Reporting Back

I just returned from 10 days in Spain and have a few recommendations and a few places to avoid.

First off, let me say that of all of the places we visited (Madrid, Segovia and Barcelona)...Barcelona was by far our favorite! No offense MAdridMan ! I would highly recommend that anyone going to Spain make a stop off in Barcelona...it is the coolest city. It has everything MAdrid has plus the mountains and the Medditerranean coast which is absolutely gorgeous.

Recommendations:

Hotel Extremadura - in Caceres
Hostal Levante - Barcelona
easyrentacar.com - Barcelona...we rented a car for one day and they were GREAT!
Tosa de Mar - an hour north of Barcelona...rent a car and make the drive ... it is well worth!

Avoid:

Hotel Regente - Madrid

HOpe this info. helps.

Thanks to everyone who helped us plan a wonderful trip...we will be back!

[ 06-06-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

gurly, I agree. We so debated whether or not to include Barcelona on our trip since we didn't want to spend most of the time driving. Everyone in our party agreed Barcelona was there favorite. We even rearranged our itineary to stay an extra day in Barcelona. We're so glad we decided to visit this vibrant, exciting city.

I was in barcelona and madrid recently and i too loved barcelona. I totally agree that the city is the coolest. Its amazing the fashion plates that were on the streets, paris pales by comparison. I loved the fact that there was so much to do and see, that somehow four days there did not seem enough. I will definitely return to barcelona one day. meanwhile i have my photos and clothes i got there for memories. :-)

You mentioned to avoid the Hotel Regente , in Madrid. Can you explain in more detail?
We are leaving tomorrow to go to Madrid for a couple of weeks and in our way back (on the 22nd) we have RESERVATIONS at Hotel Regente ! prior to returning to the US.
Any comments will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[ 06-06-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

It's funny, I logged on today planning to post the same type of thing. I also just got back from 10 days in Spain. Here are some observations:

1. When I first booked the trip, I asked on this board if anyone had any experience with Travelplan, which is Air Europa's travel agency. Apparently, no one did, since I got no replies. Let me just say that I highly recommend them. The package (round-trip airfare from JFK, 5 nights Madrid, 5 nights Barcelona, round trip flight from Madrid to Barcelona, all transfers) was a great deal. Air Europa's flights were good, and our transfers consisted of a driver waiting for us at each airport to take us to the hotel in a new Mercedes.

2. In Madrid, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza . VERY nice hotel, with a great location, right at the beginning of the Gran Via.

3. As for Madrid itself, I'm glad I had the experience, however I was a little disappointed. My biggest complaint is that the city is not at all tourist-friendly. There are no street-signs pointing out major tourist attractions. It's hard to find any signs, maps, or menus that are not in Spanish. Fortunately, I speak Spanish and have a decent sense of direction. But I feel that if you don't speak Spanish and are not much of a map-reader, it will be hard for you to enjoy Madrid.

4. Just as an aside: what's with all the smoking and ham? It's hard to believe that Eurpoeans can be healthy.

5. Barcelona, on the other hand, is GREAT! What a beautiful city. It has the cosmopolitan feel of Paris, with the delicious Mediterranean food, mountains AND beaches, and plenty to see. As opposed to Madrid, it is extremely tourist friendly. The city runs Bus Turistic, which takes tourists on a trip around the city to all the main attractions and gives you a coupon book with discounts on all of them. Everrything is pointed out clearly in Spanish, Catalan, and English. The hotles and restaurants have brochures with maps and tourist attractions. It's just a much more attractive city. I will definitely be back.
That's all I can think of for now. Hopefully I will post more observations later.

[ 06-06-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

I have to defend Madrid. When I went to Barcelona I didn't feel I was in Spain. It is so different that it was like being in another country. Madrid has a turist bus too, and I believe it is pretty good. Plus, there are turism offices where very nice people will help you. People in Madrid were more friendly than people in Barcelona.
My experience was much better in Madrid that in Barcelona. I went back to Madrid tons of times but I have not desire to visit Barcelona in a long time.

