AboutVíctor Díaz Expertise I live in Madrid,and travel frequently to Valencia. I have also travelled to many places all over spain, if haven't been there i'd try to help anyway providing my knowledge and links.
I enjoy trekking in the mountains, and know pyrinees, Picos de Europa and mountains in the center.
Question Hello and thank you for being available. We are planning a last minute trip to
Spain next week, arriving Madrid the morning of the 15th from Texas, USA.
Will be in Madrid the 15th and evening of 16th, then Seville area the 16th and
17th, planning Rondo or spot further West for 18th and Granada for 19th
before flying to Barcelona for 20-24th. As we are quite late in making
arrangements in a busy season, I could use some help. First, I don't seem to
be able to book the AVE from Madrid to Seville online. I can't find a link for a
new client. With all the daily trains to Seville, do I need to be concerned that
there will not be something available? I plan to call Renfe tomorrow, but I'm
not sure they will let us book and I don't understand the difference between
the ticket and reservation and how we book so that we can get off in Cordoba
for a good part of the day. Should we just plan on purchasing once we arrive
in Madrid?
From Seville to Granada, the current plan is to drive or take a bus so that we
can see Acero de Fronterra and other beautiful sites. We could stop for the
night in Ronda or some place further towards Granada.If in Ronda, we would
love to get a view and parking since I will be driving. Is the drive a safe and
comfortable one from Seville to Ronda in your opinion? My understanding is
that we can't drop a rent car in Ronda so we would have to take bus from
Seville and train to Granada if we don't drive.
Assuming we stay in Ronda the 18th, any suggestions you have for whether
we should stay in or out of town and where are greatly appreciated.
Once in Granada we plan to see Alhambra of course and other Granada sites
before flying to Barcelona. Do you recomemend cite sentral or near Alhambre
in Granada? Any reccommendations for hostal or bed and breakfast sites
would be appreciated. I know your specialty is Madrid, but any suggestions
on staying in Barcelona would be wonderful as well. Thanks so much - we
are at the mercy of your excellent advice.
Answer Hello Eileen
About booking online AVE Madrid-Sevilla
follow the instructions given here http://maribelsguides.com/renfetickets.htm
use Internet Explorer browser (Firefox doesn't work properly with this page).
If you don't mind if you pick the train at 20 or 21h then i think is not necessary to buy the tickets right now, you may buy them one in Madrid, and even at the airport (T4 and T2 have renfe ticket offices).
For that day there is a midday train already full, may be some tourist class could be get full booked, but seems that in these cases tend to be the trains around midday rather than with late evening trains.
If you already know the dates, try again following the instructions given in Maribels Guides and if even with these clear instructions you can't buy (problems with browser, with credit card with the unfriendly renfe site...) then buy them when you arrive to Madrid.
About hop off in Cordoba... travelling in the 'evening' of day 16 i don't know if you will have time to see some of Cordoba....unless you travel in the morning of day 16 or 17.
Then you need to buy Madrid-Cordoba and Cordoba-Sevilla tickets, with enough time in the middle to see the city. I would say that at least 2h to get to cathedral/mosque and return to the train station, 5h or more desirable to see a bit more of the city. You may consider to do it as a daytrip from Sevilla, borrow a day from Barcelona to do that, for example.
"Acero de Fronterra" probably you mean to say 'Arcos de La Frontera' a typical white town of Andalucia.
From Sevilla to Ronda... haven't been in that area... and i don't know if the roads will be very good or normal, but i wouldn't worry too much about the roads, in general are in good conditions. http://www.turismoderonda.es
there is a map in PDF where some parkings are marked http://www.turismoderonda.es/informacion/pdf/planoa.pdf
The town is not very big, if i were you i would try near the hotel/hostal and if streets become too narrow, head to one of tohse parkings as the one by the bullring or at the train station.
"My understanding is
that we can't drop a rent car in Ronda so we would have to take bus from
Seville and train to Granada if we don't drive. "
Going by car you may see some towns in the area, but it may be stressing for you, if you just get to Ronda, you may use public transport.
Sevilla-Ronda by train means taking at least to trains, with SEvilla-Bobadilla-Ronda or Sevilla-Cordoba-Ronda.
With buses 'Los Amarillos' from 'Prado de San Sebastian' bus station. http://www.touristbus.es/frgrsamar.htm
seems take about 2h30.
If you don't mind driving i can't see it would be a big problem driving in the area and parking in Ronda, return the car in Granada, that's not a good place for parking in the center, many strets closed for cars, parking very limited...
Near Alhambra there are many many hotels and hostals, i was in one hostal last time in Granada, nothing special but there were may around.
Look for places in or around 'Cuesta Gomerez' ,'Plaza Nueva' and 'Gran Via'to find an hostel, i was in one in 'cuesta gomerez' was about 10min walking to the Alhambra (up the hill, but under the shadow of trees) and right by the old center of Granada http://www.infohostal.com http://www.granadaman.com/index.html
