Mike Nelson

I am starting the planning for a 2 week trip to Spain and Portugal in Late
May, and I'd like the group's input on my rough plan....

I'm looking at Flying into Madrid from Dallas. Spending a couple days in
each place, my thoughts are to go from Madrid to Sevilla to the Algarve area
to Lisbon and back to Madrid to Fly back....Will use Train/Bus for
connections between locations....

Good? Bad? Too much? Not enough?.....

This will be my fourth trip to Europe in as many years, but the first to
this area. Solo traveler....

Thanks....
Mike

Nige

If you are in Madrid for a few days, you can visit Toledo in the south
(about one hour on the train) as a day visit. And also Segovia and Escorial
in the North West for another day trip. The itinerary to Seville could take
in Cordoba as it is 'en route' (there is a big feria in Cordoba at the end
of May). In Seville you can take a local train down to Cadiz bay and see
Cadiz, Jerez and El Puerto de Santa Maria. Depending on your interests, you
may want to stay for a few days in this area of western Andalusia. To reach
Lisbon from Seville is not so easy. there are no trains and I believe only
two busses a day run from Sevilla to Faro (Algarve) via Huelva. If you want
to 'do Lisbon' it may be best if you went from Madrid by train? It takes
about 10 hours. You could do an overnight journey one way and day the other?
Madrid-Seville has a fast train - AVE - and this takes only 2 1/2 hours.
Would suggest you look at the www.multimadrid.com site for some info on
Madrid as well as useful Forums. The Spanish rail site is excellent
www.renfe.es when it's up - must be putting on 2003 schedules at the moment
!
Nige
www.spaincostaluz.com


"Mike Nelson" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I am starting the planning for a 2 week trip to Spain and Portugal in Late
    > May, and I'd like the group's input on my rough plan....
    > I'm looking at Flying into Madrid from Dallas. Spending a couple days in
    > each place, my thoughts are to go from Madrid to Sevilla to the Algarve
area
    > to Lisbon and back to Madrid to Fly back....Will use Train/Bus for
    > connections between locations....>
    > Good? Bad? Too much? Not enough?.....>
    > This will be my fourth trip to Europe in as many years, but the first to
    > this area. Solo traveler....>
    > Thanks....
    > Mike

Emilia

"Nige" wrote in
news:[email protected]:

    > If you are in Madrid for a few days, you can visit Toledo in the south
    > (about one hour on the train) as a day visit. And also Segovia and
    > Escorial in the North West for another day trip. The itinerary to
    > Seville could take in Cordoba as it is 'en route' (there is a big
    > feria in Cordoba at the end of May). In Seville you can take a local
    > train down to Cadiz bay and see Cadiz, Jerez and El Puerto de Santa
    > Maria. Depending on your interests, you may want to stay for a few
    > days in this area of western Andalusia. To reach Lisbon from Seville
    > is not so easy. there are no trains and I believe only two busses a
    > day run from Sevilla to Faro (Algarve) via Huelva. If you want to 'do
    > Lisbon' it may be best if you went from Madrid by train? It takes
    > about 10 hours. You could do an overnight journey one way and day the
    > other? Madrid-Seville has a fast train - AVE - and this takes only 2
    > 1/2 hours. Would suggest you look at the www.multimadrid.com site for
    > some info on Madrid as well as useful Forums. The Spanish rail site
    > is excellent www.renfe.es when it's up - must be putting on 2003
    > schedules at the moment !
    > Nige
    > www.spaincostaluz.com
    >
    >
    > "Mike Nelson" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> I am starting the planning for a 2 week trip to Spain and Portugal in
    >> Late May, and I'd like the group's input on my rough plan....
    >> I'm looking at Flying into Madrid from Dallas. Spending a couple
    >> days in each place, my thoughts are to go from Madrid to Sevilla to
    >> the Algarve
    > area
    >> to Lisbon and back to Madrid to Fly back....Will use Train/Bus for
    >> connections between locations....>
    >> Good? Bad? Too much? Not enough?.....>
    >> This will be my fourth trip to Europe in as many years, but the first
    >> to this area. Solo traveler....>
    >> Thanks....
    >> Mike