I have to agree with Luces de Bohemia, well somewhat... I've never been to Madrid before, but I have been to Barcelona, and I couldn't stand it. I mean, it was beautiful and all, except that horrible run-down olympic village, but I never got the sense of old Spain. I could be wrong, but there was no Flamenco dancing, no bull-fighting (not like I agree with that), and no HOT sun... (too many clouds). I think that the life in Catayluna is much different from the life in southern Spain. Most people who love Barcelona, don't like Madrid and vice versa. Different strokes for different folks, but I will say... Madrid is closer to some of the most beautiful cities in the world: Toledo, Granada, Seville, Lisbon, (I am missing some), but you get my drift. Yes, the ocean is beautiful, but so is the Plaza Mayor in Seville. I'm so looking forward to my trip, I can't wait.
The sun, late nights, good food, the language, history, and the beauty of Spain is just around the corner...and I'm counting down the days... just 19 more. -roses

[ 06-06-2001: Message edited by: roses ]

Yes, let's talk about some of the other cities in Spain...better yet, let's just talk about Sevilla! If you never get south of Madrid, you are missing sooooo much. It was Sevilla (and Andalucia in general) that really captured me, and transformed me into this obsessed, "I must return to Spain as soon as possible!!!" crazy woman! I have never seen such beauty and color contained in one place. There is something unique about the Andalucian aesthetic...must be thanks to all those cultures bumping into each other and mingling over the centuries...you absolutely drown in the beauty of it. There is such gorgeous artwork in even the most mundane of places. (For example...anyone ever been to the train station in Jerez??? Did you see the facade of the building? Wow.) There is truly no place on earth like southern Spain.

I have not been to Barcelona yet, but having just got back from Madrid,I can't agree with the comment that are no street signs to tourist attractions. Every major corner was signposted and were easy to follow. We took the Madrid Vision Tour Bus, you pay 1600pts for all 3 tours. 1. Monuments 2.Historical 3. Modern. You can hop on and off at any of the stops to visit the sights and my favourite was the Palace, but what a waste, 2800 rooms and none of them are occupied! The views of the city from this area were something else! Also with the bus you are given a map covering the 3 tours and a discount booklet for the many attractions, well worth every pesata. We stayed just behind the Palace Hotel and from here it was just a short walk to Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and several museums.
We also did our own tapas crawl each night (on the way to meet our daughter who is staying on Paseo Delicias). Well, I wish I didn't have to come home but here I am re-living every moment and looking forward to my next trip to sunny Spain.

Just a quick comment as I, too, am back from a month long trip to Spain (Barcelona included) and wil give a fuller report, later.

In either city, there is a bus tour that gives you a very fast and efficient orientation (maps and all, included) with a "hop-off-hop-on-as-you-like-as-often-as-you-like" feature for one price (something like 2400 pesetas) the whole day. The bus stops for this special and regular tour are well marked and within an hour or two, you should be very well oriented to the city centers and environs. Tour Madrid/Barcelona and Bus Touristic are the two flavors of this type of tour and either should do the job. No excuse to be disoriented!! North/South/East/West - that's all it is. ;-)

"There are no street-signs pointing out major tourist attractions. It's hard to find any signs, maps, or menus that are not in Spanish."

Hey, in New York all those menus and signs are in English. Makes it difficult for someone whom doesn't speak it. And in France - geeez. It's like they speak another language all together!

Steve Martin, a comedian, once said a lonnnnnng time ago (1977??): :p

I just got back from 17 days in Spain this week. My favorite cities were Madrid and Sevilla. You can keep Barcelona. Madrid was much easier to get around and less crowded than Barcelona. In Barcelona it felt like you were always stuck in traffic. And when you decide to walk you sometimes have to share your sidewalk with millions of mopeds and motorcycles. There is not much of old Spain there and the best was the beach. Even our cab driver got lost to our hotel. Madrid and Sevilla are very beautiful and transportation was always smooth. I had a great time

For the most part I have to go along with LaProfesora's comments, although I think the train station in Toledo is nicer than that in Jerez de la frontera. I just returned from a week in el Puerto de Santa Maria (just before the prices went up), saw the El Rocio festival which used to be just another Romeria but which brought out a half million people this year. It's near Ayamonte (Huelva) and ends on Pentecost Sunday each year. Like the Semana Santa in Sevilla brings out every group of Nazarenos, El Rocio brings out every hermandad in Spain that dances the Sevillanas.

I am not talking about the architecture of the villages - I am talking about the people and their ferias and fiestas. I couldn't get hotel reservations for the feria de Primavera in el Puerto de Santa Maria this year - I am already working on them for next year. The people at the Hotel Santa Maria told me we should 'book' around the first of the year.

Let's see. Regarding street-signs and tourist buses there have been already some replies.

As for menus, there are many restaurants having them in English. Obviously, if you go to a small / family run traditional restaurant you can't expect them to speak English or any other language. However, these small places are usually the best ones.

