Topic Wiki

Barcelona
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, Yehoshua, CGR
Kosher Restaurants: http://www.restaurantmaccabi.com/en/
Activities: Jewish Tours in Barcelona, http://www.urbancultours.com
http://www.barcelonadreaming.com/package/barcelona-jewish-tour/
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: Stay at Hotel Condado it is about a 3 minute walk from the shul (local community), bear in mind there is no eruv, so you will need to either leave the room open or make some arrangement with the hotel, they do not offer keys (or have that option at all)
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Barcelona (Orthodox): http://www.cibonline.org; Go to the local shul and meet Rabbi Daniel Ashkenazi he is wonderful and quite helpful.

Madrid
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, @Yehuda pics, Yehoshua, @zalc (Mini)., CGR
Kosher Restaurants: http://www.restaurantelaescudilla.com  https://www.pinatimadrid.com/  https://www.pizzeriarimmon.com/(teuda)
Activities: Toledo - a day trip from Madrid to see 2 old Shuls. Can hire a tour guide, Rabbi Hanoka (info@jewishtoledotour.com), which is not cheap, or can take a train on your own. 1 of the Shuls (El Transito) is closed on Mondays. @Yehuda went on a day when that Shul was closed, and the other Shul was really just an empty room and seemed like a Christian organization now runs the center. Without a tour guide, it was hard to get anything Jewish out of our trip (other than an antique store that had some Judaica). But, people who have taken the tour (discussed in the thread) have said it was great! Recommended to go with a tour or not go at all (and ensure to go on a day when both are open!). Report in the thread that the sometimes-closed Shul has audio headsets for use, so that would help. If going alone, you can research the Jewish places at the link HERE
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: Chabad Site
Public Transport options: Uber works well, as does the subway if you speak Spanish.
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Madrid (Orthodox), http://www.cjmadrid.org

Malaga
Links to Trip Reports:
CGR
Kosher Restaurants:
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Comunidad Israelita de Malaga (Orthodox), http://www.cimalaga.es

Seville
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, Yehoshua, CGR
Kosher Restaurants:
Activities: Jewish Tours in Sevilla/Cordoba, http://www.jewishsevilla.com
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Comunidad Judia de Sevilla, synagoguesevilla@gmail.com

Gibraltar
Links to Trip Reports: Yehoshua
Kosher Restaurants: Amar's Bakery and Coffee shop, http://www.amarsbakery.com/
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Gibraltar, http://www.jewishgibraltar.com

Mallorca
Links to Trip Reports:
CGR
Kosher Restaurants: Their is not - one restaurant serve felafel it's own by an israeli but no hechsher
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: The Shul its open on Friday night
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips:
 
4500 IB Avios from anywhere to anywhere in the country
Best way to get around anywhere in this country is by scooter. It is safer driving them there since they outnumber cars by great proportions.
« Last edited by cgr on September 04, 2023, 09:01:01 PM »

Author Topic: Spain Master Thread  (Read 272125 times)

Offline SamKey

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 3311
  • Total likes: 30
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: If I'm there I can't be here and if I'm here I can't be there
  • Programs: National EE; Hertz PC; Sixt Plt; Avis First; Hilton Gold; Priority Club Plt; West Bestern DE; Carlson Club GE; Accor PLT
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #700 on: January 27, 2016, 06:25:58 AM »
Not much worse than Meah Shearim

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2943
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #701 on: January 27, 2016, 05:17:56 PM »
Well, it will be fun!
Regarding the international driver's permit, it does seem wise to get it for Spain.
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/rental-car-requirements.
And from AAA it's only $15 (as OP said, it may be free with AAA "Prime" or whatever it's called.)
http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #702 on: January 27, 2016, 10:00:57 PM »
I got mine from AAA. Took a bit of time, but went pretty smoothly.

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #703 on: January 28, 2016, 12:18:52 AM »
I got mine from AAA. Took a bit of time, but went pretty smoothly.
Same here, but it took no time at all.

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #704 on: January 28, 2016, 06:48:44 AM »
Same here, but it took no time at all.
Was like 45 minutes. Bit of a line and then rep not working fast enough 😜

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2943
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #705 on: January 31, 2016, 09:11:49 PM »
Interested to hear opinions on visiting Cordoba vs. Granada. I don't think we can do both.  Seeing where the Rambam lived is important to me, but I understand that the Alhambra is not to be missed, either.


Offline Lenat

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 4
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: City Of Gold
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #706 on: February 15, 2016, 02:06:52 PM »
I would love to do a few day trip to Spain and/or Gib. on the way to the states for peach and can't figure out the best options... Southern Spain looks interesting and different and I am not so interested in BCN or MAD. Looking for more relaxed.. Any Ideas?
Veni. Vidi. Vici.