Although there may not be many buses (connections) that can get you from
Seville to Lisbon taking the bus is much shorter, much more pleasant and
much cheaper then taking a 2 1/2 hour train ride to Madrid than a 10 hour
train ride from Madrid to Lisbon. There is no reason why he wouldn't be
able to find the bus timetables and work around that while he is in
Seville. People make this trip everyday with out much difficulty.

Carlos A.

I think your plan is very good.
In Algarve you can visit Tavira, on the coast 20 km from the Spanish
border, then Lagos and Cape San Vicente.
From Sevilla there are some buses to Algarve. And from Algarve there
are some to Lisboa. But you can consider to rent a car to move on
Algarve area.
Faro ? It doesn't worth.
From Lisbon to Madrid you can check some airline on internet trying to
get a special fare. Sometimes a roundtrip ticket cost less than a
single one, and you don't have to use the return leg.

Bye.
Carlos.

Nige

"Carlos A." wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I think your plan is very good.
    > In Algarve you can visit Tavira, on the coast 20 km from the Spanish
    > border, then Lagos and Cape San Vicente.
    > From Sevilla there are some buses to Algarve. And from Algarve there
    > are some to Lisboa. But you can consider to rent a car to move on
    > Algarve area.
    > Faro ? It doesn't worth.
    > From Lisbon to Madrid you can check some airline on internet trying to
    > get a special fare. Sometimes a roundtrip ticket cost less than a
    > single one, and you don't have to use the return leg.
    > Bye.
    > Carlos.

Well maybe I am biased, but if travelling for a fortnight and with so much
to see in the area, I would be inclined to skip the Algarve. Yes - it is
superb for a family seaside holiday and great for a winter golfing vacation,
but there is not much to become inspired about. And Lagos is lovely but it
is quite far if using public transport being on the western end of the
Algarve. I would prefer to spend more time discovering southern
Spain...Cordoba (if possible Granada) and especially Sevilla and surrounding
places like Jerez, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Jerez and Arcos. (To name a
few) . If based in Madrid for a few days, it's possible to get around the
city and the other places like Toledo and Segovia. It would also be possible
to take the overnight train 'sleeper' from Madrid to Lisbon. In Lisbon you
have plenty of activities and sights. The naval/maritime museum on the river
is splendid (near to the wonderful Belen tower), Also you can take the train
to nearby Sintra which was the summer home for the 'royals' and is nice for
walking.
From Lisbon you could take the bus directly to Sevilla but am unsure of
timetables etc. However you can return to Madrid and then head south to
Cordoba / Sevilla etc. If anyone can suggest bus timetables, then a stop in
Merida may be worthwhile. This place was a kind of retirement home for Roman
soldiers and has a brilliant theatre etc.
Hasta la vista!
Nige

Owlman

I would definitely second Toledo.

On Sat, 28 Dec 2002 00:08:28 +0000 (UTC), "Nige"
wrote:

