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Can u comment on whether our trip plans seem feasable.Have a month to travel and there are 2 of us.Arrive in Barcelona and stay for a 2 -3 days then hire car to travel down the east coast and southern coast ,stopping wherever we feel on the way.Thinking we might avoid Valencia and any big cities on the way.Would fly from Seville /Malaga/Gibralta ? to Marakeesh and stay 4 days at least.Fly back to Seville ,hire car again and drive on the south coast of Portugal then to Lisbon .Back to Madrid then fly home.We have never driven on right side of road before which has caused thought that it might be a less stressful trip by train and bus but keep thinking we would see so much more by car.

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Gidday mate and welcome to the forum.

Your trip is feasable, I have done a similar thing many times myself. As for driving on the right hand side: With a left hand driven car it's about as difficult/easy as driving with a right hand driven car on the left side. I also speak from own experience. If you're unsure, you could always take the train as you say. Which again leaves you dependant. I heavily tend towards a car for such a trip. Consider that you might have to pay a drop-off charge in Portugal for your Spanish rental car.

However: Don't expect too much of the trip from Barcelona to the South/Andalucía. Remember that many parts of Spain are desert-like. Additionally bear in mind that abouth 90 pc of the Spanish Mediterranean coast line (just like the one in France and Italy) is overbuilt and therefore devastated. The real beauty of Spain is somewhere else.

I suggest this itinerary: Follow the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Valencia, take the N-340. I agree, avoid this city. From there, go inland (via Albacete - Jaén) to Córdoba. This city is one of the highlights of your trip, a full day is just enough to see it - if you're not coming during the local "féria" when it's full of horses and colourfully dressed people. Now drive on via Alcalá la Real to Granada. Another highlight, give it at least two full days. From Granada, drive on via Loja to Málaga. Don't miss the public park across the harbor, it holds some rare tropical plants. Now take your flight over to Marrakesh. Four days are plenty, therefore also ask for a day tour to famous water falls Sout-East of the city.

After your arrival in Seville, give this city another two days at least. As the direct drive from Seville towards the Portuguese border is rather boring, do the following: On the A-49, take exit 53, drive down to El Rocío. This place is a horse-town, its streets are not paved but full of sand. Try to be there on a Sunday for a colourful procession with the locals and their horses. Drive on via Matalascañas to Huelva (nothing to see there) and on to the Portuguese border. Take the first(!) exit on A22 down to Castro Marim (visit the castle on a hill), and down to Vila Real de Santo António. Welcome to Portugal - relax.

(Alternatively, try returning your Spanish car in Ayamonte in order to avoid the drop-off charge. In this case, set across the river by ferry into Vila Real de Santo António/Portugal. Get your Portuguese car here.)

Now drive along the Algarve, always using the N125 - at Sagres head North to Lisbon. Give Lisbon at least two days. Then fly to Madrid, give this city another few days. Now you're done, you'll need a vacation on the Barrier Reef :-)

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Fantastic reply.Much appreciated.So seems you think the Alcante beaches are perhaps over populated and not very relaxing.Is that perhaps what you are saying.Had no idea of the amount of desert scenery we would encounter.How did you find negotiating the roads in the cities or did you stay in accommodation on the outskirts and commute to the city or wherever.By the way loved your comment on the Great Barrier Reef but funny enough it is my back yard so to speak and I live in the tourist town that welcomes travellers to the Reef.So if ever your planning a trip this way best you get in contact as Im sure we can be of help.

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Good to see that you liked my open minded advice. "Alcante" beaches...? You must have meant Alicante beach. Yes, especially this one is heavily overbuilt - but not always overpopulated. I think you get the difference. It's however good enough for a swim once and then, especially in our Summer when waters get pretty warm (up to 22° or even more).

Driving the cities is of no problem to me - I'm European, however with world wide travel and driving experience. I can't comment on the accommodation situation there, as, if I go to Spain, I bring my own mobile home.

Nice to hear that you know the Barrier Reef. I did my PADI certificate in Cairns back in 1985. It must be looking different now. I would be glad to see you in case I'm heading Down Under again.

Cheerio!

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Can u comment on whether our trip plans seem feasable.
We need to disinguish between what is feasible and what is enjoyable. What you are proposing to do is quite feasible but, for me at least, it wouldn´t be very enjoyable. I agree with what a_p said about the coastal drive from Barcelona to Andalucía. Not at all pleasant and very boring for long stretches. However attractive that drive looks like on the map is not replicated on the ground.

As a_p says, head inland. No beaches but it´s a hell of a lot more interesting.

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FYI, i did a similar drive one summer. put a rundown of it here:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1797404&messageID=15974378#15974378

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We have never driven on right side of road before which has caused thought that it might be a less stressful trip by train and bus
I think you´re right to be wary of driving on the right in a strange car. It´s perfectly fine on major roads but on narrow roads and streets it can be very difficult to judge the width of your car.

I once rented a car in Spain that was identical to the car I drove in the UK and, having lived in France, I was accustomed to driving on the right. Nonetheless, I found it difficult to guage the car width accurately. I know that seems odd but it´s true.

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thanks for reply.Interesting comments we will defenitely take on board.Did you find Ronda worth the visit.On the map it looks like the roads are quite winding.

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Did you find Ronda worth the visit
yes. i stayed one night on the way between Granada and Seville. The town itself is really good just for wondering around and i went to the bullfighting arena which i really enjoyed (was really quite, this one seems to be much smaller, in a good way).

On the map it looks like the roads are quite winding
umm, OK.... is this a concern? are you in a hurry?
in that link i say that one of the good bits is "the olive groves and countryside in Andalucia" - these roads are what i was referring to (rightly or wrongly, this is what i meant...).

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HI a-p
We have been very happy with your itinerary suggestions and realise we were going to waste so much time seeing uninteresting areas.However we do have a few more questions that I hope you dont mind answering.
1) If arriving say in Barcelona do you suggest pre-booking a hire car or doing so on arrival.
2) In general is there much difference in booking with the local company as in Atesa or with world wide companies such as Hertz and Avis.
3) Another option we have is to fly into Madrid and if so then to drive to Albacete.Which would be the best road to take .We are considering this option as the majority of comments have been that the trip from Bacelona to Valencia is quite disappointing.
4)From Loja would it be worth driving to Ronda ,down to Marabella and back to Malaga before flying to Marakeesh.Obviously it depends on time but if we have an option wondered if the train or bus to Ronda from Malaga would be a better option.
5) As in the itinerary you suggested we could fly to Marakeesh and hence finishing our car hire in Malaga..To return to Seville and making our way to Portugal Im presuming we would be booking a car for a day to the border as we like the idea of catching the ferry to Vila Real De Santo Antonio and seeing El Rocio on the way.Again do we book ahead from Seville for the Portugal car hire .

Will be grateful for any advice.

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