El Tapeo de Cervantes in central Málaga gets raving reviews for both traditional and innovative tapas.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalusia.html

Bar Lo Güeno in Calle de Marín García, 9 and El Cortijo de Pepe in Plaza de la Merced, 2 are traditional and sure bets in the center of town.

Casa Aranda in C/ Herrería del Rey, 3 must be among the best cafés in Spain (coffee, chocolate, churros).
http://www.casa-aranda.net/

Thanks so much to all of you for all the suggestions. We will meet this weekend and continue refining the trip- so keep them coming!!!

If you're interested in horseback riding... I did a wonderful 3-hour sunrise ride in Ronda. Gorgeous!

The white villages are small whitewashed and well-kept sierra towns. There are many others I can recommend, I know practically all of them, but Grazalema (with two beautiful churches)and Zahara (with castle and reservoir)are the most popular for their particular surroundings. In fact they are beautiful, and I disagree with this poster recommending to avoid them.
I like Nerja, but it is not worth the big detour to get there on this particular itinerary.
I know Ubeda and Baeza, and though they are impressive small cities, full (and I mean FULL) of Renaissance churches, palaces and buildings, it is not the idea most people have of Andalusia. Anyway, they deserve a 3-day stay and it is not the case here, it is a long drive for a day trip.
Ronda has more chance of lodging all of you, anav, and the trip to Jerez is an easy one from Ronda, I'd rather do it from here than from SSeville. Go refining your itinerary.
Amsdon, the place with the tile panel is El Pimpi, calle Granada entrance. I made the design and others painted it on tile. The other place is La Campana, as well in C. Granada, usually crowded, but places each sides and in front are very nice as well.
I still have not had the chance to go to El Tapeo de Cervantes, this week I went to El Perro Blanco, very near (calle Cárcer), a restaurant for a not-so-big splurge, which I highly recommend (a funny website, at www.perroblancorestaurante.com).

Ah, the wise wise Josele thank you. Ana take note of his comments re Ubeda..it sounds too fsr. Josele knows his way since he a Malagueño. Be sure to go to the places he mentions for tapas... delicious! We were sorry we only allocated one day. Two at least for Malaga. Perhaps at the end?

We will meet today:

This are the plans up to now:

3rd arrive at Madrid
5th- AVE from Madrid to Cordova
6th- AVE to Sevilla: 6-8 Sevilla
rent the car or mini-bus with driver
8,9-Ronda - visit Grazalema, Zahara, Arcos, Jerez.etc
10-11 ?
11-12 Malaga
13 ?- maybe an extra night in Granada
14-16 Granada

We already have plans to fly out of Malaga with Iberia. It takes to Madrid where it connects to our flight back to Puerto Rico.

I'm so happy all of you are willing to help us- and have offered great suggestioms. I'm taking notes also of all the good places to stay and to eat. Amsdon, thank you for your constant guidance- and for bringing Josele into the forum. Josele, are you currently living in Malaga?
I will update later.

I would add more time to Ronda. Ronda is worth at least a day on its own. We stayed 2 and didn't see everything. It's a lovely town. Don't miss the Arab baths.

At the bare minimum I would spend one day in Ronda, and the other day driving through Zahara, Grazalema, etc and maybe taking some walks through the beautiful countryside.

Agree - Ronda is amazing, and so are the White Villages. Not to be missed! We loved Zahara and Grazalema. We had lunch in both places. In Zahara, we climbed up to the top of the moorish fort with its incredible views over the town, mountains, lakes and countryside.

Have you considered Priego de Cordoba and La Subbetica area? It's a beautiful somewhat undiscovered/off the beaten touristy area. A very friendly town chock full of Baroque churches and surrounded by olive trees. Nearby are several white villages - Baena and Cabra probably are the largest. There is not much written in guidebooks or even in these boards on this area but it is quickly becoming one of my favorite areas of Andalucia.

http://www.turismodepriego.com/
http://www.subbetica.es/

Antequera and Osuna are also 2 stops that may fit well into your itinerary.