    >If you are in Madrid for a few days, you can visit Toledo in the south
    >(about one hour on the train) as a day visit. And also Segovia and Escorial
    >in the North West for another day trip. The itinerary to Seville could take
    >in Cordoba as it is 'en route' (there is a big feria in Cordoba at the end
    >of May). In Seville you can take a local train down to Cadiz bay and see
    >Cadiz, Jerez and El Puerto de Santa Maria. Depending on your interests, you
    >may want to stay for a few days in this area of western Andalusia. To reach
    >Lisbon from Seville is not so easy. there are no trains and I believe only
    >two busses a day run from Sevilla to Faro (Algarve) via Huelva. If you want
    >to 'do Lisbon' it may be best if you went from Madrid by train? It takes
    >about 10 hours. You could do an overnight journey one way and day the other?
    >Madrid-Seville has a fast train - AVE - and this takes only 2 1/2 hours.
    >Would suggest you look at the www.multimadrid.com site for some info on
    >Madrid as well as useful Forums. The Spanish rail site is excellent
    >www.renfe.es when it's up - must be putting on 2003 schedules at the moment
    >!
    >Nige
    >www.spaincostaluz.com
    >"Mike Nelson" wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> I am starting the planning for a 2 week trip to Spain and Portugal in Late
    >> May, and I'd like the group's input on my rough plan....
    >> I'm looking at Flying into Madrid from Dallas. Spending a couple days in
    >> each place, my thoughts are to go from Madrid to Sevilla to the Algarve
    >area
    >> to Lisbon and back to Madrid to Fly back....Will use Train/Bus for
    >> connections between locations....>
    >> Good? Bad? Too much? Not enough?.....>
    >> This will be my fourth trip to Europe in as many years, but the first to
    >> this area. Solo traveler....>
    >> Thanks....
    >> Mike

Rob Kings

There used to be a saying along the lines of

"To travel the world and leave Sintra out
is to go blind about"

Or something like that.

I love sintra, and it's well worth (IMHO) a visit. It's a very simple day
trip from Lisbon. Trains leave from the Rossio station several times an
hour.

I agree with some of the other posters. Whilst the Algarve is nice enough
(especially if like us Brits you don't get to see a lot of sun) I'm not sure
I'd try to do it in an already tight 2 weeks. That said I certainly got from
Seville to Faro relatively easily a few years back: Seville - Ayamonte by
coach, then a ferry across the river then a train to Faro)

I'd be inclined to try for something a little bit more historic, but it
depends what you like. A few years back we went from Porto to Madrid via
(amongst other places) Almeida and found it very interesting (Especially if
you have read any of the "Sharpe" books by Bernard Cornwell)

Cheers

Rob

"Nige" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Carlos A." wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > I think your plan is very good.
    > > In Algarve you can visit Tavira, on the coast 20 km from the Spanish
    > > border, then Lagos and Cape San Vicente.
    > > From Sevilla there are some buses to Algarve. And from Algarve there
    > > are some to Lisboa. But you can consider to rent a car to move on
    > > Algarve area.
    > > Faro ? It doesn't worth.
    > > From Lisbon to Madrid you can check some airline on internet trying to
    > > get a special fare. Sometimes a roundtrip ticket cost less than a
    > > single one, and you don't have to use the return leg.
    > >
    > > Bye.
    > > Carlos.
    > Well maybe I am biased, but if travelling for a fortnight and with so much
    > to see in the area, I would be inclined to skip the Algarve. Yes - it is
    > superb for a family seaside holiday and great for a winter golfing
vacation,
    > but there is not much to become inspired about. And Lagos is lovely but
it
    > is quite far if using public transport being on the western end of the
    > Algarve. I would prefer to spend more time discovering southern
    > Spain...Cordoba (if possible Granada) and especially Sevilla and
surrounding
    > places like Jerez, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Jerez and Arcos. (To name a
    > few) . If based in Madrid for a few days, it's possible to get around
the
    > city and the other places like Toledo and Segovia. It would also be
possible
    > to take the overnight train 'sleeper' from Madrid to Lisbon. In Lisbon you
    > have plenty of activities and sights. The naval/maritime museum on the
river
    > is splendid (near to the wonderful Belen tower), Also you can take the
train
    > to nearby Sintra which was the summer home for the 'royals' and is nice
for
    > walking.
    > From Lisbon you could take the bus directly to Sevilla but am unsure of
    > timetables etc. However you can return to Madrid and then head south to
    > Cordoba / Sevilla etc. If anyone can suggest bus timetables, then a stop
in
    > Merida may be worthwhile. This place was a kind of retirement home for
Roman
    > soldiers and has a brilliant theatre etc.
    > Hasta la vista!
    > Nige

Jacqueline

Also the northern half of Spain is extremely beautiful; it is very
different from the southern/middle part. You could for example start
of in the province of Catalunya, the city of Barcelona, a "must do
experience" (Gaudi!) and from there on travel to the Madrid area by
train or bus (cheap, fast and very frequent).

