Where has the month of January gone ? I can hardly believe that it is almost over. I´m pleased to report that 2010 has started with a bang at Totally Spain. Daily we are receiving requests from many people who want to travel to Spain this year. Things are a lot more active than they were in January of last year. Perhaps 2009 has left us all needing a fiesta or even a siesta ? Let´s hope so! The variety of enquiries we´ve been receiving from individuals and groups have been extremely interesting and has certainly kept us busy and challenged. It´s a good sign and will hopefully continue.
FITUR, the major Spanish travel trade fair, was held last week. Olaia from our office travelled to Madrid to attend. There was a lot of uncertainty in the air as to how this year will unfold. A general feeling prevailed that there would continue to be competitive deals available to travellers with lower prices and plenty of early booking discounts. We´ve been seeing it too at Totally Spain with hotels of all grades offering exceptional bargains to those who book early. The same for rail travel in Spain. Book early and you´ll get a good deal. Domestic air travel too in Spain has come down significantly with the arrival of low cost airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair and Vueling. Flying between major Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Girona, Madrid, Granada, Malaga, Seville, Santander and Bilbao has never been as affordable and it has certainly opened up a lot of possibilities for travellers whose time in Spain is limited. This has helped us greatly in being able to offer our clients more extensive, value for money itineraries regardless of the amount of time they have to spend in Spain.
Later this year Totally Spain will celebrate 10 years in business and a decade of organising quality travel in Spain. It´s an important milestone for us and one which I am extremely proud of. There´ll be more about our 10th anniversary later but as we go forward we´re striving to become more effective at communicating with those people who have an interest in travel in Spain as well as those people who have travelled with us or might be thinking about travelling with us. So, we´ve now become active on Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and shortly on YouTube. I have to admit that we´re still learning the ropes but we appreciate that these mediums are here to stay and can be very effective. Therefore I´d like to invite everyone who reads this and is interested, to join us on the aforementioned sites (see right margin for links) and, if you wish, to share with us any topics or questions that you might like us to deal with.
Well, that´s it for now. Don´t forget that Valentines Day falls on a weekend this year. There´s still time to organise a romantic trip to Spain.
Hasta luego.
Ken
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With the Christmas and New Year celebrations over and a new year of organising travel in Spain about to begin, I decided to take a short break with my family for a few days.
I chose to go to Hondarribia in the Basque Country which is a beautiful medieval town with cobbled streets and which has a charming fisherman´s quarter with tall, colourful houses and great little restaurants. Hondarribia is situated on the mouth of the Bidasoa Estuary and looks across at Hendaye in the French Pays Basque. A more picturesque place would be hard to find and as a base for exploring from, Hondarribia offers a whole host of daytrips.
DAY 1
We set off on 6th January travelling from our home in Cantabria along the scenic Cantabrian and Basque coast. Along the way we stopped for lunch and a walk in the pretty town of Zarauz not far from San Sebastian.
Zarauz is famous for it´s fine, sandy beach which draws many tourists in the summer as well as surfers seeking out one of the best beaches in northern Spain to practise their sport. Zarauz is home to the charismatic and well-known TV chef, Karlos Arguiñano whose restaurant is here also.
In fact there are many excellent restaurants in Zarauz where good food is taken seriously. The town is known for the production of txakoli, a dry white sparkling wine that comes from this region. Well worth trying if you ever get a chance. The town also boasts an excellent esplanade along which can be found quite a number of interesting sculptures. It´s a great town for families and many of Totally Spain´ clients have enjoyed staying in or near here over the years.
Upon the recommendation of a friend we made our way for lunch to the Plaza Musika and the Txiki Polit Restaurant. This proved to be a good move for a number of reasons. The place is obviously a favourite with the locals and has a lively, friendly atmosphere.
Upon entering we admired two nice murals by the very up-and-coming Basque artist Angel Uranga who is a native of Zarauz and has his studio here. The food in the restaurant was excellent and very good value for money. We ate their 18 euro menu and for this we enjoyed giant langostinos, seafood and mushroom crepes, fillet steak with a pepper sauce, dessert and wine. Truly satisfied we decided afterwards to stroll along the esplanade taking photos and admiring the sculptures. It was a perfect start to our break and it reminded us of how lovely the Basque coast is and what a pleasure it can be to travel in low season.
Hondarribia was only a short drive from Zarauz and we were lucky to find parking right outside our hotel in the fisherman´s quarter, the very well run 3 star family owned Jauregui Hotel & Apartments. It´s a very good base for couples and for families. We booked one of their duplex apartments which was ideal. The apartments are currently being modernised with the bathrooms and the kitchens having already been completed. The rest will be done over the coming months but with no inconvenience to guests.
After checking in we headed out for a stroll through the fisherman´s quarter, which was still very festive, and along the esplanade with views over to Hendaye with it´s backdrop of the Atlantic Pyrenees. It is extremely pretty and as sailing is very popular in this area the estuary is filled with colourful swaying boats which add to the lovely landscape. During the day a small launch shuttles people back and forward across the bay within minutes. Having picked up some tasty goodies at a delicatessen near to the hotel we enjoyed dining in this evening. Stay tuned – More on this trip to follow soon.
