CB goes to Spain in September - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Hey tpunks... just got my vacation approved! It's only 2 weeks, but I figure I'd go to Spain... the problem is that it seems like too little time to see/do what I want (but what else is new?)

I'd welcome and comments/suggestions from people who've been to eastern and southern Spain... I don't really know about any of these cities (except for Ibiza, for obvious reasons), but everything else on the list can be changed!!! Would you rather put in Granada rather than Corduba, for instance?

THE PLAN

31-Aug CB arrives in Madrid in the morning, catches the train to Seville
1-Sep Seville
2-Sep Seville
3-Sep Corduba
4-Sep Corduba
5-Sep Valencia
6-Sep Valencia
7-Sep Valencia
8-Sep Ibiza
9-Sep Ibiza
10-Sep Barcelona
11-Sep CB flies out in the morning...

**Rebel1** · 08-09-2009, 11:50 PM

Hey J, long time no talk.

I've been to both Granada and Sevilla. Granada has a great feel to it. It has the Alhambra of course, which is a much see. The nightlife is a can't miss too. I had a blast in my four days there. I stayed at Oasis hostel. Nice place, great help, great people. It is in a pretty good location in the city and easily accessible by bus. If they offer the tapas tour, do it. It's a great way to meet people and explore the nightlife. I think the city and the hostel would be right up your alley.

Sevilla is a great town too, and i think i saw more of it. I stayed near the river at Trianas Backpackers hostel. It's within walking distance to most landmarks. Great accomidations too but Granada just had a better feel to me.

I can't speak for Corduba but out of the two, i would make some room for Granada. You could just go back to Greece you know?

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-10-2009, 06:23 AM

Thanks Mo, good to talk to you again. It's been like 2 years since we explored Ios, wrecked on Ouzo and beer. LOL

OK cool, good to know. I'll definitely consider Granada. Did you go to any small towns too? I think I might want to hit one of those up.

Yeah... I considered Greece again, but Espana is still my first travel love

**Dig** · 08-10-2009, 06:00 PM

CB - My wife and I went to spain this may. We did a circle from starting and ending in Madrid. We also went to Cordoba, Sevilla, Nerja, Granada in that order due to geography.

In Cordoba we stayed at a place called Anis senses y colores. It was awesome. Right in the middle of the old Jewish quarter and very secure, clean and private. They had all sorts of perks too like a bar/snack/lounge area, solarium, etc.

In Sevilla we stayed at the travelers Inn. Again it was in the Jewish quarter. This place had a more party atmoshere. There is also a sister hostel nearby. Great location and staff. Great price too.

Nerja was just awesome. Sleepy little fishing village turned beach resort. It is still sleepy though. Wonderful pebble beaches that are great for a cool down. Great party life due to many British expat retreating here. Prices were cheap and food was awesome. We stayed at a small hostel that focuses on Swedish tourism. It was family run and felt like a 3 star hotel. You can walk all of town in half a day just about.

In Granada we again stayed in the Jewish/Gypsy quarter. Our hostel had they typical open-interior floor plan. It had the best view of the Alhambra in the entire city I think. Of all the times for my camera to go on the fritz... I can't remember the name of this place though.

I'm diglet on hostelworld if you want to look at my reviews there.

We stayed in the same hostel twice in Madrid due to the location, security, and cleanliness.

Hope that helped.

**travelpunk** · 08-10-2009, 07:03 PM

I've only spent a couple of hours in both Granada and Cordoba. Not long enough to see anything other than the main attractions.

I'm in Madrid so if you have any free time and want to meet up for some cañas y tapas, let me know

!

**marc873** · 08-10-2009, 08:38 PM

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, can you tell Im Jealous?!!! Ive met a shitload of Tpunks, even CB in Ios, but NEVER the Godfather!!! WTF

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-11-2009, 08:02 AM

Thanx Dig - very useful info.

GODFATHER - if you are free on the 31st, I am defintiely down for a meet up! Mid-day beers are my cup of tea =) I'll probably try to take the train that afternoon/evening to Seville.

I'm thinking of winging this entire trip... book nothing, plan nothing - which is a big step for me because as I said very recently, I ALWAYS need an itinerary

For such a short period of time, its not worth getting some sort of Rail pass right?

CB

**travelpunk** · 08-11-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian Bacon

GODFATHER - if you are free on the 31st, I am defintiely down for a meet up! Mid-day beers are my cup of tea =) I'll probably try to take the train that afternoon/evening to Seville.