anav, I actually live in Malaga. I shall have an exhibition in London next October, but still do not know the schedule (which I'll post on my website in due time). We'll see this later on.
I find your itin OK, the night in Cordoba will let you see the Mezquita and Juderia and something else with no rush (I always recommend siesta time for the Mezquita visit, much quieter).
With base in Ronda you can stay three nights: one day for Ronda, another for Pueblos blancos, and another for Jerez. Arcos is very beautiful, on the way to Jerez, maybe a stop on your way back. But it is very similar to Ronda, do not worry much if you miss it.
If your plane to Madrid leaves early, better spend the night in Malaga, there are several hotels near the airport with reasonable fares (the area is not very posh, but the hotels are very modern), Ibis and Novotel.
When you have your itinerary ready, we'll begin with restaurants and what to see.

Oh you know what?...I think we were in Cordoba on the on the 11 or 12 of Oct and it was insane!!! Crowded at the Mezquita !! I can't believe I had forgotten. (Bad memory these days sorry it's just terrible ) This was just last Oct mid you. So I am very glad YOU are not there on that holiday!

Ana Ronda is beautiful and historic AND imo some of the best shopping for gifts etc...so allow time there for that. You would not want to miss that? It also has the bullring yes and the oldest to boot plys it's where Madonna viseo was shot so when you go there be sure to take a pic of yourself in one of her poses. hehe ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihIfM5VVcjk

Josele what about the hotel right there in the centro? Was it a room mate hotel? It would be a nice location for last minute feel of Malaga, and last minute tapas....

Lastly I was looking for CathyM our Cadiz expert!!! You should def look for her info too. Cathy how many trips to Cadiz/Jerez area now for you?

I just returned from my 7th trip to Cadiz - 6 during Semana Santa and 1 trip in April after Semana Santa! I'm returning to La Rioja and the Basque country in September. It's becoming my route - Semana Santa in Andalucia and September in the North.

12 de Octubre is Virgen del Pilar, a very popular religious festivity in Spain (and holiday I believe), so probably churches shall be crowded, but you may get in for free on the other hand ;-). This year is on a Tuesday, and many people may take a long holiday, so make sure you get your bookings right!!!
Spending last night in Malaga center depends on at what time you have to be at the airport. There is a short peak hour with a big jam on that road.

I think this will be our final itinerary:

3,4-Madrid
5-Cordova
6,7,8 -Sevilla
rent the car or mini-bus with driver
9,10,11-Ronda - visit Grazalema, Zahara, Arcos, Jerez.etc
12,13 Malaga
14, 15 Granada
Depart from GRANADA the 16th

Josele, I was in a hurry yesterday and made a few mistakes- we fly out of Granada. Being from Puerto Rico we know a lot about long weekends...somos latinos, je, je,. We will be in Malaga on the 12th. Any recommendations for Hotels in Malaga. What about Ronda?

I'm doing research also aa Trip Advisor.

I started to try to make hotel reservations and, in fact, am a bit worried. Contacted Alcubilla del Caracol and Santa Isabel La Real in Granada- and they don't have rooms for all of us.

Maribel's guides has a Granada section did you check it?
By the way itin. looks great.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...-treasure.html

Here's great thread on Malaga...be sure to read Josele's post in this re hotels. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-315610-2.cfm

In Granada, I've stayed at the Alhambra Palace Hotel and the Parador de Granada. Both very nice!

In Ronda, I stayed at Husa Reina Victoria.

Hotel in Seville was the gorgeous Alfonso XIII Hotel.

Hi anav.
Departing from Granada is more reasonably.
Malaga hotels: Check AC Malaga Palacio, good views, and Hotel Don Curro, a one minute walk but no views, so lower priced. If you have a car, you'll need one with parking (AC has very limited space; don Curro, none). So I may rec. NH Malaga.
Ronda:
The Reina Victoria is a good old-but-renewed hotel with free private parking space, and easy walking distance from the town center. The Parador has its garage (12-15 eur. per night). Others (as far as I recall) have no place to park but the street, and that can be a serious problem.
Joannyc, I love those hotels, but they are pricey $$$, and the Parador you have to book with a lot of advance.

josele,

Yes, they may be pricey but I only get to Europe once a year so I like to do it right! ;-)