Hello fellow travelers:
For the last few years my husband and I have escaped the cold and snow here in Minneapolis by spending January and February in Florida. I'd like to do something different in January of 2019 and spend the month in Spain. We've done two RS "My Way" tours (Best of Europe and Alpine Europe) and loved them! I was thinking of loosely following the My Way Spain itinerary but with much longer stops and adding additional destinations - Gibraltar comes to mind right away. I'd also love to see the Basque country, so perhaps start in southern France (Avignon, Nimes, Arles, Carcassonne) and make our way down along the coast to Barcelona? I see that the AVE high speed train runs from Barcelona to Madrid, and then from Madrid to Sevilla. We could then backtrack by train or car to Ronda and Granada. I am comfortable in big cities but would also like to experience some countryside and a slower pace of life since we have the time. I have looked at the weather in these destinations for January and they seem to be mid 40s to mid 60s and that's ok by me - it's better than 20 degrees below zero. I have received some very valuable feedback from the members of this forum in the past, and I look forward to your responses and suggestions. I've never been to Spain. Hubs has, but it was many years ago as a young, wide-eyed USAF captain on leave. As far as budget is concerned, I can't say that money is no object as it's always important to get the best value for your dollar. We're used to mid-range priced hotels. It has been my experience that a good mid-range priced hotel with excellent service provides a much better experience than a luxury hotel with impersonal service. All suggestions and comments are appreciated. Thank you! Liz
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
And we you may encounter rain. We spent a similar week in Spain a few years ago and it rained a lot and on the chilly side. Probably just bad luck but possible.
Posted by
OP
Minneapolis
155 posts
Frank, rain is ok. 27 degrees below zero is not. Thanks for the post!
Posted by
Washington DC
28104 posts
I think once you dig into guide books you'll decide that southern France plus the full length of Spain is more than you really want to attempt even in a month. I started out with an idea somewhat like that for 2016, but I had 89 days. Even so, Southern France got postponed until 2017 early in the planning process. Well before I departed, I determined that there wasn't time for Andalucia, either. I realize that you may not want to spend 10 days in Barcelona, visit Extremadura, or go as far west as Santiago de Compostela, but it's a very large country.
I suggest starting your planning with Andalucia (best weather), then adding Barcelona and the warmer parts of Catalunya. See how much time you have left before trying to rope in a lot more territory. I really liked the Basque Country, but it's a great place to go in the summer when only that northern coastal area of Spain and the Pyrenees have pleasant weather. Damp, cloudy, and not-warm isn't a great combo when the days are so short.
Posted by
7 posts
I have been living in Valencia, Spain for the past two years. January is a damp cold unlike where I lived in Colorado which was a dry cold. It can be miserable but as long as you are dressed for the weather you will be fine. The southern coast will be much nicer than the north coast in January. Look at Malaga for a city with good museums, central market, and wonderful street art. For a small beach town we love Nerja just up the coast from Malaga. Valencia is a beautiful city with lots going on and must cheaper to stay and eat than Barcelona or Madrid. Another beautiful beach town in Calp. While the weather will not be great it will be much better than MN.