January Client of the Month - Eva and Simon

I can spend all day telling you why you should go to Spain, but you don't have to take my word for it.  Eva and Simon, who are two of my favorite clients, spent their 2016 honeymoon in Spain.  Eva and Simon are both young lawyers, educated, intelligent and a lot of fun.  So if they chose Spain for their honeymoon, which is arguably one of the most important trips of one's life, then maybe you should consider it for your next trip.  

Read on for their review.  (Spoiler alert - they loved it!)

Eva and Simon - Plaza Mayor Photo credit: Eva K.

Why choose Spain for your honeymoon?

Catedral de Málaga Photo credit: Eva K

Eva and Simon weren't looking for a lay-on-the-beach type of honeymoon.  They wanted something more cultural so I put together a few options for them to consider, Spain being one of them.  When I asked them why they chose Spain, they said that Spain checked a lot of their boxes - good food and wine, history, culture and a nice balance of sightseeing and leisure time. They immediately fell in love with the Spain itinerary that I sent (their words, not mine!) which made it easy for them to decide on.

What was your favorite day of your trip?

Eva and Simon spent two weeks in Spain and went to a lot of beautiful places, so I was curious as to which was their favorite.  Not surprisingly, they had a difficult time pinpointing one particular favorite day and place.  However, two experiences that topped their list were wandering around Barcelona and stumbling upon some amazing places, including the Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella.  They also really loved the Santa Cruz neighborhood in Seville.

Parc de la Ciutadella photo credit: Eva K.

Let's talk food.  What was your favorite meal and/or restaurant?

Spain is so well-known for their amazing food and Eva and Simon loved all of the tapas, fresh seafood, paella and cheese.  Some of the highlights for them were the grilled octopus at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant close to their Madrid hotel, fried eggplant with drizzled honey in Barcelona and a tapas tasting at Hosteria del Laurel in the Santa Cruz neighborhood of Seville.  Their overall favorite meal was at Restaurante San Marco in Seville, which was previously an Arabic bathhouse.

What surprised you most about Spain?

Eva and Simon were most surprised by how different each city was and how each place had its own distinct personality, style and vibe.  Madrid is very much a bustling capital city. Seville feels very old world and is full of charm. Malaga has a very leisurely feel to it, fitting for the Costa del Sol region. Barcelona is a charmingly eccentric city, with great architecture, shopping and people.

Park Güell, Barcelona Photo credit: Eva K

What was the most memorable experience?

Montserrat Photo Credit: Eva K.

For Eva and Simon, the answer was Montserrat.  This is the mountaintop monastery amid very unique rock formations which is just over an hour outside of Barcelona.  When they arrived the fog was so dense they could hardly see each other. They visited the monastery with the Black Madonna, rode a cable car part way down the mountain and hiked paths to visit the location where the Black Madonna was discovered. As they were walking the fog cleared and left them with amazing views.  It's easy to see why this was their most memorable day!

I hate to ask it but what was your least favorite thing about Spain?

Every trip has a highlight and a not-so-high-light.  In Eva and Simon's case, their least favorite part of the trip was their visit to the Alhambra.  Not because it wasn't an incredible place to see but because it was very crowded - it was the busiest place that they visited their entire two weeks.  They also felt that their day tour group rushed through it and they would have preferred to spend more time checking things out.

What advice would you give someone traveling to Spain?

Eva and Simon's advice for travelers is to try not to fit in too much.  There is a LOT to see and do in Spain so it can be very tempting to overschedule yourself.  They suggest leaving time open to wander the different neighborhoods to really get a feel for Spain.  They also recommend that you try all of the different food.  You might be surprised by some of the things that you like.  And finally, definitely see a Flamenco show!

So there you have it - January's clients of the month Eva and Simon's experience in Southern Spain.  If reading this has made you decide to travel to Spain this year, consider joining my hosted trip in May.  (Details here.)  If the timing of that trip doesn't work, I can help put together something custom just for you!