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FAQs
WHAT SETS BEST OF SPAIN TRAVEL PLANNERS APART?
Allow me to highlight why the BOSTP team stands out. We are dedicated, detail-oriented, and committed to providing you with exceptional customer service. But anyone can say that. Here are some specific reasons that set us apart from other travel consultants:
We actually live in Spain: With over eight years of living in Barcelona and an entire Spain-based team, we have a deep understanding of the intricacies of Spanish culture and how to navigate them. Our firsthand knowledge allows us to anticipate and solve potential issues, ensuring a smooth travel experience, making your trip to Spain both enjoyable and hassle-free.
We are fluent in Spanish: I speak fluent Spanish and our entire Spain-based team speaks Spanish and English. Our team in Catalunya also speaks Catalan, our Pais Basco colleagues also speak Euskera and in Galicia you can add Gallego to their list of languages.
We have extensive travel experience: We’ve traveled to many countries and understand what it feels like to be a foreigner in a new place. We can provide tips on travel insurance, luggage, cell phone usage, and language barriers.
We provide exceptional customer service: We offer a North American level of customer service, acting as a bridge between cultures. Customer service doesn’t always mean the same thing in Spain, but we ensure it meets your expectations.
We only work with knowledgeable local guides: We know how to select excellent local guides who are engaging and informative. Whether you need a guide focused on Spanish architecture, or one with an emphasis on food and wine, we have you covered.
We thrive on attention to detail: Because we are paid for our time and expertise, we can focus on the details like transportation, food, festivals, and the overall flow and balance of your itinerary. Travel agents often can’t spend time on these aspects because they don’t earn commissions on them. These details, however, are what make your entire trip flow smoothly.
WHY SHOULD I USE BEST OF SPAIN TRAVEL PLANNERS INSTEAD OF A REGULAR TRAVEL AGENT FOR HELP WITH MY SPAIN VACATION?
Using Best of Spain Travel Planners offers a more cost-effective and enriching experience than relying on a regular travel agent when planning a trip to Spain. Here’s why:
Transparent and Personalized Service: At Best of Spain Travel Planners, we charge a clear, upfront fee for our services, focusing on getting you the best possible experience within your budget. Unlike some travel agents who might earn commissions by steering you towards more expensive options, our loyalty lies with you. We work to stretch your budget further, whether by finding budget-friendly boutique hotels or arranging cost-effective transportation between cities.
Deep Local Knowledge: Best of Spain Travel Planners specializes exclusively in Spain, offering a depth of local knowledge that most general travel agents simply cannot match. This expertise allows us to recommend the best-value experiences, accommodations, and dining options that are not only affordable, but also authentic. We know where to find hidden gems, whether it's a family-run boutique hotel in Andalusia or a lesser-known tapas bar in Madrid, ensuring you get the most out of your budget.
Customized Itineraries that Maximize Value: Unlike traditional travel agents who might push pre-packaged tours with high markups, Best of Spain Travel Planners create tailor-made itineraries based on your interests, preferences, and budget. We can help you avoid overpriced tourist traps and instead direct you to high-quality experiences at a fraction of the cost that save you money without compromising the experience.
Direct Access to Local Deals and Discounts: With established relationships throughout Spain, Best of Spain Travel Planners can secure exclusive deals that general travel agents might not have access to. This includes reduced rates on accommodations, special prices for local tours, and insider tips on free or low-cost activities that offer an authentic taste of Spanish culture.
HOW MUCH CAN I EXPECT TO PAY FOR A CUSTOMIZED SPAIN VACATION?
The cost of a trip to Spain can vary, but here’s a good starting point. You will want to consider expenses for accommodations, tours/activities, logistics, food, flights, and planning fees.
The following estimates are based on 2024 prices for two travelers. Note that these pricing examples are for a mid-range vacation - neither a budget trip nor a luxury vacation.
Accommodations: On average, expect to spend about $300 per room per night throughout all of Spain. Larger cities like Barcelona and Madrid may be pricier, and prices can be lower during the off-season. While there are cheaper options like budget hotels, Airbnbs, and apartments, our travelers usually start with this budget and might increase it, depending on the level of accommodations and amenities desired. This budget generally secures a high-quality 3 or 4-star hotel in a central location, with breakfast and taxes included. For hotel accommodations with a sea view in places like Costa Brava, most hotel accommodations begin at about $500 per night.
Tours & Activities: Plan to allocate around $400 per day/per couple for full day small group tours or half day private tours. Private tours usually start at about $600 for a full day tour for two and go up depending on the activity/duration. High-end excursions like full-day boat trips around the Balearic Islands or hot air balloon rides over Rioja’s vineyards usually start at about $800 per couple.
