Spain was my first real trip as a broke but working full time adult. When you are broke, the best way to travel is with a friend to avoid those pesky single supplements. My friend and I decided to book our trip with a company called Trafalgar Tours.
We chose this trip because the planning was done for us, we were going to see the best of Spain, and it was affordable. We spent our 10 day trip on a big tour bus driving from city to city, seeing major sites but moving so quickly it was hard to delve in and really feel the culture. We quickly realized that one of the reasons the trip was affordable was because all of the hotels were in nice areas but away from the places we wanted to see. What I learned was, spend a little extra on a hotel that is centrally located and you will save money on taxis, not to mention the time you will save. In fairness, we did see all the major sites, just not thoroughly.
Madrid
Unless you enjoy spending hours at museums (and the Prado is definitely worth your time), your time in Madrid should be spent getting some culture. Wander around El Retiro Park or take a walking tour of the old city and the Plaza Mayor or try a tapas and wine tour. And if you are trying to act like a local, make sure you eat dinner around 9:30pm!
Toledo
This former capital of Spain is known for step-inlaid craft. You can watch tradesman hammering gold into steel bracelets or plates, among other things. The city has some cute, narrow winding streets and a beautiful old cathedral. It is definitely worth a day trip if you have the time.
Barcelona
The drive from Madrid to Barcelona was long and I cannot recommend it. However, I have heard they have a train now that is much faster. Spending time in Barcelona is a must. Obviously wander Las Rambles, but watch your wallets. There are many people posing for pictures, just be prepared to pay if you want to photograph them. Visit Park Güell and all things Gaudi. La Sagrada Família is a sight worth seeing and you can wonder when it will ever be completed.
Peñíscola
There is one really good part about driving around: Sometimes you stop in small towns. Heading south from Barcelona, is a beautiful coastal town called Peniscola. It is here that I discovered a love for mussels.
Granada
Further South you will find the charming town of Granada. One way I like to save money while traveling is to try traditional street food. In Granada, you can get baked potatoes on almost every corner of this very walkable city.
Granada is known for medieval architecture from the Moorish times, the most important being the Alhambra, a huge hilltop fortress. Unfortunately, I had not done my research and I had no idea about this amazing place. I assumed that when you book a tour, the tour company is taking care of all those things. The tour I was on took us to the grounds of the Alhambra, but we could not get tickets to go inside. I learned the planning lesson in a very unfortunate way.
Seville
Seville (pronounced Sevilla) is near the southwestern coast of Spain. It had a small town feel. Unfortunately I had another planning fail here, for I visited during Holy Week. Culturally fascinating but, as a VERY catholic community, the city was shut down for the holiday. Anyone in the brotherhood wishing to do penance wears capirotes, which are tall conical hats that cover the face, along with belted robes. It looked like what I know as KKK robes. I mean no disrespect, but I had never seen anything like it and I certainly recognize that this has been custom since around the time of Pope Clement VI back around 1350. If you are religious, this might be wonderful for you to see. If you want to see the city easily, I would recommend avoiding Holy Week.
Cordoba
Heading North toward Madrid, or as a day trip from Seville, Cordoba has a really cool sight to see: the Mezquita. This Mosque-Cathedral was built as a mosque in the year 700 when the area was under Islamic control. In the 13th century it was seized by Christians and ultimately became a Cathedral. Lonely Planet offers a great explanation of the Mezquita.
This would be a wonderful trip for someone who doesn’t have a lot of money, doesn’t mind a lot of driving, doesn’t want to plan anything and doesn’t feel the need to dive deep into the culture of the place they are visiting.
