ccrosner

We have an opportunity to take our children (11 and 14) to Marbella, Spain thanks to a business trip for my husband. I would like to add on several days before then and could use some guidance.

Based on initial research, I was planning the following:

Day 1: Depart Boston for Seville
Day 2 to 5: Stay in Seville; one day trip to Cordoba
Day 6: Drive or bus to Marbella, going through Ronda if we drive
Day 7 & 8: Marbella resort with day trip (through company) to Gibraltar

I had originally hoped to go on to Granada our last day and then fly home. But now I think that we need to get home a day earlier so Granada may be out.

Do you think my itinerary makes sense? Or should we stay three nights in Seville (2 1/2 days there) and move on to Cordoba or Granada and then on to Marbella?

Would love to see the Alhambra but hear that Cordoba is equally beautiful. Don't want to be running the entire time we are there so am willing to give something up for a less hectic schedule. Our children are used to travelling and speak Spanish.

annhig

Hi ccrosner,

Many years ago i went to Gib on a "school cruise" and I have no desire to go back. So i would scrub Gib and substitute Granada - the alhambra is definitely one of those places to see before you die, preferably twice- once during the day, and once at night.

it is also a very good idea to book your tickets on-line - when we went in november they had sold out by about 10.30am.

regards, ann

traveller1959

In any case, try to go to Granada. The Alhambra is absolutely spectacular. The cathedral of Cordoba is also spectacular, but one is a palace, the other a cathedral. Follow Ann's advice and reserve your ticket online.

You can make a daytrip from Marbella to Granada. Driving time will be 2:15 one way.

Another option would be: Leaving from Sevilla one day earlier, visiting Cordoba (also a must!) on the way and arriving in Granada in the afternoon. Visit the Alhambra either in late afternoon and decide whether to stay overnight in Granada or to proceed to Marbella. Or stay overnight and visit the Alhambra in the morning, then leaving for Marbella.

You can visit Ronda on your way back from Marbella to Sevilla.

yk

I just returned from a trip to Spain earlier this week. If I were you, I would definitely spend less time in Seville and go to Granada. Cordoba/Seville are both nice but nothing compared to seeing the Alhambra in Granada.

ccrosner

Thanks for the helpful responses. I know that Gibraltar is a bad idea but the kids are excited to see Africa.... But the other option is to go to Ronda for that excursion (we have the choice of Ronda, Gibraltar and something else but not Granada).

I'm rethinking this and like the idea of leaving Seville and going to Granada by way of Cordoba.

Back to the research drawing board!

josele

You don't need to get to Gib to see Africa, you can see it from Marbella.

ccrosner

josele--
Thanks. I had no idea that we would see Africa from Marbella. Glad to scratch Gibraltar.

I am playing with the idea of leaving Seville one morning, stopping in Cordoba and then on to overnight in Granada. But isn't that a bit much? Will we get any feel for Cordoba with just an afternoon there? Looks like I can easily get a train from Seville to Cordoba (45 mins. on AVE) but it's a long trip from Seville to Granada (2 1/2 hours and only one late night run).

Should we just rent a car to go from Seville to Cordoba to Granada??

MECindylou

I agree that Granada is worth fitting in if at all possible. If you have time to visit the Albaycin (Moorish quarter), there are beautiful views of the Alhambra complex. You'll need a full day to visit the Alhambra and take a walk in the Albaycin. Don't miss the Generalife part of the Alhambra.

If you have additional time, consider a visit to the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) -Isabella and Ferdinand's tombs, crowns, collection of art, etc. The cathedral, IMO, can be skipped.

If you don't have a whole day, and have to pick and choose what you see in the Alhambra, consider skipping the newer parts and stick to the Moorish palaces. Oh, and note that the entrance time on your tickets will be for the Nasrid Palaces, not for the entire complex. I thought I had gotten in on time and was poking around the gift shop, and then the person renting us the audioguide noticed my ticket time and sent us off running to the Nasrid Palace before we missed our time slot. Since it was winter, it was no big deal (and we even went back in later for a more relaxed visit), but I guess in busier times, they are strict.

If you can't go to Granada, the Alcazar in Sevilla has similarities to the Alhambra. Personally, I'd spend less time in Sevilla and squeeze in Granada. If you do, maybe skip the Alcazar in Sevilla.

You can see a lot of Ronda in just a 1/2 day. Your kids might like the Casa del Rey Moro (House of the Moorish King). You descend a stairway that goes all the way down through the rock to the riverbed. I can be slippery, so use the handrail. If you don't have a car, but want to see the postcard view of the bridge from below the town, there's a hiking path down from the old part of town. I can't remember the plaza name where the path starts, but I can look it up if you want to email me.

If you stay overnight in Cordoba, check out the Cardinale Flamenco show (same street as the tourist office). We showed up an hour or so prior to the show and could only get seats way back, but the very kind owner moved us up to the front and center, and the musicians even dedicated a song to us. (Probably they liked my 15-year-old daughter's almost-fluent Spanish.)

