HOW TO PLAN YOUR OWN ANDALUSIA SPAIN TRIP

www.thatblondetravels.com

Written by: Lauren Bailey

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If you have any suggestions for can’t miss places to see or places to eat, please leave them in the comments below!

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When you think of Spain, what is the first place that you imagine? Is it Barcelona? Is it Madrid? Or could it be an island such as Ibiza?

All of these places came to mind when I was working on our 9 day/8 night Spain itinerary. I ultimately thought about what I value when I travel, beautiful scenery, less crowds, adventure, and good weather, to determine the locations that we would travel to. In this post, I am going to share my planned itinerary for our trip to Spain and some of the resources that I used while planning it!

PROPOSED 9 DAY/8 NIGHT ITINERARY

Here’s what our 9 day Southern Spain itinerary looks like:

Mallorca (3 nights)

Seville (2 nights)

Granada (2 nights)

Madrid (1 night)

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Total days: 9

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MALLORCA

Mallorca (pronouced "Mah-YOR-ka") is the largest of three tiny islands off the coast of Spain known as the Balearic Islands.

How to get here: Direct flights are available from Madrid International Airport into Palma at multiple times per day for very cheap! I think our flight was ~30 euro on Ryanair.

What we’re doing: This is still tbd but I would love to eat at some local restaurants that feature Michelin Star chefs and do plenty of hiking and relaxing!

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SEVILLE

Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region. It is well-known for flamenco dancing and the Alcázar castle that was built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty.

Where we’re staying: Hotel Rey Alfonso X

What we’re doing: Once we get into Seville from Mallorca, we are doing a free walking tour of Seville with Hello Sevilla Tours.

After lunch, we will make our way to The Real Alcázar de Sevilla.

Dinner at sunset at the Metropol Parasol, followed later in the evening by the Flamenco Show at Casa de la Memoria.

The next day we plan to do a day trip to either Cadiz or Arcos de la Frontera. - Will keep you updated on our decision! :)

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GRANADA

Granada is a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's most famous landmark is the Alhambra that dates back to the Moorish occupation.

Where we’re staying: Hotel Hospes Palacio de Los Patos

What we’re doing: When driving from Seville to Granada, we plan on driving through the Sierra Nevada mountains and stopping in Rhonda and then proceding to do the Caminito Del Rey hike.

We plan to visit the Alhambra of course and then a couple free walking tours as well.

Mostly I’m excited about our hike in Caminito Del Rey (It looks magical!).

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MADRID

Where we’re staying: Catalonia Plaza Mayor

What we’re doing: While in Madrid, we will be doing two city walking tours and possibly a tapas tour. If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments below!

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FAQS

What time of year is best to visit Southern Spain?
The best time to visit Spain is typically in the spring (March to May) or during the fall (September to November). At these times, you'll likely find fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations, and the best weather (even for hitting the beach!). [Trip Savvy]

What was your favorite city in Southern Spain?
TBD! Come back in November for the answer to this question!

How long do I need for a trip to Southern Spain?
Well this question is pretty subjective. We have 9 total days (including travel) and I had a VERY hard time deciding between the cities that I wanted to visit and stay in vs doing day trips to. In the end, I decided to go to Mallorca, Seville, Granada, and Madrid. When driving from Seville to Granada, we plan on driving through the Sierra Nevada mountains and stopping in Rhonda and doing the Caminito Del Rey hike. I feel like if you wanted to see the whole Andalusia coast, then you would probably need around 14 days. I will report back once we return!

What’s the best way to get around in Southern Spain?
This questions depends on the time and money that you have at your disposal. We are flying from Mallorca to Seville and then renting a car for day trips and to drive to Granada. We were going to take the bus back from Granada to Madrid, but the flights were so cheap that we booked one of those instead.

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About me:

I'm a full-time pharmacist that loves to travel whenever I get the chance.

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Follow me: @thatblondetravels

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Need help planning and booking your own Southern Spain trip? Send me an email!

