My husband and I will be going to Spain in late January 09 for 10 days. Our daughter (20) who will be studying in London will join us for most of the trip. Please look over this itinerary and see if you think it makes sense and if we are in places about the right amount of time.

Jan 26 Fly from MSP to Madrid
Jan 27 & 28 Madrid. Hotel Europa
visit Prado and Gurnica.
Jan 29 Train from Madrid to Granada
Is there one that is more scenic than others?
Jan 29, 30 and 31 Granada. Hotel Macia Plaza (Tentative)
Daughter arrives on the 30th. Visit Alahambra on 31st. Is morning or evening better this time of year?
Feb 1. Bus to Sevilla. Still looking for a hotel with a tripple for Sevilla. Want to see dance, shop and possibly do white village tour for a day. Feb 1 to 4 Sevilla.
Thinking AVE train to Cordoba on the 5th and then continue on back to Madrid later that day. Since there is no place for luggage at the train station where could we leave luggage? We can return to the same hotel in Madrid or if there is someplace near the airport that you would recommend that would be great. We leave early morning the 6th for MSP.

What do you think? Right amount of time in the various places? I know it will be cold in Madrid and Granda but looks like 50 to 60f in Sevilla.

as far as sevilla hotel, i see "las casas de la juderia" hotel for 120 euros, triple with breakfast on www.gtahotels.com, just so you can compare.( includes tax)

the "apartamentos murillo" is a bit cheaper, also well located.

you are right about no left luggage at cordoba station, however, perhaps this is one time the bus would be better? there is consigna at the bus station, i believe. i will try to find out for you unless someone local can confirm this.

sounds like a nice trip.

I stayed at a triple at Hosteria del Laurel in Barrio de Santa Cruz, old Seville (2004 Nov rate $90/night). Great breakfast included. Definitely a great restaurant choice as well. Location is outstanding. http://www.hosteriadellaurel.com/

Thank you! Great idea about the bus. If you can find out if there are places for luggage at the bus station in Cordoba that would be amazing.

I appreciate the hotel suggestions for Sevilla. The casa juderia is a bit over my budget. Do you know anything about the Hotel Maestranza? They list a tripple for 85 euros.

Appreciate your help!

We stayed at Hotel Europa in Madrid and wouldn't stay there again. Others have liked it, but we didn't and IMO you can do better elsewhere.

just called the cordoba bus station. there is left lugage there, ( consigna) but he has warned me it is usually quite full, especially on the weekends. so.. this is a hit and miss opportunity.

this station is across the street from the AVE so you could still take the train if you wanted.

if i found it full, i would walk to the first nice hotel and check my bags, have a small meal or snack there for awhile. then pick bags up after touring. it shouldn't be a problem.

I stored my luggage at the Cordoba bus station back in Feb 08. There were lockers at the train station at that time too, but they were roped off.

I like that you are not trying to push too many cities into 10 days. The only thing I would consider is dropping a day in Granada and adding a day in Ronda. However, this may not be possible with the timing of your daughter arriving on the 30th. I've never stayed at the Hotel Europa in Madrid - Rick Steve's is big on this hotel. I love the location of the Hotel Plaza Mayor. For Sevilla, I've never stayed at the Hotel Maestranza but I have checked out the lobby and know the area. I'd definately consider staying there. It was clean and quite nice. It's in El Arenal and I prefer this to the Santa Cruz that is much more touristy. Great tapas bars nearby too!

I looks like we are planning parallel trips to Spain this winter! Our daughter is currently studying in Segovia.

We (husband, 16 year old son, myself) depart MSP on Dec 17, arrive MAD Dec 18. Our daughter will meet us in Madrid. We are staying at Hostal Adria Santa Ana (http://www.hostaladriasantaana.com/english/index.html). It is one of the few places that has a quad (105 euros per night) for our family of four. We'll be there 3 nights. Friends stayed at the Europa last spring and loved it and the location.

Dec 21 bus to Granada. Looked into the train, but it's a lot more money and there are fewer options for departure times and the difference in the amount of time it takes to get to Granada is not that much. We have reservations for the Hotel Anacapri (they also have a quad 117 euros, breakfast included if you mention Rich Steves guidebook). Two nights in Granada.

Dec 23 bus to Seville. We will be in Seville Christmas Eve and Day, so are trying to figure out what will be open and what won't. Staying at Hotel Alcantara http://www.hotelalcantara.net/indexingles.html (quad 124 euros). Three nights in Seville.

Dec 26 AVE train to Madrid, then bus to Segovia to meet our daughter's host family and visit where she is spending fall semester. Staying at La Casa Mudejar Hospederia http://www.lacasamudejar.com/i_hospederia_english.htm (quad 140 euros). Two nights in Segovia.

Dec 28 hotel in Madrid with easy connections to airport for our early morning flight home in the 29th (haven't made this reservation yet).

Any suggestions from posters on what is open and what is not in Seville on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day would be really helpful. Any other suggestions, too. Thanks!