Woohoo!!! Just Booked My Sept. Air Tickets to Spain!!!
 

I checked Delta's site this morning, the flights I wanted were $895.

Just checked again a few minutes ago, $725.50!!! That's $64 less than what I paid for Switzerland last year.

Depart 19Sept2012 JFK - MAD
Return 07Oct2012 MAD - JFK

Both on Delta non-stop.

Hi,

DH and I are going sept.18 until Oct 7. we'll be traveling around but are going to be Madrid Sept 27-30. Staying at the Westin Palace. Come by for a drink. we paid $800. For our tickets. You got a great deal. Congrats



Yipper

Yipper, what was your departure airport? I am looking now, but have to fly out of Cleveland. My fares are coming up around $900. Leaving between Fri Sept 7 and Tues Sept 11.
Returning Oct 1.

Wow, that's a great fare, congrats! I'm not going to even mention the rate I had to pay for my June flight!

Yipper, Don't know what rate you're getting for the Westin Palace but usually you can get it in Priceline much cheaper than if you book on their website.

Is that round trip?

great rate!

So, come on, spill the beans, where in Spain do you plan on visiting?

Hi,

I am flying out of Boston and leaving on the 18 of sept. which might make a difference. I am excited about the westin palace. We got a great rate through friends and family. I did not think about Priceline, but that is good information. I was not excited about Spain in the beginning, but now that I have done some research I think it will be fabulous. We are renting a house near Bilbao with some friends for a week. they return home and DH and I are off to Madrid, Barcelona, and Cadaques. we fly home from Barcelona. Mybellarose, I hope you can find a good air fare.

Yipper

Yipper, sounds like you have a great trip in store. The Westin Palace is very good and has a great location. Enjoy!

Thanks everybody!

Yipper, I won't be in Madrid until Oct. 2. I'm saving that as my final location since I'll be flying out of there. Maybe we can meet up somewhere else if our itineraries mesh.

My itinerary is:

9/19 - Depart JFK > MAD
9/20 - Arrive MAD, aerobus to train station, train to Toledo
9/20 - 9/24 - Toledo with a daytrip to Consuegra
9/24 - Toledo to Avila
9/24 - 9/26 - Avila
9/26 - Avila to Salamanca
9/26 - 9/30 - Salamanca with a daytrip to Zamora, maybe another daytrip to Leon or somewhere else
9/30 - Salamanca to Segovia
9/30 - 10/2 - Segovia
10/2 - Segovia to Madrid, with stops on the way to El Escorial and maybe Valle de los Cuidos
10/2 - 10/7 - Madrid with daytrip to Aranjuez
10/7 - Depart MAD > JFK

Would like to get to Cuenca also, if I have time.

Yep, the price is for non-stop roundtrip on Delta metal. I've been watching the fares for months and jumped when I saw it go down $170 between yesterday morning and last night!

I usually buy this week or next for my September vacations.

joannyc,

Great itinerary. Are you driving?

Maybe 2 nights in Avila its a bit too much. I did it as a daytrip from Madrid and found I had more than enough time there.

A daytrip to Zamora from Salamanca is very doable. If you go don't miss the Holy Week museum , where they keep all the floats they use during that celebration. I thought it was very interesting. Although I love León I wouldn't recommend it as a daytrip from Salamanca as its about 3 hrs one way. If you can do an overnight there that would be great.

Hi Cruiseluv,

Thanks very much!

Yes, I plan on driving as I like to stop along the way if I see an interesting place or a great photo op. Will pick up a car in Toledo before my trip to Consuegra and drop it when I arrive in Madrid.

Yep, I agree, Leon is too far for a day trip from Salamanca. Will probably save it for next year. I had planned on 2 nights in Salamanca and 2 in Zamora in an earlier draft of my itinerary. So, from there, Leon was probably doable. But, decided I didn't want to do the 2 and 2 too many times! LOL!!!

It's the same issue that I'm having with Cuenca... too far for a day trip from Madrid and not worth the time for driving there on a one-night overnight just to see the hanging houses over the gorge (I'm sure there is probably much more to see but that was my particular interest in Cuenca). It would eat up 6 hours of driving. Maybe when I do my 4th trip to Spain in 2014!

Funny, just after I posted, I received a Groupon (from their Spanish site) for a great offer in Cuenca! If anyone is interested, here is the link:

http://grouponviajes.es/8037536?nlp=...0_0_195&a=2025

Consider staying at paradores, some of the best are in the towns where you are staying. The one in Toledo has a spectacular view of the city and you can envision the sky that El Greco created.

The one in Avila will lead right to the walls of the city.

And Salamanca has one of the most beautiful plazas in Spain which you will cross often.

Cuenca is a most unusual town and now the AVES stops there on the way to Valencia.

Aduchamp1, thanks so very much! Didn't know about the AVE trains to Cuenca. Seems they only take 1 hour or less! It is now on my agenda as a day trip from Madrid!

Most of the paradors that I saw are located outside of the old centers of the city, where I prefer to stay. I've looked at some of them during my planning and most have gorgeous views of their city/town but I like to be in the "middle of it" and be close to my lodgings to "freshen up" before dinner, etc.

Thanks for your input!

Aduchamp1, should have mentioned that on my first trip to Spain (Andalucia region), I did stay in a few paradors. They were great and I did very much enjoy them!

Thanks again!