Where to Spend an Extra Night?

Posted by April (Portland, OR) on 12/15/24 08:09 PM

We got a smoking deal on business class tickets RT to Madrid from PDX. I snapped them up and am excited to spend my 50th birthday in Spain. Initially itinerary is as follows:

Madrid 3 nights then fly to San Sebastián.
San Sebastián 4 nights with a rental car for day trips to Biarritz, and Bayonne.
Bilbao 2 nights with a stop in Txakoli wine country.
1 night before we fly home from Madrid.

Should we spend a third night in Bilbao and then fly to Madrid the day our flight leaves to come home? The flight is at 12:30 and there are flights as early as 6am to leave Bilbao to Madrid. This appeals to me to have a third night in the basque region, but I’m also nervous of cutting it close. If we move for that last night, where would you recommend? Segovia? Toledo?

Thank you in advance for recommendations.

Posted by dlindstrom

la rioja

12/15/24 08:48 PM

600 posts

Just a thought, on the last day drive to Logroño. There are many wineries you could stop at for a visit and lunch. Then to Logroño to drop off the car. Treat youself to a dinner in one of the Michelin Star restaurants in the city. Then head over to the bus station and catch the 1 am bus to the T4 terminal. It arrives at the the airport at 6:30am.

Posted by kmkwoo

Massachusetts, USA

12/15/24 09:17 PM

1713 posts

I would not cut it that close. Too close for comfort. Your flight out of Bilbao could be delayed, or worse, it could be cancelled. Since you would have 2 separate tickets, you would have to get your checked luggage in Madrid, then go through security again, to board your flight home. And also go from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. This is way too risky.

It would make more sense to spend that last night in Toledo or Madrid. I know the train from Toledo to Madrid's Atocha station is 30 minutes. But then you have to get to the airport. Unless there is a train from Toledo directly to the Madrid airport.

Honestly, I would spend that last night in Madrid. There is a lot to see and do in Madrid: so many outstanding art museums, Retiro Park, the Royal Palace, etc. And at the beginning of your trip, you will only have 2.5 days at the most in Madrid, and your first day will be jet-lagged. Don't make your last night and morning of departure stressful. My vote is to spend the last night in Madrid.

If you really want to overnight in Toledo, you could also research taking Uber or a taxi from Toledo to the Madrid airport.

Posted by April OP

Portland, OR

12/15/24 10:11 PM

1127 posts

Thank you dlindstrom for the suggestion. Logrono wasn’t even on my radar. What a fun find!

Kmkwoo , I agree that it’s a gamble plan to fly from Bilbao to Madrid. There are three flights on the same airline that morning that would get us to Madrid and that’s the only reason I was even considering flying the morning of our return flight home. It’s 35-45 minutes just to get from Madrid center to that airport and that’s why I was thinking of a different location, as none of them are right next to that airport. If we had a 8am flight then there would be no question and I wouldn’t gamble, but since we have all they way until the afternoon I don’t want to waste that last night. Also, we never check bags. Rookie mistake. :-)