Logistics: Budget approximately $200 per couple/per day for transportation. This includes airport transfers, rental cars, train tickets, and occasional taxi rides. Some days, you might walk everywhere, while on others you might need a $500 private transfer between Barcelona and Bilbao. In regions like Andalusia, if you’re using a private driver, you might spend around $600 per day.
Dining: Estimate around $250 per day/per couple for meals. This assumes breakfast is included with your hotel stay (most hotels include it). Lunch might be light, such as tapas at a café or a quick sandwich, and dinner will be at a restaurant each night. If you wish to include dining at Michelin-starred places, obviously that will increase your daily budget, but at this average you will be eating well at authentic places. This budget also includes coffee, churros, and snacks.
Flights: Round-trip flights from the US typically cost between $800 - $1,600 in economy class, depending on your departure city and the time of year.
Planning Fees: Our planning fees start at $250 per travel day, per group up to 4 for Classic Spain Travel Itinerary Planning and start at $350 per travel day, per group up to 4 for Premium Spain Travel Itinerary Planning. For parties of 5-10 people, contact us for a quote. We inform clients that travel industry markups (within single-price packages) are about 20% – 25%. If our fees fall within this range, that’s reasonable. If they’re lower, you’re getting a deal. If they’re higher, it might not make sense to work with us. Based on the average daily estimates above for accommodations, tours/excursions, dining and logistics, the average trip costs total $1,200 per couple per day. If this couple hires us for Premium travel planning at $350 per day, this adds about 30% to the trip cost. However, if two couples split the planning fees, this becomes a cost-effective option compared to purchasing the same trip as a package deal.
WHAT'S THE RETURN ON A $250+ PER DAY PLANNING FEE INVESTMENT?
When investing $250 or more in planning fees per trip day, the return on your investment can be significant, broken down into two main parts:
Time Saved During the Planning Process: Planning a trip to Spain with the same level of detail and organization as our services would take you about 8 hours per travel day if done on your own. For a 10-day trip, that’s approximately 80 hours of planning you would have to do. This includes extensive internet and guidebook research, phone calls to Spain, booking time, and double-checking everything to ensure smooth execution. In contrast, working with our team requires only 3-4 hours of communication via phone or email. This means you save about 76 hours for a 10-day trip. Think about the value of your time per hour and how much you can save by allocating those hours to other productive activities or simply enjoying your leisure time.
Time Used More Efficiently on the Trip: A well-organized trip ensures you don’t waste time getting lost, dealing with unexpected train schedules, fixing booking errors due to language barriers, or waiting in long lines for attractions that could have been pre-booked. With an organized, pre-booked itinerary, travelers on average can accomplish 20% more in a day. This efficiency translates into less stress and more enjoyment during your vacation.
An Example:
Consider a 10-day trip to Spain costing $600 per day/per person, covering all expenses. Assuming you have 12 hours per day of "out and about time" to enjoy, each vacation hour in Spain costs $50. For a 10-day vacation, this totals 120 vacation hours. With a well-planned trip, you can achieve 20% more in a day, equating to 24 extra hours spent enjoying Spain rather than problem-solving and dealing with stress. At $50 per hour, those 24 hours represent $1,200 worth of valuable vacation time per traveler spent enjoying Spain instead of being lost due to planning mistakes.
By inputting your own numbers into these examples and considering that the benefits can be multiplied by the number of people traveling together, you can see how much you will actually save by having us plan your Spanish vacation. This provides a clear picture of the significant time and money savings, ensuring a more enjoyable and efficient travel experience through our expert travel planning services.
WHEN SHOULD I REACH OUT BOSTP FOR HELP WITH MY SPAIN VACATION?
The ideal time to contact BOSTP depends on your travel dates and duration. For high-demand times like summer, Easter and Christmas, it's best to reach out 6-12 months in advance to secure your preferred hotels, restaurants, and activities. If you’re planning a trip during a less busy season, 3-4 months ahead is usually sufficient. However, the sooner you contact us, the better, as this allows us to dedicate ample time to create a tailored itinerary for you. Our team is small and dedicated, and we limit the number of trips we handle to ensure top-quality service. Even if you’re short on time, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’ll strive to plan an excellent trip for you, though some top spots may already be booked. Keep in mind that fees might be higher for arrangements made less than four months before travel.
CAN YOU CUSTOMIZE AN ONLINE TOUR I FOUND INTO A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE?
Absolutely! If you share the details of an online tour with us, we can create a private version tailored just for you. Plus, it's worth asking us for a cost breakdown. Often, we can replicate the same trip at a lower price. Online tours are typically sold as package deals, but when we itemize the costs—even with our premium Platinum planning services—the overall cost is usually less.
