Hi. We have 7 days in Spain (1st week of August)-- we fly in & out of Madrid.

We would like to see some of Madrid but also Andalusia (Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada)

So, we were thinking 3 d Madrid, & 1day each for Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba. Is this a reasonable itinerary? Suggestions?

Any recommendations for 3-4 star hotels for 70-$110 US in any of those locations? In Madrid, I guess we would like a central hotel that is close (walkable?) to the museums/sights.

I think we are planning to rent a car to drive to Anadalucia & plan to drop it off in Andalucia & take the train back to Madrid & our flight out.

Thanks!

I've been to all the places you've mentioned, and for a week, I would suggest less time in Madrid (I like Madrid, but it's a big city and I don't think it has the charm of the cities in Andalusia. I would add more days to Sevilla and do Cordoba as a day trip.

For hotels in that pricerange, you might try using Bancotel.com coupons or get them from Petrabax.com.

I suggest getting tickets for Alhambra in advance--you can do it on the Internet.

I hope you like really HOT weather, because these parts of Spain will be very hot in August. If you don't, you might be better off going to the North coast.

I love Spain and Andalusia is wonderful.

Have a great trip!

Agree about less time in Madrid - 2 days is plenty IMHO. I loved the south much more but would not do in August since the daytime temps will be about 100 - way too hot for me to do anything except sit in an AC room. If you like the heat great! If not, I would consider the North - especially the atlantic coast at that time of year (this is where the Spanish well to do typically vacation at that time of year).

Thanks for the advice! I'm not excited about the heat, but my wife & I REALLY want to see Andalucia. So maybe we'll do 2 d in Madrid, 2-3d Sevilla (with Cordoba as a day trip), and 1 day for Granada.

Do you guys have hotel recommendations?

Also, just out of curiosity-- where would you go in the North-- I'll check it out on the web & talk to my wife.

Thanks!

jay_r writes: "Also, just out of curiosity-- where would you go in the North-- I'll check it out on the web & talk to my wife."

Most of the Beach resorts on the North and Northwest coasts will be booked solid: August is when European factories close and employees are all given their month-long vacation; and many of them head for Spain. Santiago de Compostela is far enough inland that you don't get any sea breezes but it's worth a visit this Jubilee year.

BancHotel coupons are good in offseason but in August a lot of places don't accept them.

In Sevilla, we stayed at a small Hotel: Acor Monte Olivos very close to Santa Justa rail station. It has air conditioning, parking and a very small swimming pool. I recommend you take AVE Madrid-Sevilla and pick up a rental car at Sevilla's rail station.

Thanks artlover, nytraveler, and NEDSIRELAND for the advice-- there are very good deals at Bancotel.

Itinerary will be:
8/2 Madrid
8/3 Madrid (Prob. Hotel Bauza)
8/4 Rent car in Madrid, drive Cordoba. Spend 1/2 day in Cordoba, then drive to Granada. Spend night in Granada (prob. Saray hotel)
8/5 Granada/Alhambra. Drive to Sevilla that evening
8/6, 8/7, 8/8 Sevilla
(plan to drop off car 8/6)
8/8 Take AVE train back to Madrid
8/8 evening, Tryp Diana hotel (by the airport)
8/9 depart from Madrid airport.

Questions here:
Sevilla hotel-- Hotel Fernando vs. La Casa de Mercaderes (both are 1 coupon). Both seem to be good hotels, fernando has a pool & is 4 star. Mercaderes has great reviews & is rated 3*. Has anyone stayed at either recently?

Also, I've read that driving from Granada to Sevilla in the evening is a bad idea. Also, is driving to Cordoba & then to Granada later that day just too much? Making the drive from Madrid saves about $50 vs. the train.

Thanks,

We stayed at Fernando and liked it very much. The location couldn't be better and the staff we so helpful (especially when I tried to speak to them in my very limited Spanish!) The room was fine, bathroom all marble, and for 1 coupon, I'd stay there again. Don't try to drive to it though--drop rental car off first--driving in that area is insane!

Also, I highly recommend the flamenco show at Los Gallos--walking distance from the hotel. They can get you tickets--a good idea.

Have a great trip!

jay_r -

check out my web site on our trip to Andalucia. Hope it can help you.

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/57...andalucia.html