where should i go? i think i'll have a budget of around £1k depending what i can save over the next few months.
my thoughts are saying spain, italy or greece. probably spain though as to get to either of the others & miss the alps (as i guess id have to that early in the year) would seem a waste.
will my budget last? i went to spain last march but i honestly cant remember what i spent at all except it was noticably cheaper than here in the UK. are there chains of cheap hotels worth looking for or should i jsut pack my tent again?
also where is worth seeing down there? i'll have to spend some time in the pyrenees again, i'd like to see gibraltar just cause its there. im thinking stay inland mainly for places like toledo rather than the toursit trap dull beaches.

oh & any good tips for where to pick up some spanish before i go? i get annoyed if i cant speak some of the language as i feel im being rude. ive seen the BBC site & one other, i think it was BYKI but i might look at short evening school stuff too as i learn better that way.

What do you want out of your trip? Do you want to visit places of cultural interest like The Alhambra and Italica? Do you want to ride good roads/tracks, off-road/on-road?

There's lots of good websites for learning Spanish, a couple of linkeys - Learn Spanish Free Online Lessons - Spanish Language Schools and Spanish Flash Cards - Spanish Flashcards

Avoid the Alps in March. The ski season runs until the end of April and the interesting roads won't be snow free until around mid June.

I'd recommend the introductory Michel Thomas course for Spanish. It's two CDs, so a couple of hours of tuition. About £25.00 and money well spent for me when I did the French one a few years ago. It got me started and I'm now doing French with the OU.

Visited El Chorro in the Andalucian "lake district" in March of this year, though sadly not with a bike. I'll definitely be revisiting if I do go that way in 2009.

Weather was warm enough at that time of year for camping. I'd take the tent just in case anyway.

what im looking for is good roads, views & some interesting cultural things to see such as old towns etc.
as much as offroad temps me i dont think its a good idea on a gsx1400

cheers for the tips on spanish courses, i'll look into them.

My experience has been that March is a little early to be riding (comfortably) on the continent, unless you are well south of the Pyrenees. By that I mean in the lower half of the Iberian peninsula.

Where to start - I could write an essay . I don't have a lot of info about northern Spain, but I can point you towards a few places in Andalucia.

Weather in Andalucia - March can be either cold and wet, or warm and sunny. I was still wearing my summer vented gloves last week, but today it's cold.

Accommodation - hostals are the cheapest places to stay and most towns will have one. Campsites - it will be cold and damp at night and a lot of them close down out of season.

Spain has the second most designated World Heritage Sites, so you're not going to be short on culture. This is a good place to start for cities, natural parks and monuments - AndalucÃ*a - Wikimedia Commons.

In the Jaen region - Úbeda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Baeza - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Also The village of Baños de la Encina in the province of Huelva Andalucía, Southern Spain, another Moorish castle.

In the Granada region - http://www.alhambra.org/eng/index.asp?secc=/inicio (you need most of the day to walk around it). Get a pre-recorded headset guide, it's only a few euros. Towns to visit around Granada - Guadix, villages in the province of Granada Andalucía, Southern Spain for it's cave houses, José Romero ¤ Castillo de La Calahorra 18512 Andalucia ¤ Don Rodrigo de Mendoza for one of the first Italian Renaissance castles outside Italy. And there's always the Sierra Nevada, but in March, there may well be lots of snow still up there. Nerja is a bit touristy, but the Balcon de Europa and Nerja Caves are worth a visit - Cueva de Nerja.

I don't know much about Almeria, but there's the Cabo de Gato Natural Park.

