Scintillating Spain!!

Highlight(s) of our trip:

• Daily freshly squeezed orange juice straight from the machines and the delicious fresh cheese, pastries and chocolates with abundant café, bakeries offering incredible breakfast options on every street. We also noticed particularly Andalucia had a lot of orange trees.

• Everything is easily accessible on foot or by convenient public transport, and you can purchase authentic-tasting chocolates or desserts from any city, even at the airports (they're tastier than what's available in the States).

• Spain in general, and particularly Seville and Madrid, showcases Arab-inspired elements in architecture, design, and food, providing a captivating experience and creating lifelong memories.

• Spain, similar to many European nations (& unlike the US), seems to have a laid-back and a relaxed atmosphere where the emphasis is on working to live life rather than living to work, an experience we truly appreciated 😊

Itinerary (1+ week)

Travel Route: Seattle -> Paris -> Barcelona (durations of 10hr + 4hr + 2hr)

Return Route: Madrid-> Paris-> Seattle (durations of 2hr + 4hr + 10hr)

Things to know/tips:

• Account for over two days spent in transit (round trip), considering jet lag and time differences.

• Additionally, for every new city visited/base change, expect to spend at least half a day on travel, whether by train or car. Traveling light is advised, minimizing luggage where possible, especially larger suitcases, for easier maneuverability on trains.

• Aim for a layover of at least 3 hours in Paris airport to avoid missing connections, as immigration and security may require 2 hours. Fortunately, we had planned for enough time and were able to let others with tight schedules go ahead. Remember that even if you're rebooked, your checked luggage might arrive earlier. Using Air tags will be beneficial.

• Paris airport can be super busy, especially during peak season that this time one of suitcases containing kids’ items was missing for pick-up from baggage claim. Exhausted from a long journey, I also had to stand in line again to file a claim at the Air France airport’s service desk; they targeted to deliver the suitcase to the hotel by the next day (with a three-day wait as a worst-case scenario). We got it delivered to the hotel after 24 hours. Having air tags proved useful for tracking and informing the airport. Also, the airline advised us to purchase necessary items and submit a reimbursement request, yet we had no energy left to shop that evening and hoped to have our suitcase by the following day. Fortunately, we always carry an extra 1-2 sets of clothing in our hand luggage which comes in handy.

• For transportation, we used FREENOW (similar to Uber), which was generally more affordable than US Uber rates, easily accessible and quite convenient when traveling with children instead of walking further to access public transport. Downloading maps and a translator will be useful, as many restaurants and stores may not understand English, and you'll need to translate it to communicate.

• Recommend carrying a minimum of 200-300 Euros in cash for a week's trip since smaller shops may not accept credit cards.

• Spain was among the first countries we visited where train travel required security checks and it was particularly crowded during peak season, so it's advisable to arrive at the train station an hour before your train leaves.

• It's advisable to reserve tickets for popular attractions at least a month early, and I check that they have a flexible change/cancel. I usually compare prices on third-party websites (such as Getyourguide, Viator etc.) with those on direct sites. If the prices are similar, I choose the provider/option offering flexible policy for changes or cancellations. We didn't take a guided tour unless there wasn’t another option; an audio-guided self-tour was adequate for us. Furthermore, if you can choose your visiting day and time, be wary of any third-party sites pushing skip-the-line upgrades – they may not be necessary.

• Travelers from countries like the US might find it interesting that local residents tend to start their day later here, often having breakfast starting at 8am, lunch setting in after 1pm, and dinner services in restaurants commencing after 8pm.

• I used the Renfe (official website) to book the train tickets, but there are other options available as well.

• We upgraded our mobile plan for Europe and that was very helpful, as it allowed us to make local calls and rely less on WIFI, especially when we were on the road.

• For us dining out with a family of four was more affordable in Spain than in US. The prices there included the tax and there was no need to tip 15-20% extra.

Barcelona (3 days/4nts) –

Day 0: Hola, Arrive in Barcelona

We reached by taxi at the Hotel Acacia in the Eixample district during the evening. This hotel enjoys proximity to a variety of restaurants and cafes, though it is somewhat removed from the well-known Las Ramblas Street, where the accommodation rates get costlier. The hotel's amenities were stated to include air conditioning, but this feature was apparently not in use, possibly being operational in the summer months only. Nonetheless, the temperatures in the spring were not excessively warm, allowing us to manage using fans. Moreover, Barcelona's climate is usually milder compared to other Spanish cities in that season.

Day 1:

On our second day in Spain, we decided to have a relaxed start to the day due to exhaustion from the journey and jet lag. In the late morning after having breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the bustling areas of Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter. Heeding the advice of many, we took extra precautions to guard our valuables, leaving our passports, additional cash, and credit cards locked in the hotel safe and carrying only the essentials. I even bought a theft-proof purse on Amazon that came highly recommended (let me know if you want the link!). It's critical to always keep your belongings in sight; for example, if you're carrying a backpack, wear it in front.

Do not miss the Boqueria Food Market by Las Ramblas in El Raval (jam-packed though). It offers a variety of stalls with a diverse selection of food, sweets, fruits, juices, and cheese, all presented brilliantly.

Barcelona, in particular, boasts an array of exclusive UNESCO World Heritage sites worth visiting. Post-lunch, we went to Barcelonta Beach and had reserved a time slot for Casa Mila in the evening. We admired Casa Batllo from the outside. These attraction tickets are quite expensive, so visiting just one of them is enough.

