Where should I go in Portugal and Spain?
Posted: 23 Dec 2008, 22:49Suggestions please! I have no clue!
quote:Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Suggestions please! I have no clue!
When?
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Posted: 23 Dec 2008, 22:49Posted: 23 Dec 2008, 22:51Posted: 23 Dec 2008, 23:06January 2009. Around the 10th to 16th, give or take.
Posted: 23 Dec 2008, 23:23Marbella , great old town and lots to see and do in the area. There are some fantastic restaurants there.
There is a great little hotel that I cannot recommend highly enough.
http://www.lavillamarbella.com/
link to the VF reviews
There is a great little hotel that I cannot recommend highly enough.
http://www.lavillamarbella.com/
link to the VF reviews
Posted: 24 Dec 2008, 00:00quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Marbella , great old town and lots to see and do in the area. There are some fantastic restaurants there.
There is a great little hotel that I cannot recommend highly enough.
http://www.lavillamarbella.com/
link to the VF reviews
Ditto above (just avoid the Golden Mile).Benahvis -fab restaurants and real Spanish village feel. San Pedro/ Estepona good feel and places to eat.January is a great time to visit as it's off season.
Tarifa is also good (particularly if you windsurf), probably the best beaches on the Costas.Only downside currently is the Euro[n]
DL
Marbella , great old town and lots to see and do in the area. There are some fantastic restaurants there.
There is a great little hotel that I cannot recommend highly enough.
http://www.lavillamarbella.com/
link to the VF reviews
Ditto above (just avoid the Golden Mile).Benahvis -fab restaurants and real Spanish village feel. San Pedro/ Estepona good feel and places to eat.January is a great time to visit as it's off season.
Tarifa is also good (particularly if you windsurf), probably the best beaches on the Costas.Only downside currently is the Euro[n]
DL
Posted: 24 Dec 2008, 18:27quote:Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Suggestions please! I have no clue!
This I can gladly help you with, having been to a lot of places in Spain and Portugal in recent years.
If you're in Spain for a few days and stay in the Costa Del Sol (off-season means there won't be the usual riff-raff that dominates the place in the Summer, even though the weather won't be that hot or possibly great) then I suggest you get a car and explore the region.
One place I do recommend you visit is Ronda. It's in the mountains but the drive up from Marbella (easy to miss the sign once you get off the motorway and you're at the roundabout) is full of scenery and although I didn't appreciate it first time, I really do miss the drive up, and the town is a nice place to walk around too. This photo best depicts Ronda...
Some links for you...
http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm
http://www.turismoderonda.es/indexeng.htm
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/ronda/
Another place worth going to in Andalucia is Granada - the architecture of The Alhambra has got to be seen to be believed. If you have the time also, I recommend Seville. I only stayed for one night there but would like to make a short-break out of it.
It's amazing how close the 'real Spain' (define as you will) is from one of the country's most recognised tourist destinations.
Portugal, yep another place definitely worth visiting (and a nice alternative to Spain, but each to their own). The Algarve region has some of the best beaches in Europe. The place I usually stay in is a town called Lagos, nice small town, perfect mix of history yet not being too overdeveloped, and there's a train station should you wish to go for a trip down the Algarve coast towards Faro.
If you get car in Portugal, it's worth visiting Cape St. Vincent - the most south-westernly point of mainland Europe, although you won't be able to make a day of it.
As I said I do know a fair bit, so if you want to know any more or some finer details feel free to PM/e-mail me. [:)]
Suggestions please! I have no clue!
This I can gladly help you with, having been to a lot of places in Spain and Portugal in recent years.
If you're in Spain for a few days and stay in the Costa Del Sol (off-season means there won't be the usual riff-raff that dominates the place in the Summer, even though the weather won't be that hot or possibly great) then I suggest you get a car and explore the region.
One place I do recommend you visit is Ronda. It's in the mountains but the drive up from Marbella (easy to miss the sign once you get off the motorway and you're at the roundabout) is full of scenery and although I didn't appreciate it first time, I really do miss the drive up, and the town is a nice place to walk around too. This photo best depicts Ronda...
Some links for you...
http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm
http://www.turismoderonda.es/indexeng.htm
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/ronda/
Another place worth going to in Andalucia is Granada - the architecture of The Alhambra has got to be seen to be believed. If you have the time also, I recommend Seville. I only stayed for one night there but would like to make a short-break out of it.
It's amazing how close the 'real Spain' (define as you will) is from one of the country's most recognised tourist destinations.
Portugal, yep another place definitely worth visiting (and a nice alternative to Spain, but each to their own). The Algarve region has some of the best beaches in Europe. The place I usually stay in is a town called Lagos, nice small town, perfect mix of history yet not being too overdeveloped, and there's a train station should you wish to go for a trip down the Algarve coast towards Faro.
If you get car in Portugal, it's worth visiting Cape St. Vincent - the most south-westernly point of mainland Europe, although you won't be able to make a day of it.
