https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:45:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453951 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 17:57:51 +0000 wheres_c 2453951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved Madrid. Didn't really care for Valencia. It was like a smaller less fun version of Barcelona :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453608 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 13:58:01 +0000 lamariniere 2453608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I looked for the airbnb that we stayed in, but it looks like it is no longer listed. But as I was browsing, there were tons of cute looking, reasonably priced places! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453569 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 13:35:23 +0000 Beehive 2453569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: We went to Madrid last March (as well as Seville) and loved Madrid. Incredible food and museums, definitely worth spending time in. I agree that 3 cities in 10 days is plenty, though. Depending on how much you love large cities, I'd even flip it to be 3 days Madrid, 2 days Seville and 4 days Barcelona. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453552 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 13:27:28 +0000 daniellemybelle 2453552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: We are flying in and out of Madrid because it is so much cheaper! So we can't really drop it unless we change our flights and pay A LOT more. So we figure we will do one day on the front end and one day on the back-end and that will be more than enough. :) </p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: You are making Valencia look pretty awesome! But I am so drawn to Ronda. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453423 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 11:27:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2453423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: Yes, Alicante is another great little beach town (similar feel to San Sebastian). We did a little train day trip there and hiked to the top of the old fort. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453421 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 11:27:11 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2453421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I didn't think that Granada was that different and Valencia may be easier to go to on your way from Barcelona. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453419 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 11:26:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2453419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I love Valencia and it is much different than Barcelona. Much more "small city" with a lot of the real spanish charm. Lots to see and do but much less touristy. </p> <p>1- Oldest open air market. Beautiful. And lots of small shops all around it. Plaza Rotunda is very neat (round plaza) </p> <p>2 - Plaza de la Virgin - Beautiful plaza and the cathedral there is wonderful with some great history (one of the few cups of christ). <a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bas%C3%ADlica_de_la_Virgen_de_los_Desamparados" rel="nofollow">https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bas%C3%ADlica_de_la_Virgen_de_los_Desamparados</a> </p> <p>3 - City of Arts and Sciences<br /> <a href="http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-visit-valencia/city-of-arts-and-sciences/what-is-the-city-of-arts-and-sciences-cac" rel="nofollow">http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-visit-valencia/city-of-arts-and-sciences/what-is-the-city-of-arts-and-sciences-cac</a> </p> <p>Lots of great restaurants, a river bed that runs through the city as a park. Easy to get in and out via train. </p> [attach=1506/16/o28lnt.600x510.Screen-Shot-2016-02-08-at-11.22.26-AM.png] [attach=1506/16/o28lnv.542x600.Screen-Shot-2016-02-08-at-11.25.15-AM.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2453403 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 11:20:25 +0000 JoJoGirl 2453403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With 10 days, 3 cities is plenty! You'll be pooped with all the travel between cities. I think the way you split it up is great. If you want to do a different city, I'd actually consider dropping Madrid. To me it was just "any city"...beautiful architecture but I wouldn't bother going back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2451659 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 19:51:02 +0000 travelgirl1 2451659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: my inlaws did the Camino de Santiago last year :happy: </p> <p>Oh you will love Spain! FIL is Spanish so we go often and got married there (Alicante). You have gotten some great advice here already, I would just say try ALL the food. Especially tortilla. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2451474 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 17:07:37 +0000 daniellemybelle 2451474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Finally got around to replying to everyone! </p> <p>Here's a question "to the group." Right now we are going to have 10 full days in Spain. Day 11 we fly home in the morning. So already that's about 3 days per city if we do Seville, Barcelona and Madrid. Though I think we are going to do 2 days Madrid, 3 days Seville and 4 days Barcelona.</p> <p>We are tempted to add a fourth stop but we can't decide! So many recommended Granada but Ronda seems more beautiful to me. Any been there? My friend wants to add Valencia but it doesn't seem THAT different from Barcelona. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2451466 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 17:03:49 +0000 daniellemybelle 2451466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: What a funny memory! We definitely plan to see La Sagrada. </p> <p>@Meowkers: We're excited to go out late (something I obviously rarely do with a LO) and see all the Gaudi architecture!</p> <p>@AprilFool: @Andrea: @littlebug: @Mama Bird: Thanks for the advice about pickpockets - yikes!</p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Where did you go on your school trip?