Guidance Needed: Spanish Rail/Bus Experts
 

We're arriving Lisbon March 3, and departing Barcelona March 22. Plans include taking the rail to Lagos area, relax.. and then travel into Spain. We wonder...
- What is the best rail or bus transportation from Lagos to Sevilla (or is the connection into Spain best made from Faro?)
- What are the rail or bus options to see the country around Arcos D.L.F. & Ronda before going to Granada...Cordoba, or, is renting a car the more effective and economical way?
- Last week is currently planned to take a train to Madrid then onto Barcelona.

Any opinions from the experienced 'Portugal-Spain' traveler?

There is no railway from from the Algarve to Sevilla, but buses run from Lagos and Faro. Details are on www.eva-bus.com (note that Sevilla is "Sevilha" in Portuguese).
Ronda is on the railway from Granada to Algeciras, but it's probably better to go by bus. Long-distance schedules are on www.movelia.es.

Damas SA also has several Buses daily from the Algarve to Huelva and fairly good service Huelva to Sevilla. There's also Tren service Huelva-Sevilla.

Spain-time is an hour different from Portugal-time; and March is too early for any watersports in Portugal or Spain.

Personally, I would take Geoff's and Ned's advice and travel by bus/bus or bus/train from the Algarve to Sevilla via Huelva.

After you're done with Sevilla, I'd recommend a rental car until you get to Granada to drop it off there.

If Madrid is only a place to transfer from one train to another to Barcelona (and you don't plan to really visit the city), I'd rather fly Granada- Barcelona. Otherwise, the train is fine.

P.S. on trains: currently you cannot buy super saver web fares from Spanish rail Renfe with a non-spanish credit card via their website... just that you don't waste hours trying to process a transaction on the web :-)

Thank you to all for the great transportation advice!!!....Lou, Calgary

Night trains in Spain are very good. You'll save a day of your visit and save a hotel room cost.