You will really like the Aurea Catedral, and especially, the junior suite with cathedral view. It is super clean, modern and very nice, and a short walk to almost anywhere in the city. We took a cab to the Alhambra (you can walk, but it is quite uphill, and our entrance was early morning so we weren't up for it), and we walked back downhill. We did a similar trip to yours (Sevilla, Granada and Madrid) last October. There were so many nice looking hotels in Sevilla and Madrid, but almost nothing that appealed to me in Granada. Trust me, you have made a good decision!

Additionally, since you are taking the tapas tour with Shawn in Sevilla, either go to her web site and look at her restaurant recommendations or email her before the trip to ask. I had made some reservations for dinner, and she was so helpful in telling me things like, "that restaurant used to be good but they changed owners, etc." We went to two places that she recommended that we would never have found ourselves, and they were real highlights.

girlonthego,
I remember helping studenttobe in her Granada hotel search, and she also chose and liked the Aurea Cathedral. It couldn't be more central. More contemporary certainly than the Casa 1800 but even better located for touring. It is today even better reviewed---booking.com rating of 9.2, which is what I try to aim for, a rating of over an 8.7.
As I mentioned, the Aurea is the top tier group of the Eurostars hotels.

Yes, my friend Shawn knows the Sevilla dining scene like no one else, having lived in Sevilla for over 30 years and knows what used to be great and is no longer great (change of ownership, such as the Antigua Abacería de San Lorenzo and the Eslava).

ssinny and Maribel, Shawn sent me a list of good restaurants to try on the other nights we are in Seville. So I have to look at them. I am also going to book that Flamenco show in Seville and probably a bike tour!

Thank you Revulgo for the map! We are staying in that neighborhood.

Maribel, Madrid resident, what would be a couple of your favorite things to see or do in Madrid.

Also, is there still bullfighting in Spain and is it real or more of a show? If one of the big futbol teams are in town playing while we are there, how hard is it to get tickets to a game? My husband would love that.

I can't answer the question of how hard it is to get tickets to a Real Madrid game, because I haven't tried. I watch the games on television or at a local bar. That's a matter I'll defer to Revulgo. If there isn't a match during your mid- October dates, you can always take the stadium tour. Info here.
Access to Bernabeu stadium from your hotel (Westin Palace): take the 27 bus from the Paseo del Prado, Prado Museum side (easy but be very careful with your belongings on this line).

As for (very real) bullfights in mid-October at Las Ventas: the final Feria de Otoño, the final fair of the season, ends on October 12 with the corrida de la Hispanidad.

Just 3 of my favorite things to do or see:

• the new Royal Collections Galleries at the Royal Palace is just stunning, with priceless works of art from the Hapsburg and Bourbon dynasties to the present day---paintings, tapestries, carriages, sculptures... Allow 2 hours minimum for a complete visit. Revulgo has written a lovely description of it here.
• a Sunday stroll through beautiful Retiro Park, and a visit to the glass and iron Palacio de Cristal (but currently closed for renovation), maybe a visit to a temporary exhibit in the Centro Cultural Casa de Vacas there, if I see something of interest. All of this Retiro stuff followed by a walk down Avenida Menéndez Pelayo across from the park for an aperitif and and a tapa at one of the many tapas bars there (Casa de Fieras or Arzábal or Salino), finished with a relaxing, rice-centered lunch (several types of paella) at Berlanga, number 41. Lrice enjoyed her New Years lunch there.
• A visit to the Sorolla Museum, a haven of tranquility in this bustling city: the post-Impressionist painter, Joaquín Sorolla's house/atelier. This mansion filled with his paintings, his gorgeous ceramics collection and his personal memorabilia (it's also a decorative arts museum) is always a treat, no matter how many times I've visited. If you wish to visit a smaller museum, this one is a gem! From your hotel, you can take bus 27 and alight at the Plaza de Emilio Castelar rotunda, then walk west on Martínez Campos, just 3 and a half blocks. After the museum visit, I take a stroll south on Callie Zurbano to admire the elegant architecture of this neighborhood.

I am not a football fan and I have no personal experience with purchasing tickets.

Thank you Maribel and Revulgo! I don't think any of the teams are playing that weekend anyway. I will keep an eye on the scheduling.

Crime question, How bad is the pick pocketing type of thing? We did not have any issues in Barcelona and that was well known for pick pocketing. We also did not have issues in Paris with it either where it has a bad reputation. Our daughter, who was 19 at the time and was posing for a picture with her sister, and we were taking the pic, had her purse cut from behind in Rome. She happened to have her hand on the purse so it did not drop. We saw nothing. But if the thief had gotten her purse, he would have gotten snacks. My daughter was a big runner at the time and was always carrying nuts and granola bars around with her.

