Spain itinerary help, please.

Ann, I am sorry but you schedule is very difficult to follow. How about reposting in a column format and just tell us you are going to be in Seville two days. Don't need to know that you are sleeping Seville, Explore Seville, sleeping Seville. We were just through that area over New Years. Into Madrid and home from Malaga. This is case where an open jaw ticket might have served your needs better.

I don't think you need to change your flight. If you have the free time, stay! Just train it to Toledo for the day, that's what we did. Then stop for the day in Cordoba on the way to Sevilla. I did a similar route and prefer to stay anywhere at least 2 nights. You need 2-3 per Madrid, Sevilla and Granada. Thus, stay in Madrid one or two extra nights to visit Toledo and see Madrid in a more relaxed manner and wear off the jet-lag and don't stay a night in Cordoba, just allow a full day, on route to Sevilla. Hope this helps! What a great country w/ really nice people!! Enjoy!

To add to Linda's reply Seville 2 nights then I would take a bus Rhonda 2 nights-by far the best of the hill towns then bus to Rota to your friends- the other hill towns are okay but I would suggest perhaps a bus to Gibraltar - 1 night then back to Granada-3nights. Gibralter was great.

If what you really want to see is Toledo, Cordoba, Sevilla, and Granada, then ditch your itinerary and see Toledo, Cordoba, Sevilla, and Granada.

You can see them in that order if you like, though I think Toledo-Cordoba-Granada-Seville (with return to Madrid) avoids the lengthy Toledo-Granada run.

You might consider seeing some sights in Madrid as a day trip from wonderful old Toledo, or spending a day there at the end of your trip.

Skip all that other stuff and do what you want.

If you are only going to Rota for the free lodging, I'll share my experience last fall. It is pretty far west down the coast from anything else on your itinerary, and you are going to have to double back. If you are using that segment of your trip as a chance to see the beach, then I'd recommend saving that whole long swing to the west and just see the coast southwest of Granada.

If you were planning to stay on the base with your friend make sure every single person in your party has their own US military ID, or they will not let you on post. In fact, my mom did not research this before our trip, so we ended up driving all the way there and being turned away at the gates.

Ann, honestly, I know many will disagree with me but I would skip Toledo and see Segovia instead. My husband and I were so disappointed when we went to Toledo - it felt really touristy and was actually pretty dirty as compared to other historic cities we'd been to over the years. Segovia was beautiful, especially the cathedral, the people were really nice, and the alcazar was amazing. Have fun!