Itinerary for Spain - Thanks for help

Phil, I agree with Norm about cutting a night from Barcelona and adding it in Madrid. I would do a daytrip to Toledo.

To me, six nights in Barcelona is way too much.,..even with the day trips you plan. I'd maybe tack another day onto Madrid so you can do a day trip to Segovia or Toledo...or both....far better day trips, for me, than those out of Barcelona.
Since you have a car, you could probably do Gibraltar as a long day, either Ronda-Gib-Arcos, or Arcos-Gib-Sevilla.

Thank you, Pat and Norm. What you say makes sense.

Any thoughts on where to split up the nights in the south? I keep reading that one day in Granada is enough (just enjoy the Alhamba) and also that Nerja is this wonderful place to linger.

I'd still spend the two nights in Granada. Spend the day you arrive touring the Albaycin and the other sights you want to see, then the second day touring the Alhambra. Then head out to Nerja on the morning of Day 3. Driving times Granada-Nerja-Ronda-Arcos-Sevilla are relatively short.
With four days and three towns, add the one to the place from where you plan to day trip to Gib, since that'll be a long day....either in Arcos if you do Ronda-Gib-Arcos....or Sevilla if you do Arcos-Gib-Sevilla.

And....make sure you book your Alhambra tickets as soon as they become available, since admissions are strictly limited to a certain number per day. They usually release the tickets in 3 or 4 month blocks. Click here for the official ticket website. You'll be assigned a half-hour slot during your visit...that's the time during which you must begin your tour of the Nazrid palace, the heart of the Alhambra.

Ah yes, the Alhambra!
As of now, the tickets are available through the end of June. So it looks like they are released four months ahead.
Does anyone know at what age they consider you "jubilados" (retired)?

More importantly, I'll need to figure out the best ways to visit and the options - day vs night vs different parts. But I know there is a lot about that in RS book so I'll start there.

As for the itinerary, does it work to leave Seville in the morning, spend time in Cordoba, and then end up in Madrid that same day? Would you recommend this be done by bus or by train?

Sevilla-Cordoba-Madrid can certainly be done in a day....leave early in the morning, take the AVE high speed train to Cordoba, visit for several hours, then take the AVE again into Madrid. Book tickets ahead at the Spanish rail website, RENFE. Book each segment separately. You can get fares up to 60% off and bookings open 62 days in advance for the vast majority of trains. Train is definitely the way to go here...total travel time of three hours, versus 6 hours on the bus.

Norm - First off, a special thank-you, I feel like I have my own personal travel agent! (My whole family is Canadian born and bred, I have a cousin in Ottawa and I went to school at McGill. So what better source for Spain info than Canada, eh?)

Based on what you said, I see us spending two nights in Granada, leaving four nights for Nerja, Ronda, Gibralta, Jerez, and Arcos. Your suggested order of Nerja-Ronda-Gib-Arcos/Jerez-Seville looks good on the map.

I’ll start looking at places to stay in Nerja, then Ronda, then Arcos/Jerez; what I find could influence where it is best to spend the four nights, split 2-2 or 1-3 to avoid too much hotel jumping.

Thanks!

No problem, Phil...have a great trip!

P.S....you have to be an E-U "jubilados" (65+) to qualify for the seniors' discount.....sorry.

Norm,

I got the discount on Jubilado day at Malaga's Picasso Museum after showing my U.S.passport. Must have gotten lucky.

Yes, but how old are you, Lou??

Phil,

If you want to see a famous Nerja daughter, You Tube Nuria Fergo. She has become quite a star since reaching the finals of the first "Operacion Triunfo", Spain's version of American Idol. Deveras una encantadora.

Lou...in many local museums, you'll get the discount no matter where you're from. But at the "national" monuments, they stick to the EU seniors....that doesn't mean some sympathetic ticket-seller won't let you thru anyway! ;)

Phil,
I was 68 at the time.

I'm with Norm, go to Toledo

I do not think 6 nights in Barcelona is too much especially if you have day trips to Figures and Montserat. I love Barcelona and am getting ready to visit it again. 2 Days in Seville is good. You might also want to consider visiting Valencia.