</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: Valencia is being hotly debated right now! My friend wants to add it to our itinerary. I'd rather add Ronda - I feel like we have the cosmopolitan cities covered with Barcelona and Madrid and I'd like to see the "countryside." But maybe you can sway me! </p> <p>Santiago de Compostela looks amazing - but so out of the path of our itinerary :sad: </p> <p>@dcw6411: How cool! What was your favorite thing in Madrid?</p> <p>@magnolia: Oh, I will be eating all the churros! Granada didn't make the cut :bummed: Have you been to Ronda? I am really gunning to add that to our itinerary.</p> <p>@Freckles: Wish we could go to San Sebastian but the weather is just not predictable there in May and with it being a beach town, we decided against it.</p> <p>@travellingbee: That's really cool - we are excited to have a good time! How did you find the best bars?</p> <p>@Dahlia: Toledo looks so cool but we are barely going to have enough time in Madrid, so it isn't going to make the cut, sadly!</p> <p>@pregnantbee: Thanks for all the food recommendations! I'm salivating! And definitely waiting to TTC so I can drink sangria and wine to my heart's content. :) I don't think we are going to have time for Granada or Cordoba sadly! We are only going on a 10 day trip and don't want to be traveling every single day.</p> <p>@erinpye: Thanks for the advice! I wish we could go to Santiago de Compostela but I don't feel like we will have time. Have you been to Ronda or Valencia? Those are two we are debating adding (one or the other).</p> <p>@Alba4: That sounds like such a cool adventure!</p> <p>@ms.line: I think we are going to skip Granada so no Alhambra. Neither one of us were dying to see it but are we making the right choice? So much Spain, so little time!</p> <p>@hellobeeboston: Wish we could do Northern Spain but since we are trying to go south too, I don't think it is in the cards :crying: All our research tells us we are likely to have better weather further south.</p> <p>@owlteach: Oh, we can handle eating and drinking and repeating :silly: Do you have any restaurant recommendations? Especially tapas! </p> <p>Montserrat is definitely someplace I would like to check out. I hope we have time!</p> <p>@lamariniere: Nice to know you enjoyed the beach in Barcelona! Our research made it seem like it is nothing to write home about. I would love to know the airbnb you stayed at!</p> <p>@birdofafeather: Sounds amazing! So excited :) </p> <p>@Mrs Panda: This is my pre-TTC LO2 trip!</p> <p>@Mrs. Pickles: Oh, that's awesome to know about gelato (helado)!!! I can't wait to stuff my face. I think we decided to skip Granada and go to Seville, Barcelona, and Madrid... maybe adding Ronda, OR Valencia. Thoughts there?</p> <p>@sometimesshesings: So many recommendations for Granada! If we were going to do another city in Seville, we were thinking Ronda. It it is a "white village" and seems so quaint and picturesque. And a little slower paced since we are going to be spending time in bigger cities the rest of the trip. What do you think?</p> <p>@JoJoGirl: Thanks for the advice - so glad to hear that Barcelona and Seville are as great as we are hoping! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2448579 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 08:14:03 +0000 JoJoGirl 2448579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've already gotten great advice - Barcelona and Seville are amazing. Toledo is also fantastic for a day trip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2448428 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:35:43 +0000 sometimesshesings 2448428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've gotten some great advice!</p> <p>I also lived in Granada for a year. If you don't visit for the Alhambra, visit for the free tapas! It's one of the last cities in Spain where they are still largely free. It's also really fun to visit the Morrocan style teterías (tea houses) on Calle Caldereria Nueva. You've already gotten some great advice about Sevilla (which is near Granada). I'll add a recommendation to stop in at least one "white town" while traveling between Granada and Sevilla. They are tiny and a bit off the beaten path, but they are beautiful and so Spanish! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2448423 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:07:04 +0000 daniellemybelle 2448423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm loving all of this!!! Thank you so much and keep it coming! </p> <p>I'm going to respond to you individually and ask follow up questions - hopefully tomorrow - been so busy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain/page/2#post-2448008 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:46:09 +0000 Mrs. Pickles 2448008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: I third (or fourth) everything you've said!</p> <p>I lived in Granada and you could spend a week there easily!<br /> Malaga is an amazing beach town not too far from Granada as well.</p> <p>yes please be aware of pick pockets, if you go for tapas (light snacks) at bars usually they will have some free ones just for ordering a drink, in Seville there was a brewery that would serve 32oz beers and provide you with fresh cooked shrimp .. soo good </p> <p>Usually people think of gelato for Italy but it's amazing in Spain as well, Sangria or Tinto De Verano are delicious drinks </p> <p>Enjoy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447733 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:27:40 +0000 pregnantbee 2447733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Siena was one of the best places I have ever visited. I spent only about 10 hrs there, but I loved it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447688 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 12:58:35 +0000 Mrs Panda 2447688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Went to Barcelona and San Sebastián before TTC LO1. Highly recommend San Sebastián for the food if you can make a side trip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447417 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:04:05 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2447417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: Agree, we saw one of the horseback shows which was really beautiful. Its also helpful to know