Gurl--driving in Spain is safe. The roads are excellent. The drivers are good. No problems at all. We had a lot of fun.

The only problems we've had have been in the cities, which were originally designed without cars in mind. In Sevilla and Granada in the days before GPS we had to resort to hiring cab drivers to lead us to the hotels, having driven around and around and around. We had the smallest possible car and some of the streets were almost too narrow to drive down.

So if I were to rent a car from, e.g. Sevilla, I'd try to pick it up on the outskirts on the way out of town and return it outside the city center. The rule that you don't want to have a car in European cities goes double in Spain, in my experience.

Gurl; We just got back from a 17 day driving trip and the signage is very good. Driving is easy, although in the cities you will need a GPS.

If you rent a car from autoeurope.com you can also rent a GPS with them.

Of our nine overnights, six were made with booking.com Has reliable reviews.

Just make sure you have free cancellation and always make the reservation directly with the hotel if costs are similar.

This is a good site for info until your travel books are available. www.maribelsguides.com

Gurl; We just got back from a 17 day driving trip and the signage is very good. Driving is easy, although in the cities you will need a GPS.

If you rent a car from autoeurope.com you can also rent a GPS with them.

Of our nine overnights, six were made with booking.com Has reliable reviews.

Just make sure you have free cancellation and always make the reservation directly with the hotel if costs are similar.

This is a good site for info until your travel books are available. www.maribelsguides.com

I assume there is no district name for San Vicente/San Lorenzo area, as I search for hotel/apartment style place?
I'm trying to figure out the border area for these two areas (hard to actually find maps that displays border of these two districts). I assume it's literally below the la Macarena and north of arenal, but I wanted to see the border area.

Could you name a few places that are nice to stay at in Seville?

I'm a female who always travels solo. I rent a car on every trip and I bring my own GPS with European maps. I may take a bus or train to my first destination as I don"t like driving after an overnight flight. But, after that, I drive and prefer it! Stop when I want to where I want to!

Here are several apartments for rent in the central and local atmosphere San Vicente/San Lorenzo district in Sevilla:
http://www.veoapartment.com/rent-sev...n-vicente.html

Borders Calle Alfonso XII and the Fine Arts museum in the south, the Guadalquivir river in the west, Plaza de San Lorenzo and the beginning of the Alameda de Hércules in the north, and roughly Calle Jesús del Gran Poder in the east.

I will check the link out. Thanks.

And If I can't find anything that I like in that area, which would be your other recommendations in regards to area? El Alrenal or Santa cruz? Centro? I generally do like being a little away from the touristy area but within walking distance? But assume, the main attractions in Seville are all within walking distance.

What about Malaga? Which areas would you recommend staying?

Thanks again to all of you for your help.

I would prefer El Arenal before very touristy (but beautiful) Santa Cruz. But San Vicente/San Lorenzo is very central, and some of the best tapas bars in town are here:
For example:
La Azotea: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...ory/la-azotea/
Eslava: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/2008/02/eslava/
Bodega Dos de Mayo: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

Lots of local atmosphere places all around the SV/SL area.

In Málaga I recommend to stay in the historic center around the main pedestrianized street Calle Marqués de Larios which stretches the 300 meters from the seaside Plaza la Marina up to the main Plaza de la Constitución. Not so many tourists in Málaga, so the center is full of a wonderful local vibe. Here you are in the midst of the main sights, great tapas bars, cafés, terraces, restaurants, museums, fine shopping, nightlife, theaters etc etc. Hotel Don Curro is great value in an excellent location, but there are many both more exclusive and more affordable options around here. Just click on the map to find more places around Don Curro:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hoteldoncurro.en.html http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hoteldoncurro.en.html

Thanks for all your input again.

Now was thinking of adding a two night to granada somewhere. Is it worthwhile given I would arrive Sunday late afternoon/ have monday full day; but things appeared to close these two days (if I'm correct- in october) and also alhambra ticket only available is 18:00. Is it worthwhile to still make a trip out here?

Advice?

For me, the Alhambra remains one of the high points of all my travels. And I've been fortunate to travel a fair amount!

Agree with Kja. Well worth a visit!

BTW, I suspect that the 18:00 ticket means that the time of your entry into the Nasrid Palace isn't until 18:00. You can enter the Alhambra earlier (probably at about 14:00, though you should check), and see other parts of the palace and its grounds and gardens until the time of your admission to the Nasrid Palace.

Thanks for advice. I will make it a point to do day trip out even if I have to squeeze in schedule.