I am planning a trip to Spain in May for a party of 8. Our plans are to fly into Barcelona, and then spend some time in southern Spain. Right now we are considering Marriott's Marbella resort. Can anyone recommend the best way to get from Barcelona to Marbella? Is there a train? Is it safe to drive? Any suggestions for where we should stay in Barcelona? Would you recommend a day trip to Marrakesh?

We stayed at the Marriott Marbella and plan to do so again. Can't say enough good things about it. <BR><BR>Personally, I would rent a car (but not with Hertz) and not until time to leave Barcelona and drive to Marbella with stops in places along the way, especially Nerja and Granada. But others would recommend the train, but we had problems with reservations and connections in Spain. Also, it doesn't go into Marbella--you'd have to take a bus (or get a car) in Malaga.<BR><BR>There are lots of great guide books--I like Frommers, Rick Steves and Foders best--as well as several websites where you can get great information. <BR><BR>

Thanks Julie. Still looking into options but I think we have settled on driving from Barcelona to Marbella so that we can make stops.<BR><BR>Is it possible to do a day trip to Marrakesh from Marbella? <BR>

You cannot take a day trip to Marrakesh from Malaga unless you have a private jet. It's too far away.<BR><BR>I would boycott Spain because they have total disregard for the people of Gibraltar and want to seize the place. Yet they refuse to give up their colonies of Ceuta and Melilla to Morocco.<BR><BR>The Spanish also did nothing to help 007 when he was in trouble in Bilbao in &quot;The World is not Enough&quot;<BR><BR>Just kidding for the last part.

Michelle: Sorry, Marrakech is impossible as a day trip from Marbella. You could probably get to Tangiers, but I wouldn't bother.