Ok fodorites, here is my new itinerary :)
I wanted to include Sevilla but couldn't do it with this time frame :(

March 5 - Arrival to BCN
March 6- Cruise leaving from BCN 7pm
March 6-- March 17: Cruising (Rome,Greece,Turkey,Egypt,Malta)
March 18 - Arrival to BCN
March 19 - BCN daytrip to Monserrat
March 20- BCN
March 21- Depart to Granada
March 22 - Granada
March 23- Depart to Madrid
March 24- Madrid, daytrip Segovia
March 25- Madrid, daytrip Toledo
March 26- Madrid
March 27- Depart home

Again, all your suggestions and comments are very welcome and thanks so much for helping me with my first time trip to Spain.

This looks much better. It's too bad you just don't have enough time for Sevilla but that will mean you will have to return! IMO it's just not worth trying to push Sevilla into the itinerary at the expense of rushing around at a crazy speed.

I'd consider a daytrip to Girona from Barcelona versus Monserrat. This is only my personal opinion - others love it. You have plenty of time to read and make up your mind.

Madrid is a big city with wonderful things to see.
I would go to either Toledo or Segovia and spend an
extra day in Madrid.
I liked Girona... after 4 visits to Barcelona still have not visited Monserrat ( just not my "thing")

This tread is of good use to me as I'm planning a 2 week family (parents) trip to my motherland for later in the year. However, I want to include a stay in Galicia (where my father's family comes from) as well as Madrid (my mother's side.) I also have interests in visiting other regions, in particular - Castile-La Mancha, Andalusia, and Catalonia. I was even considering going across the Pyrenees into the Languedoc region of France. How much of this could I possibly do? I do plan on having an extended week after the initially two with my parents where I will would travel on with my girlfriend. I, however, would rather continue on to other parts of Europe (perhaps Paris and Berlin.) I haven't had much time to think about this trip lucidly as I have been planning my trip to Germany which would happen earlier in the year.

Abraxas -
It would probably be best to start your own thread so the responses are specific to your trip.

I see. I'm not going to worry about this trip just yet though, because I'm planning another trip which is more pressing. I'll leave it for some other time. Thanks for the tip.

I would cut out Barcelona for Seville. I also wouldn't worry about daytrips, there's not a lot of time in this itinerary to enjoy anywhere except Granada. I guess you can't see it all.

Thanks Cathy,kimhe,Danon and Egbert for all the suggestions and advice!!!

I'm still tweaking details of my trip but will let you know if I have more questions and will definitely share my experience once I get back.

I'm so excited!! :)

Here is my trip report from my visit in 2009, hope it helps.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...tour-spain.cfm

Agedude - Excellent review and very detailed!! This will be extremely useful in my planning since your itinerary is very similar to what I want.

Thank you, this is a great help!

Hmmm...I think I found a way to fit Sevilla by reading agedude report :O
Egbert - I followed your suggestion to cut one night in Barcelona.

Counting my pre-cruise night in BCN this is how it looks now:

March 5: Night in BCN
March 18: Night in BCN
March 19: Night in BCN
March 20: Night in Granada
March 21: Night in Granada
March 22: Night in Sevilla
March 23: Night in Sevilla
March 24: Night in MAD
March 25: Night in MAD (daytrip)
March 26: Night in MAD
March 27: Fly home

Thanks to everyone for all the ideas and advice. The more I read, the more I want to see :)

Looking forward to read what the experts think!

It really comes to YOU - your interests, your style of travel, your tolerance for changing locals and hotels.

The "experts" are as subjective as everyone else.

I know danon and thanks. Its just that as my first time in Spain I would like input of the people who have more experience than me since I still have time to rearrange my itinerary.

For instance, you suggested Girona so it lead me to read about it and compare it with Monserrat.

So all the advice of the more knowledgeable fodorites matters to me :)

Honestly I liked the itinerary better before you tried to squeeze in Sevilla. I love Sevilla but you'll barely have enought time in Barcelona especially since the first day will be jet-lagged. You'll barely have 1.5 days in Sevilla - no time for a daytrip to Cordoba. Then in Madrid not enough tiime to visit Segovia & Toledo as daytrips. No time for daytrips from Barcelona either. I don't think you're factoring in the travel time. This isn't an itinerary where there will be alot of time to relax. But danon is correct in that it really comes down to what you want. Sometimes you have to learn by experience. I shudder at the pace I planned my first couple of independent trips - they were mini marathons.

We visited Girona the second time in Barcelona.
On the first visit ( six days), we loved the city so much we did not wish to leave.

But, we are "lazy" travelers who like to do things without a tight schedule or moving around a lot.

Of course, many posters are just the opposite.

Just wanted to keep you posted.
I'm sticking with the itinerary without Sevilla. So should be
Barcelona, Granada and Madrid with some day trips.

Cathy and danon - Thanks so much for all the patience.

I know I will have more questions regarding my planning so thanks for all the help.

you are welcome. Enjoy Spain!

Last summer I spent a day in Barcelona before a cruise and 6 days there afterward. I visited Montserrat but...I suggest you stay in Barcelona and skip Montserrat with such a short time in the city. Montserrat is lovely but there are SOOOOO many wonderful things to see in Barcelona that are just as lovely and without the time spent traveling to see them.

I also recommend the 2 hour Gotic walking tour from the Barcelona tourist office to see things you would not see on your own. http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...PwfBGc-xA03U6w

The tourist office site offers much information on the city.
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/
Ann Marie

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the advice. I had one of the best trips of my life so far and can't wait to get back to Spain.

I enjoyed every part of my trip!!! I will try to do a report as soon as I can.

Thanks again!

nice of you to get back to the Forum.
at let us know about your experience.

Glad you enjoyed Spain ;I said it was addictive!