Karen

I've been pulling off all your good ideas and have put together an itinerary for a week-long trip to Spain in April (5-13). My husband and I will be traveling from Italy with one other couple. Please take a look and let me know if you experts (or other Spain lovers) would suggest any changes or things I've overlooked that I can't miss! Current plan:<BR>- 3 nights in Madrid (have reservations through bancotel at Husa Princesa), will do day trip to Toledo<BR>- DAY 4, AVE to Sevilla, stay 1 night(going to try Hotel Amadeus)<BR>- DAY 5, rent car and drive to Rota (stay with friends) 1 night<BR>- DAY 6, drive through Ronda to Estepona (stay at Diana Park w/bancotel coupons)1 night<BR>- DAY 7, Head to Granada to see Alhambra (staying downtown at Reina Cristina - waited too long for parador) 1 night<BR>- DAY 8/9, Drive back to sevilla (no hotel yet) for last night before flying out the following day - new option - just heard from travel agent that we could get an afternoon flight out of Sevilla to Barcelona where we could spend about 24 hours before connecting flight back to Italy.<BR><BR>Any ideas/thoughts are welcome. Thanks,<BR>Karen

oops

<BR>Look at the mapof Spain-you're zigging alot and missingout on Segovia and El Escorial-north of Madrid.You can do Toledo as you head south,then go through Ronda and Cordoba and then Sevilla.The rest of your trip is going west but Granada is east! A bit too much for me but everyone is different when it comes to driving those winding mountainous roads!<BR>Last suggestion on driving,don't do it at night!

Karen

Thanks Oops. I didn't mention, but the reason I'm doing a Toledo day trip is so that I can be back in Madrid for the bullfight on Sunday night, plus, of course I would like to save some travel time by taking the high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Sevilla. I really want to see Toledo, so I think I'll have to leave El Escorial and Segovia until the next trip. As far as the southern stops (Sevilla, Rota, Ronda, Estepona, Granada), what route would you suggest to get to see them all? Still working in the flexible mode. <BR>Karen

Katie

The only thing I can say is that Seville is so much more than the Ghiralda, Cathedral, and Royal Palace. 1 night and then zipping back through it on your last night is not nearly enough to truly enjoy this wonderful place. Could you eliminate 1 night somewhere else and give yourself at least a 2 night consecutive stay in Seville? That is just IMHO. Sounds like a great trip and you'll have a lot of fun.

carolyn

I agree with Kate- Seville is a great city and deserves two nights- in fact I would spent as much time in Seville as Madrid. Also I think Cordoba should not be missed. Ronda is pretty if you're driving through a couple of hours there will do.

Karen

Thanks all - I may try to drop Estepona and add another night in Sevilla. It really is hard to narrow it down when there are so many lovely and interesting places to see!<BR>Karen