Train or Car in Spain

If you only want to 'see' these cities (and with 11 nights this is very fast paced and gives you perhaps a day and a half in each city) you do not need the car, as certainly a burden, extra parking fees and not required when walking or local transport will be the way to go. I have no idea why you think there is poor connection between Seville and Granada with four train journeys and about ten bus per day. Cordoba to Granada two and eight. I will suggest Cordoba can be seen by train day trip from Seville. TrenHotel - What is your experience of overnight trains? They are, for many, neither comfortable, leaving you tired with subsequent loss of site seeing time the following day, nor romantic.

I second the opinion that this trip does not call for a car. Traffic and parking can be very difficult in Sevilla and Granada. You'd also spend a lot of your time driving and with a short visit, no time to stop in quaint towns or scenic vistas along the way. Sevilla or Granada to Barcelona is usually best with a flight. One can often find very inexpensive airfares that are cheaper than the overnight train. I've not taken that particular overnight train, but most people don't sleep all that well on them. I find myself very groggy and exhausted the next day. Buying your AVE train tickets up to 60 days in advance is a great way to get deeply discounted fares. But using your credit card can be tricky. Search this site for other similar threads on the process to get your CC to work.

Thanks for the input. I just booked the trains from Madrid to Seville and the overnight train from Granada to Barcelona (just for the experience as my children do not get to do much train travel in the US). One issue I ran into is that the online booking site (RENFE) did not let me choose the seats or the cabin for the overnight journey. Is there a way I can do that? Is there a phone number I can call to have that done? The phone number listed on RENFE website (902-320-320) does not work. Thanks,
Priyesh

Just recently came home from most of these places (not Barcelona). Definitely no need for a car. However, I would think about how many places you are seeing. Madrid and Barcelona alone are worth about 4 nights each, maybe 3 if you squish a LOT in and forgo day trips. I had plenty to do with three full days in Seville and 2 each in Granada and Cordoba (I feel Cordoba is highly underrated and I really liked it a lot, but that's me, and it's also where I had the best couple of meals of my trip). Actually the reason I skipped Barcelona this time (I'd been on a prior trip) is because it was more out of the way and I simply didn't have time to fit it in (and my trip was 16 days, I also spent 2 nights each in Toledo and Ronda). Just make sure you are going to have the time to see the things you want and actually enjoy the stops you're making.

The best reason for a car is to be able to make lots of intermediate stops. With your available time, I don't think that will be an issue. Madrid to Seville, get off at Cordoba for about four hours then continue to Seville, is easy by train. Seville to Granada is also pretty easy by train. Granada to Barcelona isn't easy by train. For that leg I would consider either a flight or a bus. The flight will be fastest and most convenient. The bus won't be as fast (but I'll bet it's faster than an indirect train route), but it will take you from center to center, and it's a very affordable option. This leg may also be one to consider using a rental car.

^^^ Priyesh has booked her train tickets, I think she has made a decision and committed to it. To answer your followup question, did you remember to put in Spain's country code before dailing the number? You also have to dial 011 when calling from the US. So dial 011-34-902-240-202. That is the number I have for RENFE.