Extremadura

To answer just one of your questions, unlike some other travel books, Rick's books are not even intended to cover all areas, like some guidebooks.
And just because he omits a sight or hotel from his book doesn't necessarily mean it's not worthwhile.

Try using the 'Rough Guide' to plan some time in that area.

While searching for info on this area I came across the following website that might be of help/interest to you. It provides info and travel directions on some of these towns that you are interested in. http://davidsbeenhere.com/2013/10/09/six-beautiful-towns-in-extremadura-spain/ I would recommend three nights for this area if you can put that amount of time into your schedule. We did both Cáceres and Mérida as daytrips because we were staying at a friend's hometown in Extremadura but I really wished that I had more time in each, particularly in Cáceres and its historic center. Mérida has marvelous Roman ruins and as a daytrip we couldn't see all of them. We saw the main ones but I would have enjoyed visiting the museum and we did not have time for that. We did stay two nights in Trujillo and I really enjoyed that town. From there we visited Guadalupe the next day on our way to Toledo. The monastery is outstanding and the town itself was very picturesque. If you have the time it would be a pleasant place to stay overnight as well. You might want to stay overnight in Mérida and Cáceres and Trujillo. I thought that Trujillo's main plaza at night was sort of an eerie place and takes you back in time. From Trujillo you can then go over to Guadalupe. Looking at the map of Spain you may want to do Mérida and then Trujillo/Guadalupe and then Cáceres because it would then be a straight trip to Salamanca from there. If I had to skip a night and drive on from one of these it would be from Mérida, simply because the city itself had a much more modern feel than the others, despite the Roman ruins that are located there. Extremadura is one area of Spain that I would love to explore further, very medieval and historical. Enjoy your trip.

You can also purchase Lonely Planet's Extremadura chapter as a downloadable pdf for $3.46.

Rick's books are more of a "best of" guide. What he covers he covers well but he only captures the biggies. I traveled with a RS guide and a Michelin Green Guide so I'd have something that covered all of Spain.

Let's Go, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Michelin Green Guide all have their own style and appeal to different types of travelers. Check them out of the library and decide which one is best before buying something to carry with you.

I can't give advice because at Salamanca we turned toward Avila, Segovia and Toledo before heading south. Later we visited Sevilla but then headed to Cordoba and our last stop Madrid.

Pat, Laura - thanks for the info. I spent 3 nights in Caceres, maybe the most enjoyable part of the trip. Not so many tourists, especially this time of year. Also not so many English speakers or English menus.

Thanks for letting me know that you liked it. I know you wanted to see Roman ruins. Did you get to Merida? Were you able to visit Trujillo or Guadalupe? I thought Guadalupe was such a pleasant and pretty little town and I felt like Trujillo probably has not changed all that much in hundreds of years. Such a stark and bleak place! I have been to Extremadura two or three times and find it fascinating but saw relatively few American tourists there. I want to go back there and explore more.

Grogman,

You may want to get 'Frommer's Spain' travel guidebook, as all the destinations you mentioned in your post are discussed in this guidebook.

If you belong to AAA ( automobile club) you can get it a discounted rate of $17.95.