So far, I beieve I am free, unless a new teaching schedule comes out for me as Spaniards head back home from summer vacation.

Do you mean August 31st or Sept 30th?

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc873

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, can you tell Im Jealous?!!! Ive met a shitload of Tpunks, even CB in Ios, but NEVER the Godfather!!! WTF

Well, when you guys coming over?! Venga, vamos

!

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-11-2009, 12:09 PM

August 31... Sweet - meetup with the Godfather!!!

**Dig** · 08-11-2009, 06:03 PM

I found most point to point train rides were reasonable to mid priced. Bus tickets were really cheap though. We only took the buses to and from Nerja though. No need for rail pass.

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-12-2009, 06:46 AM

Thanks Dig - never thought about buses... although I do hate the greyhound. Maybe Spanish buses are better.

But do you tpunks think its a little too much to chew to hit Seville, Granada, Corduba, Valencia, Ibiza in a span of 11 days?

I don't mind pushing myself IF its worth to see all these places, or are these all places you gotta CHILL at?

CB

**Dig** · 08-12-2009, 05:49 PM

Spanish buses are the same as greyhound, but the average rider is just that average. The waypoints were better too. Bus coverage is also far greater then train service, as usual. I just liked it because it added a nice flexibility to my trip.

tip: an easy place to get a train ticket from Madrid is in the Corte de Ingles downtown. They have a tourism thingy inside.

I think 11 days is a bit rushed. We did 5 cities, one we saw twice, in 14 days and that felt just about right. Those cities were also all a bit closer.

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-24-2009, 07:38 AM

OK tpunks, so I think i've tentatively settled on a rough itinerary, although this is subject to change because I'm not booking anything.

Sounds hectics doesn't it??? Changes are I may drop a day here and add a day there... I'd love to fit more in, but it doesn't look possible!

THE REVISED PLAN
31-Aug CB arrives in Madrid in the morning, meets up with the GODFATHER and then catches the train to Granada
1-Sep Granada
2-Sep Granada
3-Sep Granada
4-Sep Malaga
5-Sep Malaga
6-Sep Valencia
7-Sep Valencia
8-Sep Ibiza
9-Sep Ibiza
10-Sep Barcelona
11-Sep CB flies out in the morning...

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-24-2009, 07:46 AM

By the way just to add... in Malaga I am meeting up with two cute Swiss girls who I met back in 2005 backpacking Europe for the first time. They have rented a house with 5 of their friends (all swiss girls) and are expecting me to come visit them.

Incidentally this is my first trip taken without a girlfriend at home MUAHAHA

**Dig** · 08-24-2009, 04:06 PM

I was really gonna suggest Nerja over Malaga, but not anymore. That sounds like a blast

! All I gotta say is topless beach

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-25-2009, 06:23 AM

Dig - what's Nerja like? Smaller than Malaga... more cultural? If its cooler, I definitely will hit it up.

**freespiritz** · 08-25-2009, 07:29 AM

I did Cordoba as a daytrip from Granada, and that was all I really needed..just to see the mosque and shop for silver things lol.

Have fun!! I did Valencia-Sevilla-Granada (+Cordoba)-Madrid-Barcelona in 14 days and that was insane enough but excellent. Loved the first 3 stops the most I think.

**Canadian Bacon** · 08-25-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freespiritz

I did Cordoba as a daytrip from Granada, and that was all I really needed..just to see the mosque and shop for silver things lol.

Have fun!! I did Valencia-Sevilla-Granada (+Cordoba)-Madrid-Barcelona in 14 days and that was insane enough but excellent. Loved the first 3 stops the most I think.

WOW 14 days! How much time did you spend in each place?

**Dig** · 08-25-2009, 07:02 PM

Nerja was just a really cool, cheap, laid back village. It was a fishing village before some European tv station did a series set in Nerja. Since then it has picked up in tourism, but for the better (new streets, walkways, street lights, etc).

Malaga looked more industrial with a larger port and more highway access. Rick Steves also recommends not going to Malaga vs other nearby towns. I do have a co-worker that goes to Malaga every year and loves it.

Nerja was my wife's favorite place and for me it is a tie between Nerja and Cordoba.

**freespiritz** · 08-26-2009, 03:02 AM

Hmm it was about 3 days or a bit less in each place with some overnight buses and trains thrown in to save time - we didn't call it the spanish plan of insanity for nothing, lol!