How to Spend 9 Fabulous (and Affordable) Days in Spain with Your Bestie

Fabulous & Affordable Spain Itinerary

Spain is one of Europe’s most treasured destinations, with many layers of history, culture, and culinary wonders to discover. With walkable cities, a vibrant food scene, and easy intercity train connections, it’s one of the best places to travel solo, as a couple, or with friends.

When one of my dearest friends (who lives in another state) asked me to join her in Spain for her birthday this year, I was thrilled to say “YES!” Just a few years ago, it wouldn’t have been so easy to commit. Let’s be honest, I probably would have said yes anyway. But, being able to do so without stressing about how it would impact my finances felt absolutely incredible. Traveling in Europe can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to break your bank. You just have to use some smart strategies to get there.

Read on to learn specific methods and trusted recommendations you can use to build your own affordable (and fabulous) Spain itinerary. Then, when the time comes, you can say “YES!” to the trip.

My Travel Approach

Traveling for pleasure is a privilege no matter how you slice it. In middle age and mid-career, I’m fortunate to be able to travel beyond a shoestring budget (been there, done that). Traveling is my lifelong love and I decided long ago that I would make it a priority whenever possible. So, while I work towards new financial goals (hey, retirement), travel always has a place in my annual budget.

Within this self-imposed constraint, I use different strategies to make that budget stretch as far as possible, finding creative ways to squeeze more value from every dollar. This way, I know that I’ll be able to enjoy today without compromising tomorrow.

Points & Miles for the Win

I’m a big fan of leveraging credit card points and miles earned through everyday expenses to enable and upgrade travel experiences. Also called “travel hacking”, the strategic earning and redemption of points and miles is often the answer to the question, “How do they afford to travel like this?” Check out my article “Using Credit Card Points and Miles to Travel Better” to learn the basic strategies that will help you get started.

Smart Booking Strategies to Save Cash

On this trip to Spain, I leveraged credit card points and airline miles for flights, shared some costs with my friend, earned valuable returns on hotel and tour bookings, and took advantage of Spain’s tapas culture to minimize food expenses. And, because I saved so much cash, I was able to splurge on a few luxuries. All within budget!

Using “smart strategies” doesn’t mean sleeping in hostels and eating nothing but free olives. On the contrary! Using credit cards to your advantage and learning to stack deals can help minimize or eliminate big travel costs so you can put your hard-earned money toward things that are most valuable to you.

In each section of this article, I’ll share my actual out-of-pocket costs and “stacks” that I used to get the most out of each booking. If you think stacking isn’t worth the extra time for a small reward, think again. These earnings add up quickly. On this trip, I earned points worth over $300 just by booking strategically with little extra effort. Here are some basic strategies you should think about when booking travel to get the most bang for your buck:

• Reimbursable spending is one of the best ways to maximize points earned for any type of purchase. When booking travel for a group trip, offer to make the booking and have your (trusted) travelmates reimburse you in cash.
• Leverage credit card bonus categories whenever possible. For example, my Citi Premier card earns 3x points at hotels, so all lodging expenses were paid for with this card.
• If you make a purchase that has no category multiplier (eg. museum tickets, spa services), use a card that earns 2x points per dollar on every purchase. Examples include Capital One Venture (personal referral) and Citi DoubleCash. For international destinations, use a travel credit card that doesn’t incur foreign transaction fees.
• Know the benefits of your credit cards. Do they offer cash back, bonuses, or discounts on certain merchants or travel portal bookings? For example, the Citi Premier card offers 10x points on all Citi Travel portal bookings and $100 off hotel portal bookings over $500 (once per year).
• Check your credit card merchant offers. These are offers from specific brands that give you cash back as a statement credit when you make a qualifying purchase. They often include major hotel chains and travel booking sites. To activate the offer, you must add it to your card through the bank’s mobile app or website. Check the terms of each offer to be sure you satisfy the requirements. These are great for stacking with shopping portals. And, you’ll earn points on the full amount before the credit.
• Always check online shopping portals for cash, points, or miles-earning opportunities before you purchase anything online. These are commonly offered for travel aggregator sites like Viator and Booking.com. This is an incredibly easy way to earn valuable rewards from your travel reservations.
  • The amount of cash back you’ll earn from a given merchant changes regularly. Wait for elevated cashback offers during promotions and holidays to maximize your return. Cash Back Monitor is a good resource to see what specific merchants are currently earning across shopping portals.
  • Rakuten is my favorite shopping portal and regularly has elevated offers. If you have an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards (MR) points (Platinum, Gold, Green, Everyday Preferred), link your accounts to earn MR points instead of cash back. When redeemed strategically, points can be worth much more than cash back!
  • Browser extensions (like this one) make it easy to find and activate cashback offers.
  • Choose shopping portals wisely and don’t spread your earnings too thin. Use portals that have consistently good offers and timely returns in currencies you will use (cash, airline miles, points).
  • Read the offer carefully to be sure you’re meeting the requirements for cash back.