Malaga is often overlooked, but it has a beautiful old part with the Alcazabar (a mini-Alhambra) and Gibralfaro. There's also the Cathedral and Picasso Museum, the Botanical Gardens and lots more - Málaga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Coming back inland from Malaga, there is the Montes de Malaga, and lots of lakes in the area - the smaller lakes of Vinuela, Pantano de Los Bermejales, Iznajar and as Craig76 said, El Chorro is not to be missed. It is a spectular collection of lakes and the Camino del Rey is there - El camino del Rey - Brightcove (warning, this is a buttock-clenching video if you don't like heights). Antequera is a lovely town with lots of churches and history, including The Dolmen Caves - Antequera burial dolmen is 1,000 years older than previously thought - Typically Spanish Features on Spain and El Torcal Natural Park - Torcal de Antequera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. There's also a wolf park just up the road from Antequera - Lobo Park Antequera, Wolf Park, Polar Wolves, Iberian Wolves, European.

In Cordoba, there's the Mezquita - Mezquita de Córdoba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and the old Roman Bridge. Italica - Italica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is one of the biggest archaeological sites in Europe and is just outside Seville. Seville has a massive feria in April and one of the lagest gothic cathedrals in the world. Then there's Ronda - Ronda - Tourism of Ronda which has the oldest bullring in Spain and has a fantastic road that goes from San Pedro.

Jerez, famous for it's sherry, is full of bodegas and your trip may coincide with the Moto GP at the Jerez circuit in March - Web oficial del Circuito de Jerez.

Honestly, the list is endless. There are so many natural parks, historic buildings, ferias and fiestas, great biking roads etc, I could go on. With all that in mind, go to Gibraltar knowing it's not as English as you think, it's dirty, VERY expensive (apart from petrol which is cheap), with every other shop selling alcohol and fags (very cheap but don't be tempted to buy more than your allowance, they will be confiscated at the frontier) and the people are very rude. But, the barbary apes and Seige Tunnels are worth a visit. And if you do get there, give the hubby a nudge (Smokin Lizard), he works there during the week.

Use this website to plot your route - Visor SigPac. Stay away from the coast as much as you can. Avoid the motorways, travel through the towns and villages, it's the only way you'll see the 'real' Spain and where you'll find the best roads.
Visit this website for places of interest - Spain tourism: Spain tourist info for your travel to Spain..
Yes, get the Michel Thomas cds, they are excellent.
In most towns you'll find an Ayuntamiento (town hall) for information on things to do in the area, local ferias and fiestas, accommodation etc. If your Spanish is good enough, ask the old men sat on the benches in the village and town squares what to do and where to visit. They have some of the most bizzare fiestas in Spain - Baby Jumping Festival, Spain, 2008, January Festivals, Events, Goat Throwing and also some of the most spectacular - Semana Santa – Photo Essay – Jan Sochor.
Enjoy your trip!

And here's me thinking running with the bulls in Pamplona was a mad idea. Do I have to bring my own goat or can you hire them for the day?

Have to agree that I found Gib a bit scruffy and touristy but so is Andorra. The WW2 tunnels are worth a visit though

That poor goat is still alive when it's thrown over the edge!!

Here's some more unusual festivals - there's always an excuse for a party in Spain.

La Tomatina tomato fight in Buñol near Valencia happens every year on the last Wednesday in August - YouTube - The World's Largest Tomato Fight

Fireworks festival in Elche where people light fireworks in the street. Not surprisingly, lots people are injured every year - YouTube - Nit del alba - Elche 2007 (6)

The Procession of Coffins in Santa Marta de Ribarteme (Pontevedra) where those who have survived some life-threatening illness participate in a procession on July 29 in which they ride in the coffins they would have occupied had they been less lucky - Santa Marta de Ribarteme

The Wine Battle, in which participants douse each other with red wine - YouTube - The Wine Battle - Spain

Los Picaos - On Holy Thursday and Good Friday, barefoot penitents - known as the "picaos", the stung ones - flagellate themselves until they bleed, in San Vicente de la Sonsierra (Rioja) - TrekEarth | Picaos Photo

Walking on Coals - men walk over a bed of red hot coals on the Night of Saint John, June 24, in San Pedro Manrique (Soria) -
YouTube - San Pedro Manrique (Soria) - El Paso del Fuego (II)

All Fools Day - December 28 (the Feast of the Innocent) is Spain's equivalent of April Fool's Day. In Ibi (Alicante) locals battle each other with flour. In Velez-Rubio (Almería), a citizen is appointed mayor for the day and has anyone who shows up in the town square arrested and taken off to the local lock-up.

