Paradors and 5 day card
Sep 17th, 2003 | 07:10 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2003
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Paradors and 5 day card
We were planning to use the 5 day card as a way to save money and enjoy the national hotels in Spain. I contacted Central Reservations in Spain via internet (impossible over phone; always busy) and was informed the 5 day card cannot be used from Oct. 10 to Dec. 10, 2003. We will be traveling in Oct. for the month. I know about the 2 day special promotion but one only saves 20% at the paradors. I can't understand why the 5 day card is invalid for the 2 months and I did write Central Reservations about this. So far I haven't heard from them. Any suggestions for reducing cost of using paradors?
Joycers
Joycers
Sep 18th, 2003 | 03:53 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,662
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joycers
I just checked the 5 night card terms of use calendar at www.parador.es, and there are many, many paradors listed which accept the 5 night card during Oct., Nov., Dec., some every day and some only Sun-Thurs. So, it isn't that the card is invalid for 3 months (it never is), but perhaps it's that at the particular paradors you wish to book, it isn't accepted for your specific dates. Are you trying to book many Fri., Sat. stays?
I would email each parador directly to ask about availability using the 5 night card. Their email is simply their location name @parador.es For example, [email protected]
Another way to reduce cost would be to use Bancotel coupons, sold in Spain and at www.bancotel.com in booklets of 5, but petrabax.com apparently sells them individually at a slighly higher fee. Not all Paradors accept the Bancotel coupons, but some do, although they strictly limit the # of rooms that they rent to coupon users, and these must be booked in advance. The Halcon Viajes and Viajes Ecuador travel agencies within Spain sell their own "Weekend Plan" coupons, always sold individually, from 50-90 euros, that can be used at some Paradors, but again, not all, and you must buy these coupons in Spain and follow the rules of their catalogue.
Again, best to email each Parador individually and ask if they accept any coupons (their own 5 night plan, Bancotel, Weekend Plan, etc.) for your particular dates. And I assume you don't qualify for the Golden Days (for those 60 yrs. old and over) discount.
I just checked the 5 night card terms of use calendar at www.parador.es, and there are many, many paradors listed which accept the 5 night card during Oct., Nov., Dec., some every day and some only Sun-Thurs. So, it isn't that the card is invalid for 3 months (it never is), but perhaps it's that at the particular paradors you wish to book, it isn't accepted for your specific dates. Are you trying to book many Fri., Sat. stays?
I would email each parador directly to ask about availability using the 5 night card. Their email is simply their location name @parador.es For example, [email protected]
Another way to reduce cost would be to use Bancotel coupons, sold in Spain and at www.bancotel.com in booklets of 5, but petrabax.com apparently sells them individually at a slighly higher fee. Not all Paradors accept the Bancotel coupons, but some do, although they strictly limit the # of rooms that they rent to coupon users, and these must be booked in advance. The Halcon Viajes and Viajes Ecuador travel agencies within Spain sell their own "Weekend Plan" coupons, always sold individually, from 50-90 euros, that can be used at some Paradors, but again, not all, and you must buy these coupons in Spain and follow the rules of their catalogue.
Again, best to email each Parador individually and ask if they accept any coupons (their own 5 night plan, Bancotel, Weekend Plan, etc.) for your particular dates. And I assume you don't qualify for the Golden Days (for those 60 yrs. old and over) discount.
Sep 25th, 2003 | 04:10 PM
#3
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 417
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For those reading this thread who are 60 or over, the discount mentioned is phenomenal. Last year we stayed in various paradors for 2 with breakfast for about $70! This cannot be booked at their U.S. office, but I called the number in Madrid and very quickly booked 5 Paradors in about 6 minutes, but I speak Spanish. Fax will work in English as well
Sep 25th, 2003 | 07:40 PM
#4
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Joycers,
Are you sure that the response you received from Central Reservations was that the card was not valid from October until December 10th? Or are you confusing the way they abbreviate dates in Spain? If you see 10/10/03 to 12/10/03 that means from October 10th until October 12th because the format in Spain for dates is day/month/year rather than in the US we would write 10/10/03 to 10/12/03 which means October 10 until October 12th. Am I making myself clear?
It is somewhat confusing but if you make the translation when communicating dates you maybe will be fine.
Maria
Are you sure that the response you received from Central Reservations was that the card was not valid from October until December 10th? Or are you confusing the way they abbreviate dates in Spain? If you see 10/10/03 to 12/10/03 that means from October 10th until October 12th because the format in Spain for dates is day/month/year rather than in the US we would write 10/10/03 to 10/12/03 which means October 10 until October 12th. Am I making myself clear?
It is somewhat confusing but if you make the translation when communicating dates you maybe will be fine.
Maria
Sep 26th, 2003 | 05:32 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,662
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Maria to the rescue! Now why couldn't I have thought about that! I think that might have been the problem, joycers.
Oct. 10-12 is a weekend and many of the Paradors are closed to the 5 day card on wkds., accepting them Sun-Thurs only.
Oct. 10-12 is a weekend and many of the Paradors are closed to the 5 day card on wkds., accepting them Sun-Thurs only.
