Jomicdia

We are planning a trip to southern Spain for May 2018. I have researched the airlines and its best to fly round trip to and from Madrid. These are the cities I have narrowed it down to after much consideration
Madrid 3 nights altogether (split between beginning and end), possible day trip to Toledo, train to Cordoba (1 night), train to Seville (3 nights), train to Granada (2 nights), bus to Marbella (3 nights with a day trip to Rhonda) or should we take train to Malaga and then bus to Marbella. How is the bus service in the Costa del Sol. Putting this out there for those who have experience in traveling to this area.

kja

It really depends on what you want to see and experience!

When you say that the best flight is into and out of Madrid, does that count the time you will lose for backtracking, the cost of transportation to and from southern Spain, and the "opportunity cost" of the time you won't have in Andalusia?

FWIW, your trip would be too rushed for MY interests (and that could, of course, be completely irrelevant). I wanted 3.5 days in Madrid not counting day trips (so 4 nights +), was glad I spent 2 full days in Toledo (2 or 3 nights), and 2 full days in Cordoba (2 or 3 nights), 3 days in Sevilla (so 4 nights, more if you plan on any day trips from Sevilla), and 3 nights in Granada (3 nights). I agree that part of a day is probably enough for Ronda. I skipped Marbella and Malaga.

Hope that helps!

lauramsgarden

We did pretty much what you are planning, except we did not go to Marbella or Malaga. I agree with KJA - you will probably enjoy it more if you spend a bit more time in each place (it takes a bit to aclimate, figure out where things are and how to get around). Two nights in Cordoba was perfect - we only did two nights in Granada and focused on the Alhambra. We did some driving and found it relatively low stress. enjoy your trip

Robert2016

It appears you're looking at a two-week itinerary. Depending on where you're flying in from, you should consider doing a connecting flight to Malaga and begin your adventure there.

If the connection isn't good, then start in Madrid and end in Malaga or Seville, flying home on a connecting flight through Madrid.

jamikins

We are currently in southern Spain for two weeks and have the following itinerary:

Flew into Malaga from London, picked up car and drove to a lovely property just outside Ronda to relax for 4 nights. Spent 1 day in Ronda, 1 day driving to a couple white villages and 1 day in Cadiz.

Drove to Seville and stayed 5 nights. Did a flamenco and food tour, saw Alcazar, the cathedral and did general exploring.

Took the train to Córdoba and stayed 3 nights. Saw the Mezquita, the alcazar, lovely patios and general exploring.

Today we are taking the bus to Granada for 3 nights. We are doing another flamenco and food tour tonight, the Alhambra tomorrow, and then more general exploring.

Fly home Sunday to London.

We have loved the pace of our trip. You can see my photos here up to Córdoba:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57688586314646

Happy planning!

neckervd

Sevilla - bus - Ronda - bus - Estepona - Marbella - Malaga - Granada - train - Madrid would make more sense.

KarenWoo

We are currently in Malaga. We flew into Madrid from Marseille, where we were visiting our daughter. We are flying home to the U.S. from Seville to avoid backtracking to Madrid.

This is our itinerary, if it helps:

Madrid - 4 nights
Train to Córdoba, via Madrid - 2 nights
Bus to Granada - 2 nights
Bus to Malaga - 2 nights
Tomorrow take train to Seville - 4 nights

Our itinerary is perfect for us. BTW, we are loving Malaga, which I think sometimes gets a bad rap. people asked me why we are going to Malaga. It's wonderful.

We have loved all the sights, but I think our favorite city so far is Córdoba. Seville might change that tomorrow.

Hope thisi helps.

PalenQ

Trains are great but booking lond-distance ones very early can save tons of money - www.renfe.com is the Spanish Railways online site where you can book your own ticket, discounted ones if early enough to get those limited in number ducats-www.seat61.com provides invaluable tips on booking your own tickets - for general info on trains also www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Bus service is good everywhere in Spain IME.

isabel

I agree with the others that it's a bit rushed. I've been to all the other places you listed (though it took me three separate trips to get to all of them). How did you come to choose Marbella? It's the only place I didn't stop in although I did go through it on the bus. Looked like all boring mid 20th century apartments and golf resorts. I think it's the place a lot of northern Europeans go in the winter cause it's warmer than anywhere else but I don't think it has the charm or historical interest of the other places.

At the very least I'd substitute Malaga for Marbella.

