I guess it is a bit rushing since every town you mentioned is interesting. Granada is really different from Cordoba and Sevilla, it lacks the subtropical warmth of Guadalquivir River Valley but it still has some places not to be missed ( Carrera del Darro street, The viewpoints over the Alhambra from from St Nicholas Church terrace, the Cathedral area, almost an arab souk or the beautiful churches of San Juan and La Cartuja. I find your itinerary really interesting. Just to add some tips. Sevilla-Ronda road via Utrera/Puerto Serrano and Algodonales is not really a winding road, it is a relatively easy drive, it would take you roughly one hour and 45 minutes, then to Granada, I find it would be better do it through Setenil to Olvera. It is not either a treacherous road, as Maira said the other mountainous roads departing from Ronda to the east and south are actually quite hard to be passed if someone in the party tend to feel sickness. From Ronda to Granada it would be about 2 1/2 hours. I would spend one more day in this route. My suggestion would be the following: Sevilla-Ronda(1 night)-Granada(2 nights)-Nerja(1 night). Nerja-Malaga is quite an easy drive, just 45 minutes.

I keep switching the end part of the plan. <BR>At first I thought train from Seville to Granada and rent a car from there to Marbella. Leave my wife in Marbella for part of a day and take a bus to Ronda. <BR>Then I gave up on Ronda and thought we'd just drive along the coat and stop wherever we thought of for a little while (Nerja, Frigiliani, Mijas, etc) and stay in Marbella. <BR>Then I looked closer at Renfe and it seems almost reasonable to train from Granada to Ronda. That would mean staying overnight in Ronda. But getting to Marbella or Malaga is a bit of a pain from Ronda. <BR>Now Pedro drops in another option. I'll look at the map this evening before discounting the idea. What is it like with a car in Granada? Driving and parking for a day.

Granada as Sevilla with their arabic traced narrow streets in the center are not really car friendly. You might use it to go to La Cartuja Church, the Science Museum or La Alhambra Palace/Generalife Gardens ( big parkings nearby ) but not of course in the surroundings of the Cathedral. So it might be a bit unuseful for a day or so but after that it would give you great freedom to travel to Nerja ( there is no train and the road is scenic. ) Also to get to Ronda ( city that I particularly love but specially if stopping overnight ) to have a car is the best way to do it. Cordoba as you are planning can be done as a day trip via AVE train quite easily from Sevilla and there is an interesting exhibition within MEDINA AZAHARA palace ruins that is well worth it until 30th of September ( tickets sold in advance at EL Corte Ingles department stores ).I would suggest you to do the trip Granada-Nerja early in the morning so that you can spend some time visiting quietly Nerja and the Caves or even making a short trip to Almuñecar/Salobreña( quite scenic from the access road but particularly hard to drive into ).

Thanks to Maira and Pedro for all the help. <BR>Over the next 2-3 days we'll discuss the various options and decide what we feel comfortable doing. <BR> <BR>No doubt I'll get back with several more questions by the end of the weekend.

Dear Myer: <BR>We just got back on Friday from 2 fabulous weeks in Spain. We went to Madrid (3 days), Seville (3 Days--picked up rental car on the way out of Seville) Costa Del Luz (2 days at the beach), Ronda (1 day), Nerja (1 day), Granada (2 days), Toledo (1 day) flew home out of Madrid. I always get carsick and the driving was a breeze. The only time I felt really queasy was the road up to Ronda. If your wife has car trouble have her skip Ronda. We couldn't believe how much we loved Granada. There's so much to do - give it two days. But we felt 3 days in Madrid was plenty. Nerja is very cool but if you have to forfeit a part of your trip I guess I was give up Nerja. Email if you have any specific questions or I can send you my itinerary. By the way, driving was totally easy. The highways are very well marked. Have fun.

Pam, <BR>Another person and more ideas and opinions. That's what it's all about. <BR> <BR>I was thinking of 4 days in Madrid (with a day trip to Toledo) and 3 days in Seville (with a day trip to Cordoba). That really gives us 3 days in Madrid and 2 in Seville. Would you skip either of the day trips? Would you leave it as is, switch them around (2 in Madrid and 3 in Seville) or knock off 1 day in Madrid and put it somewhere at the end. We only have 10 days. <BR>At present the plan is to be in the Marbella area for a couple of days. While we always like some time at the beach, living near Ft Lauderdale with the ocean and beach less than a half hour from our home (people pay to come here) leaves more time to wander the sights. <BR> <BR>Did you drive from Granada to Toledo and on to Madrid? <BR> <BR>Actually, I'm only fighting with the last 2 or 3 days. Where did you spend your time in Granada other than the Alhambra? I've heard that the Alhambra is overrated and Granada is pretty dirty with time better spent in Seville. You obviously really like Granada. <BR> <BR>While my wife has suggested that on our next trip to Sorrento I leave her there and take the Amalfi Coast bus ride myself. We tried it last time (she didn't take anything and should have) and I'm not sure whether she ruined the ride or the ride ruined her. I'm really hesitant to leave her for the better part of the day. If we don't rent a car leaving Granada and take a train to Ronda (pretty good connection) we can spend part of a day there. The train connection then down to Malaga isn't as convenient (quite round-about). This way we won't have a car (good and bad). <BR> <BR>I guess I have to just stop writing and get down to business. As I wrote above. This weekend we'll review the whole thing and try to make some decisions. I'm sure I'll be back on over the weekend with more questions. I feel like I'm posting the results of our trip rather than the planning. Just got an idea for an interesting thread. I'll call it Planning Stories. <BR>

