Rota, Spain

[WishICouldFly]

I'm thinking to do Space-A travel to Europe next week, and I'm planning on flying out of Dover or BWI.
They have a lot of flights to Germany, which would be preferred (I'm ending up in Switzerland) but some to Rota, Spain.
In case I get stuck in Rota, does anyone here have experience around Rota and getting to a EURail station or something?
I can't seem to get to the official Rota website...

 

[Kelli]

My husband and I flew in and out of Rota two summers ago. There's a bus station just outside the gates, maybe a mile from the BOQ, and you can get to Seville in an hour and 45 minutes, direct. Here's the schedule:

http://www.tgcomes.es/horarios_20.htm

We never traveled by train, but if Seville isn't on the line you want, look for a cheap flight into a bigger city on either Vueling or Ryan Air.

Good luck! Space A is great as long as you're flexible...

 

[Xtndr50boom]

Be flexible, especially if you're going on a C-5 (out of KDOV you would be)! Buddy is a loadmaster on those, they broke 4 times on the ground in 3 days, finally got airborne on day 4 and aborted back to Travis D2 rudder problems causing dutch roll at altitude. Aircraft impounded (dover bird), and msn CNX

 

[Uncle Fester]

Assume the bird will break (unless you're on a charter ride).

Could be worse...you could get stuck in Lajes. It's like England, but the island's much much much smaller and everyone speaks Portuguese.

 

[OUSOONER]

Assume the bird will break (unless you're on a charter ride).

Could be worse...you could get stuck in Lajes. It's like England, but the island's much much much smaller and everyone speaks Portuguese.

sooooo...its like portugal?

 

[clonei09]

stopped in Rota a few weeks ago on my cruise and the entire ships company said that it was one of the best ports they had hit before. It really is an awesome city that was a lot cleaner and easier to get around than the other ones I hit. I had a blast there with lots of nice bars and restaurants throughout the city just be prepared that all of Europe is going to be expensive with the Euro exchange rate. I spent my whole cruise pay in just two ports. The base is very clean with a huge new NEX. Also when I was there they had 3 or 4 C-5s and a few KC-135s at the base with lots coming and going so im sure you will have no problem getting in or out. My ship actually wanted to fly me back to the states on the MAC flights they said that go through there but luckily i was able to get home on a more comfortable Commercial flight

 

[insanebikerboy]

Fyi, asking a cabbie to take you to a club or disco will get you a ride to a brothel instead....or so I've heard.

 

[phrogdriver]

In Rota, ask for "Puerto de Santa Maria," aka "puerto." That's where the good bars are.

IBB...cabbies will definitely take you to questionable locations when asked for the "discoteque," at least they did in Italy, didn't have the same "problem" in Spain.

 

[Xtndr50boom]

cabbies will definitely take you to questionable locations when asked for the "discoteque," at least they did in Italy, didn't have the same "problem" in Spain.

I did; The highway bar outside of Seville on my first OCONUS trip back in the day.... Where I learned that when a bar girl asks for a drink you don't just buy her a beer. And also the true meaning of "double wrap"

 

[WishICouldFly]

Sweet, thanks for all the insight! I'll be sure to ask for a discoteque.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Space-A flies out of BWI? That's news to me, I would have thought they flew out of Andrews...

 

[Xtndr50boom]

Space-A flies out of BWI? That's news to me, I would have thought they flew out of Andrews...

You can fly space-A on the patriot express type flights. They operate the same as normal mil flights in re: space-A passengers.

Andrews is slim pickens: It's an airlift base with no airlifters permanently assigned; the 89th AW is for DVs and higher. Dover, Charleston, McGuire, and BWI are the places to fly space-A to europe.

 

[Semper Jump Jet]

Rota is a good time if you get stuck, you can rent a car on base and pay dollars, Seville to the north and Cordoba to the south are both good visits. I've done space-a a few times, through Rota you're more likely to pick up flights going to Sigonella, Naples, or Souda Bay than you are heading to Germany.

Be ready to flex and have fun. I've had free trips to Hawaii and Europe, I've also been stuck in Gander Newfoundland. In December.

 

[Pugs]

Rota is a good time if you get stuck, you can rent a car on base and pay dollars, Seville to the north and Cordoba to the south are both good visits. I've done space-a a few times, through Rota you're more likely to pick up flights going to Sigonella, Naples, or Souda Bay than you are heading to Germany.

Also a good drive down to Gibraltar which is worth seeing.

 

[squorch2]

If you're gonna tool around Rota proper, check out Argentino's for some great steak and sangria, stop by Chucky's to ogle the bartenders and then do as MB suggested and head to Puerto for some actual nightlife. Also, be aware that "nightlife" starts at midnight and runs til sunrise.