If this approach resonates with you, use this article to help create your own itinerary for Spain or guide your travel booking methods to save cash and make more memories. If you have questions or anything to add, please drop a comment below. I’d love to hear from you! Now, let’s go to Spain…

9 Days in Spain

On this 9-day trip to Madrid and Andalusia, Spain in April 2023, I flew in business class round trip, visited three cities, stayed in central locations, enjoyed a variety of cultural experiences (including some splurges), and ate and drank well (my friend and I excel at this) – all for less than $2,000. In this article, I’ll share details of how I booked the trip including flights, lodging, activities, and train travel. Vamos!

Trip Cost & Earnings Summary

Below is a summary of what I spent in points and cash for this trip and what was earned through smart and easy booking strategies. Earn while you burn!

Spending by Category	Cash Spent	Points & Miles Burned (all currencies)
Flights*	$74	135,000
Accommodations	$889	–
Activities	$679	–
Train Travel (intercity)	$186	–
TOTAL	$1,828	135,000

Points & Miles – Burned & Earned	Points & Miles Burned	Points & Miles Earned*
Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR)	–	1,003
Amex Membership Rewards (MR)	60,000	7,544
Citi ThankYou Points (TY)	50,000	6,080
Capital One Miles	–	1,281
Delta SkyMiles	25,000	–
TOTAL	135,000	15,908

Flights Booked

Austin (AUS) – New York (JFK)

• Airline Flown: Delta
• Booked With: Delta
• Class of Service: First Class (used regional upgrade certificates)
• Cost: 25,000 Delta SkyMiles + $11.20 taxes/fees (round trip)
• Cash Value: $658 (main cabin)
• Credit Card Used (taxes/fees): Chase Sapphire Preferred (why)
• Short Review: Delta First Class was comfortable and they served the best burger I’ve ever had on a plane. Fantastic JFK airport experience thanks to Centurion Lounge access with my Amex Platinum card (personal referral).

I used a stash of 25,000 Delta SkyMiles to position myself from Austin to New York JFK (round-trip) to catch the transatlantic flight to Madrid. When booking award flights, the best mileage prices are typically found from major hub airports. So, unless you live in a hub city, it’s often worthwhile to take a domestic flight (or road trip) to reposition yourself for the journey across either pond. Thankfully, my home airport in Austin has good options for non-stop flights to major hubs around the country.

In 2023, I enjoyed Delta Platinum Status thanks to an epic travel year in 2019 and generous status rollovers from Delta during the pandemic. At this status level, I was able to book the Comfort Plus cabin for the same price as the main cabin. Of course, this would have been perfectly fine – Comfort Plus offers more legroom, better snacks, and free booze. But, why stop there?

Delta Platinum status also gives you a choice of several benefits for the calendar year – I chose four (4) regional upgrade certificates. Each certificate can be used for one domestic flight segment, so I was able to upgrade to first class for each leg of the AUS-JFK journey. I had no hesitation in using these certificates on a 3-hour flight.

Even sweeter, my American Express Platinum card (personal referral link) gave me access to the Delta Sky Club in Austin (only when flying Delta) and the Centurion Lounge in JFK (complete with a massage and speakeasy cocktails). All of this felt like such luxury and I paid nothing extra for any of it. This is what I’m talking about, friends!

