Spain and hostels

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rosewanderer
rosewanderer

Hi
I am traveling from Madrid down to the Andalucian area, back up to Barcelona (for 3 nights) and then back to Madrid to fly out. I was going to drive as I love to explore little places, the older type towns and surrounding country but looking at all of the blogs I am starting to think that is bad idea and may limit my experience in meeting some interesting people. I will be travelling with my 17 yo daugther. Top picks for a visit so far are Ronda, Sevilla, Cordoba, Cadiz (seems highly recommended) and maybe Granada. We will have about 6 nights to cover this (excluding the time in Barcelona and Madrid). We would like to do this inexpesively (as possible) so my thought is bus trips until we get to Granada, train back to Barcelona & then train to Madrid. We could rent a car at some point to do a day trip as an option.

I am looking for advice on a. bus trips and whether they are easy to catch b. hostels that are not full of drunk teens, allow us a room to ourselves and, preferably our own toilet. I would particularly be interested in one in Barcelona as we will spend 3 nights there (maybe near Las Ramblas if it is not too noisy?).

By the way - this blog is brilliant and I have already gained some great insights. I would be happy to write about my experiences when I get back as well if it helps anyone!

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gawkabout
gawkabout

good thinkin. seville is great. and 4 dayer for sure. You can't use cars in cities. no direct route to anything. and parking is expense and vulnerability.

A Spanish lady told me she bought a new car. said it was contantly broken in to, till she put a sign in the window."Local resident. not a rental."

Splurge on the AVE mui rapido train to Seville. 2.5 hours. 80 Euro for each of you but worth the experience.

I live in Seville but back in Austin Texas for a vacacione. And to have my vote count, this time.

Flaherty's Irish Bar is my hq. Its next to Geralda Cathedral. Tell 'em howdoo!
Oasis hostel is great and centrally located.

Plaza Alfalfa, up the little hill behind San Salvador Cathedral has the cheapest restaurants. Bar Manolo in ther corner, outside is good and super friendly. Tell 'em Dón Pepe sent ya.
And Mi Anjeli is wonderful! Italian chef. Dig the pheau painting all over the inside.

Behind(at the far end) Corte Ingles, Pplaza del Duque.
is Niños del Flor Cafeterâ. great fun employees there good Spanish food. Tell 'em Papa Noel sent you. Good prices tv, open same prices same days all year. My new family. The sr. waiter offered me credit my first day there!

Taxis are on a fixed rate in old town. They take various routes to enter Alfalfa from the back door. Its about the only way yo enter.
So you get an airconditioned tour every time.

When you gotta move on, go to Ronda! on the bus. the train to it is bad.

that's tony_b's hq.

Oh. If you haven't toured the Thyssen-Borzenstein Art museum, in Madrid, be sure to. American college Art History books are full of it and the Prado.

Take the elevator to the top. Its arranged chronologicly and by "schools" of painting. Great restaurant in tthe basement. The go back up for a double dip, where you ran out of steam.

have fun/not schedules.

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gawkabout
gawkabout

Seville is a very safe city.

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rosewanderer
rosewanderer

It sounds like you recommend staying in Seville gawkabout! Brilliant advice. Can you recommend where to stay? It could be a hotel if it was cheap and cheerful?

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gawkabout
gawkabout

Never judge a man, till you've walked a mile in his shoes.

That way you'll be far away from the sumbitch
and you'll have more shoes.

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gawkabout
gawkabout

Hostels International generally has an older crowd.

In Granada be sure to go into the Rroyal Chapel, near the Ferdnan and Isabella statue. It doesn't look big from the outside because it was only for the king's court. Its gigantic inside. Great museum in there.

street sense and serendipitry rule!

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gawkabout
gawkabout

Two old timer regulars at Bar Manolo said I'm the best American since Lincoln. haa haa haa

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tony_b
tony_b

Ronda, Sevilla, Cordoba, Cadiz...and maybe Granada
Six nights. Five destinations. Are you absolutely sure about this?

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rosewanderer
rosewanderer

mmm...not anymore : )
Which city should I skip?
Ronda looks amazing and sounds like it could be a day trip from one of the other three - not Granada I don't think.

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tony_b
tony_b

Which city should I skip?
I hate to say this but that should read "cities", not city. Otherwise you will spend half your time staring at Andalucia through a dirty window. It will be costly too because travel costs money.

Six nights gives you five full days, and no more. If you want a contrast I suggest combining either Granada or Seville with Ronda. If you want to concentrate on big cities, Granada and Seville. Frankly, you could easily spend the whole time in Seville because there is so much to see and do there.

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