FOODIE ADVENTURES IN DALLAS

Written by Rachel Yue

Featuring: Earl’s Kitchen + Bar

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www.thatblondetravels.com

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Rating: 8/10 (really friendly and fast service, great food for a very reasonable price, and atmosphere with the bar in the middle is unique!)

Address: 7401 Windrogse Avenue D100, Plano, TX 75024

Website: Earl’s Kitchen + Bar

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EARL’S KITCHEN + BAR

C/O PLANO MAGAZINE

After one of my friends insisted multiple times that I go check out Earl’s Kitchen + Bar, I finally gave in and went. We ended up going for her birthday. For her, it was her 5th time going! Not to mention that the restaurant had just opened a few weeks ago! I had high expectations since my friend spoke so highly of this place. Also this restaurant is from Canada, and me being Canadian, I was a bit biased. =p

C/O PLANO MAGAZINE

The first thing you notice when you walk into Earl’s Kitchen + Bar is the atmosphere. I absolutely love the setting of the restaurant! It has a very modern, open, and warm feeling. The round bar in the middle of the restaurant also catches your attention right away. The restaurant also has comfortable sofa-type booths for you to sit which we were lucky to be able to experience.

C/O PLANO MAGAZINE

C/O OPEN TABLE

When we arrived for dinner, we were greeted by the hostess immediately. We did make reservations (just in case because it can get crowded there, especially on a weekend night), but the restaurant wasn't extremely packed yet since we ate at 5 pm. We were seated right away. Our waitress was probably one of the nicest I've ever met! She eagerly described the items on the menu for us since I told her it was my first time to eat at Earl’s Kitchen + Bar.

C/O MCKINLEY BURKART

WHAT I ORDERED:

Steak + Sushi ($25): This dish is a MUST GET! It consists of marinated steak, ponzu sauce, dynamite roll, maple unagi, and sriracha mayo. For this huge amount of food…all for 25 bucks, I have to say it is a really good deal!  The steak was cooked perfectly, super tender and tasty, and the ponzu sauce completed the dish. What surprised me the most, was the dynamite sushi roll. It was probably one of the best rolls I’ve had, and this is coming from a non-Japanese restaurant. This combination dish is more than enough for one person. I would even say it is enough for two people if you aren’t extremely hungry. 

C/O EATER

6 oz Sirloin Steak ($23.50—and comes with buttery garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables): their steaks are raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones. And all steaks are aged for a minimum of 35 days. I ordered my steak medium-well, and it was cooked just the way I wanted! The stead was super juicy, tender, and seasoned well. The green beans were some of the best I’ve had, and the mashed potatoes were delicious as well. You can’t go wrong with buttery garlic mashed potatoes!

C/O MIAMI SMITH

Sticky Toffee Chocolate Pudding ($8): To save the best for last…by far the BEST dessert I’ve ever had. Please don’t let the name of the dessert fool you! This dessert consists of a warm pudding cake, chocolate and toffee sauces, with vanilla ice cream and candy snap. For those that know me well, I am not a big fan of sweets and ordering desserts at restaurants, but this dessert was so delicious that I would highly recommend ordering this, even if you are super full from the main course (SERIOUSLY). The warm pudding cake melted in my mouth, and it was extremely sweet and heavy. The vanilla bean ice cream was perfect to offset the creamy, chocolate-rich cake, and to top this whole dessert off, the toffee candy snap made all the difference. The candy snap was so crunchy and tasty that it fit perfectly with this dish and made it very unique. Please do try this if you plan on checking out this restaurant!

C/O TRAVELS WITH TAM

Everything was super delicious and met my expectations! The price was also very reasonable and I would even say cheap (for the quality and presentation of the food!).

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About me:

I fell in love with food and all the intricacies about it at an early age and after that my passion for food just kept growing. Two of my favorite things to do if I’m not training for a marathon is checking out a variety of restaurants (after doing a lot of research and studying the menus way beforehand=p) and trying out new recipes. My favorite cuisines are Japanese and Cuban but I’m always excited to try a variety of cuisines. Be sure to check out my Instagram page for frequent stories of endless food adventures!