In San Bartolomé de Pinares the Luminares fiesta is on the eve (Jan 16) of Saint Anthony’s Day. The riders take horses through fire in honour of St Anthony, the patron saint of animals - Eyewitness: latest photos from Guardian's centre page | World news | guardian.co.uk

In our village alone (3k residents) we have Cabalgata de Reyes (Procession of the Three Kings) in January. During Holy Week in Riogordo we have El Paso where all the residents of the village take part in the Passion Play. The younger kids are taken away towards the end of the play because the hanging of Judas and the crucifixion are too 'real'. We have the Feria de Ganada (Cattle Fair) in May. The snail festival of Veladilla is a gastronomic tradition in which the snails of the area are tasted. Our main Feria takes place in the middle of August. The Rio del Cante Flamenco Festival takes place on August 14th, and on September 7th we have the Night of the Candelas or Festival of the Candil, in which bonfires and candles are lit. On New Year we all gather in the Plaza and the town hall provides everybody with music, party bags, champagne and a bag of grapes and we have a big firework display. We have annual days where the town hall provide (free of charge) chocolate & churros, paella, sardines & . We have a foam party. There's always something going off and 90% of it is free to residents and visitors alike.

Each village and town has it's own festivals, so there's never a dull moment living in Spain!!

One other thing I forgot to mention, this website has a list of a lot of motorcycling events and meet-ups all over Spain. You can select the month and the area to see what's going off. Everybody is welcome. Events range from rideouts to camping weekends, bbq's, music 'festivals' etc - Tumotoweb.com

seeing as your on a GSX1400 the tarmac is better. I had a bit of a run over three weeks..

got the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbiao spain, rode down to the coast over the Pyrenees and just followed the north coast of the med through to central Italy were I then headed north to Switzerland. Finally I returned via Calais to Dover.

Great views friendly people and easy riding. Incidentally I camped all the way, no problem all facilities and cheap.

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FHLR Roadking S7S107T

wow so much info Dakota, cheers. i'll have to read that properly in a day or two as its getting to late now.

i agree with the comment march is a bit early but ive got the use the holiday up before april 1st or loose it.

It is a good idea to visit Spain in March. If you would like to visit Pyrenees in March you probably may find good weather enough to ride, the south face of Pyrenees (it means, the spanish side) is always warmer than northern and very sunny in Mediterranean communities. Well, a sudden change of weather is posible anyway, it's Spring time. Spanish ski season finishes in the month of february in most ski resorts.

I advise you to learn some spanish, average Spaniards have very few knowledge of English, we appreciate any effort to speak Spanish and people is usually very friendly and wishful to help foreigners. Don't worry if your prononciation is not perfect, you will always find someone else to help you

You have lots of nice destinations in northeastern Spain. Avoid riding your bike in cities like Barcelona or Valencia -a crazy experience- and crowded mediterranean coast towns, especially in Easter. Try better instead the funny twisted roads of inner spanish country!

Here you are some ideas near of the border of France:

I suggest you to visit Besalú, in Girona, and the volcanic country of Garrotxa. They are all full of history and nice roads to ride Besalú . Ciutat Comtal - Territori i Natura - Turisme Garrotxa -

Another good idea is to ride more far in the south and visit Tarragona city Tarragona Patrimoni - Informació de la Ciutat - Ajuntament de Tarragona , Unesco World Heritage and its inner countryside, like Priorat country Consell Comarcal del Priorat - Web de Turisme, full of wineries and old monasteries.

More far away, in northern Castellon country you can follow the Templar Knights steps for example in Maestrazgo towns Parque Cultural del Maestrazgo like Morella Morella, Castellón and enjoy its perfectly twisted roads.

Just some ideas. Whereever you come to Spain you will find good reasons to ride a bike and sun, sun and sun!

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www.motostrailadventure.com

thats what i thought. it makes feel like im being rude expecting people to speak my language when im in their country.