1st trip to Spain
 

My husband and I are traveling to Spain with our two daughters (ages 17 and 14) and oldest son and his wife (both 35)in early March. We have only a week and it's the first trip to Spain for all of us. We're flying in and out of Malaga. Comments on the following itinerary?: rent 2 cars, drive to Ronda, stay overnight (hotel suggestions?); we & teenagers spend next day in Ronda while grown kids drive south almost to coast for a day of golf at Valderama (they're enthusiasts); meet up in Seville, where we spend 2 nights; then Cordoba for one night; Granada for 2 nights; and the last night very near Malaga because of early a.m. departures (suggestions where?)
Only hotel reservations at this point: either Hotel Simon or Taberna de Alabardero in Seville (the former at 66 euros, the latter at 145 euros/night -- worth the difference?). No availability at San Gabriel in Ronda. Will try Hotels Lola, Maistad, Conquistador & Macia recommended on this site by Maribel.
Any and all suggestions are most welcome!
Thanks.
Barbara

You might want to check the rental car/insurance regulations regarding someone under the age of 18 before you plan on renting two cars. As far as I know, no rental agency would allow your 17-year-old daughter to drive the car, with or without an older driver in the car because of the legal implications. There is also an extra charge for an additional driver in any rental car.

Robert: I suspect bgoren meant the other rental car for her 35-year-old son and his wife, not the 17-year-old daughter and her younger sister.

bgoren: You might consider renting a van that all of you would be comfortable in, that is if you pack lightly and don't have lots of luggage.

We were particularly fond of Seville and would want more than two nights there. There's lots to see and do. Also enjoyed a day trip to Jerez de la Frontera, where we saw the Andulusian Horses perform (fabulous show) and visited a Sherry Bodega.

Seville is definitely worth three nights. Have you considered doing Cordoba as a day trip from there? If nothing else, it would save you a bit of repacking :-)

-- Chad

For one week i suggest traveling from Malaga to Sevilla visiting Ronda on the way but based in Sevilla for the first night. From there the Golfers can go to Valderrama (about one hour more than from Ronda), visit Cordoba by train (one hour trip) and back to Seville.
From there travel to Granada stay for 2 nights and back to Malaga, where you can stay in Torremolinos, a beach resort near the airport with many hotels.

Sounds like a rush trip to see it all!Why so go to one place and enjoy it!

Since it is your first trip to Sain, I could see the desire of covering the cities you have selected. You may want to take into consideration the very narrow streets and a bit scary mountain roads of Southern Spain if considering to switch to a van; I think the two-car idea is in the right track. In that case, if grown kids choose to golf and it rains, they won't be stuck. Upon car rental, I would stay in Malaga or Marbella or Puerto Banus for at least three days and day trip from there to Granada and Ronda. You will be saving valuable time on hotel transfers logistics and will still be able to day trip to these wonderful cities. Then I would pack and head out to Seville for three days, one of which would be a day trip to Cordova. This itinerary will involve only two hotel tansfers, you will stay in great home bases and you will see all the cities you wish to see.

Your plan sounds very good. As someone mentioned, Cordoba could be a day trip. Or better, stop there on your way from Seville to Granada. I also second the idea of the Jerez horse show. However, it is only held on Thursdays.

Torremolinos, Marbella or Puerto Banus? Yuck. Overrun, horrid beach towns. The best town near Malaga is Nerja. It's the least developed place along the coast. Stay somewhere on the Balcon de Europa.

platzer--- as I mentioned on my post, Marbella and Puerto Banus are not recommended for their sightseeing, but as cities with great lodging options for a family to use as home base and situated so bgoren can do the sightseeing/activities she mentioned her family has in mind. Agree with Torremolinos, however, but I guess that is a mute issue as platzer is the only one that mentioned that city on this thread.

Thanks to all for your suggestions, providing lots of food for thought.
Will let you know how the trip goes...
bgoren