We´re delighted to welcome as an intern to Totally Spain, Borja Pascual Salinas.
 Borja comes from the town of Ajo on the Cantabrian coast and is currently studying Computer Technology in the Travel Industry. Borja will be doing his internship with us until May and we look forward to showing him how we work at Totally Spain and no doubt learning from him a thing or two as well.
Like many places at the moment we´ve been hit here in Spain with heavy snowfall. If you are not accustomed to driving in the snow or on ice it can be very stressful and even frightening. It is vital that your tires are in good shape and if you have snow tires then have them fitted. In my case, on the recommendation of my brother-in-law Rafa Encinas, I recently purchased Autosocks and I have to say that they are one of the smartest purchases I have made in recent times.
 They cost me 49 euros for a pair and they slip very easily over the front wheels of your car. The special material that they are made from helps your wheels grip the snow and ice and they prevent slipping and sliding. I believe that they are based on the paws of animals that live in snowy conditions but I may be wrong. Anyway I had a chance to try them out for the first time last Saturday while departing from Bilbao towards Santander. Shortly after leaving Bilbao the road climbs steeply at a point know as Saltacaballos. Heavy snowfall had left the road icy and cars were slipping and sliding all over the place. Mine was no exception as I eventually found myself going nowhere while my tires just spun on the ice. In less than 5 minutes I had fitted the Autosocks and was delighted to find upon starting up my car again that my wheels could grip the snow and I moved off easily, with no difficulty. They recommend not exceeding 50 kms per hour and only using the Autosocks on snow or ice so after a few kilometres, when I had cleared the worst of it, I was able to jump out of the car and pull the socks within seconds. The following day I heard that cars were stranded for hours in Saltacaballos and I mentally thanked my brother-in-law for his great advice.
Tags: “driving on snow” and “driving on ice”
I´m often amazed at how many people (and guidebooks) still believe Bilbao city to be an industrial eyesore hardly worth spending a night in. Nothing could be further from the truth.
 This year the Guggenheim Museum located along the Bilbao River in the heart of the city centre celebrates it´s 10th anniversary. A lot of controversy surrounded the building of this costly titanium masterpiece with many locals objecting to its construction. They did not get the futuristic design of architect Frank Gehry and who could blame them. On paper it looked weird but the finished structure is simply spectacular and it has won the heart of every Bilbaino.
Like a sown seed that takes root and begins to blossom, the Guggenheim was the seed that spawned the complete regeneration of the Bilbao River and the entire docks area that surrounds the museum. It´s remarkable what has been done. Even the fish have returned to the river. Where once there was cranes, chains, grime and grease there is now a pleasant walkway with palm trees. There is a very stylish shopping centre with bars and restaurants, a hip Sheraton hotel, a superb conference and concert venue called the Euskalduna and an eyecatching bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava (Zubi-Zuri bridge) connecting both sides of the river. The new city tram runs by the river too with green grass rather than gravel between the lines. It´s really lovely.
Bilbao has attracted some terrific new hotels too, the aforementioned Sheraton being just one of them. The Gran Hotel Domine is another gem of a hotel designed by Javier Mariscal. It is  situated in front of the Guggenheim Museum and is certainly one of the most desirable 5 star hotels to stay in the city. The rooftop terrace is a great spot to enjoy a beer or to dine (if you can get a reservation) while enjoying views of the Guggenheim. I also like the newly opened Hotel Hesperia Bilbao. It´s just across the river from the museum and the perfect location to discover both the old and new parts of Bilbao. If you feel like splashing out they have several riverview rooms with a terrace overlooking tree-lined Campo Volantin that leads down to the Old Quarter.
The Old Quarter of Bilbao is extremely pleasant to stroll in. There are lovely independent shops, great bars and wonderful cafes such as Victor Montes in the plaza to tempt one. Everywhere feels safe, clean and well looked after. It´s easy to find an attractive corner that will draw you in to sit for awhile, enjoy a drink and watch the world go by.
Later you might cross over the river and continue down the Gran Via where some of the bigger stores in Bilbao can be found. The architecture in this area is impressive too.
Bilbao is an ideal city to walk in. It´s easy to get from place to place on foot although there is a tram and an award winning metro – Norman Foster design – should one feel tired. For relaxation, you can´t beat the Doña Casilida park full of trees and flowers and fountains. The Museum of Fine Arts is here too – a good spot for a coffee.
Dining in Bilbao is wonderful, as it is throughout the Basque Country. The local bar tapas known as pinchos are mouthwatering and immense in their variety. Excellent restaurants abound in the city but one especially worth trying is Zortziko. Their tasting menu, which costs around 75 euros, is to die for.
Bilbao is now definitely one of the top Spanish cities to visit and is worth doing so all year round.
More information about hotels and travel to Bilbao and the Basque Country.
