We are thinking of leaving Madrid by train and spending 1 night in Cordoba, 2 nights in Granada, 2 nights in Malaga and 2 nights in Sevilla before heading to Lisbon. We have hotels for Granada and Sevilla but need recommnendations for 3 adults (husband, wife and 22 year-old daughter) for Cordoba and Malaga.

wonderer,
From your Madrid lodging thread I noticed that your price range was from 150-175 euros. Is that for the 2 rooms (double & single), or is it per room?

If you could tell us what hotels you've chosen in Granada and Sevilla, we could make better suggestions, matching you up with hotels similar both in price and in style for Córdoba and Málaga.

Are your dates still mid June? (with very hot weather in these cities)

I think we have decided to stay an extra night in Granada and an extra night in Sevilla, spending one night in Cordoba and none in Malaga. I am dreading the heat but this is the only time we can go. We have reservations at Carmen de la Alcubilla del Caracol in Granada (still waiting to hear if we can extend a night) and then at the Hotel Alminar in Sevilla. Using your advice, I have e-mailed about the white villages minivan tour out of Sevilla. Thank you for all your advice! We are also taking someone's advice and I think we are going to try the bus from Sevilla to Faro and then the train to Lisbon.

wonderer,
Here are a two to consider in Córdoba-

Hostería del Churrasco, which is a small boutique property belonging to the family who owns the famed El Churrasco restaurant
www.elchurrasco.com

And another boutique place, Casa de los Naranjos
www.casadelosnaranjos.com

You should think about renting a car. The driving is very easy and it would give you much more freedom.

Hi Wonderer...we are also thinking of going to Lisbon after our time in Seville...seems very difficult to get from one to the other without going back to Madrid. You said you are taking the bus from Sevilla to Faro and then the train? How often do they run and how long does it take? Thanks for the any information and I hope you posts after you trip and tell us how it goes.

We are going in June and I'll let you know how it goes. One writer on this board suggested we do the bus/train option. Looks like it is still hard to buy tickets this far out but picking the same day of the week, bus leaves Sevilla at 7:30 arrives Faro 11:09 (hope I pick the correct depot). Train leaves at 13:20 arrives Lisboa at 17:05. There is a faster train at 14:55 but we will have a suitcase each so enough time for a meal and a walk to the train depot (suppose to be close) should be fine to leave at 13:20. 44 Euros to bus all the way to Lisbon, 48.50 E to bus to Faro, then first class train.

Thanks Wonderer...that does sound like a possibility. Where did you find that information about time schedules? We're not going until late 2009 so I'd love to hear about your adventure when you get back.

For anyone interested in the Seville to the Algarve transport, this web site may be of some help.

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm

Jez, I hope this works! We can't buy the tickets yet so I'll try to remember to come back here and let you know how that goes. EVA is the bus that looked somehow better. The trains in Portugal are easy to google. Doesn't look easy. Wish I had looked into this before I got the frequent flyer miles into Madrid and out of Lisbon. Now I can't change them.