Mainland Spain for foodies/older couples

[wink1970]

Morning!

Presuming we are allowed to travel this year, I would like to try mainland Spain for virtually the first time (last went to Mojacar 20 years ago & Puerto Buenos 30 years ago!). Please can you recommend some places to try? I intend to hire a villa for 2 x monthly stays.

Looking for beach (or nearby, so not inland for now) towns, with an interesting old town or/and harbour, with the emphasis on good restaurants and cafes. We will occasionally be joined by grandkids so nothing too remote from airports.

Many thanks in advance.

Ohh yeah ignore me @ihatethecold if you're in the south of England, when I travelled it was quicker and cheaper to fly into Barcelona and do the long train leg in Spain (trains are so cheap here?)

Thanks for the train suggestion - hadn’t occurred to me that is a good, cheap, easy option for Cadiz. It’s only about 4 hours from Madrid (which we’ve never visited) & easyJet fly there from Liverpool, so we could have a 2-centre holiday

(Could do the same with Malaga, but we have been there several times already and the train journey, though shorter, takes longer and costs more)

Thank you all, again. I have booked Malaga, and will try Cadiz next, then San Sebastien when the weather turns a bit nicer!

I know I had said 'not inland' but I am also eyeing up a girls weekend with my Mum in Seville. Adventures ahead!!

Gracias!

Fly to biarirritz

Small air port right by the town.
Then choose from three beautiful bases... Biarritz.. Upmarket snazzy Town.
St Jean de luz.. Beautiful town /village type place between biarritz and San Sebastian.

Or San Sebastian itself.
You Csnt going wrong in any place.
Funnily enough I'm booked to go back to this Easter but I'm not sure with all the restrictions etc.

St Jean de Luz is lovely! Would like to explore more of the Basque region some day. Wasn't too keen on Biarritz though.

Both Easter breaks - the first with primary aged DC & the second with secondary aged DC.

Flew to Jerez and based ourselves in Conil de la frontera. Day trips to Seville, Cadiz, Jerez, Gibralter, and the Roman remains at Baelo Claudia. Most memorable day was Easter Day in Vejer de la frontera watching the traditional Easter Bull runs sitting streetside having been pushed to the front by local families because we were obviously tourists. We had one of the best lunches out in a non descript Seville restaurant where they served fois gras - so good, we ordered another plate.

Flew to Malaga and self toured with short base stays in Antequera & Granada. Day trips to Cordoba, Ronda & the magnificent Caminito del rey (absolute highlight)and latter half of the week in Granada sightseeing.

Seafood tapas heaven!

Can I also throw in Begur on the Costa Brava? It's wonderful
I've been to all the places mentioned unthread and loved them all but I think Begur pips them and all the Dali staff there is great plus Girona
Spain! What a fabulous country

@wordlehurdle

Can I also throw in Begur on the Costa Brava? It's wonderful I've been to all the places mentioned unthread and loved them all but I think Begur pips them and all the Dali staff there is great plus Girona Spain! What a fabulous country

Yes! It really is my favourite place❤️. Family used to have a house there and I love Aigua Blava and all the surrounding villages.

I have been going to Cadiz since about 2000 and was last there before Covid probably 2017 or so. I found it awfully busy , cruise ships offloading their crowds, chaotic service in the popular cafes , grumpy locals trying to make their way through the jammed streets etc. I am guessing Covid has put a dampener on the cruises but alas they will spring back into action as soon as it’s safe, the town hall does all it can to encourage it in an area with few employment opportunities.

I'm very near Cadiz at the moment -- it is much quieter than it was in early 2020 and we hadn't seen any cruise ships but there was a huge one docked the other day. (P and O)
The town didn't seem too crowded so perhaps there weren't many passengers on it.
So it's still quieter but sadly lots of favourite cafés and bars have closed.

You must enjoy the relief from the crowds. Sorry to hear about the businesses closing. I hope Bar la Marina on plaza de las Flores is still there.

Our secret 🤣🥰