Options for a few free days in southern spain?
April 30, 2013 1:01 AM Subscribe
I'm probably going to meet up with some friends to Ibiza in June, but I'm not much of a beach person, so if I get antsy, what else could I do with a few free days in southern Spain? I was thinking of spending a few days in Barcelona, but what are some other options that are relatively accessible from Ibiza?
Also, advice for finding less expensive flights from the east coast of the US to Ibiza would be amazing.
Gibraltar, Alhambra, Cordoba, etc. are obvious things I would consider.
For non-obvious, what about Caminito del Rey or Gemasolar?
posted by dhartung at 2:56 AM on April 30, 2013
For non-obvious, what about Caminito del Rey or Gemasolar?
posted by dhartung at 2:56 AM on April 30, 2013
Also, advice for finding less expensive flights from the east coast of the US to Ibiza would be amazing.
Fly to Gatwick and book an EasyJet flight from there to Ibiza.
Visiting Barcelona for a few days is sufficient for anyone. No other options needed.
posted by three blind mice at 3:14 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Fly to Gatwick and book an EasyJet flight from there to Ibiza.
Visiting Barcelona for a few days is sufficient for anyone. No other options needed.
posted by three blind mice at 3:14 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
The above suggestions sound so much more awesome than Barcelona, I'm jealous. You do also have the option of flights and boats to the other islands, each of which seems to have its own particular atmosphere.
As for cheaper flights, keep looking but it might be hard. June is summer and peak vacation time for everyone everywhere (August is worse, but June is already busy). The best approach may be to book a cheap flight into anywhere in Europe, then book a budget flight (e.g. easyjet, Vueling, transavia) after that. Take into consideration that many budget flights leave from secondary airports which cost time and money to get to, and that the prices may already be higher than budget because the cheap seats are sold out.
Also reconsider what airport you are leaving from in the US, if you have options. For example MSP has long been over-priced because of the market stituation, and it is cheaper to take the bus to Chicago (as little as $1 on Bolt), but it will cost you 8 hours.
But yeah, June, vacation time, high prices, good luck.
posted by whatzit at 3:18 AM on April 30, 2013
As for cheaper flights, keep looking but it might be hard. June is summer and peak vacation time for everyone everywhere (August is worse, but June is already busy). The best approach may be to book a cheap flight into anywhere in Europe, then book a budget flight (e.g. easyjet, Vueling, transavia) after that. Take into consideration that many budget flights leave from secondary airports which cost time and money to get to, and that the prices may already be higher than budget because the cheap seats are sold out.
Also reconsider what airport you are leaving from in the US, if you have options. For example MSP has long been over-priced because of the market stituation, and it is cheaper to take the bus to Chicago (as little as $1 on Bolt), but it will cost you 8 hours.
But yeah, June, vacation time, high prices, good luck.
posted by whatzit at 3:18 AM on April 30, 2013
Response by poster: Fly to Gatwick and book an EasyJet flight from there to Ibiza.
No direct flights to Gatwick. I can fly into heathrow and switch, but i've been informed that that isn't a great idea.
posted by empath at 3:23 AM on April 30, 2013
No direct flights to Gatwick. I can fly into heathrow and switch, but i've been informed that that isn't a great idea.
posted by empath at 3:23 AM on April 30, 2013
No direct flights to Gatwick. I can fly into heathrow and switch, but i've been informed that that isn't a great idea.
It really depends on the time between your flights. This site recommends you need at least 4 hours, which seems about right - as long as your LHR flight is on time. I might be more cautious.
posted by carter at 4:04 AM on April 30, 2013
It really depends on the time between your flights. This site recommends you need at least 4 hours, which seems about right - as long as your LHR flight is on time. I might be more cautious.
posted by carter at 4:04 AM on April 30, 2013
I had a blast in Jerez de la Frontera, and it has the extra bonus of being really affordable.
posted by corb at 5:11 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by corb at 5:11 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Formentera and Malta were my two favourite getaways when I lived there.
If you are going in June, there ARE no cheaper options aside from the logistically horrendous EasyJet solution above, unless you have access to a time machine and can go back to september 2012 to book your tickets.
Avoid Air Europa in favour of Iberia with domestic flights. AE's reputation for incompetence remains undiminished.
Actually, really long shot here BUT: JetBlue to Orlando (are you going out of Richmond?) is $88 OW in June. Orlando flies direct to Gatwick on Virgin Atlantic, cheapest flight I see in June is $545 RT. Gatwick-IBZ on EasyJet is about 50 pounds OW. It'll be a crazy hassle if you have a lot of luggage but I assume you have learned to travel light.
posted by elizardbits at 5:55 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you are going in June, there ARE no cheaper options aside from the logistically horrendous EasyJet solution above, unless you have access to a time machine and can go back to september 2012 to book your tickets.
