and again, thank you all for your feedback!

Honestly after seeing the other 3 hotels your travel agent has set up for you I'd either find an agent that really knows Spain (and not just large group tours) or plan this trip on your own. The hotels are all outside of the city centers and are often used by business or group tours. They're not exactly charming.

What is your hotel budget per night? I'd be glad to give you ideas (as I'm sure others would) and you could go to the TA with the hotels you want to book.

Check out Maribel's guides - they have great hotel recommendations particularly for Barcelona. The guides are free and written by a very knowledgeable woman who used to post frequently on these boards.

maribelsguides.com

Also, logistically it probably makes better sense to go Malaga to Granada to Sevilla and then Barcelona. Bus from Malaga to Granada, bus or train Granada to Sevilla and then fly from Sevilla to Barcelona.

Basic test for your travel agent

Does he or she know Sagrada Familia? (It is the most recognized site in Barcelona.)

What did he or she like best about the Alhambra? (It is one of the best known tourists sites in Spain and one that equals its reputation.)

Does he or she know the AVE (high speed train.)

These are basic and not trick questions, that anyone who has visited Barcelona and Granada once should know.

I would listen to Cathy re hotels.
It is your honeymoon. - the last thing you need is a hotel in a bad location.

Cathy,

Thanks so much for your response!! Our travel agent booked us 13 nights for an average of $205 a night so we are comfortable with this budget.

also, we had originally chosen to skip Madrid because some friends of ours told us it's not very honeymoonish, but also had family tell us over the weekend that we should definitely spend at least a few nights there.
Should we skip Malaga completely and fly into Madrid instead? We just want to make sure we get some time to relax with beautiful scenery and also have plenty of restaurants, historical sites, and nightlife to enjoy.

Night life starts at midnight in Madrid and Barcelona. If you still have Granada and Sevilla on the itinerary then you need not include Malaga. It is a little over 1 1/2 hours if you rent a car from Granada.

Have a drink or a meal from the parador in Granada, it looks onto the Generalife. It is romantic and exotic. Same thing from the parador in Toledo, it has spectacular views of Toledo. When in Barcelona go up to Montjuic for incredible panaromas of Barcelona and the Sea. In Madrid rent a row boat in Retiro Park. When in Sevilla walk through Barrio Santa Cruz. These are romantic things in each palce.

I have to agree with the others, find someone who actually knows Spain. The only romantic hotel your agent selected is the Barcelo La Bobadilla, a luxury spa hotel with heliport, but too far from Granada for touring unless you have a chauffeur to take you around.

The Tryp Barcelona Condal Mar isn't near anything, and although the Melia Lebreros is in the center of Sevilla, it's not somewhere I'd like to stay. Both are bus tour type properties, large.

A hotel budget of $205 USD/night is difficult, but possible, if not somewhat restrictive.

Does anyone have suggestions for hotels that are romantic but are still close to restaurants and must-see sites?

Malaga: 2 nights
Granada: 2 nights
Seville: 4 nights
Barcelona: 5 nights

The parador in Granda is on the grounds of The Alhambra. It is expensive and hard to get rservations.

In Barcelona try to stay in the area called Eixample.

Thank you BigAleinstein!

In Barcelona you might rent an apt

http://www.habitatapartments.com/en/...e-gracia-a.htm

This is romantic and central as can be.

I also like Granados 83 , more cool and hip than romantic...great location.
In Granada, we stayed at Casa Morisca,,...very romantic and Andalusian.

In Malaga, the Hotel Molina Lario, Vincci Posada del Patio, Barceló Málaga and NH Málaga would be good options for your budget, depending on room availability.

For Granada you can check the Palacio De Santa Ines, Hotel Fontecruz, Santa Isabel La Real, Hotel Párraga Siete, El Balcón del Albaicín, Hotel Casa Morisca (where Matt Damon stays with his family). There is also our favorite, the Carmen de la Alcubilla del Caracol (www.alcubilladelcaracol.com), on the Alhambra hill overlooking the city.

In Sevilla you can check Fontecruz Sevilla, Hotel Amadeus & La Musica, Hotel Las Casas de la Judería, and Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla.

Barcelona has a few decent options in your budget range including Apartments Sixtyfour, Gran Hotel Havana, Atrium Palace, Avenida Palace and Hotel Pulitzer.

I just stayed at the hotel cram off Aribau in Barcelona and may just sneak into your budget. It has a great roof terrace although some of the rooms are a little tired it's a contemporary place in a good location. Staff were friendly and helpful try slh.com for rates.

I actually liked the look of banys oriental near el born, close to a metro and walkable to some interesting areas. I haven't stayed here but when I researched it I see. To think it may well have been in your price point.

we stayed at Vincci Pasada in Malaga...
if you book it, make sure you have he room NOT facing the front ( a busy road). We opted for a bit more exp. room in the back.
Nice.

Thank you for your recommendations all! I will keep you posted on which hotels we end up choosing. We're so excited.

As far as AVE tickets, is it wiser to purchase while here in the states vs. at the stations?
Also, which must-see sites in Granada, Sevilla, and Barcelona should we pre-book tickets for? I already know the Alhambra..

I booked Sagrada Familia for my visit in April and was glad I did... a long lineup at the site.
...it is easy : pick time and date , print tickets.

I tend to book AVE ahead of time , but it may not be necessary
for certain dates and times of the day.

Hi everyone!
We just have our Granada stay left to book a hotel for. Robert2533 THANK YOU for your wonderful suggestions! I looked up all the Granada hotels and noticed all are 3 star hotels- is it important that we book a 4 star hotel?
We are also loving the photos of Hotel Casa Morsica, which is also only 3 star?
Thoughts?

Has anyone stayed at Suites Gran Via 44?

I just clicked on Robert's name and he associated with a Spanish travel agency. I think if he gives a recommendation for a hotel, he should disclaim whether he represents that hotel.