Spain & Portugal
Jun 23, 2018, 2:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cullman, Alabama
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 648
Spain & Portugal
We hear that Spain and Portugal are an amazing place to visit and would like to be able to take the train around the country to see different places over a 14 day period time with about 5 days spent in one location. Have not selected an airline yet either and am considering use of a Marriott travel package or Chase reward points. We would prefer a visit in Shoulder season and welcome thoughts about where to see and why and learn about any experiences in any Marriott property in these countries please/
Jun 24, 2018, 2:08 pm
#2
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Location: Jupiter, FL
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The standard questions of what do you like to do? There are many different places in both locations, but only recommended based on your interests.
Training through each country is easy. Training between them, potentially not so much. A train from Porto to Madrid is an overnight train. Maybe perfect for what you want.
Training through each country is easy. Training between them, potentially not so much. A train from Porto to Madrid is an overnight train. Maybe perfect for what you want.
Jun 24, 2018, 5:08 pm
#3
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
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I hope you recognise that Spain and Portugal are separate countries?
Also, you are asking the same question in multiple different fora
this one from the Marriott forum Looking for Hotel & Destination Suggestions Please
Also, you are asking the same question in multiple different fora
this one from the Marriott forum Looking for Hotel & Destination Suggestions Please
Jun 24, 2018, 7:04 pm
#4
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Location: Brighton. UK
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Yes both Portugal and Spain are amazing countries to visit. Their shared and separate histories, cultures and languages are very interesting.
But you don't have any idea about dates - shoulder season is not a term that is used widely in Europe.
Nor do you have any real idea about where you want to visit or what you want to do when you get there?
Restricting yourself to a particular hotel chain will also restrict your options for places to visit - have you even looked at the places they have hotels located?
You could easily spend 14 days in Portugal let alone Spain.
You really need to do some basic research first.
But you don't have any idea about dates - shoulder season is not a term that is used widely in Europe.
Nor do you have any real idea about where you want to visit or what you want to do when you get there?
Restricting yourself to a particular hotel chain will also restrict your options for places to visit - have you even looked at the places they have hotels located?
You could easily spend 14 days in Portugal let alone Spain.
You really need to do some basic research first.
Jun 24, 2018, 7:25 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: YUL
Posts: 1,001
I literally just booked this trip.
YUL to Porto
Lisbon
Faro
Seville
Cordoba
Grenada
Madrid
Barcelona - YUL
May 2019, taking trains or buses from city to city. 24 days in total, and very much looking forward to it. We will do a combo of small hotels and airBnB type accommodation. Packing carry on only backpacks, to enable us to manage public transit much more easily. Generally 2-3 nights in each city, 5 in BCN to finish, because we love BCN.
YUL to Porto
Lisbon
Faro
Seville
Cordoba
Grenada
Madrid
Barcelona - YUL
May 2019, taking trains or buses from city to city. 24 days in total, and very much looking forward to it. We will do a combo of small hotels and airBnB type accommodation. Packing carry on only backpacks, to enable us to manage public transit much more easily. Generally 2-3 nights in each city, 5 in BCN to finish, because we love BCN.
Jun 25, 2018, 6:17 am
#7
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
As we have a dedicated Spain & Portugal forum, I'm going to move this thread over there. Please continue to discuss this topic in the Iberian folder.
stut
Moderator
Europe Forum
stut
Moderator
Europe Forum
Jun 25, 2018, 10:51 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cullman, Alabama
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 648
Your missing the point
I hope you recognise that Spain and Portugal are separate countries?
Also, you are asking the same question in multiple different fora this one from the Marriott forum Looking for Hotel & Destination Suggestions Please
Also, you are asking the same question in multiple different fora
this one from the Marriott forum Looking for Hotel & Destination Suggestions PleaseI also was wondering about train service between the two as it does not matter if it is an overnight train or just a day trip train. We just want to know if we can get between them and if a car rental might be needed at any time.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Jun 25, 2018 at 12:52 pm Reason: Per FT Rule 12 to discuss the topic, and not members in a personal way.
Jun 25, 2018, 10:54 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cullman, Alabama
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Let me Clarify.
Yes both Portugal and Spain are amazing countries to visit. Their shared and separate histories, cultures and languages are very interesting.
