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Our needs: safe, close to train, plenty to do in the area, not within city center of major city
Our likes: history, culture, food, walking/ hikes, beautiful scenery
*Prefer not to rent a car.
-MPLux
Many people had suggested Andalucia, Sevilla in particular. I am winter resident of Sevilla, had lived in Malaga in November-December. My recommendation is Malaga & Costa del Sol. November is Sevilla's high season because most of Europe is cold/wet/gray/bare-tree/unattractive (before Xmas market starts), it's wall to wall tourists. Malaga, on the other hand, is low season, weather still warm & sunny but beach tourists are gone, so easier to find good lodging and has long wonderful beaches to stroll on. Lots of easy day-trips from Malaga by train/bus/commuter train to pretty Costa del Sol towns and Sevilla/Granada/Ronda/Cordoba. If you'd prefer France, Côte d'Azur is where you'll find warm sunny blue sky, but smaller towns are not public-transport convenient and Côte d'Azur is a popular winter destination.