Andalusia town between Seville and Granada
 

We have four nights and Seville and three nights in Granada. We are picking up a car in Seville and thought about spending one night in a small town (white villages??). Is there one town between those two major towns--Seville and Granada that would be easy to drive into, spend the night and be on our way to Granada the next day. I do not think Cordoba because it is a larger town and would be hard to drive and navigate -- so a small village that you could enjoy for a day.
Thank you in advance.

I have not rented a car in Andalucia personally yet but be aware that many small towns have extremely narrow streets, not just Cordoba.

I suggest doing a search under white villages there is alot here on that for suggestions.

I would spend more than one nite if possible and Ronda would be my choice.

Agree with recommendation on Ronda. It's quite a lovely little town.

Ronda is exceptional IMO

Ronda it is then, thanks!!

And one more suggestion -- stop at Grazalema for lunch. The drive is spectacular.

We found the Parador in Ronda a pleasant place to stay. It has a wonderful view, particularly as you cannot see the building in which you would be staying, and very good food.

But, I found the entrance and exit to the garage to be very tight. I don't think you would wish to attempt that in a car larger than a Peugeot 407.

I agree, Ronda is the most interesting town on your route to Granada. If you are budget conscious, I can highly recommend Hotel Arunda I and Hotel Arunda II in Ronda. Both are very nice and “best bang for the buck” hotels – especially Arunda I. A double room with private bath is only 45 Euros at Arunda I, and the location is very good. Also you can use the washing machine on the roof-terrace of Arunda I for free and hang your laundry on the lines to dry overnight.

http://www.hotelesarunda.com/ronda_hotel.htm

If you get an early start from Sevilla, you can visit about 15 white villages on the 100 mile drive between Arcos de la Frontera and Ronda.
http://www.andalusia-web.com/route_1.htm

VERY wise that you plan to spend three nights in Granada!!! Most people only spend enough time in Granada to see the Alhambra and quickly move on. Granada is worth three nights.

These Websites will give you excellent ideas for your days in Granada.
http://www.granadainfo.com/elvirag/index.htm
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200604/#
http://www.dimanweb.com/aljibe/principal.htm

Granada and Jerez are excellent places to find authentic flamenco. Flamenco is a gypsy art form and Granada has the largest gypsy population in Spain. Avoid the cave-clubs in the Sacromonte hills of Granada. These are flamenco tourist traps. Perhaps the exception is Venta el Gallo. It is certainly touristy, but this is the least “rip off” of the flamenco places in Sacromonte.
http://www.granadainfo.com/gallo/english.htm

The Sacromonte Cave Museum is worthwhile. Spain’s most celebrated poet, Garcia Lorca, wrote some of his poetry in this cave
http://granadamap.com/museo_cuevas/index.htm

and in the cave-home of Maria La Canastera (a very famous flamenco dancer)
http://www.granadainfo.com/canastera/english.htm

For a list of authentic flamenco clubs in Granada scroll down to the Granada section of this Website
http://www.deflamenco.com/sitios/sit...=&sitio=16

My favorite is Peña La Platería on Placeta de Toqueros, 7. There is no sign, just the number 7 on the door. This is a private gypsy club, but you will likely be allowed in - provided you are a small group (no more than 4-5), you dress well, and you are very polite and respectful to the doorman. “Muy buenas noches, señor” and you use the extremely humble, respectful and polite verb-tense in the phrase “Quisieramos entrar”. Show starts at 11 p.m. and goes on until daylight.

I have conducted tour groups to Spain. From my most recent notes on “best bang for the buck” hotels in Granada these are my choices. Check the Websites as some (Doña Lupe) are best suited to “bare-bones” budget travelers (i.e. students) who merely need a clean place to crash for the night. Others are a great value for older travelers who want clean, comfortable accommodations in a good location at a bargain price.

Doña Lupe http://www.donalupegranada.com/
Double w/ bath 32 – 42 Euros. Directly across the street from the entrance to the Alhambra.

Hostal Meridiano http://www.hostalmeridiano.com/
Single from 17 Euros
Double w/ bath from 40 Euros

Hostal Austria
http://www.spainhostels.com/links/li...mes.cgi?ID=171
Double w/ bath 48
Double shared bath 38

Hostal Costa Azul http://www.hostalcostaazul.com/
Double 45 – 50. (breakfast 2.50)

Hostal Antares http://www.hostalantares.com/informacion.htm
Double w/ bath 40. (weekends 45)
Double w/ shared bath 30 (weekends 35)

Hostal Casa Salvador http://casasalvador.net/hostal.htm
Double 36 – 40. Beautiful place. Restaurant onsite.

Nuevas Naciones http://www.hostalnuevasnaciones.es/
Double 41

Pension El Hidalgo
http://www.spainhostels.com/links/li...mes.cgi?ID=851
Double w/ bath 30
Double w/shared bath 27

La Casa de Rafa (also known as “Numero 8”)
http://www.elnumero8.com/
Double 45 – 65. 10 per extra bed. Total of 4 rooms.
Not so much a hotel, rather a “casa de vecinos” (neighborhood house). The “rooms” are not merely rooms. They are self-catering apartments. Each apartment has a kitchen, bath, bedroom and living room with access to laundry facilities. Excellent views of the Alhambra from the rooftop terrace.

I too have heard very good things about la Plateria.
It is recommended in alot of flamenco sites as a favorite.

Fredisimo,
Thank you for this suggestion. We were just going to take off and drive but this looks like a more planned itinerary. We are renting a compact car out of Seville and are heading to Granada. Do we need a four wheel drive car to do fron Arcos de la Frontera to Ronda on this route?
Out of Ronda, is there another route you would suggest to go to Granada in one day?
The Flamenco sites sound very authentic!

You don't need a 4WD on pueblos blancos. But you may find narrow streets, so just dont drive too much into the towns, they are small enough for easy walk. Arcos is different, as you'll need to drive to the top (follow the Parador's ads), and parking is difficult there.

We recently rented a car in Seville and drove the 2.5 hr. trip to Ronda. We stayed in Hotel San Gabriel, which was an all time favorite hotel. Ronda's streets are narrow but it is the parking that will make you wish you had a small car!