SPAIN TRIP IN JULY

What is your budget? How long is your trip? What area of Madrid do you want to stay in? What other parts of Spain are you wanting to visit? Can you narrow your question down just a little?

For Madrid try Hotel Europa - our favorite hotel in Madrid. As for "Spain", check a map. Have no idea. It is not like going to Dallas.

If you look in a good guidebook you will find hotels which have been suggested based on many factors. I assume since you have posted on the Rick Steves' Helpline that you follow his philosophy so a reasonable place to start would be with the Rich Steves' Spain Guidebook. Have a look to the parts of Spain you are interested in and go to the accommodation pages. Read the reviews which include location, amenities, special things about each place, price range, etc., and a few from there. Feel free to ask here about specific properties, parts of town, etc. If you just ask us to toss out names you won't get the same level of information as if you do a bit of research first. Happy planning.... (oh - can you turn off the caps key please? It looks like you're shouting and I'm sure that's not what you meant)

I usually check out tripadvisor.com. It has reviews on hundreds of hotels for all budgets. I'm planning a trip for April and am surprised by the number of small affordable hotels. I'm usually happy with a double under $100 (or about 70 euros) per night. I've found lots of choices under $65 per night. Those choices don't offer services, just a decent place to sleep, but that's what I'm looking for. If you're into higher budget accomodations, tripadvisor has reviews for those too. There are some Paradors, government run hotels in historic buildings, around Spain I wouldn't mind staying at but they're too expensive for me.

Sorry. I meant to put Seville as my other base. We will be there a total of 10 days and want to split the time between the two locations.

How about some idea of your budget? Do you want hostels or 5-stars or something in between? How many people is "we"?

In Madrid we stayed at Hostal Santa Cruz which was recommended in the RS Spain guide. We liked the location which was a few blocks from Puerto del Sol and near the Plaza Mayor. The economical rooms are small and simple but very clean, relatively quiet, and have air conditioning, which you will want in July. If the hotels recommended in RS and by the people here are full try booking.com

In Madrid I enjoy two hostals - both in the same building on Gran Via Hostal Montecarlo and Hostal Phillipe V. While they do not have the swimming pool,grand lobby, restaurant, etc., they are both centrally located at 15 (or is it 17) Gran Vian, adjacent to a subway, and from them you can walk to the Puerta del Sol, Royal Palace, Park Retiro, Prado, etc., with ease. In Sevilla, Iwould recomment Hostal Patio De Santa Cruz in the old Jewish quarter. I did not stay there, but went and looked at it on my visit last fall. I will stay there on my trip in the spring. Also, in Sevilla, check out Really Discover Sevilla Tour...small groups, knowledgeable guides, and well worth the time.

Thanks. Any suggestions for travel between Madrid and Sevilla?

'Any suggestions for travel between Madrid and Sevilla?' Take the train.

The AVe train between Madrid and Sevilla takes only 2.5 hours. You can save $$$on the tickets by buying then in advance on Renfe.

If those are my only two stops, the train is the best choice. The AVE covers the distance quickly. Buy in advance, I think 62 days max, and save quite a bit.