Maira, Pedro, Pam, <BR> <BR>My wife has offered to stay in Marbella for part of the day while I go to Ronda. I don't really want to do that as I won't be back before 3PM or so. We've only allowed 2 days leaving Granada to the end of the trip. <BR> <BR>Choices are take 1 day from Madrid (from 3 to 2) and add it to the end or look for other towns as options. <BR> <BR>Can you compare some of the towns near Marbella (Casares, Ojen, Mijas or others)that are within better reach by car (tame ride) or by bus? How long by car? What type of drive (take wife with)? Take a bus from Marbella? Most important, are they of interest or will I spend the rest of my life feeling that I missed the one and only town? <BR>Thanks again. <BR>

Myer, I would take one day out of the three that you have for Madrid and add at the end. <BR> <BR>Stay in Marbella and play it by ear about Ronda. Marbella is a very nice town and I predict that your wife will enjoy the shopping possibilities and having some time on her own to do it right . Also, allow some flex day at the end of your trip for those unplanned sights where you just have to stop and enjoy!

I'm tempted to do that. Take a day from Madrid. My only concern is that we would have 2 days in Madrid (plus a day trip to Toledo) and the first would be after an overnight flight to Madrid. <BR> <BR>What I would try to do is get from Seville to Ronda early evening. Stay over there and most of the next day. Take an evening train to Granada for 2 nights and 1 day. Then pick up a car in the morning and drive to Marbella and area for 2 last days before flying back. <BR> <BR>While there is a good train from Ronda to Granada there isn't a direct or reasonable one from Seville to Ronda. <BR> <BR>Is there a bus (or anything else) that goes from Seville to Ronda? Pedro seems to think that the drive from that direction is pretty calm (or so he wrote). Is that so? <BR> <BR>I know Marbella publishes bus schedules from the town. Are there any on the web for Seville? <BR> <BR>Getting closer to nailing it down. Never had so much trouble putting a trip together. I guess trying to dance at every wedding introduces complexities. <BR>

Two last minute suggestions have been floated. <BR>1) Drop Madrid and start with Barcelona instead. <BR> <BR>2) Go to Madrid and Barcelona this time and save Andalucia alone for next time. <BR> <BR>I'm not sure about the first but tend to be against the second suggestion. <BR> <BR>What do you think? <BR>

I just want to thank those who have been so patient and helpful with my attempts to plan our trip. <BR> <BR>In the past we have almost always gone to some places we've been to and some we haven't been to. This time it will all be new and trying to get in as much as possible, or the right things or not too rushed, etc. <BR> <BR>We've decided to do the following: <BR>1) 4 days in Madrid including a day trip to Toledo. We probably could have done with 1 day less but we want the first day after and overnight flight to have the option of being easy. <BR> <BR>2) 3 days in Seville including a day trip to Cordoba after an evening AVE ride from Madrid. <BR> <BR>3) 1 day (2 nights) in Granada after an evening train ride from Seville. <BR> <BR>4) Pick up a car in Granada and drive to Marbella. Attempt to make small stops in Nerja and possibly Fragliani. <BR> <BR>5) Possibly drive to some of Mijas, Ojen, Casares (haven't decided on the priority- any help?) the morning of the last full day. Possibly spend the late afternoons wandering marbella, Marina, town, etc. <BR> <BR>Ronda. Made a management decision to skip it THIS time. <BR> <BR>Special thanks to Maira, Pedro and Pam who came in near the end and provided some great info. <BR> <BR>We still have a choice of departure dates. End Sept-early Oct. Later is cooler but more chance of rain. What do you think. <BR> <BR>Next Hotels. Help! <BR>

Myer, your itinerary looks absolutely fabulous! You guys have a wonderful time!!

Regarding the dates, I would suggest end of September/early october as the best. Respect of the towns, they both are white washed small villages being Casares, Monda and Ojen more authentic and Mijas by far the most touristic one. Have a great time there!!!