First have to say, as I’ve posted before, how much help this forum has been for me to plan our own trips. We had an amazing time in Andalucia and in great part due to RS’s guidebook, this forum, and other research/Youtube. And if I might be able to help someone else with my report, here goes and sorry for the length!
This trip was 13 nights on the ground, 8 Oct – 21 Oct. Overall had really good weather, almost no rain other than some sprinkles and a downpour briefly one night in Sevilla, and hotter/colder in places than I’d anticipated.
Started in Nerja for 3 nights.
I know not a big choice for many here, but we thought it would be good to recover from jet lag and we love water. Spent a couple hours on Burriana Beach, and a couple at the Hotel Balcon de Europa Beach as it was handy. I was nervous about this part of the trip, because after I booked our flights and accomodations, they announced the Feria would open the 2nd night we were there. We are not ‘crowd’ people. Jean here on the forum told me not to worry, they also visited during the Feria and it was far enough away to not be an issue and she was right. We showed up after dinner as it opened, everything lit up and fireworks. Couldn’t hear anything when you walked away.
While in Nerja we visited Frigiliana and the Nerja Caves. The Nerja Caves were impressive. Also a tip – I saw they closed at 4:30 PM and knew you had to take a guided tour. Got there at 3:20 and caught the last tour of the day (had issues with the bus). Almost missed it! Frigiliana was absolutely charming, we loved it. Here’s also where I started learning that even I research restaurants, it might not matter – the 2 I had written down were both closed – so went back to one we saw near the church where a lot of people were eating. This happened several times during this trip so the planner in me had to let it go.
Accomodation:
Hotel Balcon de Europa. Splurged on this one as we wanted a room overlooking the water. Staff were very helpful.
Restaurants:
Ayo’s at Burriana Beach a highlight. Never had paella before, and didn’t order it again the whole trip as we enjoyed it so much.
El Pulguilla, had my first of many berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant).
La Piqueta for tapas, place I planned was closed, large and very good tapas free with drinks
Granada for 3 nights.
Took the bus from Nerja to Granada. Stayed at an apartment in the Albaicin – loved the area. Very peaceful, and the apartment had the most amazing huge terrace overlooking the Alhambra with clear views. At least one other poster has stayed there, so I knew the pictures were accurate! Spent lovely time on that terrace enjoying the view, without the crowds at Mirador San Nicolas. And just walking around, having meals in the Albaicin as well.
First night took the Moorish Albaicin Tour with Granada Tapas Tours (Gayle’s company recommended in RS’s guidebook). Irene was our guide and it was really nice to learn more about the area we were staying in and enjoy some food and wine at the end.
Another highlight was our Alhambra tour with Margarita Ortega Ortiz de Landazuri of Alhambra Tours (in RS’s guide and recommended by others here). Even when I factored in buying the tickets (and you have to buy them yourself but she reminds you when they are becoming available), it didn’t cost much more than a group tour and it was just the 2 of us. Well worth it, she is a gem. Whenever she saw a line to get in to a particular section, she knew how to go around it and come back to that place when the groups had moved on. So she saved us a lot of time from just standing in multiple lines. She is so knowledgeable and you could tell she enjoyed sharing the history of the area, architecture, etc.
Really wanted to visit San Juan Basilica – it was closed and couldn’t get back. Visited the Cathedral and Royal Chapel.