Here's our current itinerary: <BR> <BR>Arrive early morning in Madrid (we will NOT have jet lag to contend with as we're going to be coming from a timezone that's only one hour diff.) <BR> <BR>Madrid 2 Nights -train to Cordoba/Seville <BR>Cordoba 1 Night <BR> <BR>Seville 3 Nights--rent car for traveling around after 2 nites there. <BR> <BR>1 Night Ronda--continue driving to <BR>Granada 2 nights --fly to Barcelona <BR>Barcelona 3 nights---fly home <BR> <BR>This is our current itinerary for our first trip to Spain. I'm wondering if we're jumping around a bit too much. <BR> <BR>I'm wondering if we should eliminate Cordoba (see main sights on train layover) as over night and POSSIBLY also remove Granada. (one reason is all the hotels we'd like to stay in, the parador, Alahambra Palace, etc. are booked) <BR> <BR>Barcelona looks so neat. And I wanted to use one day of our time in Barcelona for Montserat. I'm wondering if we need another night there. Other thoughts are to add night to Ronda or Madrid (dependent on giving either Cordoba or Granda time up of course) <BR> <BR>I don't want to take away Ronda as that's when we're planning to rent a car in Seville and explore from there and we want to go to some more out of the way places. Plus we can stay in the Parador there (they have availability) which it looks like that's the only parador we're going to be able to stay in. <BR> <BR>Just seemed like Granada would be a good place to drop the car and then jump on the plane to Barcelona. (and of course the Alahambra). But now I'm having second thoughts on this. <BR> <BR>Sorry so long. Appreciate your thoughts--- <BR>Lori <BR>(traveling only w/husband. We're in our late 30's, like a variety of things on our trips, city and outdoors-- if that matters) <BR>Thanks!

This is doable for 30 somethings but it is a lot of moving around and a lot of packing and repacking. Since the mosque at Cordoba made a big impression on me, and since I found Granada very hard to navigate, I'd opt to drop Granada, add a day to Madrid and possibly a day to Cordoba. Stay in Ronda only if you can get a room at the Parador there. It's right over the gorge and the rooms are great. Ask for a room with a bed matrimonial, they have only 3 within the hotel and one has a balcony overlooking the gorge--terrific. Otherwise, just divide your time between Madrid, Cordoba, Seville and Barcelona, with the biggest emphasis on the latter two--very different but both very neat. You can combine a trip to Montserrat with a tour of the Frexeneit wine caves. It's pretty neat. Enjoy

Hi, a few suggestions. It is possible to arrive at Cordoba early in the day to sightsee then go on to Seville. Check opening time, we did this in the reverse, (coming from Malaga), had breakfast, wondered around and were the first into the mestiza. I would spend more time going to the wonderful towns around Madrid. Many excursions by bus leave from there or take the train. Toledo was a highlight for us, we also enjoyed Aranjuaz (sp?), Segovia, Valley of the Fallen, El Escorial, Avila is a bit further but we enjoyed a brief stop there. One day is all you would need at the Alhambra if you kept that visit. We didn't get to Barcelona, will do that next time. At least you're flying. Good luck!

Also, leave plenty of time to get mugged and pick-pocketed. You can expect this several times a day! ;-)

Your itinerary looks good to me. I typically advice against doing Barcelona and Andalucia on the same trip, but, if you pick up a "second wind" for Barcelona, then you should be okay. Enjoy Spain, it is such a wonderful destination with great people!!!

Your itinerary looks very good to me actually

We are also going from Madrid to Seville and intend to visit Cordoba either during the stop or a day trip trom Seville. <BR>Are there lockers for large suitcases in Cordoba Station where we can store them for a day before hopping back on the train to Seville in the late afternoon? <BR>Also, anyone know if there is an AVE website where we can view the schedules? <BR>Thanks.

