Possibly going to Spain this summer, looking for a good place to go

[RETAC21]

On 2/11/2024 at 6:44 AM, Colin said:

Thanks for all the input. Couple of other questions if possible:

I like to take them to see a real Castle and roman ruins (The aqueduct is one possibility) as they have never seen either.

My daughter besides being Type 1 Diabetic is also suffers from Celiac disease so can't have any Gluten or Lectain (tomato's etc, which is frigging cruel as she used to love them) How hard/easy is it to find non-Gluten foods in Spain? Also if we need to get more Insulin, how strict are the pharmacies there for foreigners needing drugs?

To add to what has been said before. Castles, if you don't mind renting a car, I would suggest Oropesa & Trujillo and Merida using the state owned Paradores hotel chain. In Oropesa you will sleep in a real castle, Trujillo has a medieval castle (built by the Moors, improved by Christians) and Merida has more Roman ruins than you can shake a fist at, but it's a 3 hour trip from Madrid and in the summer, Extremadura honors its name (Extreme and Hard).

If you mind the trip, both Segovia and La Granja de San Ildefonso have Paradores as well as palaces, castles, the aqueduct, etc. On the other side, it's Toledo, same attractions. Much depends on where you land. With more info on dates and places, an itinerary can be put together.

[Ssnake]

It's rather massive, the thing in Segovia:

 

City panorama, with where the aquaeduct is coming from in the background:

[RETAC21]

On 2/14/2024 at 2:55 AM, Ssnake said:

It's rather massive, the thing in Segovia:

 

City panorama, with where the aquaeduct is coming from in the background:

There are other, more tank-netty things to do in Segovia, but I fear in August, they will be closed:

https://patrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es/es/centros/museo-alcazar-segovia/portada

https://segoviaturismo.es/ven-a-segovia/turismo-monumental/horarios-de-monumentos/segovia-capital/3354-museo-de-la-academia-de-artilleria

But the tankiest of them all are not up on the summer.

[DB]

As a youth, I found Andalusia's climate easily tolerable in late April and would speculate that it becomes tolerable again by mid September. Madrid should be avoided by humans in July and August, for sure. I walked from the railway station (Atocha, maybe?) ,to the Prado and was sure that my hair was going to melt. It was almost impossible to stay hydrated unless you were indoors.

If you're willing to tour by car, then there's about a billion places worthy of a visit throughout the country. Most of those I know have already been mentioned, but Ronda in Málaga province can be added if you're in the South and Avila and El Escorial if you're Madrid based.

[Colin]

On 2/13/2024 at 12:39 PM, RETAC21 said:

To add to what has been said before. Castles, if you don't mind renting a car, I would suggest Oropesa & Trujillo and Merida using the state owned Paradores hotel chain. In Oropesa you will sleep in a real castle, Trujillo has a medieval castle (built by the Moors, improved by Christians) and Merida has more Roman ruins than you can shake a fist at, but it's a 3 hour trip from Madrid and in the summer, Extremadura honors its name (Extreme and Hard).

If you mind the trip, both Segovia and La Granja de San Ildefonso have Paradores as well as palaces, castles, the aqueduct, etc. On the other side, it's Toledo, same attractions. Much depends on where you land. With more info on dates and places, an itinerary can be put together.

Looks like it will be two weeks in August, flying into Madrid. I am willing to drive and rent a car. My reading says that Spain is very Gluten Free friendly which is good news for my daughter. My wife does not want to hectic a schedule, so likley find a town/city and stay there with day trips.

[RETAC21]

12 minutes ago, Colin said:

Looks like it will be two weeks in August, flying into Madrid. I am willing to drive and rent a car. My reading says that Spain is very Gluten Free friendly which is good news for my daughter. My wife does not want to hectic a schedule, so likley find a town/city and stay there with day trips.

On the gluten thing, we have a local supermarket chain, Mercadona, that is the most aware re Gluten free food. For short trips, Madrid is probably the best base due to the radial nature or roads and railroad.

[Colin]

For cellphones. I am assuming best to buy a phone there?

[Ssnake]

A prepaid SIM card should be sufficient, if your cell phone can handle international frequencies.

[Colin]

So far it's looking like

Arrive Madrid, spend a few days there

Drive to Segovia, send a couple of days there.

Drive to Toledo spend a few days there

Debating going to Granada, then brief visit to the coast and then back to Madrid or detour to Seville, Cordoba then Madrid 

[RETAC21]

1 hour ago, Ssnake said:

A prepaid SIM card should be sufficient, if your cell phone can handle international frequencies.

This. Vodafone has prepaid cards that work on both sides of the pond.

[RETAC21]

6 minutes ago, Colin said:

So far it's looking like

Arrive Madrid, spend a few days there

Drive to Segovia, send a couple of days there.

Drive to Toledo spend a few days there

Debating going to Granada, then brief visit to the coast and then back to Madrid or detour to Seville, Cordoba then Madrid 

Check out Malaga instead of Granada, there's high speed train (3 hours IIRC) and it puts you right on the beach.

Cordoba or Seville in August is serious stuff, hot as hell.

Tanknetty stuff to see:

Madrid:

- Naval museum: https://armada.defensa.gob.es/ArmadaPortal/page/Portal/ArmadaEspannola/cienciaorgano/prefLang-en/01cienciamuseo

- Airforce museum: https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/museodelaire/index.html

Toledo:

- Army museum: https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/museo/en/index.html?__locale=en

Segovia: El Alcazar, previously mentioned. For hotel stays, lookup the Parador there

 

 

[Colin]

Thanks we have Samsung  and Iphone for my daughter, apparently the Samsungs are regional locked and I have to read up more on undoing that.