Avoid Air Europa in favour of Iberia with domestic flights. AE's reputation for incompetence remains undiminished.
Actually, really long shot here BUT: JetBlue to Orlando (are you going out of Richmond?) is $88 OW in June. Orlando flies direct to Gatwick on Virgin Atlantic, cheapest flight I see in June is $545 RT. Gatwick-IBZ on EasyJet is about 50 pounds OW. It'll be a crazy hassle if you have a lot of luggage but I assume you have learned to travel light.
posted by elizardbits at 5:55 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
TBH you will prolly spend less time at the beach and more time rolling your face off in 100,000 afterhourses.
posted by elizardbits at 6:04 AM on April 30, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 6:04 AM on April 30, 2013
I thought Palma, Majorca was beautiful. There's an amazing cathedral there with some really nifty artifacts to look at.
You can take a tour into the hills and you can see the little villages.
Also, pearls. But you knew that.
What I liked about Palma, Majorca was that it seemed more sedate and more stately than a party island.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:31 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
You can take a tour into the hills and you can see the little villages.
Also, pearls. But you knew that.
What I liked about Palma, Majorca was that it seemed more sedate and more stately than a party island.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:31 AM on April 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Yeah I know, my friend is playing at Space :)
posted by empath at 6:31 AM on April 30, 2013
posted by empath at 6:31 AM on April 30, 2013
Montserrat (just outside of Barcelona).
posted by St. Peepsburg at 6:32 AM on April 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 6:32 AM on April 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: cheapest flight I see in June is $545 RT
That's each way, btw, not rt, I just checked :/
posted by empath at 6:35 AM on April 30, 2013
That's each way, btw, not rt, I just checked :/
posted by empath at 6:35 AM on April 30, 2013
Flying in/out of Heathrow is generally bad idea if the connecting ticket is not part of the same itinerary. Taxes and other fees are highest from Heathrow.
Check connections through Madrid, Barcelona or other major European cities. Expect to pay ~$1100 - $1300 unless you get very creative and funky. Prices can depend a lot on the departure airport as well - are you flying out of MIA, IAD/ BWI, JFK/ EWR, BOS or somewhere else. Use Kayak to form basic strategy and go from there.
posted by zeikka at 6:43 AM on April 30, 2013
Check connections through Madrid, Barcelona or other major European cities. Expect to pay ~$1100 - $1300 unless you get very creative and funky. Prices can depend a lot on the departure airport as well - are you flying out of MIA, IAD/ BWI, JFK/ EWR, BOS or somewhere else. Use Kayak to form basic strategy and go from there.
posted by zeikka at 6:43 AM on April 30, 2013
Depending how you want to split your time, you could fly to Barçelona and then get the boat to and from Ibiza for the party at Space.
Lucky bastard.
posted by carter at 7:44 AM on April 30, 2013
Lucky bastard.
posted by carter at 7:44 AM on April 30, 2013
I personally thought Gibraltar was horrible, and will only go back to stock up on cigars and Scotch. Although probably not.
Malaga is well worth a look round as a city. I was surprised at how tourist-oriented it wasn't.
If you've not been to Barcelona I think that's your best bet though; plenty of things to do and see, pretty much everyone speaks some English (if you don't speak Spanish), the Metro is easy to use and the food is great!
posted by 999 at 8:58 AM on April 30, 2013
Malaga is well worth a look round as a city. I was surprised at how tourist-oriented it wasn't.
If you've not been to Barcelona I think that's your best bet though; plenty of things to do and see, pretty much everyone speaks some English (if you don't speak Spanish), the Metro is easy to use and the food is great!
posted by 999 at 8:58 AM on April 30, 2013
Ibiza doesn't connect that easily with southern Spain, it's more the other islands and Catalonia. Which is also great. If you don't find what you are looking for in Barcelona, what about Girona or Tarragona?
posted by mumimor at 2:29 PM on April 30, 2013
posted by mumimor at 2:29 PM on April 30, 2013
Daily Ferry to Palma about 2.5 hrs +/- 45 Euro each way.
posted by adamvasco at 2:26 PM on May 1, 2013
posted by adamvasco at 2:26 PM on May 1, 2013
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posted by mannequito at 1:48 AM on April 30, 2013 [1 favorite]