We are usually very careful. My husband does not carry anything. His wallet goes into the hotel safe. I use a bra safe for a credit card and some cash and have small cash in my purse. I do notice we need to have our passports to get into the Alahambra and places like that? There are also several places where we arrive early. I am assuming the hotels will hold our luggage, but will probably carry a small sling bag with our most important stuff. I just purchased online a travelon anti theft sling bag. We are also traveling by train between all the cities.
So Maribel and Revulgo, are there any places in these cities, we should extra vigilant? thanks!

I only mentioned the "watch your belongings on bus 27" because I was pickpocketed recently (on bus 61).

The thief was extremely efficient and exceled at his craft.
I was sitting in a window seat, not standing, and had a shopping bag covering my purse, but nonetheless he, sitting beside me, managed to lift my wallet from my handbag, probably while I was looking out the window. Ruined my day, my week, my month.
This was my very first pickpocketing mishap in all of my years in Madrid.
Actually, no, at the Sol metro stop long ago, an attempt was made to lift my wallet, but the thief lifted my leather eyeglass case instead and when he realized he wasn't successful, he threw it down on the ground when exiting the car. No loss.

In Barcelona I was "relieved" of my favorite gold and silver necklace, ripped from my neck by a bicycle thief when walking with my husband at night to dinner in El Born (la Ribera). I am extremely cautious because of this when in Barcelona and use a neck pouch for cash/cc/identity card and don't wear any jewelry.

You do need your passport to show to enter the Alhambra.

If you use a bra safe for your credit card and some cash, and have that new anti-theft bag, you'll be perfectly fine. Don't worry. Madrid is a very safe city.
When walking the streets of Madrid day or night, I don't worry at all. It's on the crowded buses and metro where I'm now more careful, more vigilant.

I travel on trains here very frequently and don't worry at all.

Thank you! I ordered us both money belts for the passports if we have to carry them around. I never wear jewelry while traveling to cities here or in international places. I might bring fake junk earrings to wear but nothing that looks like real jewelry. I agree it makes you more of a target.
I think in crowded places especially that I don't know well, I am very vigilant, but your situation on the bus, you thought there was no way that person would get to your purse without you knowing and they did. Which must have been very upsetting.

I was at the Kentucky Derby many years ago with my husband's clients. The local client who was entertaining us, took us down to see the horses before they go onto the track. It is a very crowded area. I saw a pickpocket put his hand in our friends front pocket. I ran up to the thief and grabbed his hand. It was empty. I said what did you just do, but then felt foolish like maybe I didn't just see that? Well, our was friend was robbed out of his front pocket 750$cash and his driver's license. The police said that it was a good thing I let him go. He had already handed it off to a partner and might have stabbed me if I made a scene. (Apparently, that was a thing). Luckily I let him go before he got aggressive. Police said this was the area where they wait till the crowds come down and relieve them of all of their betting money.

Scary Kentucky Derby story, girlonthego. I woudn't have dreamed...

It´s interesting that I sat down at the window when the seat became vacant and signaled to my husband to sit next to me, when that aisle seat became vacant but my very talented thief interloper jumped right in and took the seat before my husband could reach it. He then alighted just a few stops after securing his bounty.
Lesson learned.

You're going to have a wonderful trip!

Girlonthego, Chiming in on the Aurea Cathedral as per Maribel’s mention. I stayed there in November 2024 and really loved the hotel. I tormented myself and folks here (especially Maribel, who has the patience of a saint) with Casa 1800 versus Aurea Cathedral. In the end I chose the Aurea because having a walk in shower is important to DH and me and also because some of the reviews of the Casa 1800 gave me pause (in re privacy and noise from the courtyard, depending on where on the property your room is located—and I was traveling with a very light sleeper). Generally I go for unique hotels with character (especially well renovated historic properties), but in this case felt that Casa 1800 was not as safe an option for us. The staff at Aurea were great; our junior suite wonderful and spacious and well appointed (with a huge bathroom and a great shower); and I loved the location. The room also had more character (in a good way) than I’d anticipated. The staff were especially accomodating and helpful, even when at the last minute (while we were already staying at the hotel) we had to cancel the last night of our stay. All of these things matter to me a lot, and if I’m ever back in beautiful Granada I’d stay there again without a thought. (Note that I found the lobby a bit underwhelming when I checked in and got a bit worried, but rest assured that behind the check in desk area the lobby becomes more commodious and handsome.

Thanks SO MUCH for your excellent feedback and thanks to you it will be our choice when we return , knowing that you enjoyed it. That’s good enough endorsement for me!😀

Thank you for this post Maribel.
I have always felt very safe in Madrid.
On my next visit I will be more vigilant when taking the public transit.

Yes, today when using the city buses and the metro, all day long, this time I put my one credit card, my TIE (identity card) and my debit card in my neck pouch just as a precaution. It just pays to be vigilant on the very busy and crowded (at times) public transportation system, although walking around I feel perfectly safe as a single woman at all hours.
DH stayed home today. I hit the pavement for shopping in Salamanca.

Maribel, Hola!!
I made a reservation at La Ancha Vergara for my birthday. There were two LaAncha's. I want to make sure that I am in the correct one. Muchas Gracias!