reservas1@hostal-laplata.com; they like to reserve by email and will ask you for credit card;its ok they are very reliable friend :the owner ask for Sr Garrido. the place its renovated belle epoque style.
Slow Travel Talk 