Day 2:

Our day began at 9 am as we explored the two most popular UNESCO sites on our itinerary. The popular Sagrada Familia was the first stop, including an excursion to the Passion Tower to take in the vistas. We spent approximately 3 hours there, accounting for transit. Despite the wait due to a single elevator going up and mandatory stair descent, the experience is highly recommended.

However, please be aware that the construction at Sagrada has been ongoing for 100+ years and is expected to continue for several more and that did prevent us from getting a full and a neat view.

Following lunch, we proceeded to Park Guell for a guided tour that spanned a few hours. The benefit of having a knowledgeable guide made the visit extremely rewarding. Opting for a group tour allowed us easier access with minimal waiting. After two intensive visits, we opted for a leisurely evening walk around our hotel area, looking for a place to dine. It’s advisable to make reservations in advance for dining out.

Day 3:

We reserved a full day excursion with 'GetYourGuide' for a 10–12-hour trip (including commute) from Barcelona to the Costa Brava area (Girona, Figures, Cadaques), which provided us a fantastic glimpse of Spain's Mediterranean region. Should we return to Spain, our plans include spending 1-2 nights in that area. While it was possible to rent a car and conduct a self-guided tour, we chose the convenience of the organized tour since we did not have the extra driving permit required by some nations, including Spain. The cost difference was not significant as both day tours and car rentals with insurance and considering the vehicle we desired are not cheap.

Had there been additional days :(, we would have also visited San Sebastian beach, which is around 6 hours away from Barcelona. Also, due to limited time, we opted for Costa Brava instead of Valencia (about 4 hours from Barcelona) and had to skip the popular Ibiza (around 4 hours from Valencia). In hindsight, we're so satisfied we didn't skip Costa Brava, as its enchanting beauty and quaint, white-washed fishing villages were an absolute delight to experience in Spain's coastal region.

Seville (2days/3nts)

Day 0:

Barcelona to Seville via train (around 6 hours)

Seville is an incredibly beautiful city known for its vibrant and colorful architecture, as well as its charming narrow lanes. It's also renowned for its deep-rooted Spanish traditions, including bullfighting and Flamenco dancing. We lodged at a charming, tiny traditional Spanish suite located in the narrow streets of the prime near Santa Cruz. If you need more information, I can share further details 😊. Accommodation was somewhat limited near the prime area of Santa Cruz, the central hub of the town, even when we booked a couple of months ahead of our trip, and the prices could go up quickly.

After checking in that evening, we spent a few hours strolling and discovering the vibrant, narrow streets, pausing at a couple of eating places for dinner and dessert, and picking up some groceries for the next morning's breakfast.

Day 1:

We dedicated half a day to visiting Seville's top sites with a guided tour booked through ‘GetYourGuide,’ specifically the Seville Cathedral, Giralda Towers, and Royal Alcazar. The meeting point was conveniently near our stay, and the attractions were within proximity. The tour was enriching, offering deep insights into Spanish history, capturing the children's fascination—especially at Christopher Columbus' tomb in the cathedral. There was even time for a quick lunch break at the Royal Alcazar's eatery.

Day 2:

We booked a full-day tour via Viator, a 10-12 hour trip from Seville that included visits to charming villages in Andalucía like Zahara, Graz Alema, and the well-known Ronda (also known for its ancient bullring, the 'The Plaza de Toros'). Overall the tour provided us a great glimpse of the region. Though self-drive was an option, we chose the tour for convenience and were happy with it since self-navigation could have been challenging. Keep in mind, tours can inflate your total travel costs, so budget wisely. While cheaper bus routes exist, they involve more planning and transfers, which may not be ideal, especially when traveling with kids.

Given more days, we would have also loved to explore the renowned cities of Andalucía and Southern Spain particularly Malaga and Cordoba.

Madrid (1 day/2nts)

Day 0:

Seville to Madrid via train (around 3 hours)

We stayed at Hotel Moderno, which has a prime location in Madrid. It was extremely busy with police guarding all the streets. In Madrid, we also discovered several Indian restaurants and tried 2-3 of them, which were more enjoyable compared to the ones back in Seattle.

We did not reserve any tours in advance for the final part of our journey. Hence, we opted for a 1-hour electric Rickshaw guided tour to view Madrid's key attractions such as the Royal Palace of Madrid, Gran Via, and Plaza Mayor. We stopped at Plaza Mayor and were impressed with the spacious area that offered numerous stores and dining choices and a selection of shops for some quick inexpensive clothing purchases as well.

Day 1:

I had secured our train tickets for a round trip from Madrid to Toledo well ahead of time (which was fortunate, as I noticed the day we traveled, tickets had been completely booked). Our day trip was about 6-8 hours in total, with the train ride being roughly one hour each way. The six hours we spent in Toledo felt just right after we picked up the hop-on hop-off bus ticket outside the station. Experiencing Toledo, a UNESCO heritage site, from the top of the bus afforded us with remarkable views and the freedom to stop at will (it stopped at all the prime stops). Toledo is an incredibly beautiful and historic city that seems to transport you back in time with its extensive history and magnificent views. My daughter even tried the zipline, which was the highlight of her experience. Additionally, the hop-on hop-off bus stops at the main town center, offering several dining options for lunch.

We opted for Toledo instead of Segovia since Toledo is nearer to Madrid and we could only visit one. My preference leaned towards Toledo after researching and watching videos on YouTube and it exceeded expectations 😊

Next day:

Adios (until we meet again!): Took an early flight back to Seattle (via Paris).