New York (JFK) – Madrid (MAD)

• Airline Flown: Air Europa
• Booked With: KLM (Flying Blue)
• Class of Service: Business Class
• Cost: 110,000 Flying Blue miles + $62.40 taxes/fees (round trip)
• Cash Value: $5,304
• Credit Card Used (taxes/fees): Chase Sapphire Preferred (why)
• Short Review: Air Europa’s hard product (seats, entertainment) was good, but the soft product (service, food) was lacking. My checked bag did not make the transfer from Delta to Air Europa in JFK (SkyTeam partners) but was delivered to my Madrid hotel within 48 hours. The return flight (MAD-JFK) was operated by Wamos Air (good soft product, dated hard product).

Leveraging Airline Alliances (SkyTeam/Flying Blue)

The Flying Blue loyalty program (Air France/KLM) is a good place to look for saver award availability between North America and Europe. Your search results will include flights operated by Air France, KLM, or a number of partner airlines. In the world of points and miles, leveraging these airline partnerships will help you find the best mileage prices for award tickets.

Flying Blue and Air Europa are both members of the Sky Team airline alliance. This generally means that miles held with one airline partner can be used to book flights on another partner. This opens doors for people who have elite status or a stash of miles with one airline, as you can redeem miles and enjoy status benefits when flying on other airlines within the same alliance.

Additionally, the Flying Blue program is a transfer partner of all the major points currencies – American Express (Membership Rewards), Citi (Thank You), Chase (Ultimate Rewards), and Capital One. When you hold a premium travel credit card at any of these banks, you can transfer earned points directly to your Flying Blue account at a 1:1 rate (1 point = 1 mile). This is nice because it allows you to pool smaller points balances together for a bigger redemption.

When you transfer points to Flying Blue, they should be in your account within a few minutes but could take up to 48 hours. You will need to create a Flying Blue account in order to transfer points. Be on the lookout for transer bonus promotions!

Booking Award Flights

When booking award flights with points and miles, it’s important to know that the price in miles is set by the airline you book with, not the airline you’re flying on (learn more). You just need to find flights with saver award availability which can be challenging during peak travel seasons. When I booked this flight two months in advance (for April 2023), there was plenty of business class award availability.

When booking award flights, you will need to pay the associated taxes and fees with a credit card. The amount you’ll pay can vary widely depending on the airline and cities flown, including connecting cities (London-Heathrow has notoriously high fees). Some carriers also add hefty fuel surcharges to award tickets while others don’t. Be sure to consider the cost of taxes and fees when searching and booking award flights. When you’re ready to book, the credit card you use to pay the taxes and fees matters!

Premium travel credit cards often include valuable trip protections that can only be leveraged when a portion of the flight is paid for with the card (taxes and fees count). Protection from out-of-pocket costs due to unforeseen trip cancellations, major flight delays, baggage delays, lost luggage, etc. will give you peace of mind. Be sure to read the details of the specific travel protections offered by your credit card before deciding which one to use. The Chase Sapphire premium travel cards have some of the best travel protections available (personal referral link).

How I Booked This Flight

• Searched for and found business class availability on Air Europa via the KLM website two months prior to my April 2023 departure.
• Transferred a combination of American Express (Membership Rewards) and Citi (ThankYou) points to my Flying Blue account. They were in the account within minutes.
• Booked two one-way flights in business class on Air Europa between New York (JFK) and Madrid. Why book two one-way tickets instead of a round trip? There are a few reasons:
  • Finding award availability for one segment is easier than a round-trip.
  • Having separate reservations can make itinerary changes easier if needed.
  • In this case, the total cost of mileage and taxes was the same, so it made sense.

Madrid, Spain (4 nights)

Accommodations

Before I arrived, my friend had been exploring Madrid on her own for a week. She rented an Airbnb outside the city center and I had planned to crash there with her during our four nights in the city. When she arrived, the sleeping arrangements were much smaller in reality than what was pictured in the listing. So that both of us were comfortable (we’re not 25 anymore), I decided to get my own room in the city center. While this was an unexpected expense, the central location close to public transportation turned out to be a blessing.

• Where: Hotel Cortezo, Madrid
• When: April 2023
• # of Nights: 4
• Room Type: Double Room for Single Use
• Cost: $464.90
• Booked With: Citi Travel Portal
• The Stack: From this booking, I earned:
  • $100 instant savings from Citi Travel on a single hotel booking over $500 (one time per year)
  • 4,649 Citi ThankYou points (10x) for booking through their travel portal with my Citi Premier card (more details)
• Short Review: Perfect central location, great value. Modern, clean, and comfortable. The rooftop view is best in the evenings (no shade). Didn’t try the buffet breakfast (included).

