I've been reading about the AVE in Spain. I will be based on Barcelona and want to visit the Andalucia area for a week or so, returning to Barcelona. What route would be best to AVE it to Andalucia to pick up a rental car and tour that area and then get on the AVE again after dropping off car rental to return to Barcelona?

What's an AVE???

We took the AVE from madrid to Cordoba - spent the night there and then picked up our car - toured around Andalucia for a week or so and returned the car in Seville - then took the AVE back to madrid - I assume you could do the same coming from Barcelona.

The AVE only runs between Madrid and Seville. There are more planned for the future but it will be years yet.<BR>

Is there anything comparable to the AVE from Barcelona to Andalucia? Is there a train of any sort? Would we be better to fly and into where in Andalucia to do our circle? Sorry for all the questions but basically we want to stay in Barcelona for a week and "do" Andalucia for a week and trying to figure the best way logistically (both cheapest and most direct) to do this.

you can take a train from barcelona to seville, but it will take around 13 hrs. we had considered doing this as an overnight adventure but due to time considerations decided to fly from barcelona to madrid and take the AVE to seville. depends on what you like and how much time you have.

You should check out the price for a flight. The train will take you forever.