About maps, I never thought it was so important to have a map written in English. After all, maps just have street names on them, subway stations and not much things.

If you need detailed information about the location of the most important attractions, then you should go to the tourist office (there are offices at the airport, bus stations and train stations).

About the hotels having brochures and maps with tourist attractions.... well, if your hotel in Madrid didn't have them don't blame it on the city. The "Comunidad de Madrid", the city council, and the government (through Turespaña) spent many millions of pesetas every year issuing brochures, posters and leaflets in different languages. It's the hotel's fault if they don't bother to get that information for their customers. I have lots of brochures at my hostal (even maps in English).

I spent a week in Madrid and a week in Barcelona last fall. Madrid was incredible. Barcelona was great too, except that I found it more difficult to navigate than Madrid.

Eddie - Welcome back and a question - Where did you end up staying in Puerta de Santa Marie? I remember you were having some concerns about finding a room. Isn't it charming - lovely - and the kind of town that makes you want to return again and again - primarily the town / old section ... the "resort/casino" section, for me, holds no charm. Please share you time in Santa Marie ....

[ 06-11-2001: Message edited by: Puna ]

Back in '89, my first trip to Spain, my first Spanish city, and plans to stay there for at least 4 monthes...Barcelona...We took a cab from the train station to the Barrio gótico and the cab driver asked us what we were doing in Barcelona. We told him we were planning on living in Barcelona for a few months to learn Spanish and experience Spain...He, a Catalan, told us to go to Madrid! Either he knew our experience would be better in Madrid or he, as a Catalan, did not want any more Americans in his town...Nonetheless, we left for Madrid, I fell in love (with the city, of course), returned home to the States and ended up marrying a Madrileño, and the rest is history!

I enjoy Barcelona, and have visited many times since then, but Madrid is where it's at!!!! VIVA MADRID!!!

p.s. sorry for the late input on this topic, my computer was down for 10 days,(no MM )and so i'm catching up today. Glad to be back...

<-- This is MadridMan: GREEN with envy! (but happy for you, laduque)

Some more comments:

1. Someone mentioned that NYC is not geared to tourists, either. WRONG! Street signs in touristy areas point out clearly directions to tourist attractions (Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc.) and the attractions and restaurants in touristy areas are loaded with maps, brochures, etc. This is a great idea, and is something I really admired about Barcelona.

2. Here's an example: when we got aout of the train station nearest the Museo Del Prado, there was not one sign pointing out the direction of the museum. By contrast, Barcelona pointed out its attractions clearly.

3. The brochures for Bus Turistic were given out at the hotel. I saw some tourist buses going around Madrid, but it was not made clear where they originated from, the cost, etc. I'm sure I could have figured it out, but my point is that Madrid does not go out of its way to be tourist-friendly, They could learn a lot from Barcelona.
4. To me, Madrid was a fairly bland city, without much great architecture or much to see. Gran Via is nothing special, there are no mountains or beaches, and bullfights are nothing more than the torture of an animal for sport (and BORING at that!) Barcelona has great beaches and mountains and is just nore asthetically pleasant. It's like comparing New York to Newark.

Anyway, that's just my opinion.

Who whizzed in your cornflakes?

Pookita

...probably a catalán...

Having been to both cities, I found Barcelona thoroughly confusing (and not from a linguistic standpoint...I've spent more time in the Basque Country than any other region and get along fine reading signs), extremely NOT friendly, and frankly inferior to Madrid. I'm not quite sure how you missed the signs to the Prado, if you left from Atocha, since it's basically a hop, skip, and jump away. So be it... Madrid, although clogged for a driver, is very navigable and tourist-friendly. On the contrary, we got lost five times (and me a fluent Spanish-speaker!) trying to get back to the Barri Gòtic from Parc Güell. I don't remember ANY signs (not to say they weren't there...). Anyway, this point is moot, as each has their opinion of the two cities, and although you may find both enjoyable, usually one prefers one over the other.

Both have plenty of architecture and history, just differing styles. Where Gaudí dominates Barcelona, the works during the monumental reigns of Carlos V and Felipe "Yo el Rey" seem to stick out in Madrid (amongst many others).

Madrid and Barcelona are like Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota . Barcelona (Mpls.) is more cosmopolitan, nouveau, etc., and Madrid (St. Paul) is more traditional, classic, etc. They both have their charm, and based on your taste, you prefer one over the other.

I happen to prefer Madrid. :p