Feedback on Spain-Portugal Roadtrip

Thanks for that ... in fact, thanks to everyone. Will assimilate all the inputs and suggestions, and aim to respond with something more sensible!

That castle in Sintra looks like Disneyland!

That castle in Sintra looks like Disneyland!

Shhh! Don't say that -- it will soon be as popular as Neuschwanstein.

I add that I prefer Portugal to Spain as well.

From a traveller's point of view, all of Europe is a big theme park, and all you residents are just doing a Truman Show role!

Do you mean "travellers" from countries with no cultural attractions?

I have digested all the suggestions, and I'm very appreciative, plus I have read more guidebook and consulted my atlas.

As a result I have trimmed the proposed itinerary, losing Porto, Algarve, and Murcia/Albacete, and I trust it is now substantially less rushed. I have included a third night in Lisbon as well.

Here is version two (where we spend the nights, nominal distance that day in parentheses):

22-Sep - Madrid > Zamora (260 km)
23-Sep - Salamanca (70)
24-Sep - Alentejo (240)
25-Sep - Lisbon (280)
26-Sep - Lisbon
27-Sep - Lisbon (incl Sintra)
28-Sep - Merida (via Evora) (280)
29-Sep - Seville (190)
30-Sep - Seville
01-Oct - Cordoba (140)
02-Oct - Cordoba
03-Oct - Granada (200)
04-Oct - Granada
05-Oct - Manzanares (via Ubeda) (250)
06-Oct - Madrid (180)
07-Oct - Fly Melbourne

Any further comments on my allegedly improved itinerary would be welcome.

And just to reiterate that the coast from Cadiz to Barcelona will be visited by cruise ship, if all goes well.

Plus we have 2 x nights Cordoba and 2 x nights Seville, should we change that to three for Seville, and one for Cordoba?

And just a question on accommodation: we would normally check in order (1) HI hostels (private rooms), (2) booking.com, (3) Airbnb, (4) other independent B&Bs etc. But Spain/Portugal are new for us, so as travellers who like to pre-book all nights before travel, what would you suggest as the right strategy for these two countries? Any thoughts?

24 Sep - Where did you have in mind for an overnight stop? When looking on a map you won't drive trrough Alentejo from Salamanca to Lisbon, you will stay north of it. I have no experience with that part of Portugal, but there could be nice places as well. Maybe someone else has a suggestion.
28 Sep - Merida. While i've enjoyed the whole region of Extremadura a lot (travelled during 10 days in that area alone) Merida wasn't amongst my favourite places, even if it does have very important Roman remains and the Roman museum is a gem (will you have the time to visit them?), but other than that we've found that the city hadn't too much to offer. You don't have the time for making a detour to prettier Caceres or Trujillo, that would be too far out of the way. Smaller Zafra a bit further south could be a possible nice alternative, easier to drive into and easier to get a feel on such a short stopover.

After numerous trips to Andalucia i still haven't made it to Cordoba, which awaits me for a next trip, but i think many will recommend you to add a night in Seville and stay one night less in Cordoba. Or add a night to Granada instead (i've spent 5 hours in the Alhambra alone!). Let other people comment on Cordoba.
Good luck with your car in Seville :) You won't use it there and parking will be a problem (or expensive)

As to accommodation. Would you be willing to splash it for one night? The parador of Zamora is very nice and the 55+ rate (Golden Days) is reasonable at €118,3 breakfast included (and what a BF!). They are on Booking.com but not with the Golden Days rate which you better book directly through email. http://www.parador.es/en/
Otherwise i think Booking.com will offer you the best choices in general.

I checked the trip from Salamanca to Lisbon on http://www.viamichelin.com/ which gave three possibilities. #3 was interesting because it went by Cacarés and Evora, both very interesting. #2 led via Ciudad Rodrigo and Coimbra, which is one of the most interesting places in Portugal for me. #1 led via Ciudad Rodrigo almost directly into Portugal, but I don't know that area.

Thanks to both of you. I was contemplating Coimbra on the way Lisbon, since I assumed we would visit Evora on the way from Lisbon to Seville.

Thanks for the considered feedback artemis ... especially on the accomm in Zamora.

And Merida was just a nominal waypoint between Lisbon and Seville for planning purposes ... we will research options thereabouts. We could actually subtract a night from Cordoba, and have two in or near Merida ... rather than three in either Seville or Granada. Sensible?

Years ago we rented a house by the sea in Portugal and stopped overnight in Salamanca, then drove towards Lisbon. It seems to me we took the northernmost route of those mentioned in #27. Quite mountainous roads near the border, if I recall. I think indeed Coimbra would be worth a stop if you take that route.