My husband and I are still in the planning stages of our trip, other than knowing we will be in Andalucia for the week after Christmas. We plan to base ourselves in some little cottage somewhere and make day trips (yes, a lot of planning left to do, although once we have a place to stay, it will just be a matter of gathering information and then doing what we feel like at the moment because that's just how we like to travel). Anyway, I have a lot of ideas, but if anyone has some comments or advice (or files, Maribel!), please post them or e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks!

--Jenny

If your plan is to stay at a country place including New Years Eve and New Years Day, look for it NOW. It is becoming a very popular thing to do for spaniards living in the city, to spend those days with friends and family at country houses. I think a lot of places will already be booked up.

Good luck!

Thanks, Olga (and thanks, Maribel, for your files!). We do have a cottage booked near Casares, so at least we have that out of the way. We will be spending one night in Madrid (possibly at the Hospedaje Madrid) and then renting a car - any advice on where to rent it if I don't want to do it at the airport the night before? Does anyone know if there are any car rental offices near that area? Thanks again - sorry, I know this sounds haphazard compared to a lot of other trips planned, but we like it that way

Jenny,
Sounds like you'll be heading south down to Casares after that first night in Madrid, correct? The Hospedaje is located in the maze-like warren of narrow streets that make up Old Madrid, so you won't want to pick up a car there at all. I'd pick up the car at Atocha rail station (quick taxi ride from the Hospejdaje Madrid), in the southern end of the city, then head down south via the NIV/E5 towards Bailén/Jaén. At Atocha there are counters for Hertz, Avis, Europar and Atesa/National/Alamo (now combined).

But it's a looong, tiring drive from Madrid down to the coast and up to Casares. Viamichelin.com says 372 miles and a minimum of 6 1/2+ hrs. Did you plan to overnight along the way? I hope!

Hi Maribel - My girlfriend with whom I sometimes travel has decided she wants to go to Spain. She takes tours when she's on her own, but with me, we do an independent trip - I would love your files to start some planning. My email is [email protected]
TIA,
Mara

Thanks for your advice, Maribel. I'll look into picking up the car at the railway station - I know I wasn't looking forward to trying to navigate through the city before we were really used to driving there. As for the drive down to Casares, we like to drive together and have done much longer, more boring drives - we've found it a good way to get a feel for a place. We would have flown into Malaga if it had worked out to do that, and will actually be flying out of Malaga and leaving the car there so we won't have to make the drive back, at least. Thanks again!