We are going on a tour from Madrid to Malaga, Gibraltar, Seville, Granada, etc. and then sending extra time in Madrid. Space is limited. What kind of clothing, particularly, what kind of coat would you take for the last week of Nov. and the first week of Dec.

Janet

If I were you, I would bring a fleece type jacket (hand pockets, zipper in front) AND a thin, windbreaker/golf type jacket to wear over the fleece. Both pack well and wash/dry well. Best of all you can wear either or both together as your needs vary. On my last trip to europe I was able to wear the fleece in the plane all the way as the Air conditioning was sooo cold.
Buen Viaje.

We'll also be in madrid to malaga for 2 weeks but during xmas and new years. What kind of weather can we expect? What kind of coat should we wear there/pack?

I'd suggest, of course depending on what kind of visiting you're doing (how much you want to stick out) if you have one, bring a leather jacket, or wool coat- with gloves, a scarf and hat, either can be used for sightseeing, or to dress up in for going out! Leather is heavy (downside), but thin and very warm- so its comfortable to wear.

Always, Always, Always, WEAR LAYERS! its the best way to go!

Shazz

http://www.premiercostaproperties.com/Torremolinos/torremolinos.html

This website talks a bit about the weather and number of dry days around Carihuela.

I see you are not actually staying in the city of Málaga, but more toward the resort beach area of Torremolinos. We were actually in Málaga.

I agree with Espe, take a leather coat, and wear layers. We were in Madrid last December and my son and I both opted for leather outerwear, not only were we warm, but we fit in as well, in any occasion, great when it began to snow. We found that many Spaniards favored leather outerwear. Do bring a pair of gloves and some type of head covering. My son, who's a teenager brought a ski hat, and I brought a Spanish Boina, when those winds pick up, you're glad you are covered.

Have some warm chestnuts in the Plaza Mayor, that will warm your insides as you have fun in spain!

Saludos,

Very, very helpful! Gracias! I just bought one of those really heavy suede/shearlings at Express. It looks great, its really warm, but its soooo heavy. The problem with leather or suede jackets is; you can't really layer without them getting really constricting. But it was a great buy. If your a petite like me, or just slender. Express has some great deals on coats right now. 40% off plus there are coupons out there that cut it even less! Also if you're in the U.S. Nordstrom's is having a huge 50% off sale. Quality fabric and designs for minimal $$

Shazz, yes about getting tight under a leather coat, that's why its best to use thin layers! :p Start with a thin undershirt, t-shirt, thin sweater...jacket! With the gloves and the rest of the accessories, you should be golden!

Just a little trick.

Bring fancy things to wear. In Spain we all try to do our best when it comes to clothes. If you don´t want to look as a tourist, you should bring stilish, elegant clothes.

That´s if you don´t want everybody to know you are a tourist. If you look like a tourist, you will be an easy catch, let´s say.

Even in the airport, I´ve noticed that the police stops you if you are wearing shorts, for example. But if you go nicely dressed, they won´t ask you anything. I know it´s hard after a long trip, but tennis shoes and a sweater and cotton pants is like having a big sign of "tourist" on your forehead.

Have fun in Spain!!

This is not my first time in Europe.. Just Spain. And yes, I know about the sneaker thing. I'm a big fan of leather shoes also! :p Thanks for the heads up! I would never think of not being stylish! Especially in Spain.

Boy that is for certain!! It is amazing how much nicer you are treated in ALL airports when you dress nicely!!

About the tennis shoes though, I was surprised to find tennis shoes to be quite common. Three of the Spanish families we stayed with wore tennis shoes on a regular basis with their jeans and shorts(especially those age 30 and under!!) After reading the threads here, I almost made my kids leave theirs behind. I was glad I didn't!! Our Spanish hosts laughed when I explained the tennis shoe information I had read on this site. I guess, like everything, it varies from location to location. Perhaps tennies are becoming more acceptable.