Activities

Food Tour: Tapas, Taverns, and History

Food tours are one of the best things to do on your first full day in any new city. Part culinary adventure, part walking tour, small group food tours give you an overview of your new surroundings, a knowledgeable local guide, and an opportunity to connect with other travelers over shared plates and wine. Best of all, you’ll be met with a cavalcade of generously-portioned specialty dishes in the places that do them best.

Many food tours also include special access to popular places, bypassing crowds and queues to get to the goods. This is especially helpful in Madrid as crowded tapas bars can be overwhelming to first-timers. With a tapas food tour, you’ll learn what to do, what not to do, and how to enjoy tapas like a local. All you have to do is show up with good vibes, an open mind, and an empty stomach. Yes, please!

By the end of the tour, we were self-certified tapas experts and ready to discover more of Madrid’s best tapas bars on our own.

• What: Tapas Taverns, and History
• Duration: 4 hours
• Operator: Devour Tours
• Booked With: Viator
• Cost: $108 + 10% gratuity per person
• The Stack: With this booking, I earned:
  • 432 Capital One miles by booking 2 tickets with my Capital One Venture card (earns 2x on everything). My friend reimbursed her share in cash.
  • 2,160 Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points (10% back via Rakuten).
• Short Review: This was a great tour that hit the top tapas bars in Madrid. Devour Tours originated in Spain and they know what they’re doing. Don’t hesitate to book this one.
• Pro-tip: It may cost less to book directly via the operator’s website. Use promo code CASSIEH10 for 10% off. Compare prices and cash-back offers to determine the best deal.

Madrid is a foodie city and there are many great food tours available to book. Here are some other highly-rated food tours in Madrid:

Hammam Al Andalus

To kick off my girl’s birthday in style, we made appointments at Hammam Al Andalus, a contemporary hammam (arab bath) built on the remains of an ancient cistern in the city center. The baths are spectacular and the experience is rejuvenating and memorable. Check out this article for more details about the Andalusian hammam experience and service comparisons.

• What: Hammam Al Andalus, Madrid
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Service Booked: Midra 30
• Booked With: Hammam Al Andalus website the day before. You can also book in advance through one of the options below.
• Cost: €150 ($163.79) – for 2 people (my treat)
• The Stack: On this booking, I earned:
  • 328 Capital One miles for using my Capital One Venture card (earns 2x on everything)
• Pro-tip: Bring your swimsuit. For the most authentic experience, book a service that includes “kessa traditional”.

Flamenco Show

• What: Flamenco Show in a Historic Cave (Essential Flamenco)
• Duration: 1 hour
• Booked With: Airbnb Experiences
• Cost: $59.47 for 2 tickets (with 20% early bird discount, booked 5 weeks in advance)
• The Stack: With this booking, I earned…
  • 297 Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points by using an Airbnb gift card purchased at Office Depot with my Chase Ink Business Cash card (earns 5x at office supply stores)
• Short Review: The cave setting is unique and intimate but the seating is tight. Get there early for a better seat closer to the performers. The front row is best if you want to take video. Your ticket includes 1 drink (beer, wine, soft drink). This experience can be booked multiple ways (e.g. Viator) and there are similar flamenco venues around Madrid. Do some research to find the best current deal for the experience you want (read reviews!).

El Prado Museum

• What: El Prado Museum (Museo del Prado)
• Cost: €15 (self-guided)
• The Stack: On this booking, I earned:
  • 40 Capital One miles for using my Capital One Venture card (earns 2x on everything)
• Pro-tip: You don’t need a guide to enjoy the Prado Museum, but it would provide greater context and appreciation of what you’re seeing. Here are a few highly-rated guided tours:

Tapas Bar Crawl (self-guided)

Spain’s famous tapas culture is an experience in itself. For the price of a few (inexpensive) drinks, you’ll be immersed in a cultural vortex of Spanish cuisine, fortified wine, and spirited chatter.

What are Tapas, Anyway?

Tapas are complimentary small plates of food served with a drink, typically vermouth, local wine, or a small beer (una caña). In most tapas bars, you’ll be given a snack (potato chips, olives, nuts) when you first arrive. As you order more drinks, the free-flowing tapas will get better and more substantial. Most dishes feature fish or meat, though vegetarian options can be found.

