Going to be traveling in late July with some friends to Santiago. After that, the plan is to rent a car and drive back down to Madrid, stopping halfway (more or less) for the night and a break. After a night in Madrid they are going to head up to San Sebastian by car, again, hoping to stop halfway for the night. Any suggestions for interesting places to stop and stay on these trajectories (towns, lodging)? Thanks!

Hi schwendy, we have done that trip many times and some of our favorite spots are Burgos (where we are stopping this summer again!) (the El mesón del Cid, Leon (especially if you can stay at the Hotel San Marcos,Hotel San Marcos, (León is a great city to walk around in and have good tapas. The cathedrals in León and Burgos are spectacular.Zamora (especially at the parador) is also a nice stopping point, we loved the parador and watching the storks on the rooftops...we have gone to Ponferrada and enjoyed the castle there (of the Knights Templar) very much! Also, in Galicia the city of Lugo is worth stopping in to walk the walls of the city.

have a great trip!

Zamora or Toro would be good stopovers on the way to Santiago. Lots of great wine and cheese in that region and amazing medieval romanesque architecture (especially the colegiata in Toro).

We stayed at the NH hotel in Zamora and it was nice. We got a really good deal from Rates to Go or one of the other sites that does last minute hotel reservations.

Thanks for all the helpful info! Ok, plans have changed somewhat-we are DEFINITELY hitting Burgos, thanks very much for those suggestions. Looking into a place to stay between Santiago and Burgos-actually Ponferrada looks great-where did you stay Marcela?

Hi Wendy

Let me give you my small tips..
In the way to Burgus , Autovia A-1, de Madrid A Irun, Km.235 is located Landa Palace.
www.landapalace.es , You definitely must stop there, for a cerveza and the best morcia you will ever get.
I spent a night in the mountains near Betanzos near Coruna, in a magnificent casa rural belong to a friend of a friend...going to be open on July
It used to be an old stable, this guy Carlos and his partner renovated and made 6 astonishing rooms, with a great taste of decoration.
And..they have there a small spa they will do all kind of massage... and all kind of wrapping in oil and in chocolate, Champagne etc, they have jacuzzi, Sauna, and a small pool.
here are the details:

Casal de Mouros
Hotel Rustico

Carlos del Rio-Manager

Casal de Mouros 2
15313 Ambroa-irixoa
La Coruna
Tlf: 981105900 / 981654541
Movil: 607 564 480
cm@casaldemouros.com

c.rio@viajesrctravel.com

My friend Nirit is highly recomended this casa rural:
Casa DO Castelo de Andrade
Pontedeume
981 43 38 39
636 17 61 32
www.casteloandrade.com


I had a very nice lunch In La coruna,
On the beach, about 12 euros fer person
Creperie petit Bretagne
Avda.De la Marina, 4 , La coruna
tlf: 981228011
It is not far from la Plaza de Maria Pita

* I wouldn't miss the rias baixas..

Santiago De Compustela

2 nice small hotels, one is an old convent rebuilt as a pension, both of them have an interior exquisite garden, were a breakfast can be served.
I had my breakfast in Costa Vella and it was my best breakfast in Spain.

Hotel Costa Vella
C/Puerta de la pena,17
Tlf: 981569530
www.costavella.com


Casa Felisa
Porta de pena 5
tlf:981582577
www.casafelisa.es

a charming old style cafe/restaurant, since 1873
Cafe Casino
Rua del Villar, 35
tlf:981577503


The municipality of Santiago de compustela has guided tours (in Spanish) for 2 hours.
The cost is 8 euro per person

16.10 - 31.3
every morning at 12:00
1.4 - 15.10
Mornings at 12:00
evenings at 18:00


A guided visit to the roofs of the cathedral, they are 30 meters high.
The cost is 10 euro per person.

Hope it will help you
Enjoy your trip
big hug
Nava

Ponferrada is big and mostly modern.
You might want to look at Astorga, or perhaps a place in El Bierzo (like Villafranca del Bierzo). Only seen the latter from the bus, but the countryside looks good, and there is Las Médulas of course (not been there myself).

Galicia has a festivo on July 25, and the fiesta that day in Santiago is the most important fiesta in all Galicia, it also goes
on the evening before.

PS: for this type of question, you might find it useful just to look at your favourite guidebook, the authors (should) know more collectively than we do!
--
Stephen

The reason I mention Ponferrada is to go to the castle, which is spectacular and worth the stop. I agree that the town in modern and that there are better places to stay overnight.

Great! Thanks for the advice!