Our Philosophy & Our Story

OUR PHILOSOPHY

At Madrid & Beyond, we design trips for those seeking authenticity in Spain and Portugal. We create exclusive and personalized travel experiences that become cherished, lifelong memories, catering to those who seek to go beyond all the clichés and discover the heart and pulse of both historic and contemporary Iberia.

From the moment we receive your inquiry, we do everything possible to craft a journey that will make your vacation a “once-in-a-lifetime” journey. We totally eschew a cookie-cutter approach to trip planning; instead we listen and customize vacations accordingly. We take care of your trip down to the very last detail, ensuring you can enjoy Spain and Portugal to the full, free of logistical concerns. And all our clients benefit from our unwavering commitment to personalized service – you can expect to work with the same agents at every stage of your trip.

WE ALL LOVE TRAVELING AND CONTINUE TO TRAVEL TO EVERY CORNER OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL; VISITING HOTELS, MEETING EXPERT GUIDES, SEEKING NEW EXPERIENCES, CHECKING OUT RESTAURANTS, AND NURTURING THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE TWO COUNTRIES.

Only with this “inside-out” knowledge pooled within our team can we provide the expertise that our travelers seek from us.

We have been building a network of excellent, interesting and engaging collaborators for over 20 years and, over that time, our guides have become an extended family. In the same way our clients trust us, we trust them to always go the extra mile.

WE STRIVE FOR YOU TO TRULY “EXPERIENCE” SPAIN AND PORTUGAL AS A TRAVELER, NOT A TOURIST, WITH INSIDER’S ACCESS TO A WHOLE RANGE OF FASCINATING INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

We are always innovating when it comes to the different experiences our clients enjoy. This could be anything from renowned wine makers to top chefs, from local artisans to graffiti artists, from authentic fado and flamenco musicians to acclaimed art experts, from lifestyle insiders to well-known local artists, from ace hiking guides to nobility and so on!

We believe it’s all about the PEOPLE; what really counts are the people you encounter, and the genuine experiences you share with them.

OUR STORY

It was 1998 when Nigel Hack, a British history teacher with a thirst for travel, found himself living in the heart of Spain’s buzzy capital, Madrid. Put simply, Nigel fell in love with Spain and the idea for Madrid & Beyond was born! Nigel’s passion was to share the real “insider’s” Spain with discerning and culturally curious travelers.

From humble beginnings, Madrid & Beyond has grown over 22 years into a highly respected company. The close-knit team now comprises 32 multilingual luxury travel advisors in offices in Spain and Portugal and serves clients from all over the world. We have also gained important accolades – most recently, Nigel was named a Conde Nast Traveler “2019 Top Travel Specialist” and was included in Travel + Leisure’s 20th annual A-List of top agents and tour operators. Whilst we are fiercely independent, we are a SELECT In-Country Partner for Travel Leaders Group and are very proud of our close partnerships with several of the top agencies in the US, such as Brownell and Largay Travel.

Celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2019, we decided to shout a little louder about the services we provide. We hired a filmmaker and sent him on a mammoth journey around Spain and Portugal to document some of the people and places we work with. You can see the result in the video above.

We remain true to our philosophy of dealing only with leisure travel, avoiding any “packages” and customizing all trips to the individual tastes and preferences of our travelers. We look forward to another 20 years of designing trips that provide unforgettable experiences for our clients!

OUR HAPPY CLIENTS SAY