Tapas doesn’t just mean small plates. For a more substantial meal, you can order larger plates (“raciones”) of specialty dishes that are meant to be shared. These can be ordered from the bar or server at menu prices. Look around to see what other people are eating to know what the specialties are. You can fill up quickly doing this so choose wisely.

Each bar has a different personality – the food, service, atmosphere, crowd, and quality level vary from bar to bar. The best approach is to stay a little while at each place, soaking up the vibe. Order a couple of drinks, eat a few tapas, and move on to the next one. Don’t plan to eat dinner afterward, you’ll be plenty satisfied. The tapas experience is all about surprise, variety, and being social. So, why not try as many different places as you can? Challenge accepted.

Tapas Bar Recommendations

While the food tour on our first night covered several of the best tapas bars in Madrid, we had a long list of places to try. Armed with this map of collected recommendations, we embarked on a self-guided, multi-day crawl of central Madrid’s best tapas bars.

In the city center, the best place to start a self-guided tapas bar crawl is C. de la Cava Baja (map), a historic street lined with tapas bars.

The best time for tapas is 12-4 pm or after 8 pm – many bars are closed from 4-8 pm. Check individual hours and plan accordingly. You don’t want to show up hungry to shuttered tapas bars.

Here are the 10 best tapas bars we visited in Madrid:

• La Dolores (map) – Interesting tapas, cervezas frescas, gorgeous tile work. Enjoyed the buzzy vibe here.
• Taberna de la Elisa (map) – Lovely atmosphere with colorful tile work. Great for vermouth or beer and light tapas.
• Los Caracoles (map) – Get the snails, salt cod fritters, and house vermouth. Friendly staff.
• Mesón del Champiñón (map) – Mushroom specialty dish, pimientos de padron (like shishito peppers), good restrooms.
• La Casa del Abuelo (map) – Sizzling garlic shrimp (gambas al ajillo), “vino del chato” house wine.
• Taberna La Concha (map) – Vermouth cocktails and tapas in a small, colorful bar.
• Casa Toni (map) – Fried anchovies, grilled cuttlefish. Tables for groups upstairs.
• Casa Alberto (map) – 19th century taberna. Great for a vermouth.
• Matador (map) – Best for drinks and light bites. Authentic, kitschy decor. Cheeses, cured meats, good drinks.
• Taberna Tempranillo (map) – Regional wines and tapas. Impressive wine wall.

If you’d like to do a tapas bar crawl in Granada, check out the recommendations in this article.

Train Travel: Madrid to Córdoba

• What: Train from Madrid (Puerta de Atocha) to Córdoba Central
• Duration: 2 hours
• Class of Service: 2nd class
• Cost: €52.95 ($62.23) per person
• Booked With: Rail Europe
• The Stack: With this booking, I earned:
  • 249 Chase Ultimate Rewards points by booking 2 tickets with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card (earns 2x on travel). My friend reimbursed her share in cash.
• Pro-tip: Book online as far in advance as possible. Prices will only increase as the date gets closer. Be sure to book with a card that does not charge foreign transaction fees.

Córdoba, Spain (2 nights)

Accommodations

• Where: Hotel Conde de Cardenas, Córdoba
• When: April 2023
• # of Nights: 2
• Room Type: Double Room
• Cost: $112.50 (split 50/50 with friend, total room cost $225)
• Booked With: Booking.com
• The Stack: I booked the reservation and my friend reimbursed her share in cash. From this booking, I earned:
  • 1,350 Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points (6% back via Rakuten).
  • 675 Citi ThankYou points. Earned by using my Citi Premier card that earns 3x points at hotels (Booking.com codes as a hotel).
• Short Review: Cute small hotel, on a quiet street walkable to everything; friendly staff; double room had comfy beds, Juliet balcony with street view, and a large bathroom.

Activities

Equestrian Show at the Royal Stables

Yes, it’s touristy (for a reason). This is a one-of-a-kind performance in a historic equestrian venue and a must-do experience in Córdoba.

