I am planning a driving tour of the white villages in July, starting in Seville, and doing a circle route to Arcos, Ronda, Granada, Seville. Can you help start my planning by recommending 3 or 4 star type hotels in Arcos, Ronda, Granada? (Looks like Arcos might be just a day visit from Ronda, so that may not be needed). Do you recommend phone calls to these hotels, or are web sites good to use?
Thank you

We stayed 2 nights at the Parador in Arcos; if you do stay overnight and decide on the parador, ask for a room with a terrace.

Take a look here for some ideas:

http://www.parador.es/english/

Thank you. I recall someone posting several years ago that the parador in Arcos was almost impossible to drive to due to the narrow streets. Is this true? Might have been another town.
By the way, I just read this thread in the Ireland section. Did I post it incorrectly? If so, I wonder how I can transfer it to Spain.

HI,

I drove to the Parador in Arcos. Not for the fainthearted. Had to fold sideview mirrors several times to get thru the arches. Also very steep at times. Seemingly one-way (one lane) streets are in effect two-way with no visibility, and virtually no warning. You would have to back up at 45 degrees or steeper on a very narrow street, etc, etc.

Get there while it's still daylight. Try not to take wrong turns. Almost impossible to get back on track without local help.

However, it was still incredibly worth it and I would do it again.

Parador would be my first choice. A more budget one, but also very nice is La Casa Grande, just a few steps up. You park by the Parador.

Sorry, hit the post button too soon.

Enjoy the trip,

-e

You know I don't really remember having a problem driving to the Arcos parador. Maybe it was so awful I blocked it out of my mind! I do remember that there is a large parking lot in t he square in front of the hotel and we left our car there for the nights. We did make a day trip out of town so drove into, and out of, Arcos more than once...it is definitely not as scary as driving into some other places.. The view from the room was very special.

We are staying in the Ronda and Jaen paradors next week. I'll let you know!

We are also staying here one night that looked really cool.

http://www.amanhavis.com

Definitly use the websites. I booked on the Paradors website no problem. Expedia was also good if I couldn't get a hotel directly. That way it gives them time to find someone to translate your message!