Spain and Portugal - exploring the coasts

[omniflow]

Whilst this post is definitely about a road trip, it's very much about the destinations along the way rather than the actual roads, so please leave it in Holidays and Travel and don't move it to roads.

I'm in the process of planning our 2024 holiday to Spain and Portugal. The outline plan is to tour the coasts of both Spain and Portugal. Starting and ending in San Sebastian. The initial plan was to do the entire thing as a road trip, spending 2 nights in lots of different places. That has been revised to fit in 3 * 5 night stops in either AirBnb or Vrbo places to allow for a change of pace. We're going in June and will be away for a little over 5 weeks. The current plan is:

2 nights San Sebastian (Hotel decided)
5 nights somewhere on the Basque north coast
2 nights Logrono (Hotel decided)
1 night Gijon (Hotel TBD) - a stop purely to break up the drive
2 nights A. Coruna (Hotel TBD) - chosen on a whim in preference to Santiago de Compostela
5 nights Portuguese coast - probably just south of Porto
2 nights Lisbon (Hotel decided)
3 nights Seville (Hotel TBD)
2 nights Cadiz (Hotel TBD)
5 nights on the coast somewhere in the region of Malaga
2 nights Granada (Hotel TBD)
2 nights Valencia (Hotel decided)
1 night Zaragoza (Hotel TBD) - another stop purely to break up the drive
2 nights San Sebastian (Hotel decided)

All of the hotels we've already settled on are places we've stayed before.

I'm currently waiting for Brittany Ferries to release their 2024 schedules so I can book the ferries, then I'll start filling in the blanks. Whilst I've posted on here before about how tedious the Portsmouth -> Spain crossings are, I still think that BF are the best option. We'll probably mix and match 1 Plymouth and 1 Portsmouth, depending on the specific schedules. I should also point out that neither myself or my wife are big into Museums, Cathedrals and other such stuff. We're much about about just enjoying the ambience of the various places - although I suspect we will visit the Alhambra and one or two other places on the way.

Does anyone have any recommendations for Hotels in any of the TBD locations above? The Hotel in Lisbon is one we booked as a result of a recommendation on here (Corpo Santo) and it was fabulous.
Does anyone have any recommendations for rental properties in any of the 3 approximate locations above. Musts have are a decent view (preferably a sea view) and outside space.
I know we're missing out Barcelona and possibly some other highlights, but I think we'll be knackered by the time we get to Valencia and it will be time to head home. However, I'd be happy to listen to any suggestions for an alternative schedule.

[brianmorrison]

Only questions would be price and locations. I guess it depends on if you like traditional or modern etc.
When working in Cadiz I stayed at the Playa Victoria which was nice and right on the beach, but there are some beautiful hotels in the old town too. Likewise, Seville can be very busy so depends which area is important to you.

[omniflow]

brianmorrison said:

Only questions would be price and locations. I guess it depends on if you like traditional or modern etc.
When working in Cadiz I stayed at the Playa Victoria which was nice and right on the beach, but there are some beautiful hotels in the old town too. Likewise, Seville can be very busy so depends which area is important to you.

Location wise - a sea view from the room and easy walking distance from the old town / bars and restaurants are the two main criteria. We would compromise on the sea view if needed (e.g. in Valencia).

Pricewise - I think it's going to vary massively with location (and possibly days of week) - up to €250 / night but places like Seville look to be expensive, so we'll probably have to pay more there.

As for the style of the hotel - the room needs to be functional - I don't like overly ornate, so I'd guess that puts us in the modern bracket. Bonus points for a rooftop bar with nice views.

Parking and / or access are another consideration. The car has a very small boot, so we have lots of soft bags rather than wheely suitcases, meaning being able to drive up to the front door is a useful feature.

[Chucklehead]

when are you planning to go?

I went to San Sebastian for the first time this year and absolutely loved it. I'll definitely be back. However, unless you're right in the middle of the season (July/August) then on Sunday and to a slightly lesser extent, Monday, the whole place shuts down. You won't be stuck for places to eat/drink, but you certainly won't have anywhere the range you would if you were there Friday/Saturday. Just something to bear in mind.

I know you've chosen your hotel, but i can highly recommend Room Mate Gorka, right on the edge of the old town.

edit: also, just to add, please let us know how you got on. I had been planning a Santander to Monaco road trip that has gone on the back burner.

Edited by Chucklehead on Wednesday 5th July 08:52

[omniflow]

Chucklehead said:

when are you planning to go?

