Starting a fresh post now that some of you have helped me zero in on a tentative itinerary for first trip to Spain. Flights are booked. Hotels reserved but changeable. Trying to keep hotels to below 100 to 150 Euros per night, for 2. Please comment:

Wed, 4/10, noon Arrive Malaga airport from London.
Pick up rental car. Drive to Granada with a stop for lunch about 2:00 pm in Nerja. Catch the view from the Balcon de Europa (any ocean front restaurant recs?)

4/10, 4/11: 2 nights in Granada. Reserved at the Hotel Guadalupe. (Issue: finding it and parking)

4/12: Drive to Cordoba. Overnight at the Hospederia De El Currasco.

4/13: Drive to Sevilla. Return car to Escacion Santa Justa. Reserved 2 nights at Las Casas de La Juderia. 4/14 is a Sunday. Also Febria de Abril will be going on.

4/15 AVE to Madrid. Change trains and go to Toledo. Overnight at the Hotel Abaceria.

4/16 morning AVE to Madrid. Visit the Prado and Plaza Mayor. Overnight at the Room Mate Alicia Hotel.

4/17 11:40 am return flight to US from Barajas.

Restaurant in Nerja... Puerta Del Mar (next to Balcon de Europa) is fantastic. See Day 14 at http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35001438.

Your itinerary sounds reasonable.

Make sure to buy tickets for the Alhambra in Granada in advance:

www.alhambra-tickets.es

This way, you can bypass the lines. (Without reservation, you might even be denied entrance.)

Make sure you have tickets for Toledo and from Toledo to Madrid AHEAD of time . It is a small train , often sold out.
If you have the time, walk from Plaza Mayor ( about 5 minutes) to the Opera and, on the other side of the small park, the Palace.
It is a lovely area (especially at night).

The only things I would consider changing is skipping the night in Cordoba and staying 3 nights in
Sevilla. It's nice to have a 3 night stay particularly when you'll have 2 1-nighters at the end and Sevilla will have alot going on for the feria.

Did you consider staying at the Hotel Alminar? I'm breaking my silence on this incredible little place! It is in a great central location, a stone's throw from the cathedral, and the staff are charming. It's ranked the #1 hotel in Sevilla on trip advisor. I stayed at Las Casas de la Juderia during my first visit to Spain. It is very nice also I prefer the location and ambiance of the Hotel Alminar. The website doesn't do this place justice!

http://www.hotelalminar.com/index_en.htm

Kudos to you for planning this far ahead! I still have week #2 to plan for my March trip.