I took the info below from someone else's VERY helpful post. The web site address is <BR>http://www.renfe.es/ <BR>Thanks for those that commented on my post. I welcome any other comments. I'm having a hard time deciding. <BR>Thanks. <BR> <BR>The luggage lockers at the Cordoba Renfe station are located right at the top of the escalator that takes you from the AVE platform into the main terminal on your right-you can't miss them. They cost 400 pts., I believe, per locker and were quite deep, so we only needed one per person, but they required exact change. We took a taxi from the station (550 pts) to the Plaza Maimonides, which was an under 10 min hop, in front of the NH Amistad Hotel (a very comfortable place for an overnight) and began our walking tour from there (in 100 degree heat, July 1!). After lunch we walked the short distance to the taxi stand on Paseo de la Victoria to taxi back to the Renfe station. <BR>If I were doing this on a Madrid-Sevilla run, I'd take the 8:30 AVE that arrives in Cordoba at 10:09, and I'd depart Cordoba on either the 3:41 or the 4:42 p.m. to Seville. We always buy tourist class, rather than first class tickets-it's perfectly comfortable, and the only substantial difference between "turista" and "preferente" is the meal, which we can easily skip on such a short run, plus access to the Club AVE departure lounge. You do need to buy two separate tickets, though. For "turista", it's 7,400 pts. Madrid-Cordoba and 2,800 Cordoba-Seville. <BR>

Lori, we will be going back to beautiful Spain this November. We love the wonderful Architecture, Museums, Mosques, Cathedrals, Palaces, Nightlife, Shopping, Cuisine, and its friendly People. We hope you have a magnificent time!

Hi Lori - whatever you do- dont drop Granada from your list - its little but sooooo charming and the Alhambra is really not to be missed! Pickpocketing only happens to those who invite it - dont carry your purse/wallet in a pocket and you'll be fine! <BR> <BR>We had a brilliant time and I'm sure you will too! <BR>

I love Granad too, but Barthelona is AB...SO....LUTELY...FAB...U..LOUS!(Do you hear the Pet Shop Boys in the background when you say that?) JG

Lori, <BR> <BR>Your itinerary is almost identical to our planned trip (leaving Monday!): <BR> <BR>Madrid 4 days (2 days to explore Madrid, one day each for day trips to Toledo and Segovia) <BR> <BR>Train to Seville (stop in Cordoba for several hours to tour mosque) <BR> <BR>Seville 2 days (not enough, I know, but should be able to see major sites) <BR> <BR>Rent car to drive to Ronda, spend 1 night <BR> <BR>Drive to Nerja, spend 2 nights (relax by Mediterranean!) <BR> <BR>Drive to Granada, spend 1 night <BR> <BR>Fly to Barcelona, spend 3 nights <BR> <BR>From previous postings I made, it sounded like this would be very doable to others. We are 30-somethings and don't mind all the moving around. Unfortunately, we were forced to cancel the last several days (due to childcare issues), so we will only spend one night in Nerja then back to home. <BR> <BR>I'll be more than happy to let you know how the trip went when we get back. <BR> <BR>Greg

I would definitely not substitute Cordoba for Granada. We loved Granada -- in fact, it was our favorite city in Andalucia. Don't worry that you can't stay at the parador or Alhambra, they are outside of the city. We preferred our hotel in the midst of the city so that we could take advantage of the nightlife and tapas bars -- then just make an easy trip to the Alhambra. There is much more to see in Granada, besides just the Alhambra, including the cathedral, alcazar, etc. <BR> <BR>Cordoba we didn't love. While we enjoyed the mosque, we found the town creepy and easy to be mugged in (we live in NYC and aren't nervous nellies, at least until Tues). We did see a good flamenco show there, though. <BR> <BR>Also loved Rhonda -- we made it a day trip. The parador was beautiful and would have been a nice place to stay, but I wouldn't stay more than one night.

I concur. Stay with your current schedule. Do not drop Grenada. A truly beautiful place. If you can get more time in Barcelona do it. It is much more interesting than Madrid.

Hi Lori, your itinerary sounds ok, do not drop neither Cordoba nor Granada both are terrific destinations , with very different highlights...I love the paradores but no big deal if you cannot find room in them there are plenty of fine hotels with lots of charm around. Ronda is the one place that you could drop if any, you know what? <BR>lately there has been a lot of talk about Ronda and it is a charming place but you will see, Granada and Cordoba are superb. The Parador in Ronda where we stayed is a new building in a good location. Buen viaje

I would include a day trip to Toledo from Madrid, maybe take away one day from Sevilla. Definetly go to Cordoba, if only a stop on the way to Sevilla. The Mosque is a great sight. I would try to stay a night there though. There are other hotels by the Alhmabra that you can consider. I would not miss Granada and the Alhambra, it's one of the great sights of the world. Only problem is it can be very crowded. Ronda is also wonderful, many good places to stay, including the parador. In short, I would add a day trip to Toledo, perhaps cut one day from Sevilla and add it either to Madrid or Barcelona, probably the latter. <BR>