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Itineraries Andalucia has everything
to offer the young budget traveller.
Reports Lee Gutcher, who offers advice gained
from his recent trip.
Introduction
Architecture
The Alhambra (Granada) and the Mezquita
(Cordoba) are truly world-class monuments amongst a host of other
fascinating castles, cathedrals and churches.
History
From prehistoric cave paintings through the Phoenicians, Carthaginians,
Greeks, Romans and the Moors - all have left a rich historical mark
on the region.
Culture
Andalucia is the home of bullfighting
and flamenco, has the most famous fiestas and it's people are perhaps
the most quintessentially Spanish.
Beaches
The resorts of the Costa del Sol and
white sandy unspoiled beaches of the Costa de Luz are possible destinations
to relax and unwind.
With plentiful accommodation, inexpensive but excellent
food and with cheap carriers such as Easyjet and GO operating through
the principal airport of Malaga, Andalucia makes a wonderful budget
travel destination.
Accommodation
Finding reasonably priced accommodation in Andalucia
is rarely a problem, and booking ahead is not necessary unless there
is a feria in town. During the large ferias it will be impossible
to find a room anywhere in town. And even during the smaller ferias
you may struggle unless you book ahead. There are a surprisingly
large number of these ferias and you are very likely to stumble
upon them even if you plan not to. They do result in higher room
prices, but no trip to Andalucia would be complete without experiencing
the energy and colour of these fabulous events.
Double rooms will start from 25€ but expect
to pay from 40€ or more depending on the location and the quality
of the hostel.
Single rooms can be found, normally for 18€
and upwards. Single rooms are not widely available, but often by
bargaining you can get a double room for the price of a single.
This is due to the oversupply of accommodation, but will not work
during busy periods, and especially during ferias. Expect to pay
a little extra in Seville and probably Granada.
Many of the larger cities do have Youth Hostels,
but arrive early, especially in mid to high season if you want to
get a bed.
As a rule of thumb it is a good idea to head to
the Cathedral of the city, which will be in the old quarter, and
will almost always be the an excellent place to look for inexpensive
hostels. And finally, don't be afraid to haggle -- over time, it
will save you a great deal of money. Hostel owners expect it.
Getting Around
Getting around Andalucia is rarely a problem as
it is well covered by bus and rail networks.
The price difference of coaches and trains is minimal
but generally coaches are faster, and run more frequently. So unless
you're travelling with a rail pass it is preferable to rely on coaches
rather than trains. RENFE, the Spanish rail company has a hugely
complicated system of different services and ticket types. Coaches,
especially those running between the major cities are comfortable,
quick and reliable, certainly by Spanish standards. And at around
6 euro per 100km fares are reasonable and will not destroy your
budget.
However there is a high speed train (AVE) which
runs between Seville and Cordoba, and onto Madrid. Prices are double
normal fares but the time saved is significant.
Often it is difficult to find your way around Spanish
cities. Although Turismo offices will happily provide you with a
detailed map, orientation can be difficult due to Spanish reluctance
to use signposts. Also a lot of Spanish streets can have more than
one name, which can lead to confusion.
Day to Day
Food and Drink
Spanish cuisine is of a high standard and very reasonable. One of
the best ways to sample the cuisine is to have a succession of tapas
(small snacks). Moving between bars and experimenting with different
tapas is also an excellent way to socialise, as it is a popular
pastime for the Spanish. Often bars and restaurants will have a
range of tapas dishes on display at the counter and you can order
by pointing. Typically a tapas will cost 1.50 - 2.50 euro unless
you frequent the flashier establishments or order specialities.
A large number of restaurants will have a Menu
del Dia. This is normally a basic 3 course meal, typically being
gazpacho soup, fried fish and fruit with drink and bread. Although
basic, these meals are filling and cost as little as 5.50 euro.
Often restaurants will have more expensive Menu del Dia's or Plato
Combinado which allow you to try more interesting dishes. Wherever
you go fish is likely to be superb.
Spanish Customs
There are a couple of Spanish traditions a foreign traveller should
consider in order to enjoy their stay. Firstly is the relaxed attitude
of the Spanish to customer service. Expect long waits in shops,
bars and restaurants, as the Spanish will make no effort to rush
to your needs. It's easy to think of this as ignorance but it is
more a way of Spanish life; they would rather enjoy themselves than
earn a tip. However it doesn't matter how long you spend in the
country though, you will never fully come to terms with this.
Another point to remember is Spanish opening hours.
Most shops close on Sundays, on Saturdays after 2.00pm and all week
during siesta period (2.00pm - 4.30pm) These and other Spanish customs
have to be embraced otherwise you can easily get frustrated and
spoil your trip.
A suggested Itinerary
for the backpacker.
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