Dear Fodor friends, You have helped us so many times in the past! We are thinking about planning a pretty last minute trip to Spain-Madrid and Andalusia region-for 2-3 weeks. We have been to Madrid before (50! years ago) and to Barcelona and Costa Bravo more recently. We are 2 73 year old seasoned travelers that need less hiking and more flat walking than in the past. The first question is whether to go in March (avoid crowds) or in May (when more post-COVID trips may be happening? Appreciate all advice.

Especially if you are going south, I would go in March (I plan to go in that month as well). Weather should be lovely and I imagine that crowds will be less. Just check out when Semana Santa falls this year; personally I would try to avoid that week because of crowds. I was in Andalucia in March a few years ago and thought it was a perfect time to be there.

A big ditto to what ekscrunchy has told you.
For the past several years we've gone to Andalucía in March specifically to avoid the May heat, especially in Sevilla. The trade off is missing Jerez's Feria del Caballo and Córdoba's Festival de los Patios, but Andalucía is really heating up.

I'll be in Cádiz and Jerez for the flamenco festival this March and am really looking forward to it.

Thank you both, so much! We are searching flights and totally agree with your advice. I will be in touch with updates.

Maribel and ekscrunchy: we are working on travel arrangements and read threads that pertain. It appears it may be best for us to fly into Madrid, take the train to Seville (since connection times for flights to Seville may be tight?) and, on the return, do the same in reverse or try to fly out of Seville home. Any thoughts. Looking at beginning of March for 14-16 day trip to Andalucia region - Madrid for 2-3 days in the end.

virginiafish,
It's hard to make that 11:35 Iberia flight to Seville for us because we sometimes don't have enough connection time coming in to Barajas from the US on our AA flights to Terminal 4. And it would be particularly tight if one comes into Terminal 1 on a Delta or United flight, especially with two separate tickets.

Your dates seem fine to me. You'll be avoiding the crowds of Holy Week.

thank you

Hello, it was too challenging to get affordable flights to Madrid, so this is what we planned after taking your advice and progol's. We are flying in and out of Lisbon, going to the Algarve region of Portugal, over to Seville, and back up to Lisbon through Evora. Any recommendations for hotels in Lisbon, Evora, Seville or Lagos would be appreciated. Haven't determined a more detailed itinerary at the moment. Leaving Feb. 27 for 14 days. Thanks to all!

My recommendations for hotels- all have a 9.0 rating or above from booking.com
Lisbon
Heritage Lisboa Plaza & & Heritage Britânia Art Deco, both on quiet streets off the leafy Avenida da Liberdade
Heritage Avenida Liberdade at the bottom of the Avenida, near Rossio
https://lisbonheritagehotels.com

AlmaLusa & Corpo Santo in relatively quiet corners of Baixa, the flat area close to the river
https://www.almalusahotels.com/baixachiado/
https://www.corposantohotel.com/en/

Altis Avenida---where maitaitom stayed, steps fro Rossio
https://www.altishotels.com/EN/Hotel...-Hotel-Lisbon/

Avenida Palace---directly across the street, another Fodorite favorite
https://www.hotelavenidapalace.pt​​​​​​​

Evora
Albergaria do Calvario, where progol stayed----love it!
https://adcevora.com

Pousada Convento--where xyz99 & HappyTrvlr stayed
https://www.pousadas.pt/en/hotel/pousada-evora

M'ar de AR Aqueduto--where Rick Steves "best of Portugal" & luxury cycling groups stay (handy indoor garage-easy exit to ring road--best rooms are ground floor facing the gardens)
https://mardearhotels.com/en-mar-de-ar-aqueduto

Lagos
Casa Mãe--small boutique in center of town
https://casa-mae.com

Belmar--larger, with both rooms & apartments facing lovely beach of Porto de Mór
https://www.belmarresort.com/en/

Sevilla----so many! These all have a 9.0 or above rating from Booking.com
H10 Casa de la Plata (joint the H10 program for discount), where I stay, near Plaza de la Encarnación, quiet side street
https://www.h10hotels.com/en/seville...sa-de-la-plata

Casas de El Arenal in Arenal district, sister hotel of Casas de la Judería in Sevilla / Córdoba
https://www.casasdeelarenal.com

Tayko Sevilla---brand new in El Arenal
https://taykohotels.com/en/sevilla/

Legado Alcázar, tucked away near the Alcázar gardens, away from the fray in the now tourist soaked Santa Cruz quarter
https://www.legadoalcazarhotel.com/e...alcazar-hotel/



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This is SO helpful! I am on it, because we need to be sure we have somewhere to sleep...never planned a trip in such a short time frame before.