| BOOKING WITH MADRID & BEYOND
What are your fees?
What are the 'services' you offer?
Do you arrange travel insurance?
Where should we go in the time we have?
What advantages are to be gained by booking with Madrid & Beyond rather than booking hotels directly?
What assurances can you give us about Madrid & Beyond being a legitimate company?
Why don't you do online bookings?
Why don't you include prices on your website?
Can you give us an itemized bill with everything broken down?
Do you arrange flight tickets?
Do you book airline tickets?
Can you arrange car rental and train tickets?
Do you offer discounts for children?
Do hotels have non smoking rooms?
SPAIN TRAVEL TIPS
How much should I tip in Spain?
Is Spain a safe country for travelers?
When are typical Spanish mealtimes?
Are stores open on Sundays or holidays?
Will my electronic devices work in Spain?
Will my cell phone work in Spain?
Is it safe to drink the water?
Should I bring Euros to Spain? Will my ATM card work? Where should I exchange money?
What are your fees?
All our service costs are absorbed into the total price that we quote you for your trip. We have excellent rates with hotels so we are confident that you will be pleased not just with the price, but also the difference our knowledge of Spain can make to your trip.
What are the 'services' you offer?
Our services begin from the moment we receive your first e-mail or phone call until the end of your trip. Working with you, answering all your questions - where to go, where not to go, special places to stay etc. - we advise, suggest and recommend everything and anything that is appropriate to your trip. Once the trip is finalized, we provide city maps for all places visited, personalized restaurant and bar recommendations. We can also arrange many extras, such as wine tasting, excursions, private airport transfers and tickets for bullfights. We can also make additional arrangements free of charge, such as dinner table reservations, reservations for flamenco shows, the Alhambra in Granada, and so on.
Do you arrange travel insurance?
Although we don't arrange travel insurance ourselves, we strongly recommend that you travel with an adequate form of holiday insurance, covering all eventualities. If you are going to participate in adventure activities, where there is a risk of injury, do check that your policy covers you. And finally, if you are coming to Spain in your own vehicle, don’t forget to check that you have car recovery / breakdown insurance.
Where should we go in the time we have?
A tough one! Nevertheless a question we have been asked on several occasions. Once we know what you seek from your trip, what your interests and preferences are (and are not), we are in a much better position to advice. So, get in touch with us and we'll answer this question then!
What advantages are to be gained by booking with Madrid & Beyond rather than booking hotels directly?
Firstly, we have negotiated excellent rates with hundreds of hotels throughout the country and it is you, our client, that benefits from this. Secondly, we only recommend those hotels that suit your requirements, tastes and budget. There are plethora of hotels available, yet only a few offer an ideal balance of quality, price and location. Your trip to Spain should be special, so isn't it worth making sure that you are staying in accommodation that you like and enjoy? The team at Madrid & Beyond travel far and wide in Spain to visit hotels, write descriptions, take photographs, check restaurants, and so on, all in an effort to provide you with an overall service that one would find very hard to obtain from other sources. Please refer to our Client Feedback section for an idea of the difference we have made for other clients.
What assurances can you give us about Madrid & Beyond being a legitimate company?
“Madrid and Beyond S.L.” is a licensed and bonded travel company which protects each of its clients by fulfilling every legal, financial and insurance obligation required under Spanish law for retail travel companies. Furthermore, each of our providers has been inspected and is approved by the Spanish Government or, in the case of the autonomous communities, their respective local governments. Our License Number is CICMA 1161 and our F¡scal Number is B-82913195 Office Address: Calle Bailen, 19. Madrid 28013. Spain.
Madrid & Beyond has been operating now for many years and has established a reputation as being one of Spain’s most professional and specialist inbound travel companies.
Madrid & Beyond has been featured in many newspapers and magazines across the world over the last 10 years, such as the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Vancouver Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, Spain Magazine, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and the Independent. In addition we have been recommended in Fodor's Guide to Spain, Cadogan's Guide to Spain, Frommers Guide to Spain, Rough Guide to Spain and Time Out. We don't pay for entries in any guidebook. The only mentions we receive come from real client recommendations. We are on-the-ground representatives for a number of highly prestigious travel companies overseas.
Why don't you do online bookings?
We are not a booking agency, but rather a specialist travel company; a team of experts on Spain who can offer you a unique perspective and the advice to help create the perfect trip. A 'booking engine' can not do that.
Why don't you include prices on your website?
Every customised or tailor-made trip we organise is different. There are no two trips that are the same. We simply do not like, nor do we believe in, 'package vacations'. However, you can enjoy some very unique tours in Spain, such as the Wine Tours, the Art & Gastronomy Tour, and the Camino de Santiago - all of which are priced and can be viewed in our Tours & Adventures section.
Can you give us an itemized bill with everything broken down?
The cost of your trip is inclusive of all accommodation, taxes, breakfasts (where requested) and our services, for which we are unable to provide a breakdown.