Ifjed5555

    >...2 week trip to Spain and Portugal in Late May
    >...into Madrid...a couple days in each place...Madrid to Sevilla to
the >Algarve area...Lisbon and back to Madrid...Will use Train/Bus...
    > Good? Bad? Too much? Not enough?.....

To me, Madrid's main attraction is that it's a big city with lots of
big city nightlife. However, on such a short trip it certainly would
be convenient location from which to take day trips to places like
Segovia/La Granja (one day), El Escorial (1/2 day)& Toledo (1 day) as
these places are all easily reached by train from Madrid.

The Madrid subway (Metro) now reaches the airport. If you're planning
to stay downtown, take the Metro to Nuevo Ministerios, then change to
the line that passes Plaza de España and you'll be right on the Gran
Vía where there are oodles of hostales.

Although buses are cheaper and more frequent than trains, from Madrid
to Sevilla the train is probably your best option as Madrid's bus
stations are not that easy to find for the beginning visitor (the one
for the south is at Metro station Alvaro Mendez, I believe).

From Sevilla to the Algarve it will probably be more convenient to use
buses, though you can check out the renfre.es website to see how close
to Portugal you can get from Sevilla.

The Lisboa-Madrid train is a night train, leaving late in the evening
from Lisboa and arriving in Madrid the next morning.

Although I don't try to pack in so much territory now, your planned
trip is certainly typical of what I would have done 10 years ago (four
cities, 3 days per city).

Bj

Rob Kings wrote:

    > There used to be a saying along the lines of
    > "To travel the world and leave Sintra out
    > is to go blind about"
    > Or something like that.

Are you thinking of Granada perhaps, scratched on the walls of the Alhambra the
plea of the blind beggar
"Alms, lady, alms!
For there is nothing crueler in life
Than to be blind in Granada."
Regards
BJ

Rob Kings

BJ


No. I checked and it was in "Portugal. The rough guide" It's actually quoted
as

"To see the world
and leave Sintra out
is to go blind about"

And attributed as an old Spanish proverb

Cheers

Rob

"BJ" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Rob Kings wrote:
    > > There used to be a saying along the lines of
    > >
    > > "To travel the world and leave Sintra out
    > > is to go blind about"
    > >
    > > Or something like that.
    > Are you thinking of Granada perhaps, scratched on the walls of the
Alhambra the
    > plea of the blind beggar
    > "Alms, lady, alms!
    > For there is nothing crueler in life
    > Than to be blind in Granada."
    > Regards
    > BJ

Oopsdaisy2

The author of the quote is Lord Byron.

    >Subject: Re: Spain/Portugal itenerary - thoughts?
    >From: "Rob Kings" [email protected]
    >Date: 1/13/2003 4:47 PM

    >No. I checked and it was in "Portugal. The rough guide" It's actually quoted
    >as
    >"To see the world
    >and leave Sintra out
    >is to go blind about"
    >And attributed as an old Spanish proverb
    >Cheers
    >Rob
    >"BJ" wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> Rob Kings wrote:
    >> > There used to be a saying along the lines of
    >> >
    >> > "To travel the world and leave Sintra out
    >> > is to go blind about"
    >> >
    >> > Or something like that.
    >> Are you thinking of Granada perhaps, scratched on the walls of the
    >Alhambra the
    >> plea of the blind beggar
    >> "Alms, lady, alms!
    >> For there is nothing crueler in life
    >> Than to be blind in Granada."
    >> Regards
    >> BJ

Bj

Oopsdaisy2 wrote:

    > The author of the quote is Lord Byron.

Who on his travells probably saw it in Granada.


--
(Antispam, drop pants to EMail)