Andalusia with 2 kids 3 adults and 3 cities

[KayT1]

Hi Guys
We are going to Andalusia in August, flying into Malaga, then speed train to Seville 2 nights then 3 in Cordoba and then a week in Granada. 3 adults, two kids 6 and 3. Really worried about cost of apartments and food now! Any tips anyone re travelling in heat, cheap foods, breakfast etc?? Thank you!!

Free tapas with drinks in Granada!

I was in those three places last year (fab trip BTW), and found that I just couldn't spend my money, everything (eating out wise) was so inexpensive and the meals were generally very good. In Cordoba there are a million restaurants in the Jewish quarter and around the Mezquita, it is tourist central, but again the prices are very reasonable.

Other than that you can go to a supermarket and get pastries and lots of stuff for breakfast and snacks, which is probably the easiest way to do it if you have kids. But again, there are lots of places that do breakfast (desayuna) and the Spanish have hot choc and churros mostly.

In Seville there is a huge choice of tapas and other eateries around the university, which is a little bit away from the Cathedral area which can be very very busy.

Granada’s Science park is a great way to spend some time out of the heat on a hot day. It’s got loads to do, but make a bee line for the exploration hall for kids aged 3 to 7. Also, everything is translated into English.
Aquaola is a small waterpark for young kids just outside Granada and it’s reachable on the bus.

@hastalava Oh yes I remember when I went to Granada ten years ago with my sister all the free tapas with even a soft drink. I am a vegetarian, but they were so kind and gave me veg tapas! Thank you! I am going to eat it looks like cheaply at least. Did you catch the speed train between the cities? How do you handle August heat with kids?

@Forgottenmyphone thank you I am making notes. Will the main sites be open through the evenings to avoid peak heat? Just thinking we plan to catch buses and trains a lot so I hope more will be open in evenings when it might be slightly cooler. Dreading the heat tbh.

The Alhambra opens at 8.30am and closes at 8pm. I think you’re better off getting there for when it opens and then head back to your apartment midday for a siesta. Have you booked your tickets yet?

Do as the locals and get up early and see everything you want to see before lunchtime. Then spend the afternoon inside and head back out around 7 or 8 pm. Its not unusual to see young kids out till way after midnight in the summer here (they will have had a siesta). Accommodation in Málaga will be pricey but in Seville, Cordoba and Granada you might pick up a bargain in August. I'd look at 4 star hotels with a pool as they can be quite inexpensive in August.

Eating out is generally quite cheap, especially breakfast if you keep away from the obvious tourist places. There are loads of Carrefours and other supermarkets dotted around to pick up pastries if you'd prefer.

It's not very cultural but the theme park Isla Mágica in Seville is great for kids with loads of water rides (and a separate water park but there are plenty of water activities without doing that part) where you could spend an afternoon and evening. In Granada you could probably get a bus and head down to the coast (Motril?) for the day too, or up to the Sierra Nevada where I think they have plenty of activities going on in the summer. I'd probably spend a couple more days in Seville where there's more to do, if you can find a decent hotel, although it will probably be stinking hot.

Book tickets ahead for the Alhambra. Probably same for dancing horses in Seville or Cordoba if you want to see them. Have a siesta when it's hot. Eat lovely bread and cheese. Have a great time!

Thank you everyone! I am having kittens thinking about the heat!! I have never done 40 degrees before! I am so sad that the heat will dictate what we cant do as we have two kids and my Dad to think about. Do you think my toddler and 6 year old will be okay in Alhambra? Walking for that long in early morning heat? I think the car hire is a must as it will be easier than getting train with our luggage and kids. Do you think so? The idea of the heat is scaring me already!!

The Alhambra should be fine in the morning and it was built to keep cool. Just make sure you're not trying to do much between 2 and 7pm. Car parking can be difficult in the cities, although less so in August. Have you sorted your accommodation?

Would say a car hire in Granada would be pointless. You'd park it day one and rarely use it due to city limitations.
Trains are superb in Spain so I'd stick with those.

It'd be useful to download the Renfe app for train times and tickets, it's really easy to use.

I'd add that I think you're being really ambitious with your plans in August and two small children.

Are you settled on a week in Granada?

Food costs are probably the least of your expenses.
Tostada con tomate for breakfast, tapas for lunch and menu del noches in the evening (just don't worry about ordering for the children cos they'll be plenty of food to go around)

@notasgreenasiamcabbagelooking Hey, we have sorted apartment accommodation in both Granada and Cordoba, not Seville yet. Booking Alhambra tickets tonight although they do night tours too so tempted to book that with kids. We can do 8.30am with all of us if its cooler. I do remember when I went to Granada 10 years ago before kids that trains were brilliant. I just thought with an 8pm flight in, trains stop from Malaga to Cordoba at 8.45pm so we wont get train on time. It will be difficult with our baggage and kids to train hop cities?

@drivinmecrazy I know I feel very ambitious :( My husband works term time and I don’t. He was desperate to go Andalusia so I agreed knowing heat kills me (he can handle 50 degrees I can handle 25 just about) I then thought my Dad needed a break due to stress and cognitive health decline and booked him with us. Now I am contemplating train but just wondering how we will get around in heat but you are all right that car is a waste in these old historic towns as once your there its all on your doorstep. Its just getting to the cities in this heat on train and our baggage that makes me stressed thinking about :(

@drivinmecrazy thank you re food tip I have heard of all the free tapas! Can I ask them for vegetarian or will they just give me whatever! Feel cheeky asking for free veg tapas!

Yes, getting a train at 8:45 if your plane lands at 8:00 is very ambitious. Can you stay in Málaga that night and travel the next morning? Buses are also really good but annoyingly the timetable doesn't usually differ greatly from the train timetable. The Alhambra at 8:30 am will be lovely, but you might have grumpy kids if they haven't slept well because of the heat. Spaniards would just have a siesta later on in the day, but your kids might not adjust so easily.

Don't stress! Book assistance for the train journeys. You can do it online when you buy your tickets. They will help with luggage and see you onto your seats. The assistance is seamless. Trains are fast, spotless and have good air con. Honestly don't bother with a car. Just stay somewhere central with good air con that you can retreat to in the afternoons. If you're still looking for Seville accommodation there are loads of hotels near the cathedral that have rooftop pools for this purpose. There are also millions of cafes and tapas places in that area. Go out again in the evening and wander round eating ice cream and enjoying the street flamenco - kids too. Everyone wanders around in the evening there. The Alhambra is fine heat wise if you get in first thing. Take water bottles as there is drinking water throughout - it's built in to it. Have a great time!

And yeah definitely stay in Málaga overnight. There are several really quite nice hotels near the airport that people often use for stopover purposes so they're geared up for that kind of stay.