Hola a todos!

Please, I need your help! I would like suggestions for a short beach vacation in Southern Spain/Andalucia. I´m currently living in Madrid and will be travelling without a car.

I only have a few days in July (I know...it´ll be hot, but I´m from Florida, so I can handle it). Ideally, I would like to combine it with my visit to Cordoba and Granada, so preferably something reachable by train or bus from either city.

Me: Early 30s female student, art historian but utterly exhausted and in need of relaxation.

Preferences: relaxing, quiet (or at least not in the middle of touristy party areas), natural scenery, hopefully a few small bars or restaurants, not terribly rocky (I don´t need powder soft sand, but I like to sunbathe)

Budget: Ideally less than 100-150 euros/night, but I would pay more for a beachfront or waterfront hotel.

Caveat: I know Northern beaches are better in July, so if you have a fantastic recommendation for a quiet, idyllic, beach in Northern Spain that I can get to by train...please, I´m all ears.

Thank you in advance!!

L.

Bad news: any "good" beach will be covered in tourists.

Go to genuine Málaga city, fine city beaches and some more tranquile just east of the city center in El Palo/Pedregalejo: http://www.spain-holiday.com/Malaga-...ty-beach-guide

The high speed AVE train takes you from Madrid to Málaga in 2h. 30 mins, city center to city center. Málaga to Córdoba is 50 minutes with the AVE Train, and Málaga to Granada is 90 mins with ALSA bus. Departures all the time from Málaga to both Córdoba and Granada.
"Málaga: Spain's best kept secret": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...pt-secret.html

I go here all the time and now use to stay in very central and great value Don Curro, within your budget range with good margin, close to the new marina (Muelle Uno) and 10-15 minutes walk to the Malagueta beach (buses in 2 minutes all the time): http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hote...rro.en-gb.html
Muelle Uno: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/muelle-uno.htm

More expensive Hotel Maestranza Málaga is 100 meters from the Malagueta beach: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hote...nza.en-gb.html

Hotel California is more affordable and 50 meters from the Malagueta beach: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/cali...aga.en-gb.html

And Maro beach, some 80-90 mins with bus east of Málaga city, was recently voted #2 beach in all of Spain on the national TV channel Antena 3: http://www.spain-holiday.com/Maro/ar...-de-maro-nerja

9 hotels and guesthouses in Maro: http://www.booking.com/city/es/maro.en-gb.html

You could always use the bus for the whole trip or part of.
http://socibus.es
http://www.andalucia.com/travel/bus/madrid.htm
http://www.goeuro.es/

Here are some suggestions.
Barbate, Cádiz
http://www.cadizturismo.com/destinos...et_language=en
Roquetas de Mar, Almería
http://www.unique-almeria.com/roquetas-de-mar.html
Salobreña, Granada (but the beach is not sandy)
http://www.andalucia.com/salobrena/home.htm
You could also fly south too.
Hotels I suggest you look in Booking.com find locations by map, drill down your search by price and facilities. Booking is instant.

Cadiz would be my choice.

Thanks everyone!! I know tourists are unavoidable, I just don't care about being on a party beach with a lot of nightlife. I'll definitely check out these options!

<I just don't care about being on a party beach with a lot of nightlife>

Then Málaga should tick all your boxes, easy to reach from Madrid, short train/bus rides to Córdoba and Granada and a great city in itself. And the Málaga city beaches are not the typical tourist beaches, here you will hear mostly Spanish, popular with families etc.

I second the Malaga suggestion.

Conil de la Frontera is really lovely and I would highly recommend it. It's on a bus route from Seville - so you could get the AVE and then transfer by bus. The last time we were there - two years ago - we just rented an apartment through homeaway.com. Most of the tourists there are Spanish, from Seville or Cadiz. Plenty of restaurants, lively - but in a good way! - good food and a gorgeous beach. I'd revisit in a heartbeat.