2 Weeks in Spain

[canadagreg]

Hey guys,

I¡¦ve been looking over the forums and there this some amazing information on here, after going back and forward I decided to spend my two weeks backpacking, in Spain.

Just to note I will be backpacking after graduation, so late April to Early May, and this is my first time backpacking and as far as I know going it alone.

For cost reason I plan on taking a round trip flight to Barcelona, so I will be traveling back to Barcelona. I also plan to use train (eurorail?)Travel from locations; however I am not opposed to flying within the country. I also hope to use the night train if there is one, on my way back to Barcelona.

Here is my planned route, please let me know if this makes sense, I am open to changes, shifting days around, night trains, even adding a day on to the trip ext. I also plan to do day trips in Madrid, Granada, and Sevilla.

Your input and expertise is highly welcome, once I get this route hashed out I can start planning flights, travel, hostels, and my daily adventuresļ. Thanks Again

15 Days
Day 1 ¡V Leave Toronto
Day 2 ¡V Arrive in Barcelona

Barcelona ¡V Day 2, 3, 4, 5 Leave for Madrid day 6 Mornings.
Madrid - Arrive Day 6, 7, 8, 9 Leave for Granada Day 10 Morning
Granada - Day 10, 11, 12 Leave Granada Day 12 Evening
Sevilla Arrive Day 12 Night - Day 13 Full day - Night Train to Barcelona Day 14

Day 15 ¡V Arrive in Barcelona Morning day 15 Travel Back home

Thanks Again guys!
Greg

[Eagle]

canadagreg,

To begin with, welcome to GFE!

Overall, your Itinerary looks fairly well organized. It's great to see that you've allowed time for travel between locations, as that's something that many people don't consider in planning.

You've also chosen a good time to travel, "spring shoulder season". The weather should be decent (of course, no guarantees) and hopefully not too many crowds.

If this is your first trip to Europe, I'd highly recommend pre-reading the Guidebook Europe Through The Back Door. You should be able to find a copy at your local Library (it may not be the current version, but will suffice). You may also want to buy one of the Spain Guidebooks to pack along. That will provide you with lots of information for sightseeing, and will also be a good source of reference during the trip. There are always a few "differences of opinion" on the best Guidebooks, but have a look at the larger bookstores to see which ones appeal to you.

I'd suggest planning a somewhat "relaxed" touring schedule for the first few days, as you'll be somewhat jet lagged and not at your best "touring speed".

You might have a look at www.hihostels.ca/. A membership might be helpful for your trip. There are also independent Hostels, but I've found that the HI chain has fairly consistent prices and facilities from one location to the next. Hi often has several properties in the larger cities, so there's a choice in which area to stay in. They usually provide sheets or a sleepsack with the room, so you won't need to pack one. However, it would be a good idea to pack a Towel along (many travellers use the "chamois" style towels) and a small Padlock (for Hostel Lockers). Be sure to use a good quality Padlock (not too large), rather than just the cheap luggage locks.

If you're going to be travelling with a Cellphone or other technology, you'll need to ensure that the phone will work in Europe, and also pack along some Plug Adapters (and possibly a Voltage Converter, depending on your circumstances).

Good luck with your planning!