Ready to spring into Spain?
Torla-Ordesa, Spanish Pyrenees
Greetings from Valencia and welcome to my first newsletter. Since launching my new travel venture in January, I’ve been busy planning trips for clients to the Canaries and South America. Now I’m gearing up for springtime in Spain.
The photo above is the town of Torla-Ordesa taken on our road trip through the Aragonese Pyrenees last May, when the snows had just melted and flowers were popping up in the mountain woods.
I'll talk about exploring the northern provinces in a later newsletter. This month I'm thinking about how late spring and early summer are the perfect times to visit the popular spots, which will be overrun with tourists and too hot to move in come July and August.
A record 94 million international tourists visited Spain in 2024, so smart, early booking is essential to get ahead of the crowds.
Whether you’re thinking of visiting iconic must-see cities, exploring craggy Galicia or Asturias, eating yourself silly in the Basque Country, wine tours in Rioja, Montsant et al, or chilling on the Med, I've got tons of ideas and first-hand experience and would love to help your holiday come true!
As a travel advisor I've got you covered, including..
...itinerary creation
...research and recommendations for hotels, restaurants and tours
...making bookings and handling the logistics.
Booking hotels through me is free of charge. For more complex trips, I offer different levels of planning fees.
Moors and Mountains
Early summer is a perfect time to explore Andalusia’s “golden triangle” of Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, before temperatures get insanely hot. These are the classic stops on first-time tours of Spain for good reason: centuries of Arabic culture and architecture (including and beyond the awe-inspiring Alhambra) all set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. And of course, tapas galore!
Imagine gazing across at the Cathedral of Seville and the old historic centre from your 360-degree terrace in this rental home in a Sevillian palace (pictured above). It's part of Plum Guide's fabulous collection of houses and villas -- and bookable through me :-)
Barcelona and Beyond
Serras Hotel Barcelona, courtesy of hotel
Barcelona is always busy, but more doable outside of the height of summer. And it's still the perfect place for a gourmet break (home to the lauded Disfrutar) combined with side trips to Monserrat monastery in cava country or the medieval city of Girona, which is very atmospheric and Game of Thrones-y.
As a Fora Travel affiliate, I can get you awesome perks in the stylish Serras Hotel in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, with its rooftop pool and Michelin-starred dining. Special Fora VIP perks at Seras include:
Complimentary buffet breakfast
$100 food and beverage credit (excluding alcohol)
Complimentary tapa and bottle of Cava on arrival
Room upgrade and flexible check-in/out times (subject to availability).
Marbella Glam
Kimpton Los Monteros, courtesy of hotel
If the sparkling Mediterranean is calling your name, check out the newly opened Kimpton Los Monteros in glitzy Marbella, just a hop down the road from Malaga. The 5-star hotel is minutes from the beach and town center with a stunning pool.
Best of all, my clients get VIP perks here, including: US$100 hotel credit per stay, complimentary daily breakfast for 2 and, subject to availability, a free room upgrade and early check-in / late check-out. What's not to love?!
That’s just a taster from me for now, hope to hear from you soon!
I’m off to Madrid next week to fill up on food tours, art, and capital city energy. More about my favourite European capital in next month's newsletter.
Love, Jill