I would look into flying in/out of other cities than Madrid and save Madrid and Toledo for a different trip (I found Seville and Malaga had connecting flights to the US if that's where you are starting from, and certainly to London if you can go through there).

KarenWoo

Bus service was great for us. No complaints. i booked our tickets directly with ALSA. I booked our train tickets with Loco2. Very easy.

plufmud

Jamikins,

We have followed all your wonderful trip reports and breathtaking photos through Italy. I think I read you are considering purchasing a house in the Umbria region. Wow

We just returned from Sicily after 2 1/2 weeks and liked it but we keep comparing it to mainland Italy and France. We are seriously considering a trip to Spain which we have never visited although it is so difficult not to return to either Italy or France.

We love mainland Italy and France but I am hesitant about Spain since our private tour guide said that Sicily is similar to France.

And yes to other posters that I am aware Sicily is part of Italy.I would appreciate your honest opinion about Spain.

Kind regards,

Elaine G.

kja

Even though I am not Jamikins, I will attempt a reply.

They are all different -- different histories, cultures, terrain, foods, types of things to see/do....

It is, I think, hard to respond without knowing what aspects of Sicily seemed a disappointment or, at least, unexpected surprise. Or what aspects of Italy and France you particularly treasure. I, personally, would never have likened Sicily to France....

Have you consulted some of the guidebooks that provide high quality photos? That might prove helpful to you.

jamikins

Thanks so much plufmud! You are so kind!

Sicily is still on my list of places to go but it is difficult to convince Bikerscott to give up time in our beloved Le Marche to go there! I finally convinced him to come to Spain!

We are having an amazing time, much more tourist site seeing than our usual relaxing in the countryside of Italy! There is so much to see! Food has been amazing, but Spanish food is not my favourite and honestly after 1.5 weeks I am a bit Spanish flooded out unfortunately.

I cannot say that Sicily or Spain are like France...Andalusia is nothing like anywhere I have been before. I suppose the mix of cultures may be like Sicily but I couldn't say. It certainly is nothing like any part of France I have been!

We have enjoyed every minute of our trip, but our heart is still in Le Marche

I hope this helps!

plufmud

Sorry~wrong thread. Thanks jamikins and kja for your replies.

I meant to say our local guide compared Sicily to Spain not France. The history of Sicily is fascinating and we learned so much. The landscape was more rugged/rocky than expected with wonderful UNESCO sites but the food and wine was average compared to France and mainland Italy.

Wish we had visited in May to see the wildflowers/green hillsides as the summer has been extremely with evidence of fires on many hillsides, even to the top of Erice.

We started our trip in Palermo which threw us off guard somewhat. Yes, the churches/Monreale/Cefalu were beautiful however the trash and littering on every side street except the 2 main streets was very unexpected in a city with such a rich history.

I think everyone has their favorites and Sicily just wasn't one for us.

jamikins

Happy to help - I assumed that's what you meant!

I have to say that Andalusia is one of the cleanest areas we have visited! They clean the streets constantly and there is very little litter! They put little garbage bins on tables and under them for the napkins for tapas. It is really amazing.

Bedar

From Granada you must take the bus to Malaga since there is no train between the two. Bus service on the Costa del Sol is excellent so take a bus to Marbella if you don't rent a car. In fact, Marbella can be historical and charming. Have a look at Old Town Marbella and the Plaza de los Naranjos (orange trees). Have fun !

kja

I would not consider anywhere in Spain, but especially Andalusia, to be like Sicily. JMO.

I repeat my suggestion to look at guidebooks with high quality photos – the National Geographic Traveller, Eyewitness, or Insight Guides. Those books also have information on history, culture, cuisines, etc., and so should help you decide if Spain is worth the “risk” to you.

As you say, everyone has his/her own opinion, and vive la difference!

FWIW, I believe there are some tapas / pintxos bars where the norm is to simply drop one’s napkin on the floor; I believe that is more common in northern Spain than in southern Spain. If that would bother you, keep it in mind.

jamikins

Kja funny you should mention that! We have told by all the guides we have used that the practise of dropping your napkin is northern! Southern always use the little garbage bin on the table or under the table and we have certainly found that to be true. I have not seen napkins on the floor in our entire two weeks.

kja

@ jamikins: I could be wrong, but I believe it is a norm associated with Basque pintxos bars. The number of napkins on the floor is, IIRC, considered a sign of the popularity of the place.

jamikins

Haha reminds me of some bars at home where the number of peanut shells on the floor means the same thing!