spymoose
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 103
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Post by spymoose on Jul 16, 2006 21:06:31 GMT -5
Looking for advice on what to see in Spain/Portugal. Likely can only do 2-3 cities and only way in/out has to be planes so keep that in mind.
Places we're considering:
Lisbon
Lagos
Seville
Barcelona
San Sebastian
Can anyone give me some advice on those or possibly suggest others?
What we want is 1 beach/resort type town to relax in and 1 with the beautiful buildings, museums, etc. of a big city.
Thanks
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Post by fireisbeautiful on Jul 16, 2006 22:39:02 GMT -5
Well I've never actually been there myself, however I am reading "A Year in the World" by Frances Mayes, and beside it being wonderfully written, she describes the great tourist attractions in places such as Seville, several other places in Spain and quite a few in Portugal. She also talks about the culture and describes her days in great detail. Now I know it's a novel, so it might not be your thing... but its an idea in any case.  |
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spymoose
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 103
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Post by spymoose on Jul 16, 2006 23:04:11 GMT -5
Yeh, see I just have a major problem of getting in and out! Lisbon, Lagos, Seville or Lagos, Lisbon, Porto would be a great side trip into ESP/POR but I'm finding it nearly impossible to find an easy way in and out of the first/last cities I listed in those 2 ideas.
Example, I can get into Lisbon from London but to see Lagos and Porto (where I can then fly to Frankfurt) I can't. Frankfurt would maybe work, stay there 1 night or use one full day to go from Porto to Frankfurt to 'Intended City'. But the plan wont work anyway as they are in opposite directions. So I'd need to go into Porto, which works from London too, but I can't then leave from Lagos.
For Seville, I can get into Lisbon or Seville from London and see Seville/Lagos/Lisbon, but then I have no way out other than back to London. I don't want to go to and from London because London is being used as my in and out of Europe city...it'd be wasted money on flights to land in London, fly to ESP/POR, fly back to London and then to mainland Europe.
Makes me want to pull my hair out lol. Does Barcelona have beaches worth talking about? One idea I had was to do Barcelona and Valencia if they're both worth seeing and one has beach access and maybe flying to Lisbon and back from London. Probably a lot of wasted money on flights that way, but I don't really know how to solve my problem lol.
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Post by me on Jul 17, 2006 0:31:14 GMT -5
i found that a bus can get you places where trains are unavailable. this is especially true in Portugal.
and, as Spain & Portugal use different gage tracks, crossing that border is often easier on a bus, <Lisbon/Madrid runs use special equipment>
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Post by Kim on Jul 17, 2006 0:53:39 GMT -5
I've been to all those places and I loved Lagos, Barcelona and San Sebastian. I'd go with Barcelona for the big city then either of the other 2 for the smaller one. The beaches are really nice in San Seb and gorgeous in Lagos. Lagos is more touristy but it's a fun touristy not an annoying one.
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spymoose
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 103
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Post by spymoose on Jul 17, 2006 10:27:15 GMT -5
Yeh, there's no airport in Lagos though is there? Getting from Barcelona to Lagos without a long long train would be a problem.
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Post by me on Jul 17, 2006 11:01:14 GMT -5
There's an international airport in Faro, a short ride East of Lagos. <lots of flights from all over, but not Barcelona (can you plan another city between Barcelona & Lagos)> Yeh, there's no airport in Lagos though is there? |
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Post by me on Jul 17, 2006 11:32:07 GMT -5
you could fly from Barcelona to Seville. after a visit there, take a bus from Seville to Lagos (http://www.eva-bus.net is the one i took, the other way). Eva lists 2 each day: departing Seville at 07.30 & 16.30, getting to Lagos at noon & 20.45 respectively. don't know why the evening bus takes ¼ hour less time? btw, Spain is on European time, Portugal is on Greenwich time. so, the trip actually takes just 3½ hours. There's an international airport in Faro, a short ride East of Lagos. <lots of flights from all over, but not Barcelona (can you plan another city between Barcelona & Lagos)> Yeh, there's no airport in Lagos though is there? |
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spymoose
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 103
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Post by spymoose on Jul 17, 2006 12:04:47 GMT -5
Maybe I missed it, but which budget airline does Barcelona to Seville?
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Post by me on Jul 17, 2006 12:26:23 GMT -5
www.vueling.com/ list BCN/SVQ flights for as low as €15.00 + tax & fees (total €31.23). Maybe I missed it, but which budget airline does Barcelona to Seville?
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spymoose
Senior Travel Member
Posts: 103
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Post by spymoose on Jul 17, 2006 12:49:35 GMT -5
Wow, sweet stuff man, thank you. Think I just figured out how to make it work then London > Lagos > Seville > Barcelona > Mainland Europe. |
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