After Barcelona-Madrid?

Susan, There are LOTS of choices you could look at. Are you just looking for places in Spain, or elsewhere in Europe? I haven't checked, but there should be easy budget flights from Madrid to other European locations. Choosing a major city or a hub city would provide more choices for flights back to D.C. Some places to consider would be London, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt or Amsterdam. Cheers!

There's so much to see in Spain that you have plenty of options. I'd pick a direction that seems right for you and stick with sights along that route. My first choice for four days in Feb. would be an AVE train to Seville for three nights (maybe a day trip to tour a Bodega or two in Jerez) and a night in Cordoba. Second choice would be renting a car and driving up toward some combination of Avila, Segovia, Salamanca and/or Valladolid (there are some awesome castles around Valladolid - Penafiel, Coca, and Mota at Medina del Campo). In Feb., however, it can get chilly, even snowy (including around Madrid and Toledo). After that there are more options than I could list.

If you take a flight to another city you´ll probably loose 1 of your 4 days travelling (getting to/from the airport, waiting for your flight etc.) I´d rent a car and visit a part of Spain that interests you. See the other part of Spain, outside of the big cities. Brad´s suggestions seem interesting.

My first choice would be Seville. A beautiful walking town with so much to see and do.

Sevilla and/or Toledo...both accessible on the AVE line...Toledo 1/2 hour, Sevilla 2 1/2 hours....stay over night in either one for a great experience.

AVE to Seville and spend relaxing three days there (plenty to do).

Seville is an easy choice if you want to stay in Spain. One caveat though ... I had planned to end a trip in Seville a few years ago. All the flight options from Seville back to DC involved two connections. You could also fly to just about anywhere else in Europe from MAD, particularly to a city that offers a direct flight back to DC. In particular, I often fly back to London and spend a couple of days there before coming home.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Seville sounds great, but I think that it will be another trip. London sounds like a great way to end this trip. Thanks again... And happy travels.

If you take a flight to another city you´ll probably loose 1 of your 4 days travelling (getting to/from the airport, waiting for your flight etc.) Even if Susan goes to Seville, she will lose 1 day traveling.
She would have to go back to Madrid to catch a plane. The flights from Seville to DC are very expensive.