Hello All,

This is my first ever post on your site. I've enjoyed reading many of the different topics.

I'd like some insight from you. I've been researching our upcoming trip and we have some questions and concerns. We are looking to come for approximately 15 to 17 days. I am bringing my mom (64) and my goddaughter (12) with me. For my mom this maybe a once in a lifetime trip so we want to see as much as we can.

We have family we have never met in Avila. How does this itinerary seem to you all. We realize we will be on a whirlwind tour.

Day 1 Fly overnight
Day 2 Land in Madrid
Day 3 Madrid
Day 4 Madrid
Day 5 Segovia (haven't decided on whether to stay the night or just take the train/bus for the day)
Day 6 Avila
Day 7 Avila
Day 8 Salamanca
Day 9 Salamanca
Day 10 Toledo (Haven't decided whether we want to stay the night here or just take the train)

We are not sure if it would be better to just stay in Madrid these days or actually split it up and stay in the smaller cities?

Days 11 to 13 We'd like to do Cordoba and Granada

Would it be crazy to spend day 11 traveling from Toledo/Madrid/Cordoba? Sightsee 1 day in Cordoba, then train to Granada, do 1 day sightseeing there, spend the night and train to Sevilla?

Day 14 to 16 Sevilla (Either fly home from Sevilla or take train back to Madrid to catch flight)

Day 17 Travel home

We have two must do's - obviously 2 days in Avila and then we will be making an appointment at the Museum of Americas when in Sevilla. We are part California Indian and we are there to do some research work on artifacts housed there.

Thank you for any insights/comments.
Lisa

My other question is how much of this would you do via car vs. train? Or would you recommend just trains/buses?

We thought about renting a car while in the Madrid area, then giving it up and using train to get to Cordoba/Granada/Sevilla?

Will finding parking in Madrid at night after a day of being outside the city be tough?

Thank you. ;>

Lisann,

I suggest that you use public transportation or walking. Many of the sites that tourists want to see are in walking distance. Public transportation is excellent in Madrid and affordable.

Think about the places that you want to see and plan from there. Having a car in Madrid can be a pain and parking is not that easy, especially at night when you have many other people trying to come to the city center to do things and find a parking space.

This should give you some idea of the car situation, but I hope others come in and give their opinion too.

Happy planning,

Shawn

Hi Lisa,

Well, your itinerary certainly does seem ambitious, especially with wanting to do Andalucia in 4 days. However, I understand your reason for going to Seville.

Segovia and Avila are very close to Madrid and are usually done as day trips by those staying in the city. Since you are planning on staying in Avila for a couple of days, why not make Segovia one of your day trips from Avila rather than Madrid? Segovia and Avila are very close to each other. Segovia is about 90Km from Madrid and accessible by car in about 1.5 hours. If you decide to go to Segovia from Madrid, I would definitely recommend the bus rather than the train since the train station is a bit far from the tourist sites (but walkable). The bus drops you off almost at the door of the tourist office.

I would make Toledo a day trip from Madrid rather than traveling there from Salamanca and also recommend taking a bus.

Calculate that Cordoba is about a 4 hour drive from Madrid and through a mountain pass. I have never been there, but was researching it as a possible get away spot over a long weekend. You can get there taking the AVE in a little over an hour.

You will want more than one day in Granada. Especially if you plan on visiting La Alhambra which itself needs one day. IMHO there is no point in visiting Granada if you don't visit La Alhambra.

Have a great trip!

Thank you Redwood and Chica for your input.

Yeah, I'm frustrated in trying to figure out how to make it all work and not be completely exhausted. I think ultimately we will have to make so tough choices to cut some places.

I am leaning towards just making Madrid or Avila home base while there and traveling each day to the places we want to see.

Thanks for the tip about bussing to Segovia. I did read about that.

We do plan to travel via AVE to Cordoba and then from Sevilla back to Madrid.

If you had to give something up (not Avila or Sevilla) what would you eliminate?

We do indeed want to see the Alhambra, my main reason to go to Granada and also the Mezquita in Cordoba.

<sigh> I'm so stressing. ;>

Hi,

You'll struggle to get from Salamanca to Toledo by public transport, so I second the suggestion of doing it as a day trip from Madrid. Alternatively, www.eurohop.es do a trip from Madrid to Granada with a 4 hour stop and guided tour of Toledo in the middle. With such a busy timetable, this will save you some time. Or just drop Toledo - IMHO it is over rated, especially as you are going to Avila, which has nicer city walls than Toledo.

I also agree with visiting Segovia from Avila. There is a frequent bus which takes one hour. El Escorial and the Valle de los Caidos is a nice day trip from Avila - maybe your family might like to take you there.

You can't fly outside of Europe from Seville, so you'll need to return to Madrid.

I have a page on the pros and cons of bus, train and car: http://gospain.about.com/od/traintravelinspain/qt/traintravel.htm

Regards,

Damian