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Best Place for Home Base in Andalusia, Spain

Hi,
I'm taking my 18 year old daughter to Spain in July 2018 after she graduates high school. I'm going to do a home exchange and looking for a good location as a home base that we can settle in for about 8-10 days. We don't necessarily want to be in a large city, but more of a medium town, that has an old village type of feel to it, quaint and picturesque, but still has plenty to do both day and night and good for walking etc..
We also want to be able to be in an area where we can take day trips easily to other areas (hill top white villages, beach, city etc..),
Thanks!

Posted by
7942 posts

Years ago we were based just outside of Malaga, which was too far south, but we got a good deal on lodging, so we drove a lot every day to visit towns for the day.

The wonderful town Ronda was one place we visited, and it's one of Rick Steves' "back doors," and would be my pick if we did it again.

Posted by
3 posts

I've been looking at Ronda, and that would be a top pic if I can get an exchange there. If not, I am searching for another good place.

Posted by
15788 posts

Ronda is good if you will have a car and only want to explore the pueblos blancos (hill villages), but it's a couple hours' drive or more to anywhere else. I would choose Jerez. You can day-trip by bus to Arcos, by train to Cadiz (beaches), Sevilla and even Cordoba. With a car, you can explore some of the pueblos blancos and Gibraltar is also not too far for a day trip. Jerez has a few sights, is a pleasant low-key town. Sevilla is a good base, with lots of sights, restaurants and evening entertainment but it definitely does not have a village feel.

You do know that Andalucia is the hottest, driest place in Europe. Temps of 100 or more are not unusual in July and August. Cadiz might be a little better since it's on the Atlantic.

Posted by
7175 posts

It’s 500km, or 5+ hours from Huelva in the west to Almeria in the east of Andalusia. Basing yourself at a single locations means either lots of time spent in transit each day, or missing out on some of the major sights. Most likely though, a little bit of each. Pack lightly and make a road trip, or circuit by public transport.

Posted by
56 posts

I recommed as a base Sevilla o Jerez.

If you will take public transport, Sevilla is very good connected, but if you need a car to visit Pueblos Blancos, there are a very small towns on the south

The temperature will be hot in July. If you don´t mind just enjoy!