Have you been to Spain? Can you help me plan our trip?

I read the entire Spain for dummies book and kinda came up with an itinerary, but I'm stuck. I feel like I should add more to it or something. We are going to Madrid for a few days and then to Seville. Is there anything I should know about in these cities or see in particular? Are bullfights only given on certain days? THANKS! This is driving me crazy!


September 27th Fly to Spain
Date: 27SEP - MONDAY
Flight : IBERIA
Departure: NEW YORK JFK 10:10 PM
Arrival: MADRID 11:20 AM September 28th





Take Airport bus to Madrid from airport, called Bus 89. Cost 2.40e per person. Stop at Plaza Carlos for Holiday Inn. Checkin time for holiday Inn is at 1pm.

Holiday Inn Madrid, Placa Carlos Trias Bertran, 4
Tel: 34-91-4568000
Fax: 34-91-4568001
Email: [email protected]

Explore in Madrid,
Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace Viejo Madrid and Bourbon Madrid

Stop to eat at Tapas bar (Plaza Mayor) or restaurant Botin or Casa Lucio

Find out about Sol Opentours

Tours to see:
El Escorial, Toledo, Valle de los Caidos










Take taxi to the AVE train at Puerta de Atocha Renfe train station to Seville. 2 ½ hour ride, arrive in Santa Justa. Taxi from Ave train to hotel about 7e. Take to Barrio Santa Cruz. Calle Ximenex de Enciso is the farthest the taxi can go. Walk down the small alleyway to where our hotel is located.

Check into hotel, sightsee (about a three minute walk).
Santa Cruz- tour around windy roads, typical sevillian homes and the Plaza. See Murillo gardens, eat at La Albahaca, Los Gallos Tabalo, and El Tamboril bar.
visit Cathedral- (third largest in the world)
Giralda Tower, Giralda tower has 37 ramps, (no steps b/c horsemen) for Beth and Evan to go up and see the views.

Take horse drawn carriage ride in front of Cathedral. 40 minute tour, about 30e

evening: Flamenco Show- Los Gallos in Barrio Santa Cruz,. 1130 pm.


Second day: Alcazar de Sevilla- royal residence. Zona Centro.
Also can see the Cada de Pilatos? (out of the way)

Boat trip down the river, half hour leave from Torre de Orro.
At Torre de Orro: Go to ticket office and buy bullfights tickets for a night in Seville. 630 show. La Real Maestranza Plaza de Toros:


Take Renfe train to Alicante.



Date: 08OCT - FRIDAY
Flight : BRITISH AIRWAYS 6967
Departure: ALICANTE 11:35 AM
Arrival: LONDON GATWICK 1:00 PM
Operated By: OPERATED BY GB AIRWAYS LTD
BETH
COACH

Date: 08OCT - FRIDAY
Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES 107
Departure: LONDON HEATHROW 6:30 PM
Arrival: NEW YORK JFK 9:05 PM
BETH

Hey beth - i went to Spain this summer - how long are you going for? Where else do you plan on going?

Toledo is about 45 minute drive from Madrid goign south and El Escoreal is about an hour drive going north west from Madrid. Toledo is Beautiful!! We wish we had alotted more than a day there - the cathedral there is very gorgeous - if you go after 3 there is no entrance fee. Also in Toledo there is a workshop that sells authentic damasquenado items which are so beautiful but insanley expensive - i bought earrings that were pretty - i'll post a pic when i get home.

In Madrid you have to see the Plaza de Toros - if its a Sunday you can see a bullfight. We didnt get to tour the Bullring though. We went to the Palacio Real and the adjoining gardens (the royal family used to live there.) Also a must is the Prado Museum and the Crystal Palace.

In Sevilla there is a great flamenco dinner show - i'll get the name for you. Also in Sevilla - there is a HUGE cathedral that is just gorgeous and teh Plaza de Espana which is very beautiful. We were able to tour the Sevilla Plaza de Toros - it was short about 20 minutes.

Frommers book on Spain is also very good -

I'll post more later tonight - feel free to ask me questions.

If you wanted to see a little more you could try one of the islands.

We went to Mallorca last summer when we were in Europe and absolutely loved it! We went in July though and the weather was unbelievably nice...I am not sure how it is in late September.

Whatever you do you will love it! Enjoy!

If you are renting a car - you can buy some great maps in El Corte Ingles - do you speak any spanish?

Bancotel is a great way to book hotels - you can find hotels starting at 50 Euros a night but you have to buy a booklet of 5.

In Sevilla we stayed at the Congressos Hotel - right across from the Congress - it was such a great hotel- through bancotel - we paid 50 Euros a night - i think it was a 4 star hotel - the room was great - the bathroom clean - and we had breakfast each morning. - the only thing is that it wasnt close to the main city - abotu 10-15 minute drive - but it was very close to the airport


I have the eyewitness guide to Spain - i'll look through it tonight and post some more info

I actually didnt love the Costa del Sol. We stayed there for two days. I mean it is pretty but it isnt what i went for - its very touristy and it was just way too hot to sit out in the sun. The beaches in the North (porto de Son) were so much prettier in my opinion.

I've heard Barcelona is a must though if you have time - from your Itinerary Beth it looks like you dont - but its a trip i'm planning on doing in the future.

Oh - also try to eat at a Paella place in Seville. That is the one thing i regret not doing. The girls i went too werent too big on Paella - and Paella is usually ordered for two people.

DH and me are def going soon, my best friend lives in Madrid and I know for sure is beautiful there. She is from Malaga in la costa del sol and it's just amazing.

I would definitely get Barcelona on your list! I've been a few times and Barcelona wins out over Madrid.

Also, see if you can spend a night in one of the castles. I forget what they call them, but they're govt run hotels that were once private castles. We stayed in one in the countryside and it was fabulous!

OMG you guys are awesome and AtticaQT- you are AMAZING!

Thank you so much, its so great to have this info like trying the paella and what to see. The tour books tend to overload with info and everything sounds wonderful so its so hard to choose where to see.

Thanks again!

I stayed in Madrid. I visited Toleda, Avila, Segovia, and El Escorial. I wish I could have spent the whole day in El Escorial. El Prado is also awesome, if you're in to art.

El Greco's most famous painting is in a small cathedral in Toledo, but A LOT of his other work is housed in El Prado.

Also, the Crystal Palace is nice. When I went, it was completely empty. But, it was SO NICE be be able to 'see through' the whole thing!