Our time in Andalucia went like this:

Madrid - Cordoba by AVE - 1 night
train to Ronda - 1 night
bus to Sevilla - 1 night
bus to Granada - 2 nights
bus to Madrid

A whirlwind, and not quite in the right order...we hadn't planned to go to Sevilla, but my daughter decided she HAD to go there mid-trip, so we backtracked.

Hope this is helpful.
--Cindy
[email protected]

ccrosner

Cindy--
Thanks so much for the VERY helpful suggestions. Would you consider skipping Cordoba all together to give more time to Granada? What were your kids' favorites?

Love the idea for Ronda. Hadn't heard of that yet so that sounds fun.

MECindylou

ccrosner:

Well, we didn't exactly linger in each place,as you can see in our itinerary (in my other post), but our logistics were easy; we traveled light and made our decisions as we went along.

The Mezquita is mysterious, atmospheric, and different from anything else you'll see in Spain. Even if you feel like you're giving short shrift to Cordoba, if you see the Mezquita and the surrounding maze of streets, I think it's worth it, that is, if it's not going to put a wrench in the works for the rest of your plans. If you have 3 full days in Sevilla, I would take at least an afternoon or morning and take the AVE train to Cordoba. I think it's only 20 minutes. Or stop there on your way elsewhere.

My daughter moaned and groaned throughout our 2-week trip...she was tired, hungry, sick of cathedrals, etc...hmm, same thing happened in France when we took both kids. So, it's often easy to think they're not getting much out of it all. Well, since then, she's often said how much she liked it. We reminisce about it often now, even the near disasters; those can make the best memories!

I just asked her what she liked best and she rattled off a list, including the scenery in Ronda (compained the entire time we hiked down for the bridge view...), Casa del Rey Moro, the Alhambra (was more interested in finding lunch at the time...), la Giralda, and la Mezquita (which she was very intent upon seeing).

If you pick and choose what you see in each city, leaving some time open (you know how things always take longer than we think, especially with kids...), I bet you can fit it all in. One suggestion: if you see a Moorish Bath in the Alhambra, don't take the time to see another one in the Albaycin (Granada) or in Ronda. Likewise, if you visit the cathedral in Sevilla, skip the inside of Granada's. Same with bullrings (Sevilla and Ronda). Even though Sevilla's Alcazar is worthwhile, you'll see fantastic Moorish Palaces at the Alhambra, so if you're pressed for time, forgo Sevilla's Alcazar. This way, you'll see examples of everything, but hopefully avoid boring your kids and tiring everybody out.

I have some photos and can email some to you if you email me directly. [email protected]

Hope this is helpful!

ccrosner

MECindyLou--
Your comments are very helpful and encouraging. Thanks. I especially appreciated your candor regarding your daughter's attitude before and after the trip. We have had some similar experiences and it's good to be reminded that it's still worth going! Our 11 year old loves life and will enjoy every minute of the trip (although she will get cranky at times). Our 14 year old can be challenging as he's really a homebody (and will miss his friends and Xbox). They both, however, seem somewhat eager to see Spain and to test out their Spanish skills.

My current thinking is 3 nights in Seville (with possible Cordoba day trip if we have seen all we want to see in Seville), one night in Granada and then on to Marbella for the business meeting (and side trip to Ronda).

We are probably going to return on a Saturday and lose a good day for more travel. The kids will be returning to school on Monday and will need to take their MCAS (our state tests). Figure it would be good to give them a day to adjust and work on missed work.

Thanks. Again!

QueScaisJe

ccrosner, count me as the contrarian regarding Gibraltar. We had fun there last year, and thought it was a nice break esp. if kids are in the picture. I'm not saying we'd want to spend more than a day there, but it wasn't a complete waste of time as some might be suggesting.

Granada: the Alhambra is the jewel of southern Spain IMHO. That being said, our travelling companions visited (their first time) and declared a preference for Seville's alcazar. Just another data point for you. Also I've heard that the renovations at the Alhambra are not quite finished.

Cordoba's old town is very walkable, and you already know that the Mezquita is a must-see. The gardens in Cordoba's alcazar are also very nice.

If it were our trip, we'd stick with your original plan of doing Cordoba as a long day-trip from Seville, and save Granada for another time. Don't worry; it'll still be there.

josele

On Ronda: there are many places to visit, but the Casa del Rey Moro is closed, even the garden and the stairway. The house from the outside is great but in bad shape. I’ve been told it’s been purchased by a group that wants to turn it into an hotel, pulling down the house (in the interior only, I hope). Looks like they are letting the house decay to ruin condition, and the town hall doesn’t seem to care. A shame.
The footpath to the bottom of the crag starts at Plaza del Campillo, near the Mondragón Palace. It is called Puerta de los Molinos, for the watermills that used to operate down there. You walk down and find first the recently restored Arco del Cristo. But you can go down by car as well, from Barrio de San Francisco (or use this road to walk). My suggestion is to figure it out from the mirador at the Parador.
Another choice for a good view is the Casa de Don Bosco, nice gardens, but you can skip the rest. 1’5 eur. entrance (groups, 1eur.)
The Mondragón Palace, I rec. only the two courtyards and the garden with view. The rest houses a new archaeological museum with recreations of stone age, which did not interest me. 2eur.

