My wife, 12-year-old and I plan to visit Spain in March. We have three questions about paradores:
1. The Paradores web site describes standard double rooms, but I read somewhere that the beds are usually twin beds, and not double beds that would accomodate two people? Is this correct? If so, we'll need to reserve a third bed.
2. Does the "Five Nights Card" promotion mean that a purchase of the card would allow us to apply the amount on the card against all room rates (whether official or "Five Nights" rates), and the special rates would be reduced roughly 15-25% at the paradores that have rooms available at the Card rate. Is this correct?
3. Does the Cordoba parador have transportation into the historical area?

Thanks. This is a wonderful travel site!!

KEVMAUNEY,
Question 1:
At most Paradors (with few exceptions) there are both double and twin bed rooms available, but usually far more twins than double bedded rooms. if you require a double bed you need to request a "cama de matrimonio" at the time of booking.
At www.parador.es, on
each Parador's page, click on "Service and Facilities" to see how many rooms are doubles and twins-look for the icons. While the Cordoba Parador has 84 twins, they only have 4 doubles, so they should be booked far in advance.

On our last all Parador trip we had both twins which we pushed together, a double, and in the case of Ronda, a huge room with 2 double beds.

For your daughter, the 3rd person, you'll need to request a "cama supletoria", an extra fold up/rollaway bed. For users of the 5 night card in '04, the extra bed charge is 17,39 euros plus 7% vat, if your daughter is still 12 in March.
She would also receive a 50% discount on the price of the buffet breakfast (normally priced at 9 euros) and the menú del día at lunch or dinner. (normal price is from 23-26 euros, depending on Parador).
But the Paradors also have a childrens' menu.

Question 2:
Yes, it means that you can use its value towards your room rate regardless of whether the 5 night card is valid then.

We plan to use the 5 night card in March in Extremadura.
But while the Cáceres Parador accepts the 5 night card during 3 of our 4 nights (5 night card is valid there Sun-Thurs.), it does charge a hefty supplement of 39 euros per night. So we'll pay 108 when rack rate is 113, a tiny savings.
If we opt for the nearby Trujillo Parador we'll save 28 euros per night.

In March it appears that half the Paradors accept the 5 night card every day, and the rest just from Sun-Thurs.

I assume you've seen the Conditions of Use here:
http://www.parador.es/english/oferta...;idiomaCabecer

Question 3:
The last time I visited the Córdoba Parador, it didn't have a shuttle service into town, and I don't see any info in its current brochure or on the web that it has added shuttle service. I actually don't recall any Parador that offers shuttle service into town; it's not customary. In April we stayed at the Toledo Parador 2 km. above the city and had to taxi back and forth; ditto in Cangas de Onís.

Hope this helps.

Maribel,
Thanks so much! You are awesome.

As much as I love the paradores, I would not suggest staying at the one in Cordoba simply because the location is so inconvenient. (The Cordoba parador is not just outside the historical area of Cordoba - it's actually outside Cordoba itself).

Much more convenient would be a hotel inside the old quarter (Juderia) from which you could easily walk to most of the main tourist attractions, and which would be near restaurants and shops.

(Check out the NH Amistad - located in two historic buildings facing each other across a small plaza).

Cordoba is so underrated - there's so much more to see than the Mezquita (though this is certainly spectacular!)
Have a great visit.

KEVMAUNEY,
On our last overnight in Córdoba we also stayed at the NH Amistad. You may want to consider staying there-it's in the heart of the Judería but tucked away a bit on the relatively quiet Plaza de Maimónides, next to the Museo Taurino and save that Parador night for another more atmospheric, lavishly decorated, historical one on your route.