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Follow me: @rachrun11 

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FOODIE ADVENTURES IN MEXICO CITY

Written by Grace Lee

Featuring: Loma Linda Insurgentes Sur Restaurant

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www.thatblondetravels.com

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Featuring: Loma Linda Insurgentes Sur Restaurant

We went to Mexico City (MXC) to attend a Studio House Mafia concert and to celebrate a friend's birthday. This was my first time visiting MXC and I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the people were and by the amazing food for such cheap prices!

This is a post about my experience at the Loma Linda Insurgentes Sur Restaurant and the delicious food that we ate there.

Perfect restaurant if you are celebrating a special occasion.

Savory bone marrow

Excellent service by our waiter friends!

So refreshing and fruity! Easily down 3 of these no problem. But pace yourself! Tasty but deceivingly strong.

Featuring: Loma Linda Restaurant

About me:

I'm a full-time pharmacist that loves to travel whenever I get the chance. I love to go on food adventures in and outside of DFW and explore other culture's cuisines!

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Follow me: @dailyglee4

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PENSACOLA FAMILY BEACH VACATION

Written by Lauren Bailey

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www.thatblondetravels.com

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Hello everyone! I just returned from an amazing vacay in Pensacola, Florida.

We rented a house on the sound and stayed for 7 nights. I have never felt more rested! 😅

If you and your family are planning a trip to Pensacola, here are some great options for houses/condos for families that are located right on the beach. Available Houses/Condos.

A few recommended:

White Sands

Emerald Isle

Beach Please

While in Pensacola, we ate at three yummy restaurants.

The Grand Marlin: I ordered a steak for my entree (I know! Blasphemy!) and did an add on of fried shrimp. Delicious!😋 For an appetizer, we ordered smoked tuna dip and BBQ shrimp, which were also amazing!

Casino Beach Bar & Grille: I was feeling super full from eating too much all week so I went light and ordered a blackened chicken salad. I know what your’re thinking, but it was so good! We also ordered the shrimp cocktail (yumm!) and my sister-in-law had the sea scallops. This place was a surprise as to how good it was.

The Ruby Slipper: This is located in downtown Pensacola. The downtown area is so cute! We went here for brunch and I had a regular pancake 🥞

The rest of the time we cooked at home.

While there, we rented a car in order to get from the airport to our rental house. However, once on the beach you can easily walk to places or even uber. It was nice to have the car so that we could go into Pensacola for lunch or dinner, grocery shopping, and workout classes.

Pensacola Beach makes for a perfect family vacation filled with fun and sun! Contact me to book yours today!

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Follow me: @thatblondetravels

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FIVE DAY GETAWAY AT TRS YUCATAN HOTEL

Written by Lauren Bailey

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www.thatblondetravels.com

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C/O TRS YUCATAN

C/O Anna Smith

I think I could go to Mexico every 3 months and be ecstatically happy. This resort was no exception. A group of friends and I had the pleasure of spending 5 days and 4 nights at the brand new TRS Yucatan Hotel in Riviera Maya in May.

My husband and I went with such a fun group! Anna and Michael whom we have known for awhile (Anna takes all of our anniversary pictures every year) and Amy and Seth whom we met on the trip but immediately hit it off.

C/O TRS YUCATAN

Private check-in and check-out

Personalized attention: enjoy butler service and waiters at the beach and swimming pools

Modern facilities: lay back in the new salt-water infinity pool next to our exclusive beach club, Helios

Luxury entertainment: get ready for an unforgettable night at Chic Cabaret & Restaurant

Gastronomic experiences: taste the flavors of the world at our restaurants Tentazione, El Gaucho, La Bohème, Capricho, Helios beach club and Chic Cabaret & Restaurant. [Palladium Group]

TRS Yucatan is a five-star all-inclusive hotel located in Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula.

