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looking for input on what towns to use as a base..

Hello everyone
We will be traveling to Spain in March till the first week in April. We are arriving in Madrid and will spend the first 6 days there. Then we are taking the train to Valencia and will be there for 8 days. So far, so good.
After Valencia we have a total of 17 days before we leave from Madrid.

What I would like is any suggestions on where to make our base and what towns we should add as day trips, time permitting.

We want to visit some of the towns around Alicante like Altea, Benidorm and Villajoyosa. I think that there is a tram from Alicante to these places. Our initial thought is to have Alicante as a base, but are looking for other possible options in the area. We are thinking 5-6 nights. we would prefer to not jump around (1 or 2 night in one place) if possible. However, if there is a place that is worth a night or 2, we will seriously consider that as well.
After that area we would like to visit Malaga and the surrounding towns of Nerja and Marbella. I am also looking for other suggestions of areas to explore. We can spend 5 nights in that area as well.

Our last days (maybe 5-6 nights) we are thinking of 2 nights in Toledo and the rest back in Madrid with a day trip to Salamanca or Segovia, etc. It depends on how much we do our first 6 days.
Thank you in advance. I look forward to any input
Susan

Posted by
8244 posts

Interesting plans.

Madrid is a great base to do day trips to Toledo and Segovia. Also, Madrid has the amazing Prado Museum.
Seville is NOT to be missed, I suggest staying there for at least 3-4 days.

I did the Costa del Sol many years ago and was a bit disappointed. The beaches were not so wonderful. Places like Rhonda are great. Marbella is beautiful but expensive.

Salamanca is worth a day, but it is far from Madrid near Portugal. Another city sort of close to Madrid is the ancient walled city to Avila that is good. Perhaps you could visit Avila then on to Salamanca, stay overnight, then see the city and return to Madrid.

You didn't mention Barcelona, which is another wonderful city, that deserves 3-4 days. Also, at some point take in Bilbao, San Sebastian in the Basque region near SW France.

Posted by
4180 posts

A few initial thoughts

What are you plans for those two weeks in Valencia, Alicante, and Malaga areas? March/early April will be too cold for the beach, you may find many of those tourist beach towns still shuttered at that time of the year.

To go from Alicante to Malaga via train you need to backtrack to Valencia and all the way back to Madrid and then back down south. You could drive but that is through the very rural Murcia and Almeria regions, may be a fun adventure.

Personally I'd forget about Valencia and held west after Madrid, exploring the underappreciated Extremadura region until you get to Sevilla, then head east exploring the towns of Andalucia in between and then loop back up to Madrid.

Posted by
25 posts

Hello and thank you so much for the input.
We have been to Spain before and to Barcelona a few times so that is not on our list. We have also traveled in the Basque country (San Sebastion & Bilbao)
we are going to Valencia for the Las Fallas festival. We have seen a lot of southern Spain and were hoping to visit a few areas new to us and so we were thinking the coast south of Valencia.
We would consider Rhonda again (we loved it).
I will talk to our travel partners and we can regroup. We are not set on anything at this point and are exploring our options.
All the input is greatly appreciated!
I will keep you posted!