about the region near Sevilla

I am taking the same tour this fall and have similar questions that you have. My reading makes me think at least 2 extra nights in Sevilla. I am unsure how many nights Cordoba deserves; I look forward to your responses.

For returning flights, I found out, after booking a return flight from Madrid, found out I could have flown back from Sevilla through Amsterdam. Look around a lot a various options before booking the return flight!

I plan to visit Cadiz too for one night; some like it, some dis it, but I have it on my must see list.

On the front part of my trip, I am doing a day trip to Tarragona, to see some Roman ruins. I too am visiting Girona for 2 nights, and will go to Besalu from Girona.

Have fun planning your trip.

Larry, your trip is shaping up beautifully.

1) That's a hard one to answer. It's Andalusia, and it's spring, so there's always something else to see. How much you can afford and how much you can absorb are important. Also, after the tour, are you going to be up to full speed or will you want to take it kind of easy? Seville has the best tapas in Spain, by the way.

2) Wow. I would not miss an opportunity to see any Feria in Spain. I'm not a big fan of horses, but I went to 2 horse shows and loved them both (Jerez and Cordoba). Check out the Royal Equestrian School website . The calendar they are currently showing is for 2015. I've just done a little netsurfing and it looks like lots of fun. If it were my trip, I'd plan to spend 2 nights in Jerez. I don't remember too many hotels there. It may be better to stay in Cadiz than Seville. Cadiz is only 1/2 hour by train; Seville is an hour and the train station isn't so close to Seville's old town, making it harder to get back late at night. I stayed in Jerez during Carnival, which is huge in Cadiz. There were lots of extra trains running between the two, shuttling people back and forth, till pretty late at night. So maybe they do the same for Feria in Jerez.

3) The earliest trains get to Madrid (Atocha station) around 9 a.m. From there you take the suburban train - Cercanias - to the airport. You can get the timetable here . There's a train every half hour on the quarter hour. You may not have time to get the 9.15. The trip is about 1/2 hour. The train goes to Terminal 4. If you need a different terminal, see this map.

Re Madrid You can also take the airport express bus from the Atocha station...it leaves from the round building across the drive at the front entrance....and goes to all terminals at Barajas..five euros, and about 25 - 30 minutes... leaves very often...check the Barajas airport site for specifics.

Hi June,

Some people feel that a day trip is all that Cordoba deserves. You can certainly see the highlights in a day trip from Seville (about an hour by train) or you can store your luggage at the bus station next door in the morning and then continue to Madrid late in the day.

Then there are those of us who love Cordoba. It is my favorite Andalusian town, larger than many but without the big city feel of Sevilla, yet more to offer tourists than any of the other towns I've been too. You can see a show at the Royal Horse Stables (Wed, Fri and Sat evenings), a flamenco performance, an evening walking tour.

One of the highlights of Spain in early May is the Festival of the Patios in Cordoba. The floral displays are incredible. It's a peek into the private homes of Cordoba and tickets are not needed. Entry is free. You can easily spend a day wandering from patio to patio.

I'm sitting at the computer doing some research for my March trip and I came across a website that seems to have good information. Have a look here at an article about Feria in Jerez.

As May 1st is a big public holiday, as well as Monday 2nd perhaps, I would spend 2 additional nights in Sevilla.
Then to Cordoba for one night and to Madrid, perhaps overnight too for additional museum time.