Expert: Víctor Díaz - 6/2/2009

Question
Hi Victor,

I was hoping you'd be able to help me with some questions:

We only have 4-5 days in Spain and we plan to see Barcelona(2 days), Ibiza(1 day), and Granada (1 day)
and then head to Morocco for 3 days

-What is the best way to get from Barcelona to Ibiza? (June 28-09)
-From Ibiza to Granada? (I assume from Ibiza, we'd have to come back to Valencia and then go to Granada)(June 29-30)

Can you recommend cheap Airline routes  or Trains (Overnight trians would be effective use of our time)

-Which port has the most frequent ferries to Morrocco?

Thank you so much.
I appreciate your help.

Regards,
Sonia


Answer
Hello Sonia

You have planed a fast visit to some places, if you ask in many forums you will be told that your trip is going to be a bit stressing, spending more time at the airports that in your destinations.

If i were you i would skip Ibiza, because just in one day you will be able to see very little and it is complicated to get from there to Granada, adding many hours travelling instead of visiting a place.

But you know better yourself and if you think that you can do this and it is what you wish, then go ahead with your plans.

I'm going to give you the information for your plans and if you skip Ibiza.

Barcelona-Ibiza,
of course the best way is by plane, ther are ferries too, one overnight ferry wouldn't be a bad option.

http://www.balearia.com
http://www.iscomar.com/
http://www.trasmediterranea.es

by plane with
Iberia, Air-Europa, Spanair,
and low cost Clickair (owned by iberia, sometimes iberia site shows clickair flights too  and now merged with low cost vueling that also shows the clickair flights)
http://www.vueling.com/

Ibiza-Granada
there aren't direct flights, you should take a ferry or plane to Valencia and from there a train or bus to Granada

by train the only option is an overnight train (seems is not available online)
http://www.renfe.es
train/departure/arrival
TRENHOTEL 00897      00.51      08.35
by bus with Alsa
http://www.alsa.es/

If you choose Barcelona-Granada directly and skip ibiza, you have an overnight train   and flights, including lowcost vueling.
train
TRENHOTEL 00897      21.30      08.35
(is the same train from valencia, not available online, i don't know the reason)

Best port to get to Morrocco is Algeciras

Ferries crossing the strait
http://www.frs.es
http://www.trasmediterranea.es
http://www.euroferrys.com

You may get to Algeciras from Granada by train
trains are regional type and tickets are not sold on line, so you have to search them this way
http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html
and choose origin:Granada, destination:algeciras
there are three trains daily


By  bus
http://www.alsa.es


links:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/
http://www.illesbalears.es/
http://www.granadatur.com/

important, if you visit Granada for just one day and plan to visit Alhambra, i strongly recommend to book tickets in advance
http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/

I hope this helps a bit.