Totally Spain wishes everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2010
Ken Baldwin – Founder & Managing Director
Ken, who was born in Lagos Nigeria and raised in Ireland, has worked in the travel industry for more than 20 years – a career that has allowed him to learn extensively about this industry and to travel far and wide.
During this time he has been employed in senior management positions at established and respected tour companies including Insight International Tours in Sydney Australia, TNT Vacations in Boston, Massachusetts and for the Abbey Travel Group both in Britain and in the United States.
Passionate about travel and tourism, Ken has travelled all over Spain many times and happily moved there in 1998 to establish Totally Spain. A Spanish speaker, Ken set up Totally Spain in Vitoria, the capital of the Basque Country and spent over 5 years living there. In 2004 Totally Spain opened offices in Castillo near Santander on the beautiful Cantabrian coast where Ken has now made his home. Ken is the proud father of two lovely twin girls whom he adores and who occupy most of his free time when he is not working or travelling.
Belen Encinas – Director
Belen, a mother of two, was born in the Basque Country and has travelled extensively throughout Europe, the United States and parts of Asia.
A graduate of Deusto University Bilbao where she earned a Masters Degree in Psycology, she spent more than 7 years working overseas in Britain and in the United States a time that also allowed her to perfect her knowledge of the English language.
Belen is especially proud of her past work as assistant to the CEO of Accion International the world’s leading micro-lending organisation that fights poverty in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa through micro-finance.
Belen, from an early age, travelled the length and breadth of Spain on many occasions. Coming from a large family who are spread throughout the country, it´s easy to understand why. Belen loves her native Spain and likes nothing better than to introduce others to its many hidden charms which she is quick to emphasize go way, way beyond sun, sea and sand.
Olaia Elorriaga
Olaia comes from Basauri in the Basque Country and completed her studies in tourism in Cantabria where she now happily resides. A big fan of the great outdoors, she seizes every opportunity she can to enjoy nature and practice her favourite sports which run the gamut. Olaia is one of our senior reservations agents. She speaks Spanish, Basque and English. She has travelled extensively in Spain and has a talent for preparing imaginative itineraries and for securing good value for all her clients.
Olaia´s favourite city in Spain is Barcelona ( she can´t get enough of the great shopping there ) although when it comes to her favourite gastronomy nothing beats the cuisine in northern Spain.
Ana Duran
Ana, who comes from the beautiful Cantabrian capital Santander, joined Totally Spain in 2006 after completing her studies in tourism. In addition to her native tongue she also speaks English and French.
Ana has spent time working overseas in Northern Ireland and also as a certified tour guide in the magnificent Cabarceno National Park, one of the most important wildlife parks in Spain.
Ana is one of our specialist reservations agents and while she has travelled widely throughout Spain, for her there is no place compares to her home province of Cantabria.
Olaia and Ana from Totally Spain very recently had the pleasure of being invited to participate at Tur Expo, a major travel fair in Galicia in North West Spain. Over two days, as well as meeting and renewing relations with our existing suppliers, they met with a whole variety of new and interesting hoteliers, activity organisers, specialist tour guides and more. It was a fascinating two days and especially relevant as 2010 is the Año Santo Jacobeo or Saint James Holy Year which is celebrated those years when the 25th of July falls on a Sunday. Pilgrims flock to Santiago de Compostela to visit the cathedral and to pray and to receive the Sacraments of Penance, some even wearing the traditional garb.
Totally Spain is preparing a variety of independent trips around this special event.
Following TurExpo Olaia and Ana independently undertook an intensive 5 day Inspection Trip that took them from Santiago de Compostela to Cambados, Pontevedra, Tui, Baiona, Santo Estevo, Monforte de Lemos, Pueblo de Sanabria, Portomarin, Villafranca del Bierzo, Ponferrada, Astorga, Benavente and Leon. They covered a large section of the Camino de Santiago as they visited many hotels along the way, met some pilgrims and enjoyed staying at a variety of very fine Spanish Paradores Hotels. Special thanks to Cristina Codina at Paradores for her assistance with this very interesting and successful trip.
You can view a selection of photos from their trip and the places they saw on our Flickr site here (also see sidebar on the right).
Today we had the pleasure of a visit from Cristina Codina, Area Sales Manager for Paradores de Turismo de España. We were delighted to welcome her to our office and to hear what Paradores have in store for the coming year. There will be plenty of great offers such as accommodation for children under 12 years is FREE when they share with their parents. The Golden Days offer will be maintained for those 55 years and over as opposed to 60 years and over that it used to be. The Parador in Cadiz will be closed for quite some time as it is being completely rebuilt from the ground up and should be a stunning hotel once it is finished.
We really like working with Paradores and have a very good relationship with them built up over 10 years. They are very cooperative with Totally Spain and as a result our sales with them continue to grow every year.
If you are thinking about planning a trip staying in Paradores in Spain please contact us. We know them very well and we would be happy to help you put your trip together.
In this photo L-R -Belen Encinas, Ana Duran, Ken Baldwin, Cristina Codina, Olaia Elorriaga
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