trip ideas

We are thinking about going to France, Spain or Ireland in the spring. Any advice?

Message edited 9/6/2010 8:35:23 PM.

Re: planning a trip to spain

Seville was my favorite city

Also Barcelona, Costa del Sol, Madrid (I feel like you should see the big cities ie: Rome, although I always prefer the more quaint ones like Seville, the sights in the big cities are worth it).

When we went we also did Portugal--which was really beautiful so I would recommend that.Lisbon is breathtaking .

Message edited 8/19/2010 8:42:45 AM.

Re: planning a trip to spain

Barcelona.. its just an amazing place! If you like seafood, Barcelona is the place to go!

750 is a good price..

Re: planning a trip to spain

loved Spain. would so love to go back with dh!!!

LOVED Seville, Madrid, San Sebastian (in Basque country), Barcelona.

Re: planning a trip to spain

I just booked our flights.

we are flying in to Barcelona but flying out of Milan (after a drive through the Provence )

we paid just over $700 for our multi destination tickets after all the taxes and fees, but I think this is high.

the last time I went to spain we paid less than $600 but with airfares these days you just never know.

we are flying in for a family wedding, with specific dates, if you are flexible you could possibly get it for less.

swiss air has fares in the middle 600's right now for october with a layover in each direction.

as far as where to go, that totally depends.

Madrid has some great museums that for me, was a must see. Retiro Park is also beautiful. that being said, unless something fabulous was going on there I probably wouldn't go back.

I loved Seville and would love to eventually go south into Andalucia and perhaps into Morocco from there.

but this time my trip is taking me back to Barcelona, which I absolutely LOVE. it is such a great walking town. and then into the heart of the Basque country. we are renting a house in a small town our family lives in and will explore the area. dying to go to San Sebastian.

Hemingway would be so sad that they've outlawed bull fighting up there!

Re: planning a trip to spain

Posted by Ophelia



I just booked our flights.

we are flying in to Barcelona but flying out of Milan (after a drive through the Provence )

we paid just over $700 for our multi destination tickets after all the taxes and fees, but I think this is high.

the last time I went to spain we paid less than $600 but with airfares these days you just never know.

we are flying in for a family wedding, with specific dates, if you are flexible you could possibly get it for less.

swiss air has fares in the middle 600's right now for october with a layover in each direction.

as far as where to go, that totally depends.

Madrid has some great museums that for me, was a must see. Retiro Park is also beautiful. that being said, unless something fabulous was going on there I probably wouldn't go back.

I loved Seville and would love to eventually go south into Andalucia and perhaps into Morocco from there.

but this time my trip is taking me back to Barcelona, which I absolutely LOVE. it is such a great walking town. and then into the heart of the Basque country. we are renting a house in a small town our family lives in and will explore the area. dying to go to San Sebastian.

Hemingway would be so sad that they've outlawed bull fighting up there!

Message edited 8/20/2010 12:01:57 PM.

Re: planning a trip to spain

I've only been to Barcelona but I LOVED it!

Some of my favorite things:
Lots of great food (paella and sangria YUM )
Lots of amazing sites and history - La Sagrada Familia church, Picasso Museum, Gaudi architecture and art - Park Guell
Walking down Las Ramblas (famous street in Barcelona) - lots of shops, restaurants and fun things to see and do
Live flamenco shows

Re: planning a trip to spain

Barcelona was awesome! there is even a beach right in the city.

The price seems pretty decent for airfare - we lucked out and got ours for $550 each last year BUT they were as much as $800 just a few days before we booked. I HATE buying airfare, the prices change every day and you always feel like you are getting ripped off. Direct flights are the way to go, so if the times/dates work I would do it. We have paid as much as $850 each to fly to London, so I think it's expensive no matter what you do. (with our london flights, the flight was only $400, there was $450 in taxes and fees!!!!)

Re: planning a trip to spain

Dh is from Madrid and we have flown in to Madrid, but also to Barcelona.

I think that 750 is a great price. Last summer was 1250+ at one point, but DH likes to go during August (when all of Europe is on vacation) when his town has a bull festival, so I don't think we will ever see a cheap flight...LOL I'm sure going off peak times have better prices.


I hear rave reviews about the south of Spain from everyone. I have never been, but I have been to the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Minorca and Ibeza) and I loved it. The food was a really interesting cross between Italian and Spanish (Since it's not far from Italy at that point)

Re: planning a trip to spain

I would fly into Madrid, definitely need to spend at least 2 days there - Parque Retiro, el Prado, la Reina Sofia, el Palacio Real and the numerous fountains and just gorgeous streets.

Sevilla is beautiful as well.

I loved Cordoba and Granada - visit the Alhambra. One of the most serene places I've ever seen.

I enjoyed San Sebastian del Norte also, we drove from Madrid (from what I remember, 4 hours?)

South of Sevilla is Cadiz, nice city as well. Beaches were lovely.

Ibiza if you want clubs/partying - you will need to fly there.

Galicia is a beautiful province in the Northwest (Santiago de Compostela is beautiful).

Toledo is a short ride from Madrid, you can do a bus tour in one day if you'd like to explore it.

The only city I regret not seeing is Barcelona - I think you'd need at least two days there as well.

If you map out the cities you want to see, most likely you can drive. But beware, I found the drivers very quick and aggressive!

I love Spain and can't wait to return!

Re: planning a trip to spain

Message edited 8/21/2010 10:12:18 PM.

Re: planning a trip to spain

Posted by melbalalala

Posted by DiamondGirl

When we went we also did Portugal--which was really beautiful so I would recommend that.Lisbon is breathtaking .

I couldn't disagree with you more about Lisbon I was horribly disappointed and thought it was terribly ugly and depressing there.

QUOTE]



I will say that going from Spain to Portugal the difference is jarring, but I LOVED Portugal.

there was something so much more "real" and earthy about it. no pretense, no gimmicks...just people.

Portugal is actually one of the poorer countries in the EU. everything is cheaper there though, so that is a plus.

we didn't go to Lisbon so I can't comment directly, but we were to Oporto. and one of the most memorable things I've ever done on a trip has been to take a riverboat cruise down the Douro to the estuary of the Atlantic.

to see what those brave, courageous (and perhaps, CRAZY) explorers saw before setting off in their ships to discover the ocean blue is simply mind blowing.

it's definitely NOT the same as going to Spain, but I loved it somehow, more, because of that.

Re: planning a trip to spain

trip ideas

thanks :)

Message edited 9/6/2010 8:35:40 PM.