MECindylou, I understand your point on Cathedrals, but you simply cannot compare Seville’s with Granada’s, and skip any of the two. And the Cordoba mosque IS the Cathedral. I agree with you on the visit to this and the surroundings only.

The Seville Alcazar was built as a bigger and more splendent Alhambra, the Granada moorish artisans were hired by catholic king Pedro I for the works. Thus the many similarities. The gardens were added afterwards. Being the palace of the spanish kings in Seville, it is better preserved. Obviously, the court of the lions you’ll find only in Alhambra, but actually the fountain has been removed for restorations.

isabel

I haven't been to Gibraltar but I would probably skip just about anything to get to see all three of Sevila, Cordoba and Granada. I had four nights Sevila, two Cordoba and 3 Granada and felt that was just barely enough but you could still get a really nice taste of each of them in the time you have if you skip gibraltar. Have a look at my photos and see which things interest you the most and maybe then you can see which you'd be willing to cut out. www.pbase.com/annforcier/sevilla_cordoba_granada

Within your limitations I'd probably do days 2-4 in Sevilla, early fast train to Cordoba on day 5. Late in the day move to Granada for the night (check both train and bus schedules and also the possibility of renting a car). All of day 6 in Granada and then move to Marbella on day 7 (since you'd be skipping Gibraltar). Or do you have accommodations payed for in Marbella for night 6? If financially possible I'd give up a day in Marbella for Granada. You also said you originally thought you might have another day. I'd do whatever is possible to get that extra day, you are already over there, is whatever you need to come back for more valuable than seeing the wonders of the Alhambra, Mesquita and Sevilla?

ccrosner

Thanks for the continuing assistance. Isabel, you are absolutely right that we should try to squeeze as much as we can out of our time there. We have decided that we do need to return on a Saturday as we feel the children need/deserve a day of reacclimating and getting their missed work done before going back to school and taking many state tests.

Day 1: Arrive in Seville
Day 2: Seville
Day 3: AVE to Cordoba for day trip
Day 4: 1/2 day Seville; on to Granada by bus
Day 5: Tour Alhambra in the a.m.; Depart Granada by 2 p.m. Need to be in Marbella by 5 p.m.
Day 6: Changed the day trip to Ronda
Day 7: Relaxing at Marbella resort (maybe go to Gibraltar w/o hubby if we really want to go)
Day 8: Fly to U.S.

Very quick but better than nothing.

QueScaisJe

ccrosner, I see your heart is set on Granada (and I fully understand), but why backtrack to Seville from Cordoba? If you swap your days 3 & 4, you can see Cordoba on the way to your overnight in Granada. No extra schlepping is involved though you'd need to store your luggage whilst touring Cordoba.

Also, if you truly have to be in Marbella by 5pm, a 2pm departure from Granada is cutting it close. There are sometimes big traffic jams on the AP7 around the Málaga airport.

ccrosner

Thanks QueSaisje. I like your idea of going on through to Granada but wondered what we'd do with the luggage. Are there storage lockers in the train station?

And thanks for the heads up on traffic. We will plan to leave by noon.

yk

ccrosner - There IS luggage lockers in Cordoba, but in the bus station across the street from the train station. See this thread for details
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35107792

awong

Granada, Cordova, Ronda, and Gibralter are all day trips from Marbella.

We were 2 families with 6 kids between us and we did all the above sites within 10 days, using a rental car and staying in Marbella.

All are unique and interesting.

If you decide to go to Gibralter, safe a great deal of hassle, time, and expense and park the car in Spain and walk across the border. (It is actually the airport runway). Get a tour guide to take you to the caves, desalination areas, the monkeys, and WWII sites.

Ronda has its bullring, Hemingway connection, the viaduct/bridge, and a great restaurant under the bridge. A much slower pace than the larger cities.

The Alhambra is a fabulous structure and well worth seeing.

The mosque/cathedral of Cordova is also impressive. It was closed mid-afternoon when we visited so be sure to check opening times.

I am certain that the beach will also be a highlight when traveling with teens.

ccrosner

Wow...I had no idea that you could day trip all of those spots (Ronda and Gibraltar excepted). Do you remember how long it took you to go to Granada? My research says something like 2 1/2 hours. Seems like a tough day trip.

And we do plan some beach time for the kids. They were thrilled to hear last night that it should be warm enough to swim