• What: Royal Stables of Córdoba (Caballerizas Reales de Córdoba)
• Buy tickets: Book in advance or buy tickets locally (ticket booth and some hotels)
• Cost: €16.50 (general admission)
• Duration: 70 minutes
• Pro-tip: Go for the premium ticket (€21.70) that gets you comfortable chair seating and admission 30 minutes early to watch the horses and performers and take photos. The general admission bleachers are covered but fairly uncomfortable and further away from the performance. Photos are not allowed during the performance.
• Fun fact: Built in 1570, the Royal Stables of Córdoba are the second oldest stables in the world.

Private City Tour

Córdoba is an important and multi-layered city with more than a thousand years of history to discover. With limited time, a professional local guide can give you deeper context and appreciation, making your experience so much better.

For city tours (depending on the city, of course), private guides are often worth the extra cost. You tell them what you want to see and they’ll build an efficient itinerary based on your interests. It’s like having a local friend with encyclopedic knowledge at your disposal for 4-8 hours. You can ask a million questions with their full attention, find hidden gems off the tourist trail, and learn interesting insights from a local’s perspective. When would you have this opportunity otherwise?

In Córdoba, there were three main sights we wanted to see – the Mezquita/Mosque-Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, and the famous residential Patios bursting with colorful flowers. With only one full day in the city, we wanted to do a half-day tour (6 hours) with the rest of the day free to explore on our own. To be sure we could see everything efficiently without exhausting ourselves – and, because I could split the cost with my friend – this was the perfect scenario to justify a private tour.

I found this highly-rated private tour and booked it with a deposit. Then, I communicated with the local tour guide who designed our itinerary and made all the necessary arrangements, including a personal guide for the Mosque-Cat

hedral and special access to private patios (a pleasant surprise!). We also enjoyed lunch together in a lovely local restaurant that we wouldn’t have found on our own – another opportunity to connect and learn from each other. It was fantastic!

• Tour Booked: Private Cordoba City Tour
• Booked With: Viator
• Sites Included: Mosque-Cathedral, Jewish Quarter, Synagogue, Zoco Municipal, Patios (3), Mudejar Chapel of San Bartolome
• Duration: 6 hours
• Cost: €250 + 10% gratuity. €100 ($108.10) deposit paid with a credit card upon booking. Balance paid with cash in person.
• The Stack: From this booking, I earned:
  • 2,162 Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points (20% back via Rakuten).
  • 216 Capital One miles for booking with my Capital One Venture card (earns 2x on everything)

Flamenco Show (yep, another one)

Our guide, Ricardo, gave us a hot tip about a new flamenco performance venue that’s popular with locals. As we had seen a ‘touristy’ flamenco show in Madrid, we jumped at the opportunity to see a performance with a more authentic, local flavor. No two are alike! Ricardo happily called and made the reservation on our behalf. It worked out great.

Like many other flamenco venues in Spain, a seated dinner was offered during the performance. Normally, I wouldn’t go for this (better food and prices elsewhere) but we were hungry and short on time. At first, the menu wasn’t impressive, but we enjoyed a bottle of Rioja wine and I devoured yet another bowl of salmorejo, a local specialty. The food was very good!

The show was energetic, intense, and sultry – everything flamenco should be. The environment was different from our previous experience and it was fun to be among a local crowd. I’m glad that we were able to experience flamenco in different venues.

• Where: Tablao El Jaleo, Córdoba (Instagram)
• When: April 2023
• Cost: $30 + dinner
• Booked With: Phone call
• The Stack: With this booking, I earned:
  • 90 Chase Ultimate Rewards points by booking with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card (earns 3x on dining and this venue is a restaurant)

Train Travel: Córdoba to Granada

After a fun and fabulous week together, it was time to part ways with my friend and have a solo adventure for a few days before heading home. Next stop: Granada!

• What: Train from Córdoba Central to Granada
• Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Class of Service: 2nd class
• Cost: €46.15 ($58.95)
• Booked With: Rail Europe
• The Stack: With this booking, I earned:
  • 118 Chase Ultimate Rewards points by booking with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card (earns 2x on travel)
• Pro-tip: Book online as far in advance as possible. Prices will only increase as the date gets closer. Be sure to book with a card that does not charge foreign transaction fees.

