We are leaving for Spain this Sunday; I started looking at the map and noticed that the route cwlease.com gave me is not the biggest, it goes through El Burgo and includes C337, MA403 and C344 while the "thick" red route goes through San Pedro on the coast and then turns north. We will be driving to Ronda just after having flown into Malaga with two changes of planes and will be exhausted; we have to try to get into Ronda before dark, without in-between sightseeing (which we'll start the next day). Which route is easier for just getting there? I think Maribel wrote on how to get to Ronda, but I could only find her recommendations on how to drive from Torremolinos to Ronda... <BR>As usual, thanks in advance everybody; this forum is so great (last night I was organizing pieces of posts to take with us, as well as other sources, it is incredibly helpful). When we get back I certainly will post our impressions.

<BR>Hello <BR>Notice you want to drive to Ronda shortly after arriving from your overnight flight from the States. We always stayed in Torremolinos and in the beginning took day tours to Ronda, however later learned to just take the city bus there. However unless you are adept at mountain type driving, I would not suggest it if you are in the least tired as even if you are fresh, could be a chore. And you certainly wouldn.t want to do it after dark. At least that is ;my suggestion as a lot of ;hair pin curves, very high up, etc. Makes a wonderful day trip however with SOMEONE ELSE at the wheel. Have a great time Mary Jayne

Hi olga, <BR>I'll assume you don't have the option of spending the night in the Marbella/San Pedra/Estepona area after flying in to the Malaga airport and that your reservations for your first night are set in Ronda. Is that the case? <BR>If so, you'll want to take the superhighway (autovia) E15 west towards ALGECIRAS (is later called the E5) down the coast past Marbella to Andalucia la Nueva, where you'll go NORTH on A473 to Ronda. The A473 is serpentine but fairly wide and kept in good condition. The other, "shorter" route that cwlease gave you is a very winding way through the countryside on very much a secondary road that I wouldn't attempt on your first day in Spain. The trip from the airport to Ronda should take about 2 hrs. <BR>Olga, could you rearrange your plans to spend your first night in or west of Marbella before you journey up to Ronda and the white towns? I mention this because the drive from the airport to Marbella on the autovia is quick and easier on a traveller who has arrived jet-lagged (and perhaps much later than expected?) after two plane changes. <BR>Also, if you do arrive late and utterly spent to the Malaga airport or hit a snag, there's always the pleasant Parador de Golf which is just a few km from the airport. <BR>Just a thought... <BR>Buen viaje, <BR>Maribel <BR>

Thank you, Mary Jayne and Maribel... <BR>Maribel, you assumed correctly. We are flying Delta from D.C. to N.Y., then to Madrid, and then on the infamous Iberia to Malaga. We are supposed to arrive to Malaga at noon, but I am worried that they might be true to their reputation and we will be delayed. However, I was thinking that even so, we should IN PRINCIPLE have enough time (how much delay can there be, although you never know) since you mentioned earlier that it is light until 9 pm). We are not going to check the luggage in - not to risk waiting for it (and if it gets lost). We have a reservation for one night in parador in Ronda, and were thinking to spend the evening there, get a rest, and start for the white towns in the morning to get to Sevilla at the end of the day... <BR>I can of course cancel the night in Ronda, but then our plan will not work out, and from what I read on the forum, there is not so much to see/not so charming on the coast. <BR>Do we have your blessing to take a risk (just kidding)? <BR>With sincere gratitude, senora

Hi Olga, <BR>Sounds like a solid plan! You have my blessing and my prayers that the much maligned Iberia will get you there on time! (just kidding!) If you arrive at noon, then indeed you'll have plenty of time, even if your Iberia flight arrives late, to make your way to Ronda before dark. I do suggest that you take the autovia from the airport down past Marbella (it will whisk you down there in a jiff) to where you go north on the N473. And again, the highway to Ronda, although curvy, is certainly not a secondary, pothole filled road. It gets plenty of daytrippers from the coast, so it's in good shape. Knowing now the particulars, you should be fine-tired, yes, but the Parador in Ronda is a lovely spot to recover from jetlag, and Ronda is a very tranquil place at night after the tour busses have departed, and the views of the Tajo gorge from your balcony should be stunning. <BR>Buen viaje and buena suerte! <BR>Maribel

Dear Maribel, <BR>my last post and we are off... <BR>Thank you so much, you and other fodorites made planning for this trip so great!! <BR>Muchas gracias, senora... <BR>Olga

Hello all!<BR><BR>Thanks for your previous info - helpful stuff. Just 2 quick questions:<BR><BR>Anyone know the driving times from Ronda to Seville, and from Ronda to Jerez?<BR><BR>Also, when are Rhonda's bullfights held?<BR><BR>Thanks so much! = )

Hi Tracy,<BR>From Ronda to Jerez with no stopping/sightseeing in any of the white hill towns along the way should take you 1 hr. 50 min -it's 80 miles. From Ronda to Sevilla without a stop in Jerez should take under 2/1/2 hrs.-it's about 120 miles. The toll road (autopista) from Jerez to Sevilla is super fast. You'll be able to do that stretch in under an hour to the Seville city limits. I just did these calculations very hurriedly at <BR>http:// www.mappy.com, <BR>which gives very generous driving times. You might want to check with http://www.mapquest.com<BR>or http://www.euroshell.com<BR>or http://www.michelin-travel.com<BR>(The Michelin site, I think, gives the truest driving times of all-I just checked with mappy.com because it's the quickest to use)<BR><BR>I can't remember when you're planning to be in Ronda, but the bullring there is quite small and not frequently used like others in Andalucia. There aren't regular weekly bullfights there even in the summer, I don't believe. Its most celebrated bullfights, called the Corridas Goyescas, with the matadors dressed in 18th century Goyaesque attire, take place during the Feria de Pedro Romero, the first part of September. If you won't be in Ronda then, you can still check to see if there will be a bullfight during your stay at<BR>http://www.burladero.com <BR>On the left side, click on "carteles",<BR>then on the "carteles" page, on the right side click on the month you'll be visiting. I just did this and didn't see any bullfights for Ronda for April or May. Didn't check other months for you.<BR>Hope this helps.<BR>Have a wonderful time in Andalucia!<BR>