Driving from Madrid to Andalucia after trans-atlantic flight.?

Hi,

We want to enjoy the Christmas break in Andalucia.

It's about $1000 cheaper for two people to fly Toronto to Madrid than to Malaga at Christmastime. I think it's about 350 km from Madrid to Jaen ... a little more to Cordoba. Rental cars are pretty cheap in Spain, I've found.

So I figure we'll do our 12 hour flight, land in Madrid, grab a rental car (pre-booked) and just drive.

a) are there any nice villages we could stay in on the way to Jaen? it would be nice to go 45 minutes south-west and then stop and sleep.
b) Is the highway from Madrid to Jaen good? Like 110km/h or so?
c) would you recommend Cordoba or Jaen for our first "base" in Andalucia (we'll be touring Seville and Granada and Ronda over the 2 weeks as well)

Thanks!

I drive that route in the other direction at least once a year...
You've a good plan... Rent your car and start driving south.
About a half hours drive south of Madrid you have Aranjuez or Toledo, both cities are very interesting historically. Aranjuez has a beautiful palace worth a morning to visit before you continue to Andalucia, or Toledo, where the whole town is monumental.
We usually drive the N-IV road: Madrid-Jaen- Granada-Malaga.
The road south via Cordoba used to be just 2 lane during more than half the route, but now they have just opened the next to the last 4 lane addition... There is only one stretch still under construction and it is only 24 kms.
The roads are "freeways" not tollroads, and the speed limit is 120 km. (100 kms. if it's raining).
If you are heading towards Seville take the Cordoba road, if going to Granada take the Jaen road.
Madrid-Jaen is 335 kms.,(about a 3 hour drive) Madrid-C贸rdoba 400 kms.(a little under 4hours), Madrid-Granada 434kms. and Madrid-Seville 538 kms.
On your way south you have several towns you could stop in to sleep, if you think you can drive a bit further...you could go on to Manzanares. They have a 3 star hotel "El Cruce"just to the right off the road, and in Manzanares itself you have a Parador (these are government run hotels, 4 star, excellent quality).
Once in Andaluc铆a I would do C贸rdoba as the first stop, (and if you aren't too tired I'd drive all the way to C贸rdoba it's not really that far)(Jaen is not the most interesting city in southern Spain). Then on to Seville. From there to Jerez de La Frontera (if you have time) then on to Ronda. If you are not interested in the coast (Marbella, Fuengirola, M谩laga, etc. ) Then take the inner road from Ronda to M谩laga v铆a Co铆n it has less curves.Then do M谩laga to Granada. (If you go all the way to C贸rdoba as a first stretch, you could stop either in Aranjuez or Toledo on your return route back to Madrid from Granada) I have a nephew who did this route in july. flying to Madrid from Philadelphia.
Whatever route you choose, I wish you a good trip!
And I hope you have good luck with the weather. Andaluc铆a has the best winters in Europe, but we do have some rain!

Before you go on any road trip, after a 12 hour flight. you need to rest. So take a day to rest in a hotel near the airport. Then the next day you can drive.. The Highways are like the ones in Canada and the U.S. and yes you can go up to 100 k an hour IN SOME PARTS.. Jaen and Cordoba are ways apart..

I would recommed seeing Cordoba, then Seville, then Granada, Coming back up to Jaen and then back to Madrid.. that way you have time to see what you want..

Take care.

Bcn_mimosa from Barcelona, Spain