I went to San Sebastian for the first time this year and absolutely loved it. I'll definitely be back. However, unless you're right in the middle of the season (July/August) then on Sunday and to a slightly lesser extent, Monday, the whole place shuts down. You won't be stuck for places to eat/drink, but you certainly won't have anywhere the range you would if you were there Friday/Saturday. Just something to bear in mind.

I know you've chosen your hotel, but i can highly recommend Room Mate Gorka, right on the edge of the old town.

edit: also, just to add, please let us know how you got on. I had been planning a Santander to Monaco road trip that has gone on the back burner.

Edited by Chucklehead on Wednesday 5th July 08:52

Totally agree that timing is important. I need to ensure that we miss the film festival (shouldn't be a problem) and also the rugby. We were there a few weeks ago and there was a rugby match (French final of some sort) on at the weekend. An extra 80,000 people in town. Hotel prices for the weekend were stratospheric. We re-jigged our plans as a result and swapped dates between Logrono and San Sebastian so we weren't in San Sebastian over the weekend.

Our preferences for a Hotel in San Sebastian are either the Lasala Plaza or the Sansebay. Both have great sea views and a perfect location for the old town.

This year we did Hook of Holland -> Salzburg -> Venice -> Lake Garda -> Radda in Chianti -> Savona -> Bastia (Corsica) -> Ajaccio -> Marseilles -> Barcelona -> San Sebastian -> Logrono -> Fuente De -> Santander -> Plymouth. The last bit is pretty much Santander -> Monaco but in reverse. However, we crunched the whole of the Spanish portion of the trip into 7 nights and were totally wiped out by the end of it. Hence the re-think for next years trip. San Sebastian -> Barcelona is do-able in a day, but it's a bit of a slog. Marseille -> Barcelona was easy, but we'd just got off an overnight ferry from Corsica so were on the road by 8:30am and in Barcelona by 1pm.

[Riff Raff]

I’ve always liked the Parador in Cádiz. Worth a look on the website. In Sevilla I’ve stayed at the Alfonso XIII a few times. Bit pricy, but worth it. In Zaragoza, the NH Gran Hotel is central, in one of the posher bits. I’ve never stayed there, as my wife’s family all live in the city so we’ve always stayed with family. The Basilica there is worth a visit ( but I would say that as I was married there).

[Stella Tortoise]

omniflow said:

Totally agree that timing is important. I need to ensure that we miss the film festival (shouldn't be a problem) and also the rugby. We were there a few weeks ago and there was a rugby match (French final of some sort) on at the weekend. An extra 80,000 people in town. Hotel prices for the weekend were stratospheric. We re-jigged our plans as a result and swapped dates between Logrono and San Sebastian so we weren't in San Sebastian over the weekend.

Our preferences for a Hotel in San Sebastian are either the Lasala Plaza or the Sansebay. Both have great sea views and a perfect location for the old town.

This year we did Hook of Holland -> Salzburg -> Venice -> Lake Garda -> Radda in Chianti -> Savona -> Bastia (Corsica) -> Ajaccio -> Marseilles -> Barcelona -> San Sebastian -> Logrono -> Fuente De -> Santander -> Plymouth. The last bit is pretty much Santander -> Monaco but in reverse. However, we crunched the whole of the Spanish portion of the trip into 7 nights and were totally wiped out by the end of it. Hence the re-think for next years trip. San Sebastian -> Barcelona is do-able in a day, but it's a bit of a slog. Marseille -> Barcelona was easy, but we'd just got off an overnight ferry from Corsica so were on the road by 8:30am and in Barcelona by 1pm.

We stayed at the Sansebay last month, apartment rather than hotel room and were upgraded to the penthouse, very good. How big is your car? Their garage is an elevator type and a bit tight.
Also, be aware that sat nav will not take you to the hotel as it’s technically down a no access street, we parked at the Kursaal which was expensive but cheaper than the hotel.
The old post office hotels at Logrono is good.
LaGuardia was mental busy on a Sunday.

[omniflow]

Stella Tortoise said:

We stayed at the Sansebay last month, apartment rather than hotel room and were upgraded to the penthouse, very good. How big is your car? Their garage is an elevator type and a bit tight.
Also, be aware that sat nav will not take you to the hotel as it’s technically down a no access street, we parked at the Kursaal which was expensive but cheaper than the hotel.
The old post office hotels at Logrono is good.
LaGuardia was mental busy on a Sunday.

Yup - stayed in the Sansebay last month too. The car fits in their garage (just) and it's a Maserati Gran Cabrio, so not exactly small. It was our 4th visit, so finding it wasn't a problem.