But you don't have any idea about dates - shoulder season is not a term that is used widely in Europe. (So you can learn this would be the beginning before or after the end of High Season for Travel)
Nor do you have any real idea about where you want to visit or what you want to do when you get there? ( I would fly over and take the train within spain seeing Mad, Barcelona, Malaga and other suggestions and then moving on to Portugal and am looking for ideas on places to see in both countries)
Restricting yourself to a particular hotel chain will also restrict your options for places to visit - have you even looked at the places they have hotels located? ( Of Course I have, Marriott has tons of properties in Spain and I wanted input from people who had stayed at them, It is why I asked in the first place)
You could easily spend 14 days in Portugal let alone Spain. (Agreed but 14 days is all we have to spend so I am trying to intelligently break up the days as some are going to be for travel alone like a night train possibly into Portugal)
(Does this make my questions any clearer to you?)
You really need to do some basic research first.
But you don't have any idea about dates - shoulder season is not a term that is used widely in Europe. (So you can learn this would be the beginning before or after the end of High Season for Travel)
Nor do you have any real idea about where you want to visit or what you want to do when you get there? ( I would fly over and take the train within spain seeing Mad, Barcelona, Malaga and other suggestions and then moving on to Portugal and am looking for ideas on places to see in both countries)
Restricting yourself to a particular hotel chain will also restrict your options for places to visit - have you even looked at the places they have hotels located? ( Of Course I have, Marriott has tons of properties in Spain and I wanted input from people who had stayed at them, It is why I asked in the first place)
You could easily spend 14 days in Portugal let alone Spain. (Agreed but 14 days is all we have to spend so I am trying to intelligently break up the days as some are going to be for travel alone like a night train possibly into Portugal)
(Does this make my questions any clearer to you?)
You really need to do some basic research first.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Jun 25, 2018 at 12:54 pm Reason: Per FT Rule 12 to discuss the topic, and not members in a personal way.
Jun 25, 2018, 11:07 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cullman, Alabama
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 648
Training and Interests
The standard questions of what do you like to do? There are many different places in both locations, but only recommended based on your interests.
Training through each country is easy. Training between them, potentially not so much. A train from Porto to Madrid is an overnight train. Maybe perfect for what you want.
Training through each country is easy. Training between them, potentially not so much. A train from Porto to Madrid is an overnight train. Maybe perfect for what you want.
Jun 25, 2018, 2:52 pm
#12
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Location: Brighton. UK
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The Spanish and Portuguese rail system have websites so you canlook at the route maps and plan trips - easily researched.
So you can learn this would be the beginning before or after the end of High Season for Travel)
Again these are quite vague concepts. For some destinations it is always 'high season' for visitor numbers and not related to weather.
People are trying to help you but please ask specific questions and don't be rude when people ask you to provide more information.
Jun 26, 2018, 7:50 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,868
with 2 weeks, get a car. CP and Renfe have a decent network but much of the beauty of both countries are in the smaller sized cities and its much more convenient with a car. we've used rentals for most of our visits - rates are good and driving manner are very good
Jun 27, 2018, 12:38 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2002
Location: raleigh,nc
Posts: 217
Another resource
Tripadvisor.com and forums on fodors.com and frommers.com often
cover information on itineraries/ favorite lodging and activities, and
offer current reviews, some more accurate than others imo, and
may be helpful.
cover information on itineraries/ favorite lodging and activities, and
offer current reviews, some more accurate than others imo, and
may be helpful.
Jun 29, 2018, 10:46 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Air Europa Silver, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,011
If you want to cities you can do that easily by high speed train. RENFE has a site in English where you can book tickets. Get them well in advance - they can be cheap.
Barcelona-Madrid-Cordoba-Seville would be very doable by train.
And then rent a car or take a bus to go to Granada or Portugal.
Keep in mind Spain is a huge country by European standards. You could easily spend 2 weeks just exploring one region. Enjoy!
Barcelona-Madrid-Cordoba-Seville would be very doable by train.
And then rent a car or take a bus to go to Granada or Portugal.
Keep in mind Spain is a huge country by European standards. You could easily spend 2 weeks just exploring one region. Enjoy!