Sel,
Yes, the tennis shoes depend on location... and occasion. What sticks out the most is the all white tennis shoes that were ever so popular with americans in the 80's and still seem to be with older people. But if you're in the center of Madrid for example, especially girls/women, sneakers stand out much more than in the outskirts for example. Guys get away with more in this sense- bummer for me because if I had my druthers I'd pull a Cybill Shepard! I love my sneakers! However in Spain, I only use them for going to the country or exercise :p

As for the dressing nice, oh definately! I got bumped up to first class once! And all because I was dressed to fit the part! :p It was verrrrrrry nice! (its also a little travel tip I read somewhere- aside from the fact that in my family you better come out from a trip looking like a million bucks! :o - that travelers who dress better get treated better and are more prone to 'perks'- Champagne before take-off anyone?!?! :p )

Sounds like fun! I think I'm only going to bring fleece and layer it up. Although i plan on buying wonderful leather boots and jackets while vacationing!

I used to worry about dressing well so that I wouldn't look like a tourist, and I know that Spaniards (and all Europeans it seems) dress up more than we do...perhaps because the paseo is such a social thing. Anyway, last summer I wound up traveling with two Spanish couples who dressed in more casual clothing than I did and came across a group of French women on tour who were wearing white or beige sneakers!!! What folks wear when they are in their home town is probably vastly different from what they wear when they are living out of a small suitcase for weeks. The Europeans I traveled with packed fewer items overall than I did, and I assure you, I never caught any of them in clothing I would call elegant! Maybe I'm just getting too old to worry about it, but if I'm going to be shlepping up and down metro stairs and walking from one end of the Prado to the other, I'm doing it in the most comfortable shoes I can...even if that means Cybil shoes!

The fact of the matter is, we ARE tourists and as soon as most of us talk, everyone knows we are tourists. Just don't be a stupid tourist!!

I really worried about this before last summer's trip, but in the end, I took what I was most comfortable wearing and never regretted it!! I found being respectful and neatly dressed was sufficient. We each had a carry-on gym type bag so our wardrobe was very limited!!!

Madrid was the most dressy town. Every place else was casual including Barcelona. However, we were not dining in the elegant locations where a coat and tie would be required and we did MILES and MILES of walking!!!

It was unusually cold in Madrid and we wished we had brought a warmer layer!! Next trip I do not want to be cold so I am curious to hear what types of coats people are using!!

Sel, we mentioned it before. A wool coat like you would in the US, or Leather, leather leather! I'm telling you, its a no miss!

Actually the later in the winter it gets, the longer wool coats are the norm. Of course people wear 'plumas' (feather jackets) but with the wool coat, you have the option if you need/want to go somewhere a bit more dressed up. When I go I usually use the wool coat, and that way I avoid having to pack an additional jacket for more 'casual'-the wool coat works for everything! The classic pea coat works if you have one!

I live here in Spain....just north of Madrid in Segovia (amongst the mountains) where it is a tad bit cooler than the capital city itself. We already have had some snow!

Anyway, I am in Madrid on a daily basis....leatherware is the way to go. I wear a midthigh length leather coat and when it´s a little milder, a hip length suede jacket. The leather is great for breaking the wind gusts that kick up every now and then. Top it off with a big fluffy scarf and gloves and you are set for Madrid in December.

Ladies -- wraps are also big here....faux pashminas can be bought in a rainbow of colors from the street vendors, or you can venture into El Corte Inglés and buy something a bit more fancier trimmed in fur. They come in all sorts of fabrics, I would recommend a heavy wool one if you intend to use it instead of a coat.

Chica you are not kidding when you said that Segovia was a tad colder than Madrid. I almost froze last December! And I was wearing a cotton camisette, a wool/acrylic blend sweater and a leather coat, gloves and boina. What got me was my legs, my coat only reached mid thigh. I plan to go back to Candidos for cochinillo and I will wear leotard type legging under my slacks! My son had to stop at the Adidas(sp?) store to get some gloves. So if you are heading for Segovia be sure to cover those extremities, head, legs and hands!

The pea coat sounds good. It will look good in the airports and not be too bulky. I think I'll include my Patagonia long undies just in case my legs need a bit of warmth. I hate being cold!!!