The Aurelia Palace in Logrono (Old Post Office) is our preferred hotel there. The car also fits into their car park, although there was a massive festival on when we got there last time and there was absolutely no way you could get access to their car park (and I tried very very hard). I ended up parking in the main car park for the town and it was absolutely fine. That hotel is 10 times harder to find with sat nav than the Sansebay. The first time we went we drove around for about 45 minutes and then ended up calling them from about 40 yards away - we had no idea we were so close. This time I thought I had it nailed, putting an interim location into the sat nav and then following a straightforward route to the hotel. Several thousand people strolling around without a care in the world put paid to that idea.

[Yetski]

Depending on budget if you're doing Alhambra when in Granada, the Alhambra Palace is nice, good food, excellent views over the city, concierge secure parking, and right next to Alhambra.
Some great little bars and restaurants just a short walk down the hill also (Capitan Amargo Craft Beer Bar is worth a visit)

[paulwirral]

We used to holiday in San Sebastián when we lived in France , it’s a great place .
If you’ve not already done it when you’re in logrono try the Marques de muretti , probably spelt wrong , vineyard tour with the tasting and tapas at the end , it’s well worth it . We got a taxi there and back from logrono , it’s only 15 mins or so . We did the 5 tasting option but there was a seven option .
Pamplona is worth a night or so , it’s not just about the bull run , it’s a very nice city with some good eating and drinking venues.

Edited by paulwirral on Wednesday 5th July 11:10

[SunsetZed]

It might be a little further South of Porto than you had in mind but we stayed at a lovely place in Foz do Arelho last year, I can share details if it might be of interest.

We also stayed in both Lisbon and Porto (and preferred the latter) so don't discount staying there either!

[omniflow]

SunsetZed said:

It might be a little further South of Porto than you had in mind but we stayed at a lovely place in Foz do Arelho last year, I can share details if it might be of interest.

We also stayed in both Lisbon and Porto (and preferred the latter) so don't discount staying there either!

Yes please - PM me if you'd prefer. I was originally looking at Nazare but settled on just south of Porto as it looked like there were some nice places there. The key is to find somewhere with a nice view and outside space so we can just chill out for a few days. Ideally having either lunch or dinner in the accommodation and then the other meal somewhere close(ish).

[SunsetZed]

omniflow said:

SunsetZed said:

It might be a little further South of Porto than you had in mind but we stayed at a lovely place in Foz do Arelho last year, I can share details if it might be of interest.

We also stayed in both Lisbon and Porto (and preferred the latter) so don't discount staying there either!

Yes please - PM me if you'd prefer. I was originally looking at Nazare but settled on just south of Porto as it looked like there were some nice places there. The key is to find somewhere with a nice view and outside space so we can just chill out for a few days. Ideally having either lunch or dinner in the accommodation and then the other meal somewhere close(ish).

Mail sent, Nazaire is ok for a day but the traffic there can be horrific sometimes and it's a bit too touristy for our liking. The place we stayed is much quieter which may or may not appeal to you!

[languagetimothy]

SunsetZed said:

omniflow said:

SunsetZed said:

It might be a little further South of Porto than you had in mind but we stayed at a lovely place in Foz do Arelho last year, I can share details if it might be of interest.

We also stayed in both Lisbon and Porto (and preferred the latter) so don't discount staying there either!

Yes please - PM me if you'd prefer. I was originally looking at Nazare but settled on just south of Porto as it looked like there were some nice places there. The key is to find somewhere with a nice view and outside space so we can just chill out for a few days. Ideally having either lunch or dinner in the accommodation and then the other meal somewhere close(ish).

Mail sent, Nazaire is ok for a day but the traffic there can be horrific sometimes and it's a bit too touristy for our liking. The place we stayed is much quieter which may or may not appeal to you!

Agree with the above. I live about 20 mins drive from Nazare and go there for a walk, or lunch, or sometimes evening. Nazare is where you have the ridiculous waves and suicidal surfers though not this time of year. If you want a good beach and get in safe sea look at São Martinho do Porto which is only a short distance from Nazare.

Foz do arelho. Yep, often go there. Not too touristy plenty of bar n restaurants.

[paulwirral]

Stella Tortoise said:

We stayed at the Sansebay last month, apartment rather than hotel room and were upgraded to the penthouse, very good. How big is your car? Their garage is an elevator type and a bit tight.
Also, be aware that sat nav will not take you to the hotel as it’s technically down a no access street, we parked at the Kursaal which was expensive but cheaper than the hotel.
The old post office hotels at Logrono is good.
LaGuardia was mental busy on a Sunday.

I think we stayed there a few years ago , the car elevator was definitely a “breath in “ when you drive on , the actual car park was fine and there were some much bigger cars than ours in it .