January 28, 2004 -- For years, Petrabax has been offering great deals to Spain in winter, and we have reported them as being highly recommended for their good value. Once again this month, they have come through with their regular package for Madrid, but better yet, with an even less expensive program on the Costa del Sol.
The latter is for just $529 per person, including airfare, six nights' lodging, breakfasts and taxes, through March 31, and that's with daily departures from the USA. Your hotel in Torremolinos would be the four-star El Pinar, a 174-room establishment with pool, restaurants and more, near the beach. The price for this goes up to $649 for the period April 1 through June 13, when there are Friday departures.
Packages similar to those of past years continue at $599 per person for Madrid and the Costa del Sol, staying at the Florida Norte in Madrid and a variety of choices on the Costa del Sol. The Florida Norte is a 330-room block near the Plaza de Espana, or you may get a similar four-star property. On the Costa del Sol, a typical hotel is the four-star Cervantes, a 350-room giant with restaurant and pools near the beach, or the four-star Melia Costa del Sol, with pool and terraces on the Paseo Maritimo. Both properties are in Torremolinos. Hotel taxes and breakfasts not included. These prices are good through March 31.
There's a six-night package to Barcelona, also priced at $599 through March 31, where the first-class hotel choices include the 156-room Alimara and the Oriente. For April and May, the price would be $890. Hotel taxes and breakfasts are not included.
The city packages to Madrid or Barcelona include roundtrip airfare form New York and are available with add-on fares from other US gateways, such as Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco. The Costa de Sol package includes roundtrip airfare from New York to Malaga.
You can also get combo packages for six nights including Madrid with the Costa del Sol or Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao or Valencia, three nights in each destination. The price is also $599 including air.
Note that all these prices are per person, double occupancy, and are subject to availability and some restrictions. Contact Petrabax USA at 800/265-4842 or visit www.petrabaxusa.com.
Another Option, Plus a Chance to Win
Gate 1 has Spain on its email list of its "Top Ten Best Travel Deals." They have a six-day "Instant Purchase Madrid" promotion, costing $449 that includes roundtrip air from New York and other US East Coast cities to Spain's capital city. For this you get airfare, four nights' lodging in a first-class hotel and daily breakfast. They say they have low-cost add-on fares from the Midwest and West as well.
About the list: They are promising a chance to win two free roundtrip tickets to Europe if you sign up for their Top Ten E Mail Lists by March 31, 2004 (winners will be announced the next day). The lists, which enumerate the company's best-priced offers,
are revised twice monthly and posted on the web, as well as being e-mailed directly to you. To sign up for the free subscription, go to www.gate1travel.com. The firm can also be contacted at 800/682-3333.