MyriamC

Santa Cruz, without any doubt! Check Hotel Amadeus. Loved it! Located in a trafficfree little street, it was very quiet at night. Yet very central for sightseeing. Parking garage at 200m from hotel at special price for hotel guests.
http://www.hotelamadeussevilla.com/

Egbert

Remember you will spend a day just traveling between most of your destinations. Spain is about as big as Texas. You really don't need a car anywhere as public transportation is so good. If you must rent one from Sevilla you could pick it up in the morning drive out to Ronda and see some of the smaller villages where the bus only stops twice a day, then drop the car off. I wouldn't even think about it unless you had at least two weeks in Andalucia. There is just so much to see and do in the amazing cities of Andalucia. Cars are a major hassle in Seville, Granada and Madrid especially. And I would cut out Barcelona.

dgio1960

... I am intrigued by your comment "cut out barcelona". convince me

annhig

Hi dgio - You still haven't told us where you will be coming from, going to, or which airport/s you will be using. it's not compulsory of course, but it might help for us to help with the logistics of your trip.

as for convincing you NOT to go to Barcelona, IMO it takes too much time out of the rest of the trip, and is, I feel, over-rated as well as being swamped by tourists to a degree that I found uncomfortable. However I am a fan neither of Gaudi nor Picasso so I may not be the best person to give an opinion. OTOH I love gardens and would really enjoy seeing the gardens of Cordoba for the first time as well as seeing the Generalife and the Alcazar again.

only you know what you like doing on holiday.

kimhe

Barcelona is plain fabulous, only takes a little research to find the best food, bars, neighbourhoods, nightlife, sights, theaters and all kinds of experiences outside the most beaten tourist track. Have traveled intensively in large parts of Spain the last 30 years, been many times in all your suggested cities, and would definitely suggest not to cut Barcelona. It's the one of the four cities that has grown most on me the past ten years (and I go all the time to Madrid, San Sebastian and Sevilla). Could give you tons of Barcelona tips based on your interests.

annhig

kimhe - it's not often that we disagree but on this we will have to agree to differ!

it may be that I have not spent enough time there, and certainly I have not spent as much time there as you, but I have been there for about as long as the OP would be able to allow for it, so perhaps my experience is a little more comparable!

MyriamC

If I were to cut out one place, it would also be Barcelona. Maybe my expectations were too high.
With only two weeks, I would spend them in the south.

welltraveledbrit

We loved the Palacio de Villapanes were we stayed in in Seville at but I think it exceeds the budget you mention. Instead I've got some food suggestions and images from out trip to share in case they're useful. There are tips and suggestions in the blog posts.

Tapas and food suggestions
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2012/...html?q=sevilla

Walking around town,
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2012/...html?q=sevilla

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2012/...html?q=sevilla

dgio1960

Anhig .... the plan is to fly into sevilla then train to madrid, train to barcelona, then fly into bilbao enroute to san sebastian .... 14 days

kimhe

<I have been there for about as long as the OP would be able to allow for it, so perhaps my experience is a little more comparable!>

I could set up a plan for a sensational two-three days in Barcelona for anyone from a five-year old to a ninety-year old in the blink of an eye ;-)

annhig

go on then, kimhe!

Bedar

Annhig - I think Kimhe must work for the Spanish Tourist Bureau in Oslo, hahaha !

kimhe

<go on then, kimhe!>

Must have some interests then to individualize it (food, drinks, type of restaurants, nightlife, sights, art, museums, music, concerts, theaters etc. etc). Perhaps the OP?

dgio1960

... Thanks for all the info .. I think I got what I needed