For lodging, look at booking.com

If you are committed to going to Ronda, it probably makes most sense to spend one night there.

I would cut a day from Granada and add to Cordoba (which we love) since you will have only 1 day - and likely jet lagged - to spend there. Would also try to add a day to Barcelona - can you somehow add a day (perhaps drive and not have to spend a night in Ronda).

But overall not a bad plan. Sorry can't help on hotels, not our price point.

nytraveler -- do you stay at very expensive hotels? I don't want to spend more than USD150.

I am spending two nights in Cordoba, I thought that would be ample time?

I would be interested in probably just spending a day in Ronda without an overnight stay -- would you suggest that?

Some of us thought 2 full days about right for Cordoba, but you don't have time to do everything!

Ronda is lovely after day trippers leave. Only you can decide whether that means you should stay overnight or not, given that your time is limited. See what fits your schedule best.

Judy, have you looked at booking.com for hotels? We leave on March 12th from PHL and return on April 7th. As part of our Andalucia itinerary we are booked in Ronda at San Gabriel at 80 euros per night for two nights and in Granada at the Room Mate Leo for two nights at 60euros per night for doubles. They are rated as 3 and 4 star hotels and get good reviews on booking.com and tripadvisor. You should have no problem finding good hotels within your budget in Granada, I'm not sure about Ronda, however, as I reserved our rooms months ago. Good luck, Deborah

Thank you for the suggestions DeborahAnn -- we also leave from PHL, on March 23 -- returning on 4/6 from Barcelona.

Wondering if you are also stopping in Seville?

Yes, We are renting an apartment in Seville and also in Jerez. Have you purchased your timed tickets to the Alhambra yet, I was surprised how quickly they disappeared for the date we wanted.

It's our first trip to Andalucia. Last time in Spain we were in Barcelona. Absolutely loved it, I hope you find it equally wonderful.

I just looked back to your itinerary; if you keep to your schedule our paths could cross ;;) We arrive in Granada on the 2nd of April and depart on the 4th for Madrid. Have a great trip. Deborah

Oh wow.....didn't think I'd need to purchase the Alhambra tickets already -- haven't figured out where we are staying yet!!

Which apartment service did you use in Seville? I've considered an apartment in Seville since we are staying 4 nights, but the ones I've looked at so far require cash at check in and I don't want to carry that much cash on me.

Judy, We are using veoapartment.com which is also sevilla5, we often rent apartments so expect to need cash upon arrival to the apartment. It never seems too difficult to find an ATM for cash withdrawals for the payment. Sometimes we have to use two machines and both our cards but we have never had a problem. We make sure our banks know we are traveling and try to make sure we have the maximum withdrawal limits they allow. Hope this helps.

Regarding tickets for the Alhambra you are pobably still early enough but I would check your possible day and times. I was surprised we could book as far out as we could, I bought mine on January 8 for our April 2 date. Since we really only have one day possible I didn't want to miss out on tickets, you have more flexibility than we do for Granada ;;) Deborah

Judy, I checked back to ticket availability for the Alhambra using your dates in your first post and you might want to book ASAP if you want a morning visit. There are still many available for the afternoon but I checked on the April 2 date and April 1 and there are only 10 tickets available online for April 2 and they are at the latest morning entrance time to the Palace at 1:30 which I don't know is a good time or not.

For a morning reservation on April 1st there are 60 tickets available; times are 17 tickets at 9am, 11 tickets at 10am, 30 at 8:30 and 2 tickets at 1:00.

I was using the www.ticketmaster.es which I think is the best online site for purchasing tickets. Just wanted you to know availability if you wanted a morning visit. Good luck!!

Just a PS, we are renting

http://www.veoapartment.com/apartmen...z-terrace.html

It has excellent reviews and I liked the terrace---hoping for some warm sunny weather ;;) We are in Seville 5 nights. I have found the rental agency very prompt answering my questions and their website provides helpful information

Deborah

Thank you for the Alhambra link.

Question -- Do I just purchase the 'Alhambra General' ticket -- does that give me access to all of the various locations within the Alhambra? Or do I have to purchase separate tickets?

Veo Apartments is the agency I had contacted when I first started my search -- I actually viewed the apartment you're renting, very nice!

