Jerez de la Frontera Travel Forum

After the VT meeting in Marbella, we were thinking of visiting the Feria del Caballo (May Horse Fair) in Jerez for a day or two. I can't find much detailed information on the web about what's going on, timetable etc, or entry and ticket details. I see from this forum that some of you have good local knowledge, and hope that you can give me further details. We will also need somewhere to stay for maybe three nights, and I see that our usual hotels are either not taking bookings at the moment, or have jacked the prices sky-high, so any suggestions would be welcome. We have been to Jerez several times, so know our way around quite well.

Many thanks in anticipation.
Andrew

I don't think there is much 'detail' until nearer the time. like the previous week ! Just go with the flow. Hotel prices are horrendous at this time. I see that even the IBIS is charging 79 instead of the usual 49 for a room during the feria week. Extortionate - especially as it's the wrong side of town. The AC Hotel is very close to the feria ground and they are being very greedy. 220 Euros for a double against 56 for the Sunday ! But no doubt they will get it.

http://www.jerez2020.com/aFeria.htm

You will ahve to visit first the feria as the dates are: 1st till the 8th May.

As it is the festival you will find that hotel prices are very high, but let me have a look at the spanish hotel web sites for some prices

there is a hotel called Joma for around 50 euros, 3 stars and it looks very basic (Logitravel)

also Hotel Tierras de Jerez is around 50 euros per night (Hotelplus)

All this for the first weekend (1-4 may)

Other option would be to stay in Puerto de Santa Maria and take the bus to Jerez or even stay in CAdiz and also use the train.

Carmen

Naughty Carmela.
We are now in 2006 not 2005. In my experience, the details of the feria are not known exactly until nearer the time. Meanwhile the dates for this year's feria are for the week beginning May 8th ! I stayed at Joma last year - to save money ! Actually it was slightly better than I had imagined and the price was great. But I 'negotiated'.

Carmen - thanks for the link, looks good information and I will read it later, but it is for last year. This year the fair is after the meeting - found this link - http://www.jerezcadiz.com/www/destacado00/index_en.php

puerto_lover - thanks for your input, I'll continue searching. I found the 220 euros at the AC - pity because we've stayed there before as well as the Tryp.

Andrew

Thanks to both, is true I did not noticed the 2005 .. :( I still had not got used to it.

The Feria del Caballo does feature a few horse exhibitions at "Los Sementales" and there are a few peripheral activities going that week, but the real feature is strolling along "La Real" de la Feria, visiting the casetas, drinking fino and dancing sevillanas. If that's not your glass of sherry, the Feria may not hold much interest for you. I personally love a wonderfully sunny hot May day, with the parading riders in andalucian costume and the horse drawn carriages with their traditional bridles carrying women dressed in typical "gitana" costume, what a way of seeing Andalucia at its finest! The first few days of the Feria are my favorite, as the fair grounds see fewer people, though for others the best days begin with Wednesday, when the horse riders and carriages are out in full force, and pretty much the whole town shuts down to attend the celebrations. You can contact me privately if you are looking for alternative accommodation at this time.

Carmen

Couldn't work through those Spanish sites with my limited vocabulary (you know, food, drink and pleasantries OK, everything else non-existent). Found the Joma Hotel on Destinia.com for 75 euros per night for the three nights. Also found two reviews on a rival travel site that said it was on a par with "Rising Damp" for luxury! Hotel Trujillo looks OK on Destinia and is available for under 100 euros a night. I shall keep looking.

Chanito

Thank you for your descriptive answer which sets the scene beautifully. I may yet be in touch about accomodation.

Andrew

Nige - just how good was the Joma - the two write-ups I read were really bad and would put anyone off. I found the Trujillo on Destinia.com, and it's own website via Google, and it looks OK - do you know it ? I also found a write-up from somewhere else that mentioned it, and it sounds OK.

Joma is fairly basic. I stayed for 4 nights last year and warmed to it. Mind you, I did pay only 25 Euros a night but it was 'low season' and I guess that all the Jerez hotels can command extortionate prices in Feria days. The management at Joma are quite laid back and I am sure that you could phone them and someone there does speak English well. Followed up by email which they do use. It's in Medina street which is a short walk to the 'market' and Calle Larga and the centre of town so it's in a good location. I would certainly consider staying at the Joma again if the saving was good in comparison with others. After all, if you really enjoy the feria then you won't see much of your hotel !