Solo mom Spain trip with kids - too much?

[Anonymous]

I’m a solo mom (widow) planning a 9-day trip to Spain with my two tweens (ages 11 and 13). We’ve done road trips and a cruise before, but this will be our first big international adventure! We’re thinking of splitting time between Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid by train. Does 9 days feel too ambitious?

[Anonymous]

I’d only do two cities with that amount of days.

[Anonymous]

I’m a single mom and took my 11 year old to Spain and Portugal by myself for two weeks and it was fine.

[Anonymous]

If you are an experienced traveler, I think it will be fine.

Consider the pace.

Why Valencia?

When I visited Barcelona long ago, there was a local Spanish chain version of a sub shop and their baguette sandwiches were delicious.

It might have been this.

https://www.pansandcompany.com/en/products/sandwiches/

Pack lightly and consider getting a rental in the 2nd or 3rd city that has a washer/dryer in case you need to refresh key pieces.

Make your train reservations for times that allow a lot of margin for error. AM instead of after dinner.

The train landscape between Barcelona and Madrid isn't highly scenic but there are occasional old towns to see from afar.

[Anonymous]

I went last year with just me and my 14 year old and we had a great time. We were there 10 days and just did 2 cities. I had considered Valencia but decided against it because it looked like a lot of the best beaches would need a car and I just couldn’t deal with renting a car. We went to San Sebastián by train instead and it was great. I haven’t been to Barcelona so can’t speak to that. Madrid has a great metro system and it’s very easy so we used that to get around. We took day trips by Spain to Toledo and Segovia. One thing I’d say is that, if you are gojng to destinations north, that train station is enormous so leave yourself lots of time — the subway station there is a separate area from the kntercity trains. The train station that goes south (atocha) is a much more manageable station.
If you do go to Segovia by train, be aware that the train station is outside town and there aren’t cabs waiting. If you google taxi in Segovia, it’s pretty easy to find the number for the cab company and they were very good.

My biggest advice would be — bring multiple chargers and some battery backups for your phone. As the only adult with kids you don’t want your phone to die. Also consider putting things like Apple wallet on your kids phones in case anything happens to yours.

[Anonymous]

They are a good age to help (with luggage, logistics, researching/choosing activities). You will be fine.

It will be empowering to see that you can pull this off. Have fun.

[Anonymous]

Meh. I've been all over Spain. But with only 9 days I'd rather spend most of the time in Andalusia, which I absolutely love. There's so much to visit and do, and it is unique in Europe. I'd end the trip in Madrid if you really want to go there. I don't like Barcelona at all and would never go back. IMO it is the most overrated destination in all of Europe.

[Anonymous]

I would pick 2 places and rent an apt in each so everyone has some space

[Anonymous]

I agree stick to two cities. We did Barcelona and Valencia last summer with kids that age. In Valencia definitely do a paella cooking class and take your kids to the incredible aquarium there. We also did the beach for a day in both cities which was a nice relaxing break. White Rabbit in Barcelona is great for kids that age.

[Anonymous]

I think it sounds great

[Anonymous]

Just be careful with pickpockets, have an under clothes pouch for your passports between cities, tell your dcs to be careful as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d only do two cities with that amount of days.

This. But I would say the same for any family!

[Anonymous]

Andalusia is indeed amazing, agreed with PP, but it can get very hot in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a single mom and took my 11 year old to Spain and Portugal by myself for two weeks and it was fine.

I think most people can understand that 2 kids are different than 1, though. Even if they're low key and mature, you're going to be juggling between what they each want to do, where they want to go, where they want to eat, if they're needing an early night vs if they aren't tired at all and are going to be awake and bored in the hotel for 3 hours because their sibling wanted to go to bed, etc.

[Anonymous]

I'd do 2 cities and I'd skip Barcelona in the summer (crowded, tons of lines, full of people taking pics for the gram and you're locked into reservation times and lots of waiting in line if you want to see anything Gaudi- adjacent (and you can't really go to Barcelona without checking out Gaudi stuff)