Granada, Spain (2 nights)

Accommodations

• Where: Casa de Federico Boutique, Granada
• When: April 2023
• # of Nights: 2
• Room Type: Double Superior
• Cost: $193
• Booked With: Booking.com
• The Stack: From this booking, I earned:
  • 1,158 Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points (6% back via Rakuten).
  • 579 Citi ThankYou points. Earned by using my Citi Premier card that earns 3x points at hotels (Booking.com codes as a hotel).
• Short Review: Cute room in a historic building, small rooftop with Alhambra and Cathedral view; has an elevator; air-conditioned; friendly staff; minimal breakfast (skip it and get churros instead)

Activities

My Ultimate Itinerary for Granada, Spain (for Grownups) details everything you need to spend a few days in this fascinating city!

Here’s a quick rundown of my paid activities in Granada:

• Granada Cathedral & Royal Chapel – €10 entry
• Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte (Gypsy cave house museum) – €5 entry
• Basilica de San Juan de Dias – €7 entry
• Hammam Al Andalus – €100 – the grand finale splurge!
• Tapas Bar Crawl (self-guided) – approx €30 – paid for drinks, ate for free
• The Stack: On these activities, I earned:
  • 120 (approx) Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points for using my Chase Sapphire Preferred card at tapas bars (earns 3x on dining out)
  • 265 Capital One miles for using my Capital One Venture card for activities (earns 2x on everything)

Note: I didn’t go to the Alhambra on this trip because I had previously visited (in Nov 2021) on an all-day cruise excursion from Málaga. Since I didn’t see any other parts of Granada on that visit, I took these two days to explore other parts of the city. If you’ve never been to the Alhambra, it’s an absolute must in Granada.

Train Travel: Granada to Madrid

• What: Train from Granada to Madrid (Puerta de Atocha)
• Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Class of Service: 2nd class
• Cost: €50.90 ($64.45)
• Booked With: Rail Europe
• The Stack: With this booking, I earned:
  • 129 Chase Ultimate Rewards points by booking with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card (earns 2x on travel)
• Pro-tip: Book online as far in advance as possible. Prices will only increase as the date gets closer. Be sure to book with a card that does not charge foreign transaction fees.

Madrid, Part Dos (1 night)

My train from Granada arrived in Madrid around 7pm so there wasn’t much to do but eat more tapas and relax before my flight home the following day.

Accommodations

• Where: SLEEP’N Atocha
• When: April 2023
• # of Nights: 1
• Room Type: Double Room with Balcony
• Cost: €109 ($119)
• Booked With: Booking.com
• The Stack: From this booking, I earned:
  • 714 Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points (6% back via Rakuten).
  • 357 Citi ThankYou points. Earned by using my Citi Premier card that earns 3x points at hotels (Booking.com codes as a hotel).
• Short Review: Friendly and comfortable hotel within walking distance of Atocha station and Reina Sofia museum. Helpful staff, clean rooms, and everything a traveler needs. Enjoyed a Cava split purchased in the lobby on my little balcony overlooking the city. With windows closed, the room was well insulated from outside noise.

Airport Transportation (Madrid)

There are several options to get to Madrid airport from the city center. On the morning of departure, I had planned to take the direct train from Atocha station to the airport. In my tired state, I mistakenly took the Metro instead of the direct train which required 2 transfers and more stops. There’s also an express bus between the airport and Atocha station (€5) but it’s a little slow and can be cumbersome with luggage.

If you have room in your budget, taking a taxi directly from your hotel to the airport (€35) is probably worthwhile. I’ll do this next time.

The Journey Home

At Madrid Airport, I zipped through the fast-track security line and headed directly to the Cibeles Lounge to relax before takeoff. My Air Europa business class ticket gave me access to the lounge and, although I didn’t have much time here, it was great! Spacious, uncrowded, good food, and self-serve adult beverages. Like most international airport lounges, this one was a winner.

You can also get into this lounge with a Priority Pass membership that’s included with many premium travel credit cards. These include Chase Sapphire (personal referral), American Express Platinum (personal referral), and Capital One Venture X cards.

Air Europa had to swap aircraft, so my flight home from Madrid to JFK was operated by Wamos Air. I was a little unsure at first, but it was fun to experience an airline I’d never heard of. I thought Wamos Air’s soft product (food, service) was very good (better than Air Europa) but the hard product was dated (so much brown). All in all, a good flight experience. Especially for the price!