Kate, the crime rate in Seville bears no comparison to the gun-related murder rate in the country just to the south of you: 14,000 killed in 2005. If you've been to the USA for a trip, you'll definitely cope with Seville. FWIW I've been to Seville several times and have never been the victim of any crime at all, nor have I ever seen any although I'm sure petty crime exists.

Seville is a fine city and really should be on your itinerary if you have the time. However, it is not a city to drive…

out of 27 countries surveyed by Europa.eu Spain ranks 23rd
@#25. Has it ever occurred to you that there are lots of people in Spain who, by virtue of their parents, speak both Spanish and English fluently and did not rely on the state education system to learn their English? I know several within a 10 km radius of where I live in Andalucía, and I live out in the countryside, and nowhere near the Costa del Sol where there must be many, many more. Some of those have gone on to become teachers of…

I can only really comment on the Costa de la Luz and the villages in Andalucia. You can hire a car easily at either Seville or Jerez Airpor Crown Cars, Gold Cars or Europe car, all fairly reasonable if booked in advance. The beaches in Marbella in July will be packed whereas the beaches on the Costa de la Luz are unspoilt and beautiful and you can always find a secluded spot: Bolonia, El Palmar, Yerbabuena (Barbate) plus much more. You can catch a bus from Seville direct to Jerez/Alcala de los…

I think you'll find that there are a number of regular posters who know one or two of those areas quite well. The trouble is that with your itinerary it's discouraging to put much time and effort into advising you. In nine days you simply won't have time to enjoy the areas - you'll just be whizzing through.

However, I can offer some negative advice which I hope will be helpful.

If all you're planning to do in Andorra is drive through, I suggest that you avoid the place. The main route…

Hi

In a slightly panicked booking frenzy I have booked an overpriced villa near Casares for a weeks holiday.

This particular holiday is more about a bit of r and r for my husband and I than exploring off the beaten track but we do still like to have a real away from it all experience in Spain and in particular love eating and drinking in bars and resteraunts where it's quiet and we hear and can practise mostly Spanish. We would normally go to the alpujarras and the coast west of Malaga for…

So my senior mother decided last minute that she would really like to see Spain, and we recently booked tickets to Barcelona, planning to head to Andalusia for a mother-daughter trip.

I have just checked a number of the online prices and realised we are scheduled to be there during holy week.. which hopefuly will be worth becuase everythong looks booked solid, and we will be paying a mint for centrally located accomodation.

I'm trying to decide would be the best way to break the trip up, and…

Hi everyone!

First off - I'm just going to give a shoutout to everyone here because hands down I think Thorn Tree is the best travel forum :) So grateful to have such a great resource to be able to turn to!

Moving on, here's my story: My boyfriend and I are traveling for 20 full days to Europe (not including arrival/departure days). We're going to be spending most of our time in Spain since I studied abroad there before and I really want to show him around. Places we'd like to visit include…

Hi there, I'm looking for feedback on my first few days in Andalucia--I am planning in stages because I am super preoccupied. (Got my airfare after all, TonyB, I'll be back when I do my hiking research.)

I arrive in Malaga on May 17 (Sunday afternoon), plan on visiting the Picasso museum and hanging out, then departing for Ronda on the bus Monday (http://www.estabus.emtsam.es/).
I plan on staying in Ronda at least three days, renting a car while there.

My first conundrum is as follows. I have…

Hi again.

Then, if you want to see Sevilla, forget the north. Just spend few days in Madrid (you can also visit as a day trip Segovia or Toledo from there) and then just pick up a bus or a train and go down to Sevilla. I would say you can stay there a couple of nights, it´s a nice place to enjoy Andalucia and have a nice comunication with Madrid. If then you like to go to other place, just pick up a car and drive to Estepona, San Pedro de Alcantara, Marbella or a place around and you´ll have…

99% of Spain is void of tourists (like any other country)! Simply get away from the Mediterranian coast (in Andalucia also the villages 10-20 km from the coast), avoid the famous cities (at least away from downtown) - you know the list: Barcelona, Granada,...Madrid.
Plenty of room in the mountains and on plain farming country. These you see all the boring things the locals do - like working - or being on vacation at the time you arrive!
Now you specifically mentioning being at the coast -move…