Do you book airline tickets?
We do not arrange international flight tickets; however we can book the internal flights in Spain.
Can you arrange car rental and train tickets?
Yes, once all accommodation has been finalized, we can make all transport arrangements within Spain including tickets for the AVE (high speed train) and car rentals with GPS. We work with Hertz and Avis.
Do you offer discounts for children?
Most hotels offer discounts for children depending on the room requirements. If you are travelling with children, let us know and we will recommend those hotels that offer the best discounts.
Do hotels have non smoking rooms?
Some do, some don't. If this is a preference, please make it known to us at an early stage and we will ensure non smoking rooms wherever possible.
SPAIN TRAVEL TIPS
How much should I tip in Spain?
Clients routinely ask us about tipping protocol. Tipping is always voluntary in Spain as service is included in the prices. However, if you are satisfied with service, it is customary to leave a tip. Our recommendations are the following:
Tour Guides:
A minimum of 20€ tip for a half-day tour if you are satisfied with your guide.
A minimum of 25 - 30€ tip for a full-day tour if you are satisfied with your guide.
Restaurants:
Depending on the type of restaurant, the number of people dining, the quality of service, 5-10% tip is appropriate.
Taxis:
Round up to the nearest Euro unit (e.g. 9.50 € fare – give the driver a total of 10€).
Tapas Bars:
A few small coins are sufficient.
Is Spain a safe country for travelers?
Whilst Spain is generally a very safe country, pick pocketing and petty theft are a problem in big cities. It goes without saying that you should be very cautious with your belongings in public places as well as restaurants and bars. Never let your purse out of sight or hanging on the back of a chair or hook in a bar. Because this unfortunately has happened to our clients on a few occasions, we recommend that you bring photocopies of your passport, ATM cards and credit cards (including reverse side with the emergency phone numbers) and keep them separate from the originals in case you are pick pocketed or your purse is stolen while on your trip.
We recommend that you travel with only the items that you will need on your trip to limit the extent of the nuisance of cancelling and replacing them. In the very rare case that anything bad should happen, be sure to get a police report. You will need the police report to replace documents and for any insurance claims. Madrid & Beyond can of course assist should the need arise.
When are typical Spanish mealtimes?
The major meal of the day in Spain is “la comida” which starts at approximately 2 – 2:30 p.m. This is typically the biggest meal of the day and is followed by the famous Spanish siesta (nap). Though most people do not still have the luxury of eating at home and taking a nap in the middle of the work day, you will notice that most small stores will be closed from 2 – 5 p.m. to accommodate this ritual.
Dinner time is traditionally at 9 – 10 p.m. and is often a lighter meal (shared tapas, for example). Although some restaurants can begin seating you and taking reservations at 8:30 p.m. you may find yourselves alone in the restaurant at that time of day.
Are stores open on Sundays or holidays?
All stores, including supermarkets are closed on Sundays and on local or national holidays in Spain, with few exceptions. There are a few very small markets open for emergency purchases, but please plan ahead and make sure you have your shopping done before.
Sunday is a very mellow day in Spain so you may want to adopt the local culture and take it easy on Sundays in Spain. Most restaurants are open on Sundays opting to close on Mondays instead.
Will my electronic devices work in Spain?
Electricity in Spain is 220 Volt, 50Hz. Many electronic devices can switch automatically to adapt to the different voltage, but you will still need a different plug or a plug adapter. Check the labelling or engraving on your device. If it says "120V" or "100-120V", then you need a voltage transformer as well as a plug adapter; these are sometimes combined into one convenient unit. Read the information on the unit carefully before buying--depending on the type of device, there are two different kinds of transformers. If your device label says "110V-220V" or "100-240V" then you only need a simple plug adapter; in that case, don't let someone sell you a transformer, which could actually damage your device.
Will my cell phone work in Spain?
Your cell phone may not in Spain, unless it is a GSM phone and it is a "world phone" that can work on European frequencies. If you are thinking is using your cell phone in Spain, we suggest you contact your provider before departure. You may also rent a phone in Spain. We can provide more information on request.
Is it safe to drink the water?
Tap water is generally safe everywhere in Spain, except in trains and airplanes. Bottled water is available everywhere.
Should I bring Euros to Spain? Will my ATM card work? Where should I exchange money?
The local currency is the Euro. We recommend you bring 150 – 200 Euros with you if possible so you have some cash upon arrival. You may exchange cash in the airport of course, but their rates are not the best. Your credit and ATM cards will work at any bank ATM machine. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are widely accepted, and American Express less so. You will be charged far less commission by using your ATM and credit cards then by exchanging cash at an exchange booth in the Airport or at your hotel. We do not recommend travellers checks as they are not accepted anywhere and you will have to have them exchanged at a bank. Bank hours in Spain are from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. from Monday – Friday (some open on Saturday mornings as well). Carrying a lot of cash is not a good idea – better to take out cash from ATM machines when you need it |