the animal is butchered and sold immediately to local restaurants that pay top dollar for the meat. So probably more humane than most butchering/meat processing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447233 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 08:09:19 +0000 littlebug 2447233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: @BandDmommy: Maybe it was because we went to the oldest bullring in the city, but to me it was really about pageantry and the show, not about killing the bull. And my sister is a huge animal person, so if anyone would have found it upsetting, it would have been her, and it didn't bother her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447109 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:21:24 +0000 birdofafeather 2447109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>staying up late in barcelona, exploring gaudi's works, discovering sangria in sevilla in college are some of my favorite memories of studying abroad (i studied in siena, italy). i would love to go back with DH and get back to sevilla as a return trip with friends was canceled when we discovered the buses don't run on sundays! oops! (we stayed in portugal and had an amazing time though!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447104 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:10:14 +0000 lamariniere 2447104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in Barcelona a bit over a year ago. We stayed in a great Airbnb in the Eixample neighborhood which was a good mix of shops, restaurants and close to transit. There are tons of cute neighborhoods to stay in though. In addition to the other suggestions, if the weather is nice, go to the beach! We were there in October and while it was a bit too cold for us for swimming, many people were in the water. I also really liked the beach area and there are lots of places to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447098 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:37:43 +0000 owlteach 2447098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just got back from three days and Barcelona, and studied in Santander in northern Spain. I dream of moving back.</p> <p>Food: make sure you have time to really enjoy it! Churros con chocolate, sangria, jamon, tortilla. If you can find a good tapas bar it is so worth it! Drink, eat and repeat through the whole evening. Bonus points if you find one in a plaza where you can enjoy tge cool night air. May will be a great time!</p> <p>Barcelona: park guell and la sagrada familia as others have said. Mont serrat outside of barcelona is well worth the effort...if you enjoy hiking give yourself a couple of hours. We did a bicycle tour of Barcelona too which was super fun! </p> <p>Madrid: most beautiful park I have ever seen! </p> <p>Santander is a beautiful (smaller) city on the beach about an hour from Bilbao. Im normally not a super big fan of art museums but the<br /> Guggenheim is super cool!</p> <p>I also really loved the half day that we spent in Toledo.</p> <p>I hope you have an awesome trip. The people, food, culture and landscape are incredible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447096 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:30:37 +0000 Mama Bird 2447096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved Seville and Barcelona! The Gaudi buildings and the old palace and gardens in Seville were my favorite parts of the trip. </p> <p>And yes, be very careful of pickpockets! I was very vigilant outside but my bag was still stolen by someone who went inside my hotel dining room while I stepped away to get breakfast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447086 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:40:46 +0000 anonysquire 2447086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Almost. I was going to move there with my foreign exchange boyfriend but changed my mind the day before I was supposed to leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2447083 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:36:24 +0000 hellobeeboston 2447083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: awesome trip!!! If you plan on going further north.... We flew into Bilao, there quickly, saw the Guggenheim, then travelled to and really enjoyed San Sebastián, st Jean de Luz &amp; Biarritz (those last two are actually in France just over border)...... But they are all beach towns and so fun, great food &amp; people!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2446991 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:11:38 +0000 BandDmommy 2446991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I spent one summer studying at Universidad de Salamanca when I was in college. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2446989 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:10:07 +0000 BandDmommy 2446989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: I saw bullfight too and I walked out 10 minutes in, so disturbing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2446980 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:58:51 +0000 erinpye 2446980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: I thought the bullfight I attended there was SO disturbing! 🙈😭 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2446854 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 19:48:38 +0000 autumnleaves 2446854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went on a 10 day trip there a few years ago. I loved Seville and Barcelona the most. I visited the Alhambra but was not as wowed by it as I thought I would be. Rick Steves and tripadvisor were my favorite references for figuring out where to eat as well as asking the locals.<br /> I hope you have a wonderful time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-been-to-spain#post-2446851 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 19:46:48 +0000 littlebug 2446851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Barcelona is awesome, as so many have said. But definitely beware of pickpockets. I had my passport and credit cards lifted out of my bag, which was right in front of me, on the metro. Leave copies of your cards and passport with a couple people back home! </p> <p>In Madrid we went to a bullfight in the old traditional bullring. It was really cool. </p>