Staying in Spain and Portugal

For Sevilla, stay outside the "ring road" that surrounds the center of old Sevilla. It goes by about 27 different names, but it's easy to spot on google maps. Anywhere inside this area is absolutely crazy for vehicles. I would suggest you explore the "chain" hotels outside that area...they're not terribly "Spanish" but they'll have parking. We stayed this past spring at the Hesperia Sevilla in the southeast part of the city.....very nice hotel, and a few steps from a station on the city's new Metro line....we could leave the car behind!

Are you planning to pick up the car in one country and drop off in another? If so, have you looked in to the staggeringly high drop-off fees?

We were there in September and October 2008 (had a wonderful time) but ended up renting two separate cars - once in Portugal, once in Spain. The drop-off fee they wanted was something like 500 Euro, so we went to Plan B (which was complicated, but it worked).

We picked up our car ini Lisbon and then drove away (that was all the driving in Lisbon that I wanted to do).

As for the hill towns, we absolutely LOVED Arcos and liked Ronda pretty much, too, but the part we liked the most was spending the night there - like many popular places, once the tour bus crowd leaves, the places are quite different. I wouldn't have missed the nights we spent there, they were highlights of our trip (and it was a great trip, so that's saying something). If it were me, I would seriously consider overnighting in Arcos especially, and also in Ronda.

But don't even think of driving into Arcos itself. We parked in a lot at the base of the old town and took a taxi to our hotel up in the old town - and we were very, very glad we did. Ronda wasn't that bad to drive in by comparison, but driving into Arcos? Fuggedaboudit.

We dumped the car upon arrival in Granada, and took trains the rest of the way. I'd probably think twice before trying to drive into Seville.

For Obidos check: Casa de Senhoras Rainhas, a very nice place within the walls.

For all of your lodging needs I would suggest you check Tripadvisor.com.

In Seville we enjoyed our stay at La Musica. It is in the old town which is where you want to be BUT I would wouldn't drive there again - park and take a taxi in.

Thanks for the great ideas and suggestions. I had looked at that place in Obidos...so glad that someone else had tried it. I think we will stay outside of Seville and taxi or train in. Thanks

Any other ideas for Lisbon???

Re: lodging for Lisbon.

We stayed in Sintra and took the train which is quite easy to do. We stayed at a beautiful place called Quinta das Sequioas. A very nice small inn where they will often fix delicious meals for guests if given advance notice.

I also looked at Quinta de Sequoias, but are closed in November when we are there..too bad! Am leaning to As Janelas Verdes. It looks like it is reasonably easy to get to, with parking and a tram to the center of Lisbon.. Anyone stayed here??? Thanks