Granada, Spain - Anyone been ?

[whizzz]

Off next weekend for a week staying just outside Granada. Got the guidebooks but does anyone have experience (good & bad) of what to see for me, DH & DS (almost 4)?? - Particularly things for DS !

Also to add - we have a hire car to explore the area too, so are planning on driving around !

Hi, had one of my best holidays in andalucia. The alhambra and general life (gardens not insurance company) are fantastic and will take best part of a day. DS will probably enjoy tearing round the gardens. Cordoba (nearish) is worth a visit particularly the cathedral which was a mosque. There are loads of lovely little villages set up on hills. Have a lovely time I am very jealous as no holidays this year.

Oooh whizzz, you need Senora Postrophe who actually lives there (well just outside too). I am sure she will be along in a bit!

We are going to the Costa Tropical in October on her recommendation - if you want a bit of seaside during your holiday look at Salobrena/Almunecar and round about - it's not very far from Granada and is fairly unspoiled apparently. andalucia.com .

Further west in Costa del Sol there are water parks and other summer activity places, we went last Easter and they hadn't opened yet, they looked fantastic though and will still be open in Sept.

Hope you have a brill time!

Thanks JanH the beach looks lovely - we'll add that to our 'Places To Go' list ! I really must get my head round what to pack - I'm not the least bit organised this year - which is very unlike me !

There is a lovely zoo at Fuengirola. (Costa del Sol again). The day we went it was pouring with rain and most of the animals were a bit fed up and lurking, staff too!!!, but we took the lemur tour - round their enclosure - and it was fab. They have Chinese (? oriental?) otters as well and they are lovely.

Description at andalucia.com again. It is surprisingly small, but not cramped, and most of the animals seem content, which is nice.

Thanks again JanH, I've just checked out your weblink & have been looking at all the fiestas & stuff that are going on too ! It might even stir me into writing a 'Things to Pack' list !!

hi whizzz

where are you going exactly?

another place (apart from the ones mentioned) is Monachil - gorgeous town at the foot of the mountains, with nearby mountain walks involving Indianna-Jones style bridges and spectacular scenery.

Plus in Cumbres Verdes there's a very good restaurant called el hervidero (or something - it's v cheap too) and various restaurants-cum-swimming pool places where you can go and relax for the afternoon.

There is also a water park near Granada, but I think it closed this weekend. not sure though.

Also if you're into city day trips, it's probably better to go to Seville than Cordoba (also fab cathedral etc. v hard to choose).

Hi SenoraPostrophe - sorry not been able to get on line for a couple of days. We are staying in Nivar (we had to look hard to find it on the map !). Whereabouts are you ??!

we're the other side of granada - town called la Zubia. You'll pass it if you visit Monachil.

Nivar is tiny - I just looked it up - but it's near a place we were looking to move to and is beautiful. I don't know that side of Granada well I'm afraid, but it's only 50 mins drive to the beach (nearest one is Salobreña). Plus you can spend several days sightseeing in Granada itself.

There's a big campsite on the main road into Granada from Maracena (opposite Al Campo) which has a pool - most campsites round here let you stay round the poolfor 4E each, but they may have emptied it (the Spanish only seem to swim in July and August) - might be worth a look. You'll probably want to visit Al Campo for things like fresh milk anyway (though I imagine you can buy bread, veg etc locally).

I'll have a think and come back later.

Wow thanks Senora P for the insider info !! I'm getting really excited now ! Does it get chilly at night ? We were in Catalunya last Sept & it went really cold in the evenings (well too cold to sit out anyway). We like 'off the beaten track' places - although I will have to drastically brush up on my awful Spanish I think !! We were thinking of visiting Ronda too as I think theres a fiesta on (or it may have finished by the time we get there) -arriving 4th !

I know - you might like this restaurant: take the main road to malaga/Seville away from granada (towards Santa Fe) and turn off at a turning labelled for Cullar Vega (or Churriana de la Vega / Vegas del Genil) - if you get to Santa Fe yuo've missed it. Follow the signs to Cullar Vega and about 5 mins down that road is a restaurant called La Bascula (I think) - it's really good and has a good play area for kids (including a very scary looking helter skelter that dp wants to try). About 10-15 mins drive from maracena.

It's just starting to get cooler here at night - we can probably turn the air con off in a few days. But it's not like the coast - one minute it's too hot to do anything, the next it's winter (although it's still pleasant in the day until November). Bring a cardy just in case!

Thanks again ! Day off today to sort out suitcases & stuff & generally chill. I'll make sure I print out all your info to take with us ! Just about to book our Alhambra tickets online & then tackle the ironing !!

Have a good holiday!

(NB that restaurant is on the right. If you miss it there's another one on the left further down the same road called JR - that one's not quite as good, but good all the same, and also has a play area.)

Just thought I'd update that we had a wonderful time ! The village was lovely but had a week long fiesta !! It was mad - they certainly know how to party ! It wasn't ideal for DS but it was a great experience & very Spanish !! Salobrena beach was nice & uncrowded - Almunecar was a bit more built up !! I want to go back !! Recommend the area to anyone - although a bit of Spanish is useful !