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #707 on: February 15, 2016, 02:09:29 PM »
I would love to do a few day trip to Spain and/or Gib. on the way to the states for peach and can't figure out the best options... Southern Spain looks interesting and different and I am not so interested in BCN or MAD. Looking for more relaxed.. Any Ideas?
Welcome to the forums! Cordoba, Marbella and the whole Costa del Sol, Valencia, and Seville are good places to start.

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2943
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #708 on: February 15, 2016, 10:21:12 PM »

Welcome to the forums! Cordoba, Marbella and the whole Costa del Sol, Valencia, and Seville are good places to start.
IINM, it sounds like you didn't visit Granada on your recent trip, right? Any regrets?

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #709 on: February 15, 2016, 10:56:57 PM »
IINM, it sounds like you didn't visit Granada on your recent trip, right? Any regrets?
The only place of the ones I listed that we visited last summer was Marbella, and we really just drove through.

Offline Lenat

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 4
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: City Of Gold
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #710 on: February 16, 2016, 06:32:38 AM »
I don't want to pack to much in for four days. I would rather really experience 1 or 2 places there.
Veni. Vidi. Vici.

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #711 on: February 16, 2016, 09:01:05 AM »
I don't want to pack to much in for four days. I would rather really experience 1 or 2 places there.
So do your research and choose two from the list.

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2943
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #712 on: February 26, 2016, 09:52:13 AM »

The only place of the ones I listed that we visited last summer was Marbella, and we really just drove through.
But you had previously been to Granada? Just wondering if that needs to be on our itinerary for a first visit to Spain. For us, it would probably mean Granada instead of Córdoba.

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #713 on: February 26, 2016, 10:43:00 AM »
But you had previously been to Granada? Just wondering if that needs to be on our itinerary for a first visit to Spain. For us, it would probably mean Granada instead of Córdoba.
No, I've never been to Grenada. The only time I was in Spain was last summer, and you can read all about it in my TR.

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2943
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #714 on: February 26, 2016, 02:38:49 PM »
No, I've never been to Grenada. The only time I was in Spain was last summer, and you can read all about it in my TR.
Yes, I have read your TR, printed it out, read it again to my DW, saved it in my file for summer planning...it's terrific. I was only inquiring because your post a few weeks ago left open the possibility that you had visited Spain and Granada previously.  So, have you been feeling any pangs of regret NOT going to Granada?  ::)

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #715 on: February 26, 2016, 02:50:12 PM »
Yes, I have read your TR, printed it out, read it again to my DW, saved it in my file for summer planning...it's terrific. I was only inquiring because your post a few weeks ago left open the possibility that you had visited Spain and Granada previously.  So, have you been feeling any pangs of regret NOT going to Granada?  ::)
I can't regret not going somewhere I've never been or researched before. However, after having done research after booking the trip I would love to go back to visit. The entire  Costa del Sol is very pretty and relaxing. Spain's nice (and super hot) in the summer, so it's something to consider.

Offline zow

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 2943
  • Total likes: 135
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #716 on: February 26, 2016, 02:56:04 PM »
I can't regret not going somewhere I've never been or researched before. However, after having done research after booking the trip I would love to go back to visit. The entire  Costa del Sol is very pretty and relaxing. Spain's nice (and super hot) in the summer, so it's something to consider.

Thanks. I've been to Japan 3 times and regret that I have not (yet) visited Hiroshima.  I was wondering if you had similar feeling about Granada.  :)

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #717 on: February 26, 2016, 03:01:02 PM »
Thanks. I've been to Japan 3 times and regret that I have not (yet) visited Hiroshima.  I was wondering if you had similar feeling about Granada.  :)
Not really. I've only been to Spain once. Out of all the countries I've been to in Europe I have a desire to go back to all of them. If I needed to rank the order in which I'd return It would be Italy, UK, Spain, Switzerland, France.

Offline Emkay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 14295
  • Total likes: 376
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 35
    • View Profile
  • Location: Where I ought to be
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #718 on: February 27, 2016, 05:27:49 PM »


in Europe I have a desire to go back to all of them. If I needed to rank the order in which I'd return It would be Italy, UK, Spain, Switzerland, France.
Random article that has not got much to do with anything but I saw it literally 30 seconds before reading this post. Maybe the UK will leave the EU http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-pauses-plans-to-ban-super-strength-kettles-out-of-fear-it-would-drive-tea-loving-britons-towards-a6899551.html

Online Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #719 on: February 27, 2016, 10:12:25 PM »
Random article that has not got much to do with anything but I saw it literally 30 seconds before reading this post. Maybe the UK will leave the EU http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-pauses-plans-to-ban-super-strength-kettles-out-of-fear-it-would-drive-tea-loving-britons-towards-a6899551.html
I was reading about that yesterday. Interesting stuff!