In 2012, we will be in Spain during Semana Santa week. I have noted that hotels in Seville add a surcharge to their rates during that week. Is that the custom in other cities in Spain, such as Madrid?

I can't speak for other cities, but I was in Málaga for 3 days of Semana Santa this year, and the hotel I stayed in did not raise the rates. In fact, of the seven cities I visited, the hotel in Málaga, Hotel Don Curror, was the cheapest, at 72 euros. It's a nice hotel, modern and comfortable and very close to one of the main venues for the processions, the Alameda Principal.

Not only did my hotel in Sevilla add a surcharge, but they appeared to have doubled their rates. This is quite common, I understand.

I was in Sevilla for five days, but I won't go back again. I am planning on returning to Málaga for the entire Semana Santa next year. I liked Málaga a lot.

Semana Santa is a major holiday season throughout Spain, so hotels typically charge high season rates, comparable to the summer peak, and in some cases like Seville, even higher (August is in fact low season there because of intense heat). Those Andalucian cities noted for the Holy Week processions, like Seville, Córdoba and Granada, do normally surcharge, and often have minimum stay requirements (such as 3 to 7 days). In Seville, the rates can be double even treble of normal times. It's not unknown for a modest hostal that usually charges 40 euro/night to hike it to 120 euro with three nights minimum.
Just put in dates for next Holy Week (Apr 1-8) in www.booking.com for an idea of rates, though a lot of hotels haven't loaded their rates or availability so far ahead.

Like other have said this weekend is a busy weekend and all of Spain seems to be on vacation...High season prices for accommodation.

Price is a function of supply and demand - and Sevilla gets crazy during the semana santa.

It happened to us that we did not get any hotel in Sevilla, regardless of price. So we booked a most charming hotel in the nearby town Carmona and found that the semana santa was much better in Carmona than in Sevilla. In Carmona, it was still authentic, with locals processing throught the streets, while in Sevilla, expect huge stands and touristified shows.

This was our hotel:

http://www.alcazar-reina.es/

We were in Seville for several days during the SS (in April this year).
Although it was interesting to see ( using the word loosely!)
the processions, the crowds were huge .
We were in a non- tourist area, but the locals were on holidays too spending time in bars, restaurants, churches and , of course, in the streets.
It rained one day - all the processions were canceled.
I am not sure if it was the best time to visit Seville.

Head for a smaller place to soak up Semana Santa, I've been to seville and once you've seen one of the processions!! also I agree with earlier posting it is a little crazy in the big cities at Easter

Echnaton,
Not a thread of "toururistified shows" in Sevilla during Semana Santa. The Sevillanos would have much more important things in mind than tourists in this week. The (non-Catholic) tourists would rather be the most odd thing about Semana Santa in Sevilla.

Nerja is a lovely town in Malaga province, on the coast, with a lovely plaza and small church in the center. I was there for two days in Semana Santa and enjoyed the small town procession very much. Sevilla is very crowded, one day of processions there is enough!

Semana Santa in Nerja is beautiful, as it is in close by Almuñécar.

Here is local star Antonio Cortés singing a saeta during Semana Santa in Nerja in 2007. Here he was only 16/17 and his voice breaks a bit every now and then, but today he's got huge success across the country. Sings in the gardens of the Royal Palace in Madrid on the 24th of July (Jardines de Sabatini): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQUDWsfCHF4

... 24th of June that was: http://www.nvivo.es/conciertos/ANTONIO+CORTES-Madrid

Echnaton, congrats on your choice of Carmona, it is a place I like very much, and I've lodge at the Alcazar de la Reina when there (Parador or Casas de Carmona too pricey!)

We were in Sevilla and Granda for Semana Santa. Only the hotel in Sevilla had a surcharge. While there were a lot of people in both cities for the processions, we never had any problem getting around, finding a place to dine or drink, or getting into the major sights in either city. The crowds congregated along the major procession routes, and the locations shifted as the processions proceeded throughout the day. We didn't find to be any big deal in either city.

I loved being in Seville during Semana Santa (and I'm not Catholic). It was very easy to get to the sights and negotiate around the procession routes if I didn't want to watch. I went to 4 or 5 processions and each seems to have its own special flavor. Seville is hectic but I would definitely go back And yes, there are high hotel rates and surcharges. If you want to go start looking early, because the hotels fill up fast. It also helps if you go online and do some research about the various processions and go to the tourist office and get a map of the routes.