We are a group of six or seven couples who will visit Andalucia from October 5 until the 16. We arrive at Madrid on the 3rd and will fly from there on the 5th to our starting point in Andalucia. We will return by plane from Granada on the 16th.
We want to visit: Sevilla, Cordova, Granada, Malaga, Pueblos Blancos (Ronda, Grazalema, Arcos), Jerez de la Frontera or any other place you recommend for a short wine tour). Optional: Tanger, Cadiz, Huelva, Marbella,Estepa...We are open to recommendations.
We plan to rent 3 cars. We don't know if there's any private driver that could also transport us- and if that would be a good idea...

1-Our initial idea is to start in Malaga and drive throught Torremolinos and Marbella (not planning to stay there).
2- Since we want to stay in Ronda at least 2 nights we aren't sure if it's better to go from Marbella to Ronda or continue the trip on the southern coast (take the ferry to Tanger) and visit Ronda and the Pueblos Blancos on our way to Sevilla.
3- Visit Sevilla- maybe return the car there and take the train to Cordova and then to Granada.

Any input is well received (Itinerary, hotels, etc.) We are reading Maribel's guides. I know many of you are experts.

Maribel also offers trip planning services.

Wait--6-7 couples meaning 14 people in 3 cars?
Why drive through Torremolinos and Marbella? I would drive from Malaga to Ronda, and then drive through pueblos blancos on the way to Sevilla, and train to Cordoba and Granada like you said (or bus--the bus is fine too). I'd leave off all of the optional places. Jerez is an easy day trip.
5-6 Malaga (it does warrant at least one night)
7-8 Ronda
9 where the wind takes you (Grazalema? Zahara? Just stop in Arcos en route to Sevilla)
10-12 Sevilla
13 Cordoba (overnighting here is nice, but you can do day trip)
14-16 Granada

Drop Torre and Marbella.

You can do Malage, Seville, Cordoba by train etc. Cordoba Seville, Jerez, Granada are the top 4 draws. Most towns are not car friendly but at these numbers could hire a mini bus and or driver

I just did a recent trip to Andalucia last Oct. We were 8 in total, 4 couples as part of a larger group for part of the trip and independent in part. It was great fun, we were/are very close friends. Still, I would HIGHLY recommend a professional trip planner as Robert mentions, especially if you want to stay close friends, hehe. And especially to help you get the most enjoyment and best locations for your group. It can get stressful dealing with alot of people even if you like each other.

I will add more later..but check out maribelsguides.com.

I would indeed go to Ronda. Forget Tanjiers IMO...later gater.

Oh in the meantime, tell us about yourselves a bit, ages, interests, etc. Do you live in a warm area with great beaches? If It helps to know.

Amsdon, you guessed it- we live in Puerto Rico...We are in our fifties-and spend most of our weekends at the beach with some of our friends. We are all very good friends and have traveled together before, although not that many at a time. Eight of us traveled to Italy 2 years ago and drove 2 cars, took trains and enjoyed every part of it but particularly Tuscany and the small hotel we stayed at in Montefollonico.
We love to visit new places, learn history, enjoy good food and wine- and getting a taste of the places that the locals visit. We usually chose just one very nice restaurant for the trip. We enjoy the tapas and eating at other informal places.
Two of us (ladies) plan the trip- we make meetings to inform the plans and get input (it's also another excuse to get together) and the rest of our friends are just happy that we did all the research.

Thanks all of you for your suggestions. We are already considering leaving out the optional places and planning our trip around Malaga, Ronda, Sevilla and Granada so that we don't have to spend so much time checking in and out of hotels.

A ha! I thought so....I too am an ana..maria
I always ask about the beaches & weather. It helps to identify if the travelers are really into the coast for the water etc. Being from PR you know good beaches and this is not what you are going to Spain for. Also you must speak spanish so this will also help alot. (?) By the way we were not crazy about Marbella after all the hoopla.

Seriously, you can the Ave train first class from Madrid to Cordoba it's wonderful. Then to Sevilla too
Or consider having someone arrange a small bus to the other places like Granada since there are 8 of you it is alot more fun than 3 cars.

I think you will love Spain. We love many of the same things, tapas, good food, wine, flamenco.
Will you be in Madrid at all?

We stayed here in Gaucin http://www.lafructuosa.com/index_en.html
just a short drive out of Ronda. I wish we had timed it so we culd have had a lunch or dinner (weekends) We did like the hotel Gaucin is very small and lovely.

I also read from Maribel about the alcubilla del caracol and sent soome friends there. They loved it. http://www.alcubilladelcaracol.com/

Oh yes and we were sorry we did not dedicate more time to Malaga, whic we liked very very much thanks to Fodorite Josele. I would stay there a night perhaps at the begining or the end.

Next time we want to do Cadiz. But with your time table I think you best leave that out this time. Spend time in Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada & Malaga & white villages. Maybe get to Ubeda or Baeza (parador?)check them out online.I have not yet been there and sorry that I have not.

Have fun planning!

I basically agree with yorkshire, his looks a good plan. I rec. you refine on that. Then wqe'll go into details.
Hi, amsdon!

I also like Yorkshire's plan. I would make sure to spend at least 3 nights in Sevilla and 2 in Granada. Malaga is a cool city and a night there is good. I would skip Torremolinos and Marbella and especially Tangier.

