itinerary set and first hotel booked - lookin for further hotel avice
 

So we have committed in our own minds and now we are ready to begin pinning down the hotels. Here is the plan:
3 nights Madrid
2 nights Cordoba
3 nights in Andalusian countryside probably in the southern area
3 nights Seville (planning on AirBnB there so we can do laundry!)
2 nights Granada (we booked the Parador although I would be interested in what others experience there was)
fly to Barcelona - 4 nights Barcelona
and final night near Madrid airport somewhere (still wondering if it would be crazy to stay that night in Toledo since our flight isn't till 11 am)

any hotel recommendations for Madrid, Cordoba and Barcelona or apt recommendations for Seville would be most appreciated. Thanks all (I usually try to keep us to an average of $200/night - Granada will blow that but hopefully Seville will balance it out)

Eurostars Palace in Cordoba.
Axor Feria or Axor Barajas for the final night near the airport.

There are numerous laundromats in Seville including one at the El Corte Ingles

I have used this one:
http://www.la-ronda.es/

Mark

I would go directly to Toledo upon arrival into Madrid for a night or two before moving on. Rent a car (less than an nour drive) or check into public transportation.

Put all of the Madrid nights at the end of your trip and stay in Madrid, not near the airport. Doesn't take more than 30 min or so to get to the airport in the morning.

Nour = hour

This looks very rushed. Train tickets on Renfre, quick schedules here:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?

When is your trip? I am planning a similar trip in September. I have started looking at and reserving hotels. This is my first trip to this area so I have not actually seen any of the hotels.

I booked Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia in Cordoba based on a Foderites (Candace) recommendation.
I have booked Ladron de Aqua in Granada based on Progol's recommendation.
And I have booked Apartmentos Suites Santa Cruz in Seville based on Candace's recommendation.

Hope this helps.

For hotel recs, see KarenWoo's recent thread
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-andalucia.cfm

I trust you realize that you can do laundry without staying in an AirBnB? There are things called laundromats....

Thanks all, and Karen, we are planning June so I shall let you know how it goes. and yes KJA I do know there are laundromats - but I know my own psychology - I'll get annoyed at having to sit and wait for it all to finish, so if we can do it during siesta time I'll be much calmer and a nicer travel companion (: We thought of the Toledo option but it would have meant cutting out one of the other cities so had to compromise somewhere. and I know it is a bit rushed, but we just couldn't bear to give up any of the other cities. We will get the train tickets in advance for sure. Just heard from the Parador de Granada offering to book us either a group or private tour...any advice on that...

lauramsgarden,
Would love to hear about your trip after you return to see what you liked and didn't like, and to hear your impressions of all the places you went to. And train travel! We will be traveling by train and bus. Any helpful hints will be appreciated.

A perfectly understandable choice about the laundry -- I was just checkin'! :-)

I didn't feel any need for a tour of the Alhambra -- but then, I'm not fond of tours and prefer to do a lot of reading in advance. YMMV. I did, however, want lots and lots of time there!

You are very, very lucky to have a reservation at the Parador in Granada. It is one of the most difficult Paradors to get a reservation. Keep it!

You got it Karen, absolutely will. and glad I bamboozled my husband into the Parador idea lol. KJA I'm usually with you on tours (I hate being hurried along) but at Versaille we really did have an enhanced experience getting behind the scenes and at Delphi the guide was worth every penny (her name was Penny actually) - she was so knowledgeable, so I'm learning that sometimes it is indeed worth it. a decision to ponder....

When I visited the Alhambra, there was a very informative booklet one could buy near the main entrance, there was an audioguide that I thought extremely useful (though I hear it has been redone since, and can't speak to the current quality), and there was good signage (including in English) at various buildings and within various rooms of the Nasrid Palace. Tour groups were being herded through; I was able to step aside and linger. Just my experience...

Extremely rushed. We stayed at the parador in Granada shortly after Isabel and Ferdinand rid Spain of the Moors. It is a hard to secure room there at any time. Our room had a spectacular view of the Sierra Nevadas. And we a drink at the restaurant which a grand place to survey the Generalife.

Re: Hotel in Barcelona - We spent a week in Barcelona last April. We stayed at the K&K Picasso Hotel and loved it. It is in the El Born section right across the street from the Citadel Park. It is about a 10 minute walk from Las Ramblas and about two blocks from the waterfront. It is within easy walking distance to many great restaurants as well as all of the El Born / Gothic Quarter attractions. There is a Hop On Hop Off bus stop right outside the front door. I would advise you to look in to that one.

If you would consider a Bed & Breakfast option, I can highly recommend BarcelonaBB located in the Eixample district. Rooms with private baths and sitting area are well within your budget (White Room our favorite.) They also offer rooms with a shared bath. Central neighborhood location with many restaurants/shops nearby, walking distance to several sites including La Sagrada Familia and Gaudi houses on Passeig de Gracia. Two metro stops within a few blocks. Beautiful place with gracious, welcoming owners. Communal breakfast table where you meet guests from all over the world. They are #1 on Trip Advisor for a reason...take a look at the reviews. We have stayed there 3 times in the past 3 years and are planning to return for a 4th visit in April. Wishing you a wonderful trip. We have fallen in love with Spain and hope the same happens to you!
P.S. our 2 favorite Barcelona sites: Hospital Sant Pau and Palau de la Musica.

Thanks all, this is so helpful. Any thoughts on Madrid or Cordoba?

We are staying at Mercure Madrid Centro in September. Located near the Prado. And recommended by Kja on this forum. It has received many good reviews.

We are staying at the Las Casas de la Juderiaa de Cordoba in Cordoba, recommended by Candace on this forum. It has received many good reviews.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Karen, guess I should read your thread lol

The KK Picasso in Barcelona looks excellent! http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/k-k-picasso.en-gb.html

I also use to stay in this area, medieval and vibrant El Born, a cradle of Catalan identity and culture and some of the finest tapas bars and cafés in town.
http://www.oh-barcelona.com/en/barce...artments/born/

You also have the Park Hotel and Banys Orientals as good options in the area: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/park.en-gb.html
http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/en/

In Madrid I can recommend great value Persal or Hotel Plaza Mayor, right in the heart of the city between lively Plaza Santa Ana and majestic Plaza Mayor:
Hostal Persal (fine hotel standard, private bath, AC, TV, safe, 24h desk, breakfast etc)http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/persalmadrid.en-gb.html
Plaza Mayor: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/persalmadrid.en-gb.html

About the area: http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-mayor.html
Barrio de las Letras (Literary quarter): http://www.spain.info/en/lugares-int...as_letras.html
http://www.barrioletras.com/

In Córdoba we liked modern Hotel Córdoba centro very much. Just a couple of hundred meters North of the Mezquita and next door to Plaza de las Tendillas - the city's main square - and the local atmosphere Roman Córdoba. Fine and affordable tabernas on every corner up here away from the most touristy area: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/cord...tro.en-gb.html