Judy, since this is our first visit to Andalucia I can only provide the information I've gotten through research and questions I've asked here. This might answer your question. http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/ticketsale.asp Deborah

Thank you!

Booked my Alhambra tickets! SUCCESS!

I would much rather spend an exciting night in Seville than one in Ronda. You can always spend a day there if you must see it. Two nights in Cordoba is great, most people 'do" it as a daytrip but it's nice at night too. I love Granada but I agree two nights is about perfect. An apartment in Seville sounds great for 4 nights. Anywhere like Arenal, Santa Cruz, Alameda, are all great neighborhoods. In Granada I really like Hotel Puerta de Las Granadas in the Albaicin area. I have always wanted to stay at Carmen de la Alcubila a small, boutique house/hotel run by the owner in a quieter area up near the Alhambra. We were happy with Hotel Regencia Colon In Barceloana for $125 a night. Location was perfect. You're itinerary looks great. You will have a great tripo whatever you do with it. I suggest downloading Maribelsguides for the cities you willl be visiting.

As it turns out -- my cousins (who live in Lisbon) are meeting us Granada, which is awesome, but also means that we shifted one extra night to Granada from Seville.

So what we might do is take a day trip to Ronda if we find ourselves with nothing to do in Granada one of the days we are there.

I booked Casa de la Trinidad in Granada and Rey Alfonso in Seville.

We are staying at Hospes Palacio del Bailio in Cordoba.

Still trying to figure out where to stay in Barcelona. Prices have skyrocketed there for April.

I've tentatively booked Park Hotel Barcelona -- but am still researching perhaps staying in an apartment.

Airbnb has a few nice listings, and I'm also considering Inside Barcelona Apartments Vidreria.

Has anyone stayed at any of these in Barcelona? I need to make a decision but am struggling on making a good choice.

A few comments.

1. Don't get talked out of Ronda. It's a very nice and vastly underrated town. Stay at the the San Gabriel, one of the nicest little hotels I've ever been to.

2. Cut back Granada. Get in., go to the Alhambra and leave. It's not the greatest place in Spain.

3. You're also a little heavy on Seville. It's nice but not that big a place. (Hotel rec for Seville is La Casas De la Juderia). Trade a day there for another Barcelona day. see this Barcelona trip report.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...Catalonia.html

4. Two nights in Cordoba is a lot. It's a day trip. You can see the sights, the the barrio, Mezquita and Alcazar easily in 2/3 day.

5. Also try to get in some parador stays. Instead of going straight from Cordoba to Seville you might stop in Carmmona, a very nice little town with a beautiful parador.

5. I'd also try to fit in Nerja.

Thank you for your comments. I've already booked my hotels in Cordoba, Seville and Granada, and booked my flight from Granada to Barcelona April 2.

That is why I thought it might be a good idea to go see Ronda (while I am Granada) for a day -- maybe do it via a tourist agency. I know that a bus ride via a tour group is a long, long day, but I am willing to accept that if the trip is worthwhile.

Here is our final itinerary -- we leave in one week, so excited!

Leave PHL, arrive in Madrid, train to Cordoba

Cordoba -- 2 nights, staying at Hospes Palacio del Bailio

Train to Seville

Seville, 3 nights. Staying at Rey Alfonso X
*** still need to reserve flamenco show!

Train to Granada

Granada, 3 nights. Staying at Casa de la Trinidad
Alhambra booked, Sunday 2PM.
Dinner booked at La Oliva, Monday night.
Alhambra booked, night tour Tuesday night.
*** still need to book flamenco show!

Wednesday morning flight to Barcelona

Barcelona, 4 nights. Staying at Park Hotel Barcelona.

Should I pre-book Sagrada Familia before I leave? Casa Mila? Or will I be fine booking as I go?

Should I try to see flamenco in Barcelona too?

Also still trying to figure out restaurant options in all cities....not sure if I should just wing it or try to make dinner reservations before I leave the US.

Thank you to everyone who has provided me with so much information as I worked through my itinerary!

Did you verify that Park Hotel Barcelona will have completed their very noisy and annoying renovations before April? If not I can highly recommend Casa Gracia, a very nice hostel with private room/private bath available on your dates. Check the reviews.