Since you're already doing a roadtrip why not visit other cities and provinces? I know Americans are used to driving long hours without stopping but consider spending the day in a small town, that'll force you to learn the language (Madrid, Barcelona and Málaga happen to be very tourist friendly, so you'll hardly have to learn Spanish to hang around there). Rent is kind of high in those places you mentioned, and it'll be hard to find a place to rent if you don't have a nice job (yes, they'll turn you down for not having a stable job/long term contract). I can only speak for Seville I guess; rent is cheap, and they're not as picky with the job contract and rent thing, beautiful architecture, monuments, parks, very welcoming people, but piece of advice... don't come to Andalucía to do a roadtrip during the summer. We're going through a terrible heat wave at the moment.