This is my first time ever planning a trip to Europe, and I have already found your feedback incredibly helpful. I want to tap into your expertise again and ask for lodging suggestions in Seville, Madrid and Granada. What are some of your favorite hotels or Airbnbs in these cities? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

You need to state a budget per night in order to get useful responses.

How many people?

Hi Ekscrunchy,

Our budget is around $250 USD per night (or less), but we can spend a little more if the hotel is worth it.

Hi Mjs,

My husband and I will be traveling together.

This is for October, correct? Very important question!:
Do you plan to be in Spain on the holiday weekend between Oct. 11-13? Rates then will be higher than usual in these 3 cities.

I have no experience with airbnbs, but hotels, I have lots and lots of experience over many years. It sounds like, from your budget for 2, you'd prefer a 4-star.
Just note that Spain hotel rates have risen significantly this year. Granada will have your most economical choices.

For Madrid as a first time visitor, for sheer handiness & walkability, you may want to aim for somewhere in the Barrio de las Letras, aka Huertas (with a street of the same name), aka Cortes (official name). This area is especially handy if you're planning to visit the museums of the Art Triangle or those just north of there and also walkable to Retiro Park, the Plaza Mayor Royal Palace and Royal Collections Gallery.

To check what hotels come within your budget for your dates, check first with booking.com, as rates vary constantly. At the top, choose $ rather than €, switch from "Our picks for you" and scroll down to "Top Reviewed". Then see what you like from these contenders, check room size by selecting an available room, room amenities, specific comments under guest reviews as to issues that matter most to you (noise, location, etc). I usually aim for a review score of 8.7 to 9+.
These are all conveniently located in this Madrid neighborhood:

Mercure Madrid Centro
Radisson Red
Doubletree Madrid Prado
NH Collection Prado
Catalonia Las Cortes
Hilton Tapestry
Roommate Alba
Vincci Soho

For Sevilla, rates vary according to your Oct. dates as well.
See if any of these contenders fit your budget on booking.com

H10 Casa de la Plata (my top choice near Las Setas)
Legado Alcázar (tucked away on a very quiet square of the Santa Cruz quarter next to the Alcázar gardens)
Las Casas de El Arenal
Kivir
Tayko
Inglaterra
Hospes Casas del Rey de Baeza
(Amadeus, I think, will be more--Rick Steves groups stay there)

For Granada
Aurea Catedral
Eurostars Puerta Real
Gar Anat
La Corrala del Realejo (beautiful apartments)
Santa Isabel la Real (the only hotel I'd enthusiastically recommend in the Upper Albaicín)

In the above, I've omitted some Fodorite favorites (Casa 1800 for example), as for some October dates the rates are beyond your $250 budget.

Other Fodorites, I hope, will list some airbnbs that they've enjoyed. I just don't know them.

We stayed at Mercure Madrid Centro that Maribel recommends, and we walked to the Prado, Reina Sofia, Retiro Park, and Plaza Mayor. We did take the taxi to the Royal Palace, but I was having arthritis problems at the time, so sometimes I needed a taxi. Our room size was adequate with a very spacious bathroom. And hardwood floors, which I prefer to carpeting.
https://all.accor.com/hotel/9618/ind...ce=google+Maps

In Seville we stayed at the Apartamentos Suites Santa Cruz, which we were very happy with. We had a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen. We didn't use the kitchen facilities but we wanted a spacious place to spread out. The location is very convenient BUT the Barrio Santa Cruz is very crowded, so I don't know how you feel about that.
https://www.apartamentossantacruz.com/en/location/

Unfortunately, the lovely hotel we stayed at in Granada has closed permanently.

Hi Mariblel,

Thank you for your suggestions! I really appreciate them. You have given me a very good idea of where to start looking for accommodations. The hotels you recommended have great reviews and most of them are within my budget.

Hi KarenWoo,

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I think the Mercure Madrid seems like a good option. As for the apartments in Seville, I think we will look for an apartment in a less crowded area of town. But again, I really appreciate your input.

For Sevilla if you chose to go with the apt. option, look in the Arenal or near the Plaza de la Encarnación, less crowded, with a more local feel.

My interest in art led me to this hotel:

NH Paseo del Prado
Plaza Cánovas del Castillo, 4. 28014 Madrid

It was an easy walk to three galleries, and there were bus and taxi stops. Here's my pre-covid TR for ideas.

We've stayed previously at Hotel Regina (right by Puerta del Sol) in Madrid and Hotel Puerta de Sevilla (Barrio de Santa Cruz) in Seville, both terrific hotels, within your budget and located strategically to explore both cities. Granada was a just a daytrip for the Alhambra, so no recommendations there.

Just a note about Madrid,
If you prefer a less crowded location, I would stay far away from the Puerta del Sol, which is km. Zero and a highly packed area day and night, very crowded, congested, teeming with street life at all hours.

A few years ago we stayed at the Catalonia Las Cortes in Madrid on the advice of someone on this board. We loved it and returned a 2nd time. They have an impressive buffet of snacks/tapas in the late afternoon included in the stay which we enjoyed every day.

We also like Catalonia Las Cortes in Madrid. In Seville, we stayed in an apartment on Plaza de San Andres, which we thought was a great location. Walkable to everything and good restaurants nearby, but a bit away from the crowds. Lovely and helpful host who was on site at the front desk quite a bit during the day: CH Apartments Boutique (also available through booking dot com).

Catalonia las Cortes is very much a Fodorites' favorite. I can certainly second the location of the apartment that ms_go used, which I don't know, but the location is great and away from the crowds around the Cathedral and Alcázar in the now very tourist filled Barrio de Santa Cruz.

A very nice fine, ms_go!

Hi everyone,

Your advice has been sooo helpful! I have decided to go for hotels or apartments that all of you recommended. I will report back once I return from my travels!