Route guidance for 8 days in Spain Nov 15
 

Hi,

This is my first post here, and I hope that I will be able to get some answers to this.
Me and my wife and planning to fly into Spain in the last week of November 2015, I have spoken to IMTBike and discussed with them to hire a BMW 1600 GTL for about 10 days. I could fly into Madrid or Barcelona and fly back home from the same place. The bike is available in Madrid. The other option was to rent a BMW R1200RT which is available in Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga. I dont mind choosing any of the two bikes and start our tour.
The problem is its my first time there and I have absolutely no clue about the weather at that time, I have been told that southern Spain would make more sense. Considering that I really need advise on the route that i can take and cover whatever is possible in 8-10 days. We want to ride during the day and spend the evening and night a place exploring it. Maybe spend an extra day at a few places where it makes sense.
Would be really grateful if someone can help me chalk the itinerary out for this trip.!

Thanks!

Weather is never predictable and might differ widely given the distance between the three cities you mention. Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe and temperatures at 1000m will be 5-8ºC colder than at sea level. Mornings are likely to be chilly wherever you are.

Yes, I would keep to the south for the warmer sun. Start at Málaga and tour just Andalucia, covering Ronda, Gibraltar, Seville (Alcazar), and Córdoba (Mezquita). Maybe add Granada if you have time. Experience flamenco. Málaga itself is quite nice as well.

Within Andalucia you should get free tapas with every beer.

Hello,

go to Andalucia and dont take a 1600 Gtl.This bike is to big for the roads there.A 1200 is more than enough.

Regards

Mike

Madrid is high and gets cold. Late November in the south of Spain would be very pleasant- I've had several holidays down there at that time. Agree the 1600 is overkill (actually it's overkill just about anywhere!) and I wouldn't plan on covering more than 300km a day.

Tim's advice on places to visit is spot on- I did Malaga, Ronda, Seville, Merida, Avila, the Gredos mountains, Toledo, Cordoba and Granada (think I got that in the right order) one November in a Seat Panda, so an enormo BMW tourer should be OK!

Hi, Tim..
Thank you for the suggestions. Since I can fly to Madrid directly, and then take a connection via train to Malaga, is it ok to just take the bike at Madrid and ride down from there. That way I will be able to get the bike back at Madrid and fly back out from there.

Hi Reggie.
Thanks for the inputs. My only reason to think of taking the 1600 was for the pillion comfort, I ride a Tiger 800 here back home and the wife hates it, hence that choice, but then the R1200 is also an option. The places u mentioned in ur reply, can you point at 2 of them where I MUST spend an extra day? I really want to explore some local culture, rather than just take a night halt and spend one evening.
Thanks!

Hi Mike,
Thanks for that suggestion. The thing is that I ride a Tiger 800 here at home. My wife hates the pillion seat and seating posture of the Tiger, she is more of a cruiser loving girl. And this is our anniversary trip, dont want to tick her off! :innocent:

Starting in Madrid is fine. The autoroute network in Spain is good. Road with just an 'A' such as A7 are free autovias, roads with 'AP' such as AP7 are autopistes and are toll roads.

The distances in the suggested route are not great so as to allow lots of time for exploring. Americans tend to go gaga over Granada and the Alhambra but I think Seville has far more to see and that's where I'd spend an extra night.

If you are looking for upmarket places to stay check out the Parador network, Paradores de Turismo

Tricky. Seville and Toledo? Toledo's cathedral is a wonder and Seville has plenty to see and do and the night life is fun.

Merida's Roman ruins are well worth seeing and Avila's city walls are amazing. Try to arrive in good time to see those things even if you can't stay two nights and the Mezquite (sp?) in Cordoba has to be unique..