I think at this point you need to determine exactly how many days you'll have in Spain and then narrow down the locations. Barcelona and Madrid can easily take 10 days and if you add Valencia another 2-3. This doesn't include the suggestion of a couple of days in Tossa. You mention a daytrip to Morocco. Does this mean you're also interested in visiting Andalucia? If so, then this could easily be another 10 days or at the very least 6 or so. And I wouldn't recommend a daytrip to Tangiers - not a great place to visit and certainly not worth taking a day from Andalucia.

My days in spain depends on the cost of airfare. It will be between 12-14 days, although if the price is reasonable I may stretch it to 15-16.

Unfortunately, without knowing how much airfare will be as of yet, my best guess is 12-14 days.

I know that I could easily spend 2 weeks in almost each city, but I would like to just tour around a bit. I haven't set any plans in stone besides Madrid and Barcelona. I'm just trying to get ideas from people who have visited and then the ones that personally speak to me the most I will plan some sort of route.

<For 1-2 nights I would like to stay at a hotel with a sea view>

If you want some days by the sea, go to charming Nerja just east of Málaga. Here you can stay in traditional and seafront Hostal Mena with terrace and sea-view for some 40€ for a double. Have stayed here several times.

Hostal Mena: http://www.hostalmena.es/hostal/eng/
Photo of Nerja: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/...de6a8146_o.jpg

If you want it to be more luxcurious, I can recommend Hotel Carabeo in seafront Calle Carabeo, the oldest street in town: http://www.hotelcarabeo.com/

kimhe, that place ( hostal mena) looks amazing, I have added it to my Spain file.

I would go to Madrid, Seville, Granada and Malaga. Otherwise if you really must go to Barcelona I would split Madrid and Barcelona into 2 trips. I would not try to see all three unless you have at least 15 days. I would skip Morocco this time.

How exciting, but as said before you really need to narrow down where you want to go and try not to cram too much in - it´s a big country and the travelling around could bump up your budget loads.

www.alsa.es bus company covers a large part of Andalucia and www.renfe.es is for train travel - they might help you with an idea of costs.

Have fun and keep us informed, the planning is almost as exciting as the doing.

Once again I must thank you immensely for your assistance with planning and preparing for my trip. I have since booked my flight and now officially know the dates in which I will be headed to Spain. I am planned to be there from March 18th until April 2nd. I have decided to plan everything for myself, including all our destinations and booking a train pass for my boyfriend and I.

I now have questions regarding packing, security, and hostels. I have planned for my boyfriend and I to stay the majority of the nights in hostels. I have no experience with these, nor do I know anything about them aside from reading that they offer in room lockers. Can anyone tell me about the security of belongings and luggage?

This leads me to another question. Can anyone offer any advice as to packing? The airline allows one personal item, one carry on, and one free checked bag per passenger. I would like to do some shopping for gifts, and for personal remembrance items of my trip there. Not a ton of shopping but some. Should I check a bag? How much clothing? I plan on bringing my back pack, camera, cell phone, and netbook, aside from that I don't plan on taking anything else.

Again I am eternally grateful to suggestions and insight.

:)

Packing tips: google packing lists and then adjust for yourself. I pick a color scheme for each trip so I can mix and match outfits. With a long trip you will do laundry, so don't over pack, but checking or not is a matter of personal preference.

To know what type of clothing to pack, check the typical temps for the places you are going using a website like wunderground.

If you haven't bought the train pass yet, you may find now with some new, even cheaper, fares that point to point tickets are less expensive.

have a great trip.!

we haven't bought the pass yet, i saw the news on the price changes just now. Do you think that will be cheaper now? Is there no discount on the passes?

Here's SEA VIEW HOTEL ( certain rooms) south of Valencia 1.5 hours.

http://www.granhotelsolymar.com/eng/index.php

What a lovely hotel! It's pricey, but quite beautiful. I think I have my sights set on the Capri Hotel in Tossa de Mar though. Quiet and beautiful.

Still looking for advice on hostel security/lockers, and packing. Anyone have any tips for me? :)

Look at the Let's Go student guides and the thorn tree section of the Lonely Planet website.

This is for backpack/budget travelers - and will give you a lot of info on hostels. You need to check carefully - since some have only smallish lockers and may not hold all of your belongings. Also - some have larger safe rooms where you may be able to put larger size luggage.

Since you are going only to Spain you may not need warmer clothes - depending on where you go. The southern part will be warm - but Madrid is a more temperate area and you may need a sweater as well as a light rain jacket.

Definitely invest in a good guide book - Let's Go or Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide are good choices for budget travel. You'll find all sorts of information that you didn't even know to ask about.

The weather will be a bit changeable in late March/early April, but shouldn't be too cool. Pack a thin waterproof and then the old mantra of travellers, layers. It may be too cool to eat outside but equally it may be OK. Layering will allow you to put on or take off clothing according to the day.

Whether you need a larger check in bag will depend on your airline's weight limit. Once you've packed and weighed your bag, decide if you can take a slightly larger case to leave room for gifts etc. or whether a smaller check in bag is worth the expense.

You are in Spain during Easter, Semana Santa. That will be high season prices for accommodation. Some locations will already be booked up.
Were are you going?

Choose 3 home bases max and stay in APARTMENTS. You will be more comfortable than in a hostel and have better facilities.

Bus travel in Spain is an incredible value, reliable, and clean.

BEWARE of pickpoketers, specially in Barcelona, the WORST city by far in the world for pickpocketing.

my tentative agenda is flying into Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Barcelona, Tossa de Mar, then leaving from Madrid. with day/side trips to Toledo, and Figueres.

I have a good idea on how to pack and dress now. I'm just worried about bringing too much. My carry on can hold a good amount of clothes, as can my back pack. So I'm debating whether our not I should even check a bag, even though it's free.

I would try to add Granada and at the least do a daytrip to Cordoba from Sevilla or between Sevilla and Madrid. You'll be in Spain during Semana Santa (Holy Week). This is a true cultural experience and a time that I personally love to visit. It is huge in Andalucia. However hotel prices particularly in Sevilla will be at a premium and it will be crowded. You'll also need to have reservations for any train transportation especially on the high speed routes in advance as most of Spain is on holiday the last part of this week and doing alot of travel. If you decide that visiting Andalucia is for you during Semana Santa make sure you have your accommodation planned and reserved.

Your itinerary is a little ambitious for only 15 nights - but you're young so the fast pace may be OK.

You may also want to try to arrange to be in Valencia during Las Fallas - another fun experience. I believe the dates are March 15-19 so you'd have to do this at the start of your trip.

If you haven't purchased your tickets I'd buy it open jaw flying into Madrid and returning home from Barcelona, or vice -versa. This cuts put valuable time back-tracking.

Unfortunately, I have already booked my tickets. I managed to snag a deal flying in and out of Madrid for $736 round trip. I tried to do into Madrid and out of Barcelona but for some ridiculous reason it was $823.

My plan has changed since my last post. I realized that my trip was pushing it for sure so I have since cut Valencia out of the agenda. With staying in Madrid and Barcelona about 5 days each and 2 for Seville, and 2 for Tossa De Mar.

Barcelona was planned to be in the end portion of the trip so hopefully I won't have a problem booking rooms, and trains in that part of Spain.

Thank you all for the packing and security recommendations. I have carefully considered them! :)