Spain trip

Hi Patty, congratulations on your anniversary. Yes, I think you have planned too much. Why don't you slow down and small the roses? With 5 cities, and returning to Barcelona, you will have only 1 night for some of your stops, and lots of travel time between. We are actually going to be there at the same time, and have 3 days more than you do, but are keeping it to Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla and Granada. Even that feels like we are short-changing some places (Madrid, for example, as we only have one night there.) At a minimum,. skip Valenica and fly back to Barcelona from Granada (I think it is Vueling airlines but someone else will know for sure). And if you possibly can, fly open jaws so you don't have to go back to Barcelona. Note that the Abril Feria will be going on in Sevilla during this time (May 2 to 8), so that may give you a reason to either include Sevilla, if you like celebrations, or not, if you don't like crowds. Accomodations will be expensive during that time. (It is by far the most expensive stop on our trip.)

I am in the midst of planning a 4 week trip to Spain, and it's our 3rd time in that country. I looked hard at Valencia and concluded that it didn't offer enough to warrant inclusion in our itinerary. My advice is to scrap it and add the time to the other cities. Also, the info below about the Seville Feria is very important. Friends went a few years ago and loved it. However, 6 months ahead, the only hotel they could reserve was $250/night and turned out to be crappy.

I'd skip Valencia in the amount of time you have. And when you visit each city can be critical since you are in and out of Barcelona (which is pretty remote from the rest of Spain). You may want to fly from Grenada or Sevilla back to Barcelona. And don't forget to leave time while in Madrid to spend a day in Toledo.

Skip Valencia. There's not really that much there except for the aquarium and it's only a little bit better than the one in Atlanta. Assuming you're using trains, and if you have the whole day for the Barcelona-Madirid (or vice-versa) tirp, stopping for a few hours in Zaragoza (it's nearly world-class, but nobody seems to go there) is well worth a few hours. Travel time probably wouldn't be more than an extra hour.

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like Valencia is out and will go to Seville instead. Would it be better to fly from Barcelona to Granda/Seville instead of going to Madrid first? We have to fly in and out of Barcelona. Thanks

The flight you want, to make a nice loop without backtracking, would be between Barcelona and Granada. Which way you do it depends on the flight times in and out of Barcelona-you want to allow enough time to make the connection, but not waste a day in travel. Make sure that the flight between the two is the Barcelona airport, not the Girona one which some of the budget airlines use for Barcelona. So, you could either: 1) Land in Barcelona, spend a few day, train to Madrid, train to Sevilla, train to Granada, then fly back to Barcelona in time for your flight; or 2) Land in Barcelona, transfer directly to your flight to Granada, then train from Granada to Seville, then Madrid, then Barcelona and spend a few days there before flying home.

Why not fly round trip from Madrid? It should be a little cheaper than Barcelona. The flight between Granada and Barcelona doesn't require a round trip from Barcelona. Alternatively an open jaw into Madrid, home from Barcelona or opposite is also an option and probably slightly cheaper than round trip to Barcelona.

I would skip valencia we went to Spain in Septmber and I did extensive research and realized that other places have more to offer then Valencia. So spend more days in the other cities you mentioned I would give a minimum of 2 days to Barcelona (without Montserrat) , 3 to Madrid ( with a day trip to Toledo ) a Day to Granada and 3 days to Sevilla with a a day trip to Cordoba. This is the bare minimum just enough time to see most of the things and relax and take in the culture.

Thanks for all the help! Decided to go to Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada then fly back to Barcelona. Can't change flights since we're flying with mileage. Can't wait! Thanks again

Excellent! You may want to start your hotel search with Sevilla, as you will be there during Feria and hotels are filling up fast.

Have found the perfect room in Seville-perfect hotel, but pricey. After 30 years of marriage it's worth every penny!

I'd skip Valencia. The beach is great; white sands and beautiful light blue water, but during the time period you plan to be in Spain the weather likely won't allow for many good beach days. If you were going in July, August or September then Valencia would be a great destination.

Patty, that is excellent! I noticed when I checked that some of the nice hotels insevilla still had rooms available during Feria. Premium price, but as you say worth it for the occaasion. Have fun. P.S. Is it by any chance El Rey Moro?

In Sevilla we are staying at the Confortel Puerta De Triana. It sounded like it would work for us. Now we are trying to figure if we should stay in Seville another night or go to Granada and stay there 2 nights before we catch a flight to Barcelona then home. Any thoughts?

Since this will be our first trip to that poart of S We are spending 2 nights in Sevilla and 3 in Granada as we are enchanted with the Alhambra. I have booked 3 different visits: a night visit to the palace, a day visit to the whole place, and a "visit entouna" with a Conquest of Water tour.

We`ll be there two weeks prior - almost identical travel itinerary. Although still struggling to get decent(priced) hotels in Madrid and Seville - any members here with suggestions/ideas/insider tips greatly appreciated.

Spain is large and travel from Barcelona to Adalusian region longer than one would anticipate; like going from WPB to the far wetern Panhandle. AVE and Euromed trains make it easier to travel the distances, but not necessarily in a neat loop. Valencia is easier to access via Barcelona and now the new AVE connection with Madrid, not true from say Granada. (www.renfe.com). Valencia-very modern archetecture, good food on the beach, aquarium, but location may be too out of the way when you plan to travel to Andalusia Travel to Barcelona, you will arrive next day and will be tired until your body adjust to time change; it impairs the best of travel plans so be flexible. Sevilla celebrates a major festival usually 2 weeks after Semana Santa (Holy Week) but because Easter is April 24, the Feria de Abril this year is scheduled for May 3-8.
Rather than Valencia maybe you would rather do a day trip to Cordoba from Sevilla or Toledo-quick train from Madrid