🇪🇸 David & Judy's Spain Adventure
October 13–29, 2026
Málaga → Seville → Valencia → Barcelona → Madrid
October 13–29, 2026
Málaga → Seville → Valencia → Barcelona → Madrid
16 nights across five cities. Historical palaces, Moorish fortresses, world-class wine, incredible food, and a relaxed pace. We arrive each city around 4pm — no rushed mornings, plenty of time to settle in before exploring.
3 nights · Oct 13–16
Moorish fortress, fried fish, sweet wine
3 nights · Oct 16–19
Alcázar, flamenco, sherry day trip
2 nights · Oct 19–21
Silk exchange, paella, Calatrava
4 nights · Oct 21–25
Gaudí, Gothic Quarter, natural wine
4 nights · Oct 25–29
Prado, Royal Palace, churros, day trips
| City | Nights | Dates | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Málaga | 3 | Oct 13–16 | Alcazaba, Atarazanas Market, El Pimpi, visiting friends |
| Seville | 3 | Oct 16–19 | Real Alcázar, Cathedral, Plaza de España, Jerez day trip, flamenco |
| Valencia | 2 | Oct 19–21 | La Lonja, Mercado Central, wood-fired paella |
| Barcelona | 4 | Oct 21–25 | Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, wine bars, Penedès |
| Madrid | 4 | Oct 25–29 | Prado, Royal Palace, Toledo, Segovia |
| Category | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels (16 nights) | €3,200 | €5,000 |
| Food & Drink | €1,600 | €2,500 |
| Attractions & Tours | €400 | €600 |
| Transport (inter-city trains + taxis) | €500 | €800 |
| Day trips (Jerez, Penedès, Toledo, Segovia) | €200 | €400 |
| Shopping & Misc | €300 | €500 |
| Total | €6,200 | €9,800 |
Flights not included. IHG 4th-night-free benefit applies in Barcelona and Madrid — could save €200-400.
| Flight | Route | Depart | Arrive | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ AA 1982 | Tampa (TPA) → Charlotte (CLT) | 5:22pm | 7:13pm | Business |
| ✅ AA 724 | Charlotte (CLT) → Dublin (DUB) | 9:15pm | 9:35am +1 | Business (Boeing 777) |
| ✅ EI 584 | Dublin (DUB) → Málaga (AGP) | 1:10pm | 5:20pm | Business (A320) |
| Flight | Route | Depart | Arrive | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ IB 333 | Madrid (MAD T4 — confirm) → Miami (MIA) · nonstop | 12:35pm | 5:50pm | Economy (A330) · 10h15 · 1 checked bag each |
⏱️ Be at Barajas about 3 hours ahead (~9:30am). Leave the Madrid hotel around 8:30–8:45am — taxi ~20 min (€33 flat fare to the airport). Checkout is noon, so just a normal key drop. Iberia booking ref 8T6FF8. The e-ticket receipts don't state a terminal, so confirm it on the Iberia app or airport boards (Iberia normally uses T4).
🛬 Open-jaw: the trip ends in Miami, not Tampa. You land at 5:50pm, then US immigration, customs and bags. 🚗 Rental car booked (National, MIA → St. Pete–Clearwater airport PIE, see the table below): reach the Emerald Aisle around 7:00–7:30pm, drive about 4.5 hours with a stop (an overnight in Miami is still an option if you are tired), home around midnight–1am, then return the car to PIE by 6:00pm on Oct 30 (not between 1 and 6am). No one-way fee is shown in the quote.
