OReilly

I have been to Salamanca about three times, several years ago, and I adore it danon! I had a great trip there with my two sisters, staying for two nights. They were enchanted.

I will check out the 'fast train'. thank you.

Interesting advice. Maybe I should not stay in Madrid so long, but move about a bit in the area. I had not thought of that, so this is great input about rearranging the Madrid days.

Thank you danon.

Regards ... Ger

danon

also,
AVE takes 1:45 to Valencia from Madrid.
A great place ( if you have not been ) .

Elizabeth_S

We stayed in a one bedroom Santa Cruz apartment managed by Veo as well -- looks like price is right for you. Loved it and the area.

http://www.veoapartment.com/apartmen...ta-cruz-c.html

Elizabeth_S

We stayed in this simple hote in Córdoba in January. Cheap and cheerful and right by the mesquita

http://www.hotelmaestre.com

kja

In general, your plan looks great to me – except that I don’t understand a day trip to Cordoba when you plan to spend 2 days there (which I think is a great idea – I found more than enough to fill nearly 48 hours in Cordoba). So is your day trip to Cordoba or to Carmona?

I was glad to have more than 48 hours in Toledo, and even as a HARD traveler, I could have used more time there.

I wanted 4 full days for Madrid itself, not counting Toledo or Segovia; YMMV.

FWIW, I thought 3 nights right for Granada – one full day for the Alhambra, one full day for the highlihgts of the rest of the city.

Hope that helps!

kimhe

If you like <Art, Architecture, History, Walking and Food> do go to 3000 year old Málaga city on a later weekend. Málaga is Andalucía's "city of culture with its so-called 'mile of art' being compared to Madrid, and its dynamism and fine dining to Barcelona." https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga

Fabulous sights right in the city centre, great food, theater and nightlife scene, and genuine, laid-back Andalucian atmosphere. I go to Andalucía all the time, and the one place never to miss for me is Málaga: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...pt-secret.html

OReilly

Continued thanks.

kimhe: I am leaving Malaga for a separate trip probably later in the year.

You have convinced me about the White Village and Rhonda. I am looking into a bus tour that goes to both on the same day and is relatively cheap.

regards Ger

OReilly

BTW, I will be using Maribel's Guides for my planning. For those of you that don't know her, she is a former member of this site and here guides are amazing. She was of enormous help to me in the past when planning trips to Spain.

http://www.maribelsguides.com/city-and-regional-guides/

indyhiker

Ger, just an FYI that some of Maribel's site is a bit out-of-date. For instance, some of the info on the Alhambra has changed--just within the last few months.

OReilly

Thank you indyhiker

I have also ordered a guide book for Seville and surrounding area and Madrid.

OReilly

Hello all:

Taking on-board your recommendations, I have come up with a revised plan. I am adding an extra day to my itinerary (total 17 days) which will be spent in Madrid.

This gives me:
- 4 full days to explore Madrid, plus two side-trip days (Toledo and Segovia)
- 3 full days to explore Seville, plus two side trips (Carmona and Arcos de la Frontera & Ronda)
- 2 full days in Cordoba
- 3 full days in Granada


Here is the revised itinerary, including day trips and travel logistics.

Friday: Madrid: Fly on early morning flight from London
Saturday: Madrid
Sunday: Madrid – Trip to Toledo
Monday: Madrid
Tuesday: Madrid – Trip to Segovia
Wednesday: Madrid
Thursday: Madrid - Evening train to Seville
Friday: Seville
Saturday: Seville – Trip to Carmona
Sunday: Seville
Monday: Seville – Trip to Arcos de la Frontera and Ronda (Tour)
Tuesday: Seville - Evening train to Cordoba
Wednesday: Cordoba
Thursday: Cordoba - Evening train to Granada
Friday: Granada
Saturday: Granada
Sunday: Granada - Fly on evening flight to London

Is there anything you would do differently?

Many thanks for your advice.

Best regards .. Ger

Elizabeth_S

Looks great to me!

danon

looks good
Since you are staying in Madrid for a number of nights,
you migh look at Spain Select for apts.( if you don't prefer hotel stay)
They have 1. Bed. In your price range.
I used them 3 times...a very good outfit.

kja

You can visit Ronda by public transpiration: There are buses to Sevilla, and train / bus / combo options for Granada. See rome2rio.com for your options -- just be sure to check the details, as that site does not capture seasonal variation.

As already noted, I'd spend at least a night (if not two) in Toledo; YMMV.

Should be a great trip!

OReilly

Having done some more reading, there is a slight change to the itinerary. I want to include Priego de Córdoba between Cordoba and Granada, so I am taking a day out of Madrid.

Understanding where you are coming from staying a night in Toledo, but logistically I can't see how I can do it.

Danon: those apartments are wonderful - many thanks! I am seriously considering.

Here is the revised itinerary:

Madrid: Fly on morning flight from London
Madrid:
Madrid: Day Trip to Toledo
Madrid:
Madrid: Day Trip to Segovia
Madrid Evening train to Seville
Seville
Seville: Tour of Arcos de la Frontera and Ronda
Seville
Seville: Day Trip to Carmona
Seville: Evening train to Cordoba
Cordoba
Cordoba: Evening bus to Priego de Cordoba
Priego de Córdoba: Evening bus to Granada
Granada
Granada
Granada: Fly on evening flight to London

Best regards ... Ger

Elizabeth_S

Laterally we rented with Spain Select in Sevilla when the Veo apartment I posted on your other thread wasn't available - they were very good to deal with (but their apartment is probably above your budget although here's a link)

http://sevilla.spain-select.com/en_U...-de-santa-cruz

Brooke_Herron

Great amount of time in each city! I'd just say that I don't agree with one person's comment that you should do less time in Granada-I find it the most interesting lovely city and spent 5 days there and wished I had more-The Alhambra is not the only thing to see-and also The Alhambra can take days to see properly as it's a huge complex with many many many things to see and do and you could easily spend a few hours here per day for three days and not be sorry Then there is the fact that tapas are so plentiful and free in Granada, so many lovely churches, the baths in the Arabic quarter and just so much charm!Granada was, for me, the most affordable city.

p.s try the amazing huge layered tortilla espanolas at Siete Gatos when in Granada!

danon

"The Alhambra can take days to see properly ....."


"Properly" is in the eye of the beholder for any attraction or town/ city.

kja

I'm puzzled by the comment, "Understanding where you are coming from staying a night in Toledo, but logistically I can't see how I can do it" -- Toledo is just 1/2 hour from Madrid by train. You could go straight there upon your arrival in Madrid, spend a night or two, and then return to Madrid. There's certainly no need to stay the night if you don't want to, but doing so should not pose a great logistic challenge.

annhig

Ger - we loved Granda and easily spent our 2 ½ days there, including more or less a full day at the Alhambra. And do not miss the Generalife gardens like one of my friends did because they dallied too long in the Alhambra proper - they are too beautiful to miss.

I can see that the Alhambra Palace might be out of reach, but if you still want to be close to the Alhambra, you might try the Guadalupe, right opposite the site entrance. it was clean, comfortable and inexpensive; it also has a good dining room if you want to eat in. There is a bus down onto town from just outside [some go all the way to the Albercin i believe] , and even more importantly, a bus back up again.

http://www.hotelguadalupe.es/en/

[Elizabeth stayed there much more recently that we did so if you're interested, you should listen to her!]