Hello,
I’m wanting to plan a Spain honeymoon this August (I know it’s hot). I have two weeks. I want feedback on potential itinerary.
Fly into Barcelona- 3 nights
Fly to Majorca- 6 nights
Fly to Valencia- 2 nights
High speed train to Madrid 3 nights
Fly out of Madrid
What do you all think of this plan?
Thanks!
What a great opportunity to spend your honeymoon in these incredible locations. Six days in Mallorca seems long, but it is a great, laid-back, destination. Since it's your honeymoon, I say create a Honeymoon Registry webpage, raise some money... and stay in these incredible hotels:
Any - or all - of these would make for a memorable honeymoon!
It sounds lovely! I think you may find your self really short days in Barcelona, especially when it's the beginning of the trip and you'll likely be jetlagged. I would take days from Madrid. I found Barcelona much more interesting than Madrid. However, if you will be taking day trips to Toledo or Segovia from Madrid, other than the heat, that would be worthwhile. I felt Segovia was fine as a day trip. Toledo is just a half hour from Madrid, but we stayed a night and really enjoyed being there when the day trippers left.
I agree about inadequate time in Barcelona. I'd hit Mallorca and only two additional bases (at most) in the time you have. I'd drop either Madrid or Valencia. Valencia is a nice place, but it's not Barcelona or Madrid. If you're not into art, Madrid itself may not be a better destination than Valencia for you, but the day-trips from Madrid are outstanding: Toledo, Segovia, Cuenca, Salamanca--and there are more. Cuenca, incidentally, is on the high-speed rail line between Valencia and Madrid.
You haven't specified what special interests you and your fiance have. That information might alter our recommendations.
Thank you for all of the replies so far.
We enjoy adventuring, hiking, exploring new places, going to museums, eating and drinking- and relaxing (hence the time on Majorca).
So, the feedback is more time in Barcelona and maybe cut a city. So, we could either fly straight into Madrid and skip Valencia, or just do one night there if it is worthwhile not to miss (and take the high-speed train). Any thoughts here? Does 6 nights in Majorca seem like a good amount? I want to relax on the beach and also explore the island.
Thank you!
I enjoy travel more focused on nature and small towns, and I never feel the need to exhaustively explore one place. Chat with your fiance about your goals for the trip--do you want to see both Madrid and Barcelona on this trip? Since it is only two days, I would consider the Valenica part expendable. I would want no fewer than six days on Majorca (I have considered going for my ten day vacation a couple times but have not made it there yet). Maybe flesh that part out more before deciding what else to include. You may have to fly through a major city anyway, but then you are also quite likely to have opportunity to fly through either city again in the future. A honeymoon need not be completely leisurely, but I don't think you would regret spending more time in Majorca. I know in August that is where I would want to be the most. congrats!
Congratulations and have fun! We enjoyed both Madrid and Barcelona during our trip but didn't have a chance to visit your other stops.
The heat will eat away at your time efficiency for visiting destinations.
Suggest:
five nights Barcelona
five nights Majorca
four nights Madrid with a day trip to Toledo
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE prebook online your visit to Sagrada and other destinations to avoid wilting the heat while standing in line.
Hello- so we have decided to postpone until next May because we just bought a house- so more flexibility and more planning. Any changes recommended to the itinerary in light of this?
Late May is a wonderful time to be in the Mediterranean, much better than August. In early May, the sea can still be chilly, if you intended to swim.
I'm looking forward to seeing Mallorca on a future trip, and I plan to spend about a week there. However, I'm a really slow traveler who likes walking around historic areas, and I love modernista architecture. If beaches were a major reason for your inclusion of Mallorca, you may want to re-think that destination; I'm doubtful about the water temperature that early in the year.
We have some posters who have spent time in Mallorca; I trust you'll hear from one or more of them soon, because I'm just sort of speculating here.
HI, May is earlier in the tourist season and the water may be cool. I jumped in at the end of May this year, it was cold but refreshing. I got used to it real fast. Some years we have really nice spring weather in May, some years it turns into summer too quickly. August is awfully hot and humid and you may not want to do much more than go to a beach. So in May, you have many more options. Hiking, touring the villages, exploring Palma (don't miss the gothic cathedral, Gaudi was here for 10 years in the early XX century and transformed the interior, the church also supported Modernist architecture), wine tasting at one of more than 80 wineries on the island, village markets (Sineu is the oldest-700 years, Pollensa on Sundays has a lot of local artisans). Have a great time, you'll find lots to do and see!
Your original plan sounds great. I would recommend keeping Madrid in your plan. So much to see and explore in a around the city.
