Which would you recemmend, renting a car, taking trains or buses throughout Andalusia? My husband and I are young retirees but haven't driven in Europe for many years.Thanks for your input.

Trains and buses when your itinerary will take you from city to city (Grananda, Sevilla, Córdoba, Ronda, Málaga).

Rent a car when you want to get a glimpse of the beautiful countryside, visit the White Villages, see the National/ Natural Parks, etc.

Or a mix of both, since you hardly find surcharges anymore for one-way rentals. Driving in Southern Spain is not complicated, and there are very good maps available.

And try to avoid July/August because of the heat.

Thank you for the info. So there would be no point in reserving a car before leaving the U.S.? We're going there next month.

I'd say rent a car for the freedom to see the countryside.

Usually you get much better rates if you reserve the car in advance.

I would say that you alway get better rates when you reserve before you go.
Brokers like autoeurope.com are very popular among Fodorites.

Hope it's o.k. if I piggyback on this thread...

We will be in Andalusia in May and are looking to go from Seville to Marbella via Ronda. Cowboy, I am having a hard time finding a train schedule from Seville to Ronda or a good bus website. Any suggestions? We will probably rent a car but I'm interested in other options.

ccrosner,
The bus co. that services the Seville-Ronda route is Los Amarillos.

From Mon-Fri departures to Ronda are at 7, 10, noon, 3 and 5.

Sat. at 10-3-5

Sun. at 8-10=3=5


From Ronda to Marbella service is provided by Autobuses Portillo

Departures from Ronda to Marbella:

Mon.-Fri. at 6:30-10-1:30-4:30-6-8:15

Sat. at 6:30-10-4:30-6-8:15

Sun. at 10-1:30-4:30-6-8:15


http://tinyurl.com/4lg6hx

Many thanks, Maribel! I think it makes more sense to rent the car. Will give us time flexibility (my hubby must be in Marbella by 5 p.m.) and the ability to keep our luggage in the car while touring Ronda.

But it was great to have that info...thank you!

we found the cheapest rates from

www.cars4holidays.com

recommended by a fellow fodorite

Thank you so much for all this valuable information. I did check the cars4holidays website and it does appear to offer very good rates.