Definitely rent a car once you are leaving Seville (you won't need it while you are staying there). It is absolutely the way to go. Easy, cheap, and total flexibility.

I would also consider flying home from Malaga or Granada and leave the car at the airport just prior to your departing flight.

Bardo1: we looked at flying home from Malaga, but it was about $300 cheaper a person to fly out of Madrid, plus the flights were better (shorter layovers).

hkto: thanks for the tip about buying the tickets early. We'll try and buy them online, we just have to decide if we're going to spend one or two nights in Lisbon!

Maybe take a look at the Luna Mora (Moorish Moon) festival on the 9th and 10th in small white village Guaro (pop. 2000), close to Ronda. Medieval market, food and drinks in the streets from 5pm, and concert in the new 1800 seats open air amphi theater at 11pm. http://www.lunamoraguaro.es/auditorio_en.php

Miguel Poveda sings on the 9th. Here from Pedro Almodóvars movie "Broken embraces": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3CJiJX-qLE

About last years festival: http://www.sunsetbeachclub.com/blog/...mora-festival/

SidewinderX
Not sure where are flying from; check out SATA http://www.sata.pt if it suits you. This year they added more US gateways. We flew with them (from Toronto) the last 2 years; some dates are quite reasonable some higher depending on demand I guess. From Lisbon there are lots of discount flights to Spanish destinations (but not to Sevilla)

SATA is private and not as strike prone as TAP Air Portugal.