It is a small adults-only resort located within a larger complex of five other resorts. The other resort do allow children. You can go to any of the dining options at the other resorts but I recommend staying at the TRS restaurants.

Relax all day long by the pool or beach and have a refreshing cocktail!

When you get tired of drinking, head to the spa where you can get a fresh fruit smoothie.

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All-in-all, the Riviera Maya area of Cancun is so beautiful. I definitely recommend the area! Contact me to book your all-inclusive Mexico vacation today!

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C/O ORBITZ

C/O @keszthelyit

C/O @adamsun97

C/O @eliomendes

TWO DAYS IN BUDAPEST: A CITY GUIDE

Written by Lauren Bailey

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www.thatblondetravels.com

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BUDAPEST

Back in March, my friends and I took a girls trip to Eastern Europe. One of my all time favorite places was Budapest: capital of Hungary and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

We spent two days exploring and eating in this wonderful city! Separated by the Danube River, Budapest is a beautiful city comprised of two towns. “Buda” is on the west side of the river where the majority of residents live. “Pest” is located on the east side of the river where you can find the majority of the famous sights.

C/O @dulgier

WHAT TO DO AND SEE:

SZECHENYI THERMAL BATH

We took a taxi here and spent a couple hours in the bath! There is a whirlpool at one end where it gets a little dodgy. Also, no alcohol is allowed in the bath.

C/O CHECK OUT SAM

GELLERT HILL HIKE

Gellert hill is about a 30 to 45 minute hike on the “buda” side of Budapest. Once you get to the top of the hill, the panoramic views of the city are incredible!

SZÉCHENYI CHAIN BRIDGE

MÁTYÁS-TEMPLOM | MATTHIAS CHURCH

WHERE TO EAT:

HACHAPURI - TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN RESTAURANT

I CANNOT express enough just how WONDERFUL this meal was! If you’re going to Budapest anytime soon, then do yourself a favor and get dinner here. We got the traditional Georgian feast for 4 people and it was more food than we could eat. Not pictured was the amazing chicken (Chkmeruli), dumplings (Khinkali), and dessert that was also included in the meal. I want to go back tomorrow just to eat here again (especially the “cheese pizza” (aka Khachapuri)!

We ordered the traditional four-course Georgian dinner for four people. It was out-standing!!

KARAVAN BUDAPEST

This was a yummy grouping of parked food trucks. Some of the vendors took CC, but most took cash. There is an ATM nearby just in case you need to take some cash out. I got the burger and then we had an interesting experience with the bartenders while getting beer. It was a great spot for a quick bite.

C/O FOODIE ADVICE

C/O PINTEREST

FASIRT KITCHEN

Traditional Hungarian meatballs - need I say more? Click the link above for a super thorough overview of this yummy restaurant!

C/O We love Budapest

WHERE TO STAY

MOMENTS BUDAPEST

Moments Budapest is a centrally located hotel on the “pest” side. It is close to the majority of the famous sights as well as amazing restaurants!

C/O MOMENTS BUDAPEST

C/O MOMENTS BUDAPEST

Overall, Budapest was my favorite city out of the four that we visited while in Eastern Europe. We were only there for a short two days so I would love to go back. The city is so affordable and beautiful, not to mention all the yummy food! Definitely a place that you should add to your travel bucket list!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• LANGUAGE: Hungarian, although most everyone we met spoke English.

• CURRENCY: Hungarian Forint. While most places accepted bank cards or credit cards, we did withdraw some cash from an ATM once we arrived.

• GRATUITY: Tipping is not as customary as it is in the states. Plan on leaving ~30Ft to 50Ft per drink at the bar and between 10-12% while dining at restaurants. 

• GETTING AROUND: Budapest is a very walk-able city. We did a free walking tour around the city to see the historic sights. Instead of Uber, Bolt is the way to call a taxi or request a ride. We also used the Metro for some destinations that were further away. Other than that, everything is very centrally located so make sure that your hotel is located in the city center!

