Feedback on new itinerary

There are many reasons for visiting Toledo by night, here a few:

• first
• second
• third

but again, like everything else in life, nothing is "absolutely necessary" so if you have a logistical problem just enjoy Toledo by day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyoigkHByyY

Btw... especially for those friends from the Midwest, it's pronounced "toh-leh-doh", not "toh-lee-doh" :))

Good call on the flight. It's really stressful for most of us to know there's a tight connection looming.

There's no airport in Salamanca, so it's a lot of transportation time no matter how you attack it. If you choose the mixed-mode approach, be sure you are really saving time and don't get stuck with a huge layover in Madrid. Or, of course, a too-tight connection. I wouldn't know what to tell you about a suitable time allowance for getting from the airport to Atocha Station to pick up the train. And with a greater possibility of delays when a plane is involved, I'd prefer to do the whole trip by rail, even though the projected travel time would almost certainly be longer. But I'm probably in the minority there.

Although I like spending the night in Toledo, I think a well-planned day-trip from Madrid would be better than an overnight if you're traveling all the way from Granada and have to turn around the next day and go to Salamanca. I think a bit of time one day and another bit of time the next day is not the best way to appreciate a city. However, this approach would give you an evening, when it's less touristy. (On the other hand, at least one poster here felt Toledo was so quiet at night, it was positively dull after all the visitors headed back to Madrid.)

I think Ronda is awfully far from Seville to be a day-trip. Although I'd like to have a full day there, I don't think seeing it on the way to Granada is a terrible idea, especially if you can get a really early start. If the driver only works 8 hours a day, that's not so good.

Looking at your itinerary, it strikes me that you are zigging and zagging all over the country and potentially missing some really good, more-convenient sights. I'd consider dropping one of the outlying destinations so you don't have so many long travel legs. You could use the freed-up time to add a more convenient destination.

My first choice to cut would be Salamanca, which is an attractive town but to me not quite as distinctive as your others.

Another possibility is San Sebastian, which is really adding to your transportation time in the form of two flights. If you were traveling from Madrid directly to Seville (or to Seville by way of Cordoba), you could make the trip easily by rail. Seville is only 2-1/2 hours away by AVE. With San Sebastian in the mix, you have two flights instead of none. Since you seem already to have bought the ticket to San Sebastian, this suggestion looks like a no-go. You may well need cool/wet-weather gear in SS.

Places you could add if you don't range so widely, depending on what doesn't get cut:

• Bilbao if you retain San Sebastian

• The white towns east of Seville; they can be visited from Ronda.

• Cuenca as a day-trip from Madrid (but you must buy the AVE ticket very early to get reasonable fare)

To my amigo, Enric: you say to-mah-to, I say to-may-to, po-tah-to/po-tay-to, to-leh-do/to-lee-doh . . .

I knew I could count on you Ann! Thanks! You are right, I've already purchased the flight to San Sebastian/Seville. Likewise the flight from Granada to Madrid.

We are criss crossing a lot. I'm used to touring in a bus with tons of giggly students so this trip will be a treat! Salamanca is a must for me. I spent 2 summers living there and studying at the Universidad so it's probably more important to me than most people.

I appreciate your thoughts on Toledo. I've have really been on the fence about spending the night; I still have time to cancel my hotel reservation. I'm going to watch the videos that Enric (thanks!) recommended before deciding.

I'm waiting to hear from the tour company re: transfer to Granada with tour of Ronda. The idea appeals to me for various reasons. They list the trip as 8-10 hours; some of their tours have a driver and guide so I think that is how they skirt the 8 hour thing.

Thanks, Robyn

If you end up doing the trip with Ronda en route, I hope you'll return to tell us how it went. A lot of people want to see Ronda but don't have a lot of time for Andalucía, so they might be interested in that option.

I definitely will share my experience. The tour company (Not Just a Tourist - great reviews online) said that they can customize the times for me so I think I will book with them. It's a splurge but that's okay. They will pick us up at 9:00am then drive to Ronda (1 hour 45 minutes) then 2 to 3 hours in Ronda then about 2 hours drive to Granada. It is a long day but with a private driver and the opportunity to see Ronda I'm just about sold!

I did decide to stay in Madrid for one night rather than backtracking to Toledo. I booked a room near the Prado so we will tour the museums that day which frees up a day for Toledo the next week.

This forum is so helpful. Although this will be my 6th trip to Spain it's my first without a tour guide . The input is invaluable.

Cheers, Robyn

Would you consider an approach like this from Day 9 ...
Fly to Madrid (2 nights)
Train to Salamanca (2 nights)
Train to Segovia (1 night)
Train to Toledo (1 night)
Train to Madrid (2 nights)

Yes David, I definitely would consider that intinerary. However my hotel rooms are already booked for the end of our stay and can't be cancelled. Thanks...