Having had great advice form this forum for a trip to Italy last year, I'm looking for some advice on Spain for June:

Barcelona: any info/experience at the Hispanos 7 Suiza?

Seville: any info/experience at the Casa Imperial or Casa del Maestro? Alfonso XIII?

Advice on bullfights (will be travelling with 4 sons ages 9,12,14,16)...too gory or violent for them?

Advice on soccer matches (see "4 sons" above!)?

Thanks so much!

Bringing your message back up "to the top" since it's your first day (posting) here ever... (how did I know that? click on your name - - an important tip that Fodors fails to mention to new registrants when it sounds out that confirmatory e-mail to you).

Best wishes,

Rex

This first-time poster appreciates your advice, Rex.

You're welcome. Hope someone gets you some answers. I set foot in the Alfonso XIII once, to have an afternoon fruit salad - - just to take a break - - and see this magnificent historical hotel. It looks like the kind of place I would love to stay.

Check out http://www.madridman.com. Amazing site full of answers to all of your questions! Natalie

I suggest you <b> definitely </b> check out the hotel reviews on TripAdvisor and also Maribel's Guides (www.maribelsguides.com).

Another excellent site with very current www.discoversevilla.com

Soccer (futbol) matches Yes!

Toros, No!

I took my son to a Corrida when he was 16 - he became very bored. We showed a videotape to some of his friends back home: they got bored.

It can be an expensive proposition for 5-people to attend a Corrida. If you insist on seeing one, take them to a Novillada: up and coming bullfighters 'torean' with 2-year old bulls.

Sometimes, you see a much better 'Faena' at the latter

Thanks so much for all the great advice. I had looked at Maribel's incredibly helpful guides previously but I hadn't seen the discover seville or madridman sites. Interesting comment about the bullfights - I never would have anticipated boredom! Thanks to all, again.

We just returned from two weeks in Spain - I'm putting my report up in segments as they are ready. We stayed at Alfonso XIII in Sevilla - beautiful hotel. Took the boys to a soccer match while in Barcelona (they are 16 and 18) but avid avid fans of the game. It was fun and incredible to see 86000 people screaming for their team. Tickets can be purchased over the internt for Barca games or at the box office. DON'T use your hotel or a service through the hotel for them - we saved 15e/ticket by going to the box office. Were not able to get bullfight tickets as it was opening weekend and the scalpers were getting up to 400e/ticket!! No way to just buy them as opening weekend is always sold out. Let me know if you have other questions - we spent 2 days in Madrid, 3 in Sevilla, 3 in Marbella and 4 in Barcelona with travel on each end.

I just read through your trip postings so far and they're GREAT. We are going for 2 weeks, spending 4 nights each in Barcelona, Seville and then Madrid. We are planning to stay at the Palace in Madrid so it was reassuring to hear your comments about that as well as the Alfonso XII. As far as soccer,from the schedules I've seen, it looks as though the regular season ends just before we arrive. I will see if anything else opens up in any of the 3 cities. I look forward to the rest of your excellent reports!