anconeus

Thank you everyone for helping me plan the trip. Please let me know what you think of the updated itinerary. Mid thirties couple traveling. Also, does it make sense to prebook hotels now for a trip in mid september? or will there be lots of availabilities so we can wing it while there? (that way if we change the itinerary when already in spain we can do so? Thanks

Day 1 Arrive to Seville at 10 am. Train to Cordoba right away: Mezquita. Twisting lanes of Juderia
Day2 Afternoon train to granada. Granada day 1 Alhambra palace. Free tapas w drinks.
Day3 Granada full day 2
Day4 Rent a car in am. Drive to Malaga via Motril/coast. Malaga evening icasso museum and hilltop fortress clim Alcazaba)
Day5 Malaga morning . Late afternoon leave Malage for a drive to Ronda, maybe with a short stop in Marbella. evening and sleep in Ronda.
Day6 Ronda full day
Day7 Leave Ronda in am, drive via white villages to Seville. Return Car. Sleep seville 2 nights Cathedral and Alcazar. Barrio de santo Cruz
Day8 seville full day
day 9. leave in am.

yorkshire

Check to see that things are open the day you are in Cordoba. I walked through the Juderia, but the synagogue was closed.
Look into stopping at Antequera between Granada and Malaga. I have not, but reading about it put it on my list.

nytraveler

Unless you have a very flexible budget, or are very flexible abut amenities, there is no way I would go on a trip this tightly structured without lodging reservations.

If you have a lot of time and are off season - November or similar - and can spend half a day looking for a place to stay, then it might work.

But you are so tightly scheduled that 2 or 3 hours lost would be a major issue.

kja

Much better IMO.

Consider visiting the Alhambra twice: Once during the day, when everything is open and many people will be there, and once in the evening, when you can only see the Nasrid Palace (or the Generalife -- one or the other) with just a few others. Magical! I was glad to visit them in that order, but you need to reserve WELL in advance. Search this board for any of the many threads that discuss how to do that.

As yorkshire notes, do pay attention to opening hours: Many things in Spain close for very long lunch breaks, all day on Monday, and on Sunday afternoon.

Like nytraveler, I wouldn't want to try finding lodging on the fly when you are trying to fit so much into so little time. Check booking.com for reservations that can be cancelled close to the time of your intended visit.

Also, many of us find it helpful if you interlink your threads, particularly by adding a post to your "old" thread directing readers to this one.

kimhe

Suggest you book as soon as possible. Many of the best and best value options will already be gone.

There is a flamenco festival in Sevilla from Sept 8 to 20. The greatest flamenco artists on the current scene in Sevilla theaters every night. Could be a highlight of your trip. Mostly a local crowd. Book tickets as soon as possible because they will sell out fast. http://www.labienal.com/en/programa/...breesflamenco/

My recommendations would be
- Pastora Galvan on Sept 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SBUcrJgeQ
- Andres Marin on Sept 16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iOMCFu6aeI
- Menese, Argentina and Mengibar on Sept 17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0vTTZmlX9c
- and obviously Eva Yerbabuena, the greatest female flamenco dancer in the world the past 15 years, in the grand Maestranza theater on Sept. 20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAm4z2EJjQU

Day 4:
I suggest you go the so called Suspiro del Moro-road (the Moor's sigh) from Granada down to the Med on your way to Malaga: http://www.holavalencia.net/2010/02/...and-almunecar/

The name comes from the legenedary sigh of Boabdil, the last emir of Granada, when he at the mountain pass known as Puerto del Suspiro del Moro, for a last time had a look back upon the now lost city before heading down towards the Med (1492). His mother shall then have said: "You cry like a woman over a city you couldn't defend as a man".

On the way to Malaga you could stop for lunch in excellent, typical and no fuss fish and seafood restaurant La Marina in Nerja. Have splurged here on several occasions, and very popular with locals. Three course lunch Menu del Dia with drinks included is 8,50€. http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm

Or have the famous paella at Ayo's right on the Burriana beach. http://www.ayonerja.com/chiringuito_en.html

Free and delicious tapas to choose with every glass of whatever in most tapas bars and restaurants in Nerja (also in La Marina above). Two of my favourites where you also could have a great sit down Andalucian lunch.
El Pulguilla: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html
La Puntilla: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

The spectacular Nerja caves are also on this route. Lived people here more than 30 000 years ago: http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en

anconeus

Thank you very much everyone! Looking forward to the trip. Great advice

iris1745

You could also try trivago.com for hotels.

I have used booking.com many times, but trivago checks the booking site and many others.