Driving in Spain>
 

Hi all,<BR><BR>My husband and I are planning a trip to Spain in late May. Our plan is to spend a couple of days in Madrid and then drive down to Seville-Cordoba-Granada.<BR><BR>What's driving like? Or should be use the train.<BR><BR>Thanks.<BR><BR>Carmel

Last August we rented a van from Avis for two weeks in Spain. The roads were well marked and in good condition. There are so many "off the track" places to visit if you have a car...

You will not need a car in Madrid, so I suggest picking it up as you leave for Cordoba. We had no problems with the driving using a standard road map from the Spanish Tourist Bureau.

The fast train Madrid to Seville is excellent and fun and much easier. Then pick up a car at the Seville rail station and drive anywhere - good roads, well-marked, fun - Ronda, Arcos, Cordoba, Carmona, etc. Granada's a long way - plan to overnight.

We took the AVE (high speed train) to Cordoba - got off, toured the city and spent the night. The next morning we got our car and headed off for Baeza/Ubeda, then went to Granada, Nerja, Ronda, and Jerez before dropping the car back off in Seville - and taking the AVE back to Madrid after spending 3 days in Seville.

Just back from Spain (Andulusia) Carmel. I agree that the best way to get from Madrid to Seville is the AVE (less than 3 hours). You can pick the car up from the train station in Seville and head off from there.<BR><BR>The roads are excellent, even in the mountains and well sign-posted.

It depends on how much time you have between the two cities. We spent 8 days driving between the two with stops at Segovia, Avila, Toledo, Consuegra windmills, Almagro, Cordoba, Granada, Marbella, Nerja, Sentenil de las Bodegas and Rhonda. It was wonderful, but then again we don't mind sleeping someplace new every night.

If time and preference allows, I would drive from Madrid to south. this allows you to see Toledo (worth a full day at least), and small towns on the way. Defintely pick up car on way out of Madrid. Don't drive in cities; find an underground "parking."<BR><BR>At any rate, roads and signage are generally good. Get good regional maps rather than all-Spain maps (not enough detail). Toll roads are expensive but much faster. Diesel much cheaper than gasoline.