Hello, Maribel and Fodorites. Here’s the latest itinerary for my trip with my 81-year-old mother. Tried to book longer stays in homebase towns, but availability was very limited. So we’ll be doing a lot of driving. Input? <BR> <BR>April 17-20: Arrive in Madrid at 5:30 p.m. Stay at Tryp Ambassador. Might take a day trip to Segovia. (4 NIGHTS) <BR>April 21: Pick up car and drive to Toledo: overnight at Pintor el Greco (1 NIGHT) <BR>April 22-24: Seville at Casas de la Baeza. (3 NIGHTS) <BR>April 25-26: Granada: Hotel America. (2 NIGHTS) <BR>April 28: Arcos de la Frontera, then overnight at Ronda Parador. (1 NIGHT) <BR>April 29: Open – looking for a nice overnight stop on the way to Ubeda. (1 NIGHT) <BR>April 30-May 1: Ubeda: Stay at Parador. Visit Baeza, Cordoba and other nearby towns. (2 NIGHTS) <BR>April 2: Back to Madrid. Hotel undetermined. (1 NIGHT) <BR>April 3: 8:40 a.m. fly home. <BR> <BR>I realize we’re taking a circuitous route by going to Granada before Ronda, but I planned around availability at recommended hotels. Hotel America, for instance, only had rooms for April 25-26 – even then, we’ll be staying in the suite one night and a double the next. I’ll follow tips on this board, though, and try contacting the Parador one month out to see if there are any cancellations. Because my mother is through for the day by 6 p.m., a friendly, charming hotel room is important. She says she doesn’t mind long drives – she enjoys watching the scenery go by – as long as I don’t mind doing the driving. I don’t. <BR>--Any suggestions for an overnight stop between Ronda and Ubeda? Scenic routes and stops between cities? <BR> <BR>Thanks to all. Someday I’ll try to return the favor. <BR> <BR>Neva <BR>

Hi Neva, <BR>A few thoughts and a couple of questions: <BR>Where have you planned for April 27, after Granada? Since Ronda comes before Arcos, maybe you'd like to stay 2 nights in Ronda at the Parador (if rm is available) and use it as you "home base" to explore the white hill towns (Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, El Bosque and Arcos). <BR>(Trying to stick with your "home base" plan!) I honestly think you and your Mom will enjoy Ronda more than Arcos-prettier, plusher Parador, more hospitable, much easier to get to-driving up to the top of Arcos to the Parador thru the very narrow, curvy streets is a real challenge! <BR> <BR>What route did you plan to take from Ronda to Ubeda? <BR>For your overnight on April 29, if you take the route thru Antequera, Baena, Jaen, you might consider the Hotel Husa Santo Domingo in Lucena (Cordoba province). Should be about half way. I just read a review today in El Pais. It's a member of the Husa chain but a restored 18th c convent with only 30 rms. (www.husa.es) Picture of the cloister patio with comfortable furniture looks lovely, but the town itself is industrial-no major tourist draws here. This route except for Antequera isn't that interesting, but if you'd like a detour into the Parque Natural de las Sierras SubBeticas , there's the "Villa turistica" de Priego de Cordoba, which I've only read about (tranquil whitewashed little village with 52 "casitas" and pool-cozy B&B place with good food). Maybe Pedro or another Fodorite can give you a first hand account. I've not visited. <BR> <BR>Are you planning to visit Cordoba on a day trip from Sevilla? If not, you could drive from Ronda to Cordoba and spend the 29th there. The modern Parador is outside the city, but the NH Amistad, the Alfaros and the little Albucasis are all respectable options near the Mezquita if you'd rather be in the Juderia. <BR>Waiting to visit Cordoba on the overnight from Ronda to Ubeda might be your best bet. Just a thought... <BR>The rest of the intinerary sounds great. <BR>

Hi, Maribel. <BR> <BR>Thanks for the input. I, uhm, seem to have forgotten April 27! I know the Ronda Parador is booked for that night – it only has vacancies for April 28-29. Think I should try to find Ronda hotel for that night, or stay in another town in the region (maybe Grazalema)? <BR> <BR>I didn’t have a specific route planned between Ronda-Ubeda, but I’d love something scenic. The Parque Natural de las Sierras SubBeticas sounds wonderful. I’ll look for information on the Priego de Cordoba (Pedro? Any advice?). <BR> <BR>I haven’t figured out exactly when we’ll see Cordoba – we might do it as a day trip from Seville or Ubeda, but an overnight stay would be great, too. Another option would be to cut the first of our three nights in Seville and spend the night in Cordoba, instead, on our way down from Toledo on April 22. <BR> <BR>What do you think? <BR> <BR>Neva <BR>

Hi Neva, <BR>A few more thoughts... <BR>I think you should keep the 3 nights in Seville-it will probably be your and Mom's favorite, and you really need 3 nights there to enjoy it, savor it at a leisurely pace, plus you'll have very nice lodgings at the Casas del Rey de Baeza that won't be equalled in atmospher in Cordoba. I'd suggest Cordoba as a morning day trip on the AVE (very easy-quick taxi ride from station to Mezquita) from Sevilla, or if you don't want to take time away from Seville (which I think will be the case), better still, do it as an easy day trip from Ubeda-you'll have plenty of time then, with the 2 nights you've alloted. <BR>About April 27: you could try the San Gabriel for one night (I checked and it does have an elevator); you'll have a longish drive from Granada, particularly if you go down the Suspirto del Moro pass (scenic) to Motril, then along the coast (very pretty) thru Nerja, bypass Malaga on the superhighway, then up the winding but also very scenic road to Ronda at San Pedro de Alcantara. Since your Mom is done by 6 p.m., you can just settle in to the San Gabriel after a late lunch, and she'll have the evening to enjoy the cozy ambiance of the hotel-iit's adorable- then move her to the Parador the next day. <BR>I also discovered a brand new, 4 star, beautifully decorated little hotel in Grazalema (my favorite white town-it's pristine) called the Hotel Puerta de la Villa. It really took my eye, so I asked for a tour-nice people, delightful rms, charming, 28 rms, even 5 apts., a little pool and an elegant looking restaurant. It's a wow, it really is, (I took pictures and several brochures, because I want to book it for my next visit), but Grazalema itself is tiny. People come here to stay for a week for the walks in the Grazalema Natural Park area. I mention it in case you can't find another place in Ronda. <BR> <BR>About Priego de Cordoba-hope Pedro will respond. It's described as the *jewel* of the province with 18th c mansions built by silk merchants and Baroque churches. My Pallas Andaluca guide has a lengthy description of the town, also Insight Guide,Thomas Cook Signpost and the Eyewitness Andalucia guides (check for them at your B&N) , and it's only about a 1/2 hr. detour on the way from industrial Lucena (furniture) to industrial Baena (olive oil). The Villa Turistica complex is 7 km west, before you reach Priego. <BR>Good luck! <BR>

Topping in search of Pedro...