Escorted & Package Tours

Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other elements of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices.

Before you start your search for the lowest airfare, you may want to consider booking your flight as part of a travel package such as an escorted tour or a package tour. What you lose in adventure, you'll gain in time and money saved when you book accommodations, and maybe even food and entertainment, along with your flight.

Package Tours

Package tours are not the same thing as escorted tours. With a package tour, you travel independently but pay a group rate. Packages usually include airfare, a choice of hotels, and car rentals, and packagers often offers several options at different prices. In many cases, a package that includes airfare, hotel, and transportation to and from the airport will cost you less than just the hotel alone would have, had you booked it yourself. That's because packages are sold in bulk to tour operators -- who resell them to the public at a cost that often drastically undercuts standard rates.

Recommended Package Tour Operators -- One good source of package deals is the airlines themselves. Most major airlines offer air/land packages. Most airlines offer packages that may include car rentals and accommodations in addition to your airfare.

The best place to start your search is the travel section of your local Sunday newspaper. Also check the ads in the back of national travel magazines like Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and Condé Nast Traveler. One of the biggest packages in the Northeast, Liberty Travel (tel. 888/271-1584; www.libertytravel.com), usually boasts a full-page ad in Sunday papers. American Express Travel (tel. 800/941-2639; www.travelimpressions.com) is another option.

Among the airline packagers, Iberia Airlines (tel. 800/772-4642 or 902/400/500 in Spain; www.iberia.com) leads the way. Discover Spain Vacations (tel. 800/227-5858; www.farandwide.com), the marketing arm of Iberia, is the most reliable tour operator and the agency used for air and land packages to Madrid. Naturally, round-trip airfares on Iberia are included in the deal. Several fly/drive packages are also offered.

Other packages for travel in Spain are offered by United Airlines (tel. 800/241-6522; www.ual.com), American Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/321-2121; www.aavacations.com), and Delta Vacations (tel. 800/872-7786; www.deltavacations.com). Also worth a look are Continental Airlines Vacations (tel. 800/301-3800; www.covacations.com) and United Vacations (tel. 888/854-3899; www.unitedvacations.com). Several big online travel agencies -- Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Site59, and Lastminute.com -- also do a brisk business in packages.

Solar Tours (tel. 800/388-7652; www.solartours.com) is a wholesaler that offers a number of package tours to Madrid.

Spanish Heritage Tours (tel. 800/456-5050; www.shtours.com) is known for searching for low-cost airfare deals to Spain -- round-trips from the U.S. to Madrid for $429 or to Málaga for $529. The tour agent also features both air and land packages to Madrid.

Ask Before You Go -- Before you invest in a package deal or an escorted tour:

Always ask about the cancellation policy. Can you get your money back? Is there a deposit required?

Ask about the accommodations choices and prices for each. Then look up the hotels' reviews in a Frommer's guide and check their rates online for your specific dates of travel. Also find out what types of rooms are offered.

Request a complete schedule. (Escorted tours only)

Ask about the size and demographics of the group. (Escorted tours only)

Discuss what is included in the price (transportation, meals, tips, airport transfers, etc.). (Escorted tours only)

Finally, look for hidden expenses. Ask whether airport departure fees and taxes, for example, are included in the total cost -- they rarely are.

Escorted General-Interest Tours

Escorted tours are structured group tours, with a group leader. The price usually includes everything from airfare to hotels, meals, tours, admission costs, and local transportation.

Despite the fact that escorted tours require big deposits and predetermine hotels, restaurants, and itineraries, many people derive security and peace of mind from the structure they offer. Escorted tours -- whether they're navigated by bus, motor coach, train, or boat -- let travelers sit back and enjoy the trip without having to drive or worry about details. They often take you to the maximum number of sights in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of hassle. They're particularly convenient for people with limited mobility and can be a great way to make new friends.

On the downside, you'll have little opportunity for serendipitous interactions with locals. The tours can be jam-packed with activities, leaving little room for individual sightseeing, whim, or adventure -- plus they often focus on the heavily touristed sites, so you miss out on many a lesser-known gem.

Recommended Escorted-Tour Operators -- There are many escorted tour companies to choose from, each offering transportation to and within Spain, prearranged hotel space, and such extras as bilingual tour guides and lectures. Many of these tours to Spain include excursions to Morocco or Portugal.

Some of the most expensive and luxurious tours are run by Abercrombie & Kent International (tel. 800/323-7308 or 630/954-2944; www.abercrombiekent.com), including deluxe 13- or 19-day tours of the Iberian Peninsula by train. Guests stay in fine hotels, ranging from a medieval palace to the exquisite modern Hesperia Madrid hotel on Avenida Castellana.

Trafalgar Tours (tel. 800/854-0103 or 212/689-8977; www.trafalgartours.com) offers a number of tours of Spain. One of the most popular offerings is an 18-day trip called "The Best of Spain" (this land-only package is $1,735; with land and air, it's $2,155-$2,565).

Insight Vacations' "Highlights of Spain" is an 11-day tour that begins in Madrid, sweeps along the southern and eastern coasts, and concludes in Madrid. The company offers the tour for $1,370 to $1,785 including airfare, accommodations, and some meals. For information, contact your travel agent or Insight International (tel. 800/582-8380; www.insightvacations.com).

Petrabax Tours (tel. 800/634-1188; www.petrabax.com) attracts those who prefer to see Spain by bus, although fly/drive packages are also offered, featuring stays in paradores (high-standard, state-run hotels -- some modern, some in historic buildings). A number of city packages are also available, plus a 10-day trip that tries to capture Spain in a nutshell, with stops in places ranging from Madrid to Granada.

Recently, more and more special-interest tours to Madrid and Castile are being offered, including tours by Archetours, Inc. (tel. 800/770-3051; www.archetours.com), which features tours devoted to Spanish architecture.