[Colin]

1 minute ago, RETAC21 said:

Check out Malaga instead of Granada, there's high speed train (3 hours IIRC) and it puts you right on the beach.

Cordoba or Seville in August is serious stuff, hot as hell.

Tanknetty stuff to see:

Madrid:

- Naval museum: https://armada.defensa.gob.es/ArmadaPortal/page/Portal/ArmadaEspannola/cienciaorgano/prefLang-en/01cienciamuseo

- Airforce museum: https://ejercitodelaire.defensa.gob.es/EA/museodelaire/index.html

Toledo:

- Army museum: https://ejercito.defensa.gob.es/museo/en/index.html?__locale=en

Segovia: El Alcazar, previously mentioned. For hotel stays, lookup the Parador there

 

 

I checked out Parador, seems very high prices. likley will do Airbnb. but I will keep learning and looking. My wife wants to do a house swap, so that's another wrinkle I have to look into.

[RETAC21]

8 minutes ago, Colin said:

Thanks we have Samsung  and Iphone for my daughter, apparently the Samsungs are regional locked and I have to read up more on undoing that.

Shouldn't be an issue, my little ones have them and with Vodafone prepaid cards, they were set for the US

[RETAC21]

7 minutes ago, Colin said:

I checked out Parador, seems very high prices. likley will do Airbnb. but I will keep learning and looking. My wife wants to do a house swap, so that's another wrinkle I have to look into.

Yes, it's pricey but usually worth the price. Too bad we have the summer already locked, else that house swap could have worked out.

[Josh]

On 2/13/2024 at 7:55 PM, Ssnake said:

It's rather massive, the thing in Segovia:

 

City panorama, with where the aquaeduct is coming from in the background:

I really recommend the aqueduct. It made a huge impression on me as a child, and I made my parents (or rather begged my mom) to drive the entire length of it. But the tall double arc in the plaza is really the only part you need to see. You can look at it in google maps and see the literal shadow it casts. The pictures will not capture it, however.

Edited February 19, 2024 by Josh

[Colin]

3 hours ago, Josh said:

I really recommend the aqueduct. It made a huge impression on me as a child, and I made my parents (or rather begged my mom) to drive the entire length of it. But the tall double arc in the plaza is really the only part you need to see. You can look at it in google maps and see the literal shadow it casts. The pictures will not capture it, however.

I remember seeing it as a kid as well. so now to pas that experience on!

[sunday]

12 hours ago, Colin said:

I checked out Parador, seems very high prices. likley will do Airbnb. but I will keep learning and looking. My wife wants to do a house swap, so that's another wrinkle I have to look into.

You could spend a night or a weekend in a Parador, while keeping the Airbnb. I did that when visiting Corregidor Island with Tomas.

For instance, near Segovia there is this Parador, door with door with a 18th Century royal palace, that could be considered a Spanish mini-Versailles. It is closed on Mondays, and they run the monumental fountains some days, like July and August 25: 

Fountains:

When in Madrid you could also spent a day going to the royal gardens at Aranjuez by historic train: https://trendelafresa.es/en/english-tour.asp. Sometimes a steam locomotive is used to pull the train.

On the gluten issue, many restaurants tell in the menu what dishes are gluten free. The Spanish wording is "Sin gluten". See the menu of the most famous restaurant in Segovia, for instance. It is famous for its suckling pig, but there are lamb dishes, also.

Edited February 19, 2024 by sunday

[Colin]

Well life with my wife is never dull, she now wants to do a trip in late March for 10 days (Her Spring break from teaching). If we get that minor issue of her not having a passport out of the way.....

My guess is

Arrive Madrid, spend a couple of days there

Drive to Segovia, send a a day there.

Drive to Toledo spend a day there

Debating going to Granada, then back to Madrid

Edited March 4, 2024 by Colin

[sunday]

15 minutes ago, Colin said:

Well life with my wife is never dull, she now wants to do a trip in late March for 10 days (Her Spring break from teaching). If we get that minor issue of her not having a passport out of the way.....

So you could go South, then - nice spring fields!

Last week of March is Holy Week, or Easter, so forget about finding accommodation at a reasonable price.

Edited March 4, 2024 by sunday

[Colin]

Oh great, at least it should be interesting. Whats a good car rental company?

[sunday]

21 minutes ago, Colin said:

Oh great, at least it should be interesting. Whats a good car rental company?

I use Avis, but it is because being in their loyalty program.

I think you will need an international driver license, as Canada is no part of the applicable convention with Spain.

In order to be more safe than sorry, you may also need an official translation of the doctor's prescription for buying medicines here. In case you want to use an official translator from here, I know one or two.

Edited March 4, 2024 by sunday

[Colin]

Just now, sunday said:

I use Avis, but it is because being in their loyalty program.

I think you will need an international driver license, as Canada is no part of the applicable convention with Spain.

Yes going to work on that today, can't even book flights till we get the passport. I wished she had changed her mind a few weeks ago. Sigh......

[Tim the Tank Nut]

I know that sigh so very well.

 

IDL is very easy to get though, at least through AAA

[sunday]

11 minutes ago, Colin said:

Yes going to work on that today, can't even book flights till we get the passport. I wished she had changed her mind a few weeks ago. Sigh......

I edited the previous post to discuss the question of medical needs.

Also, according to Giggle Flights, good dates to travel could be departing March 21st from Vancouver, and going back from Madrid April 2nd, about 2kCAD. Boeing 737s avoided, also. Prices are all over the place, however, as Easter is high season here.

Edited March 4, 2024 by sunday