| Item | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Travel insurance — Allianz | Covered | Jul 14 – Oct 30 · David & Judith · see Travel Insurance below |
| ✅ Uber home → TPA | Booked | Oct 12 · pickup 2:20pm · Indian Rocks Beach → TPA (American, Blue Terminal) |
| ✅ AA 1982 — TPA → CLT | Booked | Oct 12 · departs 5:22pm · Business |
| ✅ AA 724 — CLT → DUB | Booked | Oct 12 · departs 9:15pm · Business (777) |
| ✅ EI 584 — DUB → AGP (Málaga) | Booked | Oct 13 · departs 1:10pm · Business |
| ✅ IB 333 — MAD → MIA | Booked | Oct 29 · departs 12:35pm · arrives 5:50pm · Economy · Iberia ref 8T6FF8 |
| ✅ Staying with friends (Málaga) | Confirmed | Oct 13–16 |
| ✅ Rental car MIA → PIE | Booked | National Car Rental · pickup MIA Oct 29 6:00pm (Emerald Aisle, Midsize Corolla or similar, automatic, unlimited mileage) → return PIE (St. Pete-Clearwater) Oct 30 6:00pm · $42 day covered by Emerald reward, est. $8.72 at counter ⏱️ The 6:00pm pickup time is optimistic: you land at 5:50pm and still need US immigration, customs and bags, so expect to reach the Emerald Aisle around 7:00–7:30pm. Check National's late-arrival / hold policy (the confirmation doesn't state one); the MIA counter is open until 11:59pm. 🚗 Drive MIA → Indian Rocks Beach is about 4.5 hours (~270–280 miles): leave MIA around 7:30–8:00pm, home around midnight–1am. Keep the car overnight. 🔁 Return it to St. Petersburg–Clearwater airport (PIE, about 12–15 min from home, not Tampa airport) by 6:00pm Fri Oct 30. PIE is closed 1:00–6:00am, so don't return it in those hours. You'll need a ride back from PIE (an Uber is about 15 min) or a second driver in another car. 🛣️ No one-way fee shown in the quote. Some toll plazas are electronic-only, so consider the optional TollPass or SunPass / toll-by-plate. Minor: traffic near MIA can be heavy on Miami FC game days (4–11pm). Phones: MIA (844) 887-8399, PIE (844) 806-3351. |
See each city page for hotel, train, and activity booking status.
Covers: David & Judith · Coverage: Jul 14 – Oct 30, 2026 · Trip: Oct 12–29 ✅ fully inside the coverage window. Underwritten by Jefferson Insurance Company.
🚑 24-hour emergency assistance: +1-804-281-5700 (collect, from Spain) · 1-800-654-1908 (US toll-free). Call them first for any medical problem — they find English-speaking doctors and can arrange direct payment.
📋 Policy & claims: 1-800-284-8300 · etravelprotection.com/alaska · 📱 the Allyz app has the policy, claims, and a medical-facility finder.
| Coverage (per person) | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical / dental | $50,000 | Primary coverage · $50 one-time deductible · dental up to $500 |
| Emergency transportation | $50,000 | Medical evacuation / repatriation |
| Trip interruption | $1,200 | Cutting the trip short for a covered reason |
| Trip cancellation | $250 | Before departure only |
| Travel delay | $300 | After a 5+ hour delay · $125/day without receipts, $250/day with |
| Trip change | $200 | Fees to change or cancel transport |
| Baggage | $750 | Lost, damaged or stolen |
| Baggage delay | $200 | After a 12+ hour delay |
| Electronic devices | $1,000 | Damaged or stolen phones, tablets, cameras |
💡 Keep receipts for anything a delay costs you (meals, hotel, rebooking). Travel delay and trip change cover are your backstop if a flight is late or disrupted.
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📖 See the Booking & Tips page for cashback portals, flight planning tools, rail pass analysis, and more.
| City | Your Dates | High | Low | Rainfall | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaga | Oct 13-16 | 72-75°F (22-24°C) | 59-63°F (15-17°C) | ~2.2in / 5-6 rainy days | Warm days, mild evenings. Light jacket at night. |
| Seville | Oct 16-19 | 75-81°F (24-27°C) | 57-61°F (14-16°C) | ~2.2in / 5-6 rainy days | Still summery during the day. Cooling at night. |
| Valencia | Oct 19-21 | 72-77°F (22-25°C) | 57-61°F (14-16°C) | ~2.7in / 5-6 rainy days | Pleasant. Occasional heavy bursts (Mediterranean autumn). |
| Barcelona | Oct 21-25 | 66-72°F (19-22°C) | 55-59°F (13-15°C) | ~3.6in / 7-8 rainy days | Noticeably cooler. Layers needed. Wettest of the five cities. |
| Madrid | Oct 25-29 | 64-68°F (18-20°C) | 48-52°F (9-11°C) | ~2.3in / 4-5 rainy days | Cool days, cold nights. Proper jacket needed. |
| Toledo/Segovia | Oct 27-28 | 63-66°F (17-19°C) | 45-50°F (7-10°C) | Similar to Madrid | Hilltop/inland = colder. Extra layer for Segovia. |
Rainfall figures are monthly averages — you won't necessarily see rain every day. October showers in Spain tend to be short and intense rather than all-day drizzle. A compact umbrella is sufficient.
💡 Personal recommendations (highlighted in yellow) may be added throughout the site as we discover new places. These are our own finds from friends, articles, and research — not yet verified by visit.