The following is the itinerary for 4 people:
Madrid: 6/19-6/21 Hotel Fuencarral
Toledo 6/21-6/22 Hotel Cigarral el Bosque
Cordoba 6/22-6/23 La llava dela Juderia
Seville 6/23-6/26 Hotel Posada del Lucero
Arcos 6/26-6/27 La Casa Grande
Ronda 6/27-6/29 San Gabriel su casa en ronda
Granada 6/29-7/2 Alhambra Palaca
Madrid 7/2 - 7/3 Claridge Madrid
Should we just get taxis from the airport/train stations to the hotel or have the hotel arrange in advance for us. Thank you
Which cities are you arriving at the airport and which by train? That will make a difference.
arriving only Madrid by air and leaving Madrid by air - rest of the cities by train or bus.
Should I buy train/bus tickets now or buy them at the train station or bus stop?
I prefer to take a taxi to/from the airport or to/from the train station unless the hotel is within walking distance from the train/ bus stations.
If you want to save some money, you may want to book discounted train tickets in advance especially for the following routes:
Enjoy your time in Spain!
As a single traveler, I favor public transport and can usually get the relevant info from my guidebook, hotel web site, or possibly even Google Maps. But for 4 people with luggage, a taxi will usually be a reasonable price and available at train stations.
I use google maps to see directions from the train station to my hotel. If the distance is an easy walk & you are not loaded down with luggage - then walk it - otherwise a cab for 4 is usually reasonable.
for four people taxi is the way to go have the hotel name on a piece of paper to show the driver if your spanish is not so good
If you have Rick's Spain book, he has directions for getting from train and bus stations to the center, for all of your listed cities (as well as airport options for Madrid).
However, I agree that with four people, a taxi is the way to go. It may even be cheaper than other options (since a bus from the station is priced per person, while a taxi is per carload). I've never had problems with crooked cabbies in Spain (of course it's always possible). Just go to the taxi rank at the train or bus station, and show your destination to the driver. Do have it written down (last week I mispronounced my hotel by accenting the wrong syllable, and my driver genuinely had no idea where I wanted to go!). I see no need, and no advantage, to arrange for a taxi in advance.
For Madrid, from the airport to the center (where Hotel Fuencarral is) is a fixed rate of €30 including your luggage, and no tipping is required beyond this. I don't know if the Claridge Madrid is in the central zone where the fixed rate applies; your hotel will know.
For your other trips, it will be on the meter. Note that the taxis (except for that flat rate to or from Madrid airport ) will charge extra for each bag put in the trunk; this is not a scam. This and other legitimate extra charges (for instance, some cities have a surcharge for picking up or dropping off at the train station) will be posted in the taxi. Also, if you call for a taxi, the meter starts when the driver gets your call, so it costs a bit extra; to avoid this, you can go to a taxi rank. Ask at your hotel for the nearest one, since it may be close enough that you don't need to have one called, or it may be far enough that you do want one to come to the hotel's door.
Figure on 10-15 euros for most of your taxi rides from the station to your hotel.
