10 days in spain - Suggested itinerary

So you have a week free? To see Andalusia you should fly to either Sevilla, Granada, or Malaga, pick up a car and tour from there, then return the car and fly back to Barcelona to catch your flight back to India. It will be very warm or even hot in Andalusia. You will jot need to bring warm clothing for that. Nyou may want a light wrap for evenings in Barcelona.

You'll love Spain! The usual advice applies to a trip of 10-12 days in such a large area: see fewer places a longer time. Count on a return trip. What most interests you in Spain? Focus on those things and save time for tapas and sangria! Can you combine driving with touring in several areas and not to try to see it all? Some ideas, but not sure you can do all: I'd say Barcelona would deserve two-three days, longer to see area attractions. You're already there so that's easy to include. Madridseveral days in the city is a good base for trips to Segovia, El Escorial, maybe Avila, and Toledo. To stretch your time, consider choosing between Seville and Granada (Cordoba's Mezquita is wonderful and not too far from Seville) for your time in Andalusia combined with driving to several White Hill Towns area. Please report back what you decide to do.
Have a great trip!

Wow... Thank you both... We leave in less than 10 days and our plans are still not set in stone... Phew... Any suggestions would be very very helpful... :)

In May, I'd vote for Andalusia. The weather will be hot, but not REALLY hot like it gets in summer. Skip Costa del Sol. It's all crowded resort towns, not really a great way to capture "Spain". Start at Granada for three nights, two full days, giving you one day for Alhambra and another for lots of other great sights. Get a car and wander through Ronda, Tarifa, Cadiz, and Jerez on the way to Seville for two nights. There won't be any major festival, so one full day around the old center will be good.
If you can, also spend at least a half day in Cordoba to see the Mesquita and surrounding quarter. I think that takes up the time you have available. Next trip, you can visit sights in northern Spain - which is a completely different world.

If you to the Ronda/Arcos area, tiny Grazalema is worth a stop,a pleasant spot for whatever snacks or meals you're ready for! Lovely plazas, a big parking lot at the edge of town (as you enter town coming from Arcos, all the way through town if driving from Ronda). See RS comments... Also, the RS-recommended flamenco in Seville, Auditorio Alvarez Quintero, seems to have a branch in Granada, just off Plz Nueva on Cuesta Gomerez 11 (street leading to the Alhambra). We saw both shows in April-same manager, same excellent female dancer, same great guitarist. Seville's Plaza de Espana/Spanish Pavilion, restoration recently completed, showcases tile displays of Spain's provinces, Venice-like bridges. Worth the easy walk from the Alcazar.

Thank you so much Lola, Marian and Brad. Love all your suggestions. Our tentative itinerary is similar to Brad's. Barcelona - 3 nights (on work) Train / flight to Granada Granada - 2 nights Travel to Seville by road
Seville - 2 nights Need to sneak in a trip to Cordoba. Keep the suggestions coming. If I know myself, I'm sure plans won't be concrete until we board our flight out of here.. Thanks again.

Excellent plan. You only want the car when you leave Granada and until you enter Seville. You do NOT want the car in either of those towns. Cordoba is an easy day trip from Seville - less than an hour by train. The Mesquita there is not to be missed. My favorite sight in Seville was the Alcazar. Second was climbing the cathedral tower for the view.

Hey guys... Between Seville and Granada we are wondering whether to stay a night at Arco or Ronda? Opinions please...

Do you have RS Spain 2013? "Arcos: arrive late, leave early, still see it all." So we stayed in Ronda (RS rec $$ Hotel Ronda) in early April, loved the scenery, old town, bridges over the chasm. BUT you might read different opinions re the two towns on this site as others prefer Arcos. Also, six weeks later into the season might make for a different experience. Incidentally, we drove from Granada to Ronda. Want details....PM me.

I spent less than a day in Arcos and felt I had "seen it all." I spent 3 nights in Ronda, with day trips to other pueblos blancos, so I had about 1.5 days in Ronda, plus evenings. I loved, loved Ronda and will definitely go back next time I'm in Andalusia.

Sounds like you have worked out a good plan to se everything. You should fly from Barcelona to Granada; the train takes far too long as it is not one of the fast AVE trains. The flights are not too expensive with the budget airlines like Vueling. If you want to visit the Alhambra at Granada, best reserve your tickets in advance. They do sellout, and people who queue up or same -day tickets in the morning are often disappointed.

For weather check the Internet for weather history. Wonderful experience with Hertz in Oct 2012 - and we did have car trouble, great service. In Granada park your car and take a taxi to the Alhambra. Downtown Granada was laid out in centuries past, DON'T drive there. Parking is limited. Loved Sevilla. Would go back to Ronda in a heardbeat. Be warned that the Spanish do a poor job of signs, street signs especially. Have a great time.