June 15, 2004 -- As one of the largest countries in Europe, Spain naturally has a wide variety of landscapes and climates, from Madrid's fairly harsh plateau weather to the balmy sea air that typifies the Costa del Sol. There are also extremes in hotel accommodations, even on tours, as the sampling mentioned here will illustrate.
Cox & Kings, the venerable and utterly reliable British travel firm (founded in 1758 to help get people to their imperial postings in India), has a rather swell deal for anyone interested in putting on the Ritz. Between July 1 and August 31, you can have three nights at the Ritz in Madrid for the price of two, they say, and airfare from London on British Airways, for the amazing cost of just £295 per person (about $541). The bargain also includes transfers, breakfast and two free tickets to the Prado Museum, as well as a bottle of Cava wine on arrival. (The Ritz is just across the street from the Prado and within walking distance of the Reina Sofia Museum of Modern Art.) The Ritz, in case you're concerned about its reputation, is "regularly voted in the top ten of the world's great hotels, and is the hotel of choice for visiting royalty and heads of state," says Angela Bailey, product manager for Europe of Cox & Kings. Not that crowned heads are likely to be staying there in Madrid's hot summer months of July and August, but so what?
In a different price-level entirely is the same firm's seven-night tour of Moorish Spain this October (departs on the 18th), costing £1395 (about $2,560) per person, including flights from London, accommodation, some meals, transfers, sightseeing and entrance fees. On this trip, travelers visit southern Spain with Sian Walters, a specialist in Spanish art and architecture, affiliated for this tour with the British National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies. Also on the itinerary are Cordoba (including its Alcazar), Granada (including the Alhambra) and Seville (the Cathedral, the Alcazar, and more). The full program can be found at www.coxandkings.co.uk/arttreasures.
Contact Cox & Kings at www.coxandkings.co.uk or phone them at 011/44 20 7873-5000.
Madrid & Barcelona in Fall & Winter
We like the eight-day/six-night package to Madrid and Barcelona organized by Gate 1 Travel. The bargain, starting from $1,149 per person, includes flights from New York to Madrid, then to Barcelona and back to New York; six nights in your choice of hotels (three in each city); arrival and departure transfers; and daily breakfast. There are departures from other U.S. gateways, too, so be sure to check them out. Not included are airport taxes and security fees. You can also purchase a land-only package that includes the flight from Madrid to Barcelona.
The $1,149 price is for departure on October 23. Prices for other dates range from $1,229 in September and October to $1,629 for a June 25 departure. All these are for the "Plan B" hotels, which are the Gran Colon in Madrid and the Expo in Barcelona. "Plan A" calls for higher category hotels and higher prices. Contact the organizers at www.gate1travel.com or by phoning 800/682-3333.
