We have recently retired to live in Spain, about an hour south of Valencia. It's beautiful. This summer my sister-in-law is coming over from NZ and would like us to take a trip down to Granada. Although we know the Costa del Sol we have never been far inland. We're hoping to do Granada, Seville and Cordoba in 7 days. Are we mad to attempt this the last week in July? We cant change the dates. Thought 2 nights Granada, 2 nights Seville and 1 night Cordoba. Any suggestions of 'character' hotels? Maybe even in the counryside between cities as I think we'll need a breather!!

Sounds like it could be pretty hot (!) but I have friends who did the trip in July several years ago and had lovely weather. In any case, I highly recommend a night in Ronda (between Granada and Seville). We loved the town and stayed at the wonderful Hotel Enfrente Arte. Take a look at www.enfrentearte.com/english/home.html

Good luck!

You should plan to tour the Alhambra buildings at night, when they are open, and see the gardens early in the morning while it is still relatively cool.

Sounds like you are in the vicinity of Dénia: Great spot.
Last week of July is peak season: it begins on la Virgen de Carmen (16 Jul).

You're not Mad (as in Kipling's: 'only Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun') to attempt the Granada-Sevilla-Cordoba loop; but I advise you to wear cork-soled sandals for touring. Once, on a midsummer visit to Sevilla, the soles of my feet got burned, just from walking on the hot pavement.

just don't worry about the hot weather, it's not so different than at home (to say, valencia )

I would be skipping Cordoba for Ronda as abbydog suggests.
5 hours to Granada(2)
3.5 hours to Sevilla(2)
2 hours to Ronda(2)
8 Hours to Home

It will be hot, hot, hot in much of andalusia!!! I just returned from there last week, (april 21st) and the temp was just warm enough not to be uncomfortable! plan to adjust your travel schedule to seista time as many businesses/restaurants will be closed. my final comment is: while there last week we kept saying to each other that: isn't it great that we're not going to be here in the summer!

I also give my vote to Rhonda, we visited Seville in July and it was really really hot!

Thanks everyone for all your help. Decided to go from Granada to Seville, stopping off at Ronda. Then on for one night in Cordoba and one night in Baeza. Still all very urban. Would like to find country hotel to throw into the mix. Any further ideas please?

check out www.toprural.com,

and www.rusticae.com

for some different types of lodgings.