We have been in Spain before and love it. In fact, we love Madrid so much that since it's a stop-over from Iberia's direct flight from San Juan, we'll spend there Oct 3rd and 4th. Our flight departs on the 2nd but it's an overnight flight so we arrive Madrid the 3rd.
And yes we all speak Spanish.
I've used this forum before and it has helped me a lot- I just read the forums and suggestions to other people. In fact, it was here that I got the suggestion use the lovely Hotel La Costa in Italy.
On that trip we used walkie-talkies to communicate from car to car without incurring expenses- and it was fun. But we're considering hiring the mini-bus or driver. We still have to research that since I don't know who gives the service.

Yorkshire, thanks for the itinerary.

We will start the trip in either Cordova or Sevilla. We decided to leave out our "optionals" as you all suggested.

5,6,7,8 Sevilla (day trip to Cordova)
0R
5 Cordova
6-8 Sevilla
rent the car or mini-bus with driver
8,9,10 Ronda
11 ?
12 Malaga
13 Ubeda/Baeza?
Return car in Granada the 14?
14-16 Granada

Is it easy to visit Jerez from Ronda? We want to do the wine tour.
Amden, I loved the hotels..the La Fructuosa may be too small for our group, but the Alcubilla would be perfect. We need to make those reservations soon...We can already picture ourselves in those places. We enjoy planning the trip so much!!!!

The owners of La Fructuosa are very nice. We had the place practically to ourselves.I think there are 4 bedroms and a lounge . If you do not go on a day they offer a cena or almuerzo (for which they are known) you will find it very quiet. I would also love to stay In Ronda though...so you have some deciding.

I also hear the owner of the Carmen Caracol really makes it special with all his information...and since you speak spanish all the better.

As for Ubeda and Baeza I know they have had some interesing reports here somewhere. Perhaps Josele (Hi Josele!) can enlighten us.

By the way did you see Josele's report on Pueblos Blancos?

1. Ok here is Josele's very informative Pueblos Blancos report.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ancos-trip.cfm


2. By the way our Fodorite Josele is an incredible artist you should all check out his website. http://www.jgonzalezbueno.com/

3. Josele what were the names of those GREAT tapas places in Malaga????? We LOVED them and perhaps we can direct Ana to them? . I personally thought them much better than in Sevilla. Additionally, our humble Fodorite has one of his works of art adorning the entrance of a certain tapa restaurante in Malaga...Jose can you help me out here my memory is tired today.... which place ...El Pimpi?

Oh and Oct 12 is a holiday but it really did not make much difference if I recall.

Both Ubeda and Baeza the UNESCO twin cities are worth a visit. I like Baeza best, it's smaller and has a friendlier feel about it.

Just outside Baeza visit Hacienda La Laguna http://www.museodelaculturadelolivo....lanovisita.php

The museum is really good and it's hotel reputation is good too. I've not stayed there but had coffee there several times.

Here are some photos of Ubeda http://www.museodelaculturadelolivo....lanovisita.php

Oops photos of Ubeda are here
http://www.andalucia-for-holidays.com/Ubeda.html

Ronda and Arcos are not a white village. Avoid the the real ehite Villages at all cost. There is nothing at all there worth seeing.

Don't even stop at Torremolinos and Marbella. Nothing by high rise condominiums.

In Ronda, there is a great little hotel, San Gabriel.

I would also consider staying a night in Carmona (outside of Seville) at the really beautiful parador. It's a nice little town, too.

I would also absolutely include Nerja somehow. It's the last nice place on Costa del Sol. Stay on the Balcon de Europa.

Lastly, if you plan on driving, be prepared for a lot of aggrevation and a lot of time lost. The roads off the major freeways are terrible. The Spaniards don't believe in road signs, except as means of confusing you. Finding your way to and through any town or city is a nightmare warren of narrow one-way streets whose name seems to change every other block.

All I can say is stay in Seville for 4 nights and 3 nights in Ronda would be too much for me.

You've gotten some good advice.

I fall into the "Do the AVE from Madrid to Cordoba, then AVE Cordoba to Sevilla" camp. [I did enjoy the drive from Malaga to Ronda but the AVE is so easy.] Don't pick up cars until ready to leave Sevilla. With the cars pick up Jerez, Grazalema, etc and Ronda. I think the best part of the "White Villages" is the scenery altho I have had some nice meals in the local cafes. In any event, I think the scenery puts it on the "must do" list. [BTW: There is a wonderful place to stay in Benoajan, 5 miles outside of Ronda, called Molina del Santo. About 15 separate buildings in cloistered garden. Peaceful and quiet and wonderful flowers. Good food. I don't think driving into Ronda is a problem because of the underground municipal garage right in the center of town. It might be a nice break after the hustle of Cordoba and Seville.] After Ronda I'd head for Granada and get rid of the cars immediately upon arriving. I am not a big fan of Ubeda altho the parador there is very impressive. I did enjoy the National Park just east of town tho. Re Granada: It is much more than the Alhambra. Poke about the Albaicin, and the old residential area just about 1/4 mile north of downtown [can't remember the name - senior moment], and even the "conventional" areas of town [Camino de Ronda, Avenida de la Constitution - you will find terrific small restaurants that survive because they measure up to the standards of knowing locals not just we unknowing tourists]

You will have a great trip no matter how you do it. There are no wrong answers.

Sorry, I didn't mean to leave you hanging in Granada. I think you have two options for getting back to Madrid. a] fly. b] Pick up cars and drive up through Ubeda, and the windmills in Consuergra. It will give you a tr understanding of Spain.