Spain in July

[VanTheMan]

DW and I are considering a cruise in July, 2018 which would end in Barcelona. How realistic would it be to think we could get an Interval Exchange into Marbella Beach Club the final two weeks of July, 2018?
Is there a train from Barcelona to near Marbella? Then I would need a car? Any recommendations are appreciated.
Any insight you can provide will be a great help. I have been a follower of this board for years and this is my first post. Thanks

 

[bazzap]

You can take a train from Barcelona to Malaga, which takes nearly 6 hours.
It might be cheaper and certainly much quicker by plane.
Then you have less than a one hour drive to Marbella.
The second half of July is getting in to peak Summer and school holidays though, so an Interval exchange would be a really big ask.

 

[VanTheMan]

Thanks, Barry. That is as I expected. Look for a cruise in Spring or Fall.

 

[classiclincoln]

We were there like the second or third week of June one year. Very nice. Stayed at MacDonald's Dona Lola resort and rented a car. No problems driving around. Didn't go to Barcelona, but did drive around the area. If you do try for an exchange be advised that some of the resorts are across the street from the beach. It's a highway and not super easy to cross. Dona Lola is one of the few that are beach side. You can read my review in the Marketplace.

 

[skyequeen]

July is the most difficult season to get in Marbella area as I understand it from when I was there. The seasons at the resorts in Spain are very dependent on the school terms in England. July is higher season than June because of that if I remember correctly. We spent 2 weeks in Marbella and loved it. We looked into going to Barcelona on that trip, but there was no direct train from Malaga. You had to go to Madrid and then back SE to Barcelona. So maybe go to Madrid if you have not already been there, then take the high speed train to Malaga (about 2-1/2 hours and nice views). Then take the train back to fly out of Madrid - or get a flight out of Malaga that will probably connect in Madrid. Or fly like another poster said from Barcelona to Malaga and rent a car to get to the resort. You need one there.