Anonymous
03/01/2026 09:38
Subject: Spain spring break- can’t decide
Not OP but found Madrid zoo unbelievably depressing. Just animals in cages. I typically find zoos depressing but this was another level of sad. Would not take kids.
Anonymous
11/19/2024 20:47
Subject: Spain spring break- can’t decide
Anonymous wrote:OP here- update. I have gone back and forth REPEATEDLY with my itinerary. I have NEVER been this indecisive with a trip before. After cancelling our original itinerary, booking an apartment for a full week in Madrid and not really finding enough for an amazing week in Madrid that doesn't involve at least 3 day trips (which is honestly more travel than just staying in 2 places), I figured it out today. We leave in a few weeks lol.
We will spend the first 4 nights in Madrid (we arrive really late so we'll take a taxi to our apartment) so I don't consider that day 1.
day 1 - My birthday & first full day. Morning at El Retiro park after we find a nice breakfast somewhere, explore the cool markets around lunch, explore the old city, possibly pop by (Royal palace, prado museum, or tooth mouse fairy museum) briefly and go out for dinner for my bday.
day 2- (pick a museum to visit), rest of day tbd.....alternatively could daytrip to Toledo or Segovia this day
day 3- Day trip to Toledo or Segovia
day 4- train to Valencia (actual day plans tbd but we are staying in the old city area).
-check out gulliver park (apparently we need to keep an eye out for safety with the play equipment but is a must-do), go to main market, explore old city, go to the awesome aquarium, and I think we'll plan a half day trip down to the beach and bring a picnic lunch....obviously too cold to swim but it won't be too cold for a picnic and to take your shoes off, sand play and walking along the beach....worst thing that can happen is we'll need hot chocolate to warm up). Grab local paella.
day 5- valencia
day 6- valencia
day 7- train back to Madrid (possibly go to the zoo to spend a few hours there during our last day and put our backpacks in their luggage storage area and then go straight to the airport after for our 10pm flight)...I'm thinking that may be a good day to do that.
Any favorite things in Valencia or Madrid to recommend for us or cool tours that we should consider? Thanks!!
Op how was the trip?
Anonymous
03/02/2024 15:10
Subject: Spain spring break- can’t decide
OP here- update. I have gone back and forth REPEATEDLY with my itinerary. I have NEVER been this indecisive with a trip before. After cancelling our original itinerary, booking an apartment for a full week in Madrid and not really finding enough for an amazing week in Madrid that doesn't involve at least 3 day trips (which is honestly more travel than just staying in 2 places), I figured it out today. We leave in a few weeks lol.
We will spend the first 4 nights in Madrid (we arrive really late so we'll take a taxi to our apartment) so I don't consider that day 1.
day 1 - My birthday & first full day. Morning at El Retiro park after we find a nice breakfast somewhere, explore the cool markets around lunch, explore the old city, possibly pop by (Royal palace, prado museum, or tooth mouse fairy museum) briefly and go out for dinner for my bday.
day 2- (pick a museum to visit), rest of day tbd.....alternatively could daytrip to Toledo or Segovia this day
day 3- Day trip to Toledo or Segovia
day 4- train to Valencia (actual day plans tbd but we are staying in the old city area).
-check out gulliver park (apparently we need to keep an eye out for safety with the play equipment but is a must-do), go to main market, explore old city, go to the awesome aquarium, and I think we'll plan a half day trip down to the beach and bring a picnic lunch....obviously too cold to swim but it won't be too cold for a picnic and to take your shoes off, sand play and walking along the beach....worst thing that can happen is we'll need hot chocolate to warm up). Grab local paella.
day 5- valencia
day 6- valencia
day 7- train back to Madrid (possibly go to the zoo to spend a few hours there during our last day and put our backpacks in their luggage storage area and then go straight to the airport after for our 10pm flight)...I'm thinking that may be a good day to do that.
Any favorite things in Valencia or Madrid to recommend for us or cool tours that we should consider? Thanks!!
We will spend the first 4 nights in Madrid (we arrive really late so we'll take a taxi to our apartment) so I don't consider that day 1.
day 1 - My birthday & first full day. Morning at El Retiro park after we find a nice breakfast somewhere, explore the cool markets around lunch, explore the old city, possibly pop by (Royal palace, prado museum, or tooth mouse fairy museum) briefly and go out for dinner for my bday.
day 2- (pick a museum to visit), rest of day tbd.....alternatively could daytrip to Toledo or Segovia this day
day 3- Day trip to Toledo or Segovia
day 4- train to Valencia (actual day plans tbd but we are staying in the old city area).
-check out gulliver park (apparently we need to keep an eye out for safety with the play equipment but is a must-do), go to main market, explore old city, go to the awesome aquarium, and I think we'll plan a half day trip down to the beach and bring a picnic lunch....obviously too cold to swim but it won't be too cold for a picnic and to take your shoes off, sand play and walking along the beach....worst thing that can happen is we'll need hot chocolate to warm up). Grab local paella.
day 5- valencia
day 6- valencia
day 7- train back to Madrid (possibly go to the zoo to spend a few hours there during our last day and put our backpacks in their luggage storage area and then go straight to the airport after for our 10pm flight)...I'm thinking that may be a good day to do that.
Any favorite things in Valencia or Madrid to recommend for us or cool tours that we should consider? Thanks!!
Anonymous
12/31/2023 13:56
Subject: Spain spring break- can’t decide
Anonymous wrote:OP here- update. We traveled to Europe for Christmas break and to say it was a challenge would be an understatement. I did London solo with my 2 kids spring break 2023 and it was fabulous (sure, we had a few hiccups but really, it was terrific). Our trip started off badly when my DH forgot luggage, I was sick with a bad head cold and he was also a little sick with a head cold and he forgot to download things to my kids tablets and then it rained daily....
I will book an apartment in Madrid for the week and I'm bringing our travel stroller. To h*ll what others think about my petite 5 yr old in a stroller. I'm not carrying him around. That is all lol.
I don’t understand the DH forgot to download stuff part.
99% of the issues you highlighted have nothing to do with traveling.