As I said I do know a fair bit, so if you want to know any more or some finer details feel free to PM/e-mail me. [:)]
Posted: 24 Dec 2008, 18:44Just to note, there are two ways to get to Rhonda from Marbella, the quick way and the not so quick way, take the quick way up there and the not so quick way coming back, the scenery coming back is amazing.
BTW, if you do decide to stay there and pick the villa Marbella, make sure you tell Marcos we say hi [:p]
BTW, if you do decide to stay there and pick the villa Marbella, make sure you tell Marcos we say hi [:p]
Posted: 30 Dec 2008, 18:59Ben, are you any closer to making a decision yet on what to do?
Posted: 30 Dec 2008, 20:57quote:Originally posted by VS075
Ben, are you any closer to making a decision yet on what to do?
Not really. My friend wants to go to Lisbon. Looking at the advise given above, I want to go south. I will bend his arm.
Ben, are you any closer to making a decision yet on what to do?
Not really. My friend wants to go to Lisbon. Looking at the advise given above, I want to go south. I will bend his arm.
Posted: 30 Dec 2008, 21:05I'd second
- Scrooge's Villa Marbella recommendation
- Both Scrooge's and VS075's Ronda trip; the Observer featured it this week in their travel section, placing it in the 'heart of Andalucia' and failing to mention it's a short trip from Marbella....
- VS075's Algarve trip. We stayed a little further out in a place called Tavira and had a great time. Faro has a Chapel made entirely from human bones (Capela des Ossos) which is intriguiging..
I'd also put a vote in for Barcelona...
Paul
- Scrooge's Villa Marbella recommendation
- Both Scrooge's and VS075's Ronda trip; the Observer featured it this week in their travel section, placing it in the 'heart of Andalucia' and failing to mention it's a short trip from Marbella....
- VS075's Algarve trip. We stayed a little further out in a place called Tavira and had a great time. Faro has a Chapel made entirely from human bones (Capela des Ossos) which is intriguiging..
I'd also put a vote in for Barcelona...
Paul
Posted: 31 Dec 2008, 17:33quote:Originally posted by pjhI'd also put a vote in for Barcelona...
Paul
Seconded! [y]
There's lots to see and do in Barcelona, but you should definitely visit the Park Guell to see a lot of Gaudi's work and for a great view over Barcelona.
It's also an easy city to get around thanks to the Metro and you can buy multi-day tickets for unlimited travel. It was a godsend as the hotel we stayed in there, Gran Hotel Torre Catalunya, was located in the business district near the Olympic site but it is across the road from Sants station (with a direct train to Barcelona Airport BCN) and the rates were good too, but this was 3yrs ago.
One thing to watch out for though is pickpockets as I hear they are rife in the city, especially in the tourist areas. Also the prices you pay for food in restaurants on/around La Rambla is a bit extortionate, so if you can, try and find some restaurants away from La Rambla.
Paul
Seconded! [y]
There's lots to see and do in Barcelona, but you should definitely visit the Park Guell to see a lot of Gaudi's work and for a great view over Barcelona.
It's also an easy city to get around thanks to the Metro and you can buy multi-day tickets for unlimited travel. It was a godsend as the hotel we stayed in there, Gran Hotel Torre Catalunya, was located in the business district near the Olympic site but it is across the road from Sants station (with a direct train to Barcelona Airport BCN) and the rates were good too, but this was 3yrs ago.
One thing to watch out for though is pickpockets as I hear they are rife in the city, especially in the tourist areas. Also the prices you pay for food in restaurants on/around La Rambla is a bit extortionate, so if you can, try and find some restaurants away from La Rambla.
Posted: 31 Dec 2008, 18:01Benjamin - need more info ... what do you like (culture ... nightlife ... beaches ... outdoors ... driving ... cities etc.) and how long do you have ...
If culture I'd highly recommend driving between the three cities of Cordoba, Grenada and Seville, beaches et al well others have suggested Marbella but the nightlife is better would you believe it in Torremolinos!!!! Barcelona for cities but do not underestimate Madrid, amazingly good nightlife for which you need extremes of stamina [^].
Any pointers and I'd be glad to suggest more in detail ...
If culture I'd highly recommend driving between the three cities of Cordoba, Grenada and Seville, beaches et al well others have suggested Marbella but the nightlife is better would you believe it in Torremolinos!!!! Barcelona for cities but do not underestimate Madrid, amazingly good nightlife for which you need extremes of stamina [^].
Any pointers and I'd be glad to suggest more in detail ...
Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 15:13So after reviewing all the options and times/dates; we decided to go to Madrid and Lisbon. Lisbon looks to be a bit of fun. I am thinking this trip will be a lead into many other trips to come.
Thanks all for the advice (and feel free to add anything about Madrid and Lisbon).
Thanks all for the advice (and feel free to add anything about Madrid and Lisbon).
Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 15:37Obviously I would have to suggest Benidorm [:D]
