What is the best way from Valencia to Seville

Fastest way is a 1 hr flight
or
Most interesting way is renting a car and taking several days to drive along the coastline

Probably not the answers you're expecting :)

Well, I was thinking train maybe. Bus is probably too far. Renting a car? I couldn’t
return it to Valencia but that’s not out of the question. But if its like the US they really hit you up if you don’t return it from where you rent.
I guess I didn’t even consider flying.
Kind hate going back to the airport.
From Seville next stop Malaga….. I think.

Well, those are long distances. I have not found there to be hefty fees when dropping rental cars at different locations within the same country.

By train? Do you have to got to Madrid and then to Seville?

I assumed you're thinking of the AVE train, many North Americans think that it is naturally always the best option to travel around Spain, AVE has good marketing, in a few cases it's not the best. For example here you would have to travel east to Madrid on AVLO then switch to travel south to Sevilla on AVE. It will take you over 5 hours not including transfer time in Madrid Atocha. Not the fastest nor the most interesting route.

You are correct, Carlos. I have taken the train from Barcelona to Madrid. And many times in other European countries but mainly from one large urban area to another. In this case, Flying seems the best way to get there….fastest and probably the cheapest when it all said and done. Thanks.

Carlos…one more question and then I will leave you alone. Any thoughts on Grand Canaria for mid Feb.
Like…how many days there is time wasn’t an issue?

There is a more direct train, but it's not a high-speed line, so that's actually slower than routing through Madrid.

Like a retired Norwegian, I've spent the last two Januarys in Gran Canaria. Glad to answer questions about it.

Carlos…one more question and then I will leave you alone. Any thoughts on Grand Canaria for mid Feb.

Sorry I've only been to Tenerife.

Scudder,
Thanks for the offer. If it’s more appropriate to email you directly just let me know. From what little I know so far about Gran Canaria is that you can expect better weather than southern Spain in Mid Feb through mid March. What is your opinion about the city urban aspects. If it mainly a beach town then it might not be for us.
We love the the urban and water experience. Lisbon and Porto are good example. Home in San Francisco is another. But in SF during Feb can be nonstop rain and chilly. It certainly more expensive than say going to Madrid or Valencia by air. Just wondering about adding Gran Canaria to Seville and Malaga (maybe a return visit to Madrid).
Any thing you think would give us a feel for Gran Canaria would be appreciated. Thanks

Hey John.

The Canaries do have better weather in winter than the peninsula, but it comes with some caveats. I can only speak to GC, but I think they have commonalities.

On GC the north, where the city of Las Palmas is, can be chilly in winter, with wind and clouds. Jeans and a hoodie, at least. The southern side is a 45-minute highway drive, and halfway there the sun comes out. Down there temps will be in the mid-70s—the breeze makes it feel cooler, but sheltered from the wind the strong sun can feel properly hot. Similarly, drive uphill from the north and it's a lush green, with a good chance of fog/low clouds reducing visibility on the already-harrowing roads. Ascend from the south and it's an arid moonscape. The whole archipelago is subject to la Calima, winter winds from Africa, laden with Saharan sand. It's otherworldly pretty, but miserable to be out in, and can last 1-5ish days at a time.

Las Palmas is pretty much the only stop for cultural or historical tourism, but that's a day and a half, max. It's interesting and pretty, but typical of many Spanish provincial cities, it's sleepier than the 400k population would suggest. The center of the island is natural beauty and a hiker's paradise, with some cute villages tucked here and there. The south coast is almost all working-class Northern European vacationers and snowbirds eating at restaurants with laminated menus in 7 languages. Some parts are more sophisticated than others—there are Michelin stars down there— but it's mostly languid beach life, in that way that's not real life.

I've been spending Januaries in Playa del Ingles, a kinda run-down beach resort town where I walk the beach, read by the pool, and take day trips for hiking the hills. I find it delightfully mind-numbing.

Thanks Scudder…that was just what I was looking for. You have given me a good picture of what to expect. Very helpful! You might consider the travel writing profession.