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Follow me: @thatblondetravels

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HOW TO PLAN YOUR OWN EASTERN EUROPE VACATION

Written by Lauren Bailey

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www.thatblondetravels.com

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OUR EASTERN EUROPE ITINERARY

C/O Sorasak @boontohhgraphy

Here’s what our 9 day Eastern Europe itinerary looked like:

Prague (2 nights)

Salzburg (2 nights)

Vienna (2 nights)

Budapest (2 nights)

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Total days: 9

Prague (2 nights)

Prague, with it’s romantic cobblestone streets and baroque architecture, is home to multiple well-known cultural destinations. All centrally located, main attractions include Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square with the astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Where we stayed: Boho Prague - Luxury hotel in the historic centre of Prague, steps away from Old Town Square. Seriously, the BEST hotel!

Salzburg (2 nights)

Salzburg is the forth largest city in Austria and was the birthplace of Mozart. Most notably, in the mid‑20th century, the city was the setting for the musical film The Sound of Music. Salzburg is a great location to stay in for day excursions to the beautiful city of Hallstatt as well!

Where we stayed: Hotel Auersperg - Boutique hotel located in the city centre of Salzburg. Breakfast was yummy!

Vienna (2 nights)

Vienna, the capital of Austria (previously the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), is one of the most romantic and clean cities that I have visited. Often regarded to as the “City of Music” because of its musical history, Vienna was also home to the world's first psychoanalyst – Sigmund Freud. When you visit, have a coffee at Café Central, where Sigmund Freud would sit and observe passersby.

Where we stayed: Hotel Kaiserhoff - Close to Vienna Opera House and walk-able location to all the famous sights in Vienna.

Budapest (2 nights)

Budapest is seriously one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Split into two by the Danube River, Budapest is made up of two cities, “Buda” and “Pest”. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has many notable cultural monuments as well as over 80 geothermal springs, for example, the famous Széchenyi Bath.

Where we stayed: Moments Budapest - This hotel is also located in the city centre close to St. Stephen’s Basilica and shopping on Andrássy Street!

RECOMMENDED EASTERN EUROPE ITINERARy

Based on my experience above, I would recommend this 13 Day Eastern Europe itinerary if you’re visiting these cities for the first time:

C/O Jacek Dylag @dylu

Prague (3 nights)

Salzburg (2 nights)

Vienna (3 nights)

Budapest (4 nights)

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Total days: 13

FAQs

Is Eastern Europe safe to visit as a woman?
In general, we felt very safe the entire time that we were visiting Eastern Europe. I would not recommend going to a bar or pub alone though. If you are thinking of going alone, maybe consider a guided group tour if you would like to feel more secure.

What time of year is best to visit Eastern Europe?
We visited in March and had cold but wonderful weather. With that being said, shoulder season (May and June and from September until mid-October) will be less crowded. The weather is more temperate and prices are lower than in the summer months, but some excursions, restaurants, and hotels may operate on reduced schedules. [Frommers]

What was your favorite city in Eastern Europe?
Although we did not have enough time in each city, I would have to say that Budapest was definitely at the top of my list! The food was amazing and the city is gorgeous!

How long do I need for a trip to Eastern Europe?
It depends on what you are wanting to do and if you want to spread out the sights more. With so many options of countries and cities to visit, I would recommend taking a look at this guide by Rick Steves to get a good idea of where to start and where to go depending on how many days that you have to enjoy your visit.

What’s the best way to get around in Eastern Europe?
I found that the best way to get from city to city was via train. Once in the city, we used Uber a lot (It was so cheap!!) along with walking.

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More from our Eastern Europe trip coming soon! If you have a question or have a specific topic that you’d like me to cover in future Eastern Europe city blog posts, leave me a recommendation below…

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See also: TWO DAYS IN BUDAPEST: A CITY GUIDE

C/O Fredy Martinez @fredymartinez

C/O Maroš Verba @frago

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ABOUT ME:

I'm a full-time pharmacist that loves to travel whenever I get the chance.

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Follow me: @thatblondetravels

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