Does anyone have any recommendations for relatively cheap places to stay in Cordoba? Also, does anyone have any driving/parking thoughts to share for the Costa Del Sol/Andalusia areas?

Chris, <BR>The small, pretty 2 star Hotel Albucasis is very nice and quite reasonably priced (around $60 double)and well located in the Juderia within an easy walk of the Mezquita and other sights. You can read a description at www.karenbrown.com. Friends stayed there in Nov and enjoyed it,and we have reserved this summer. <BR> <BR>My suggestion on driving would be not to use your rental car within the cities, particularly Granada/Cordoba/Seville because of the Moorish designed labrythine streets of the inner core. I think you will want to stash your car in a garage and walk or use public transportation. Much easier, less hassle, less nerve-wracking, particularly in congested Seville and downtown Granada where we find a car to be an albatross. Another thought: I would take a very detailed map such as the Michelin Souther Spain (don't have the # here with me now), as the signage in some areas is poor. <BR>Hope this helps you out.

Chris, <BR>Give yourself time when finding parking. Sometimes finding a spot takes some time and crusing. Also, try to find some spot with shade. And even if you did park in shade, don't figure on climbing in and driving off. When I lived in Andalucia, I usually had to air out the car year round if I had parked it for any time. <BR>Definitely leave car parked for cities.

Try not to leave a car with non-Seville plates parked in Seville for any length <BR>of time - it will be considered fair game for window smashing thieves.(great place apart from that!)

Maribel? Are you out there? Apparently you are the Fodor's ambassador to Spain as I've noticed your name in some of my surfing through this site. Do you happen to have a plan B for a place in Cordoba? There are no rooms for the time frame that I'll be there at the Albucasis. Are you familiar with the Hotel Gonzalez?..Muchas Gracias Seņorita y muy amable... <BR>

Hi Chris, <BR>Go with the Gonzalez! A good plan B-featured in a couple of British "charming small hotels in Spain" guides. <BR>I'm not surprised that the Albucasis is full as it's very, very popular given the quality one receives for the price. <BR>Don't know if you'll be in Cordoba on a weekend, but if you are you might consider the 4star NH Amistad,also in the Juderia, which had <BR>an amazingly low weekend rate in '99 of 9,000 pts. (www.nh-hoteles.es-it's one of their "seleccion de oro" hotels) <BR> <BR>Buena suerte!