Rather like its wine, the region of La Rioja in Northern Spain is an elegant and very traditional region – nothing too brash or overly showy here. It’s famous for its ruby red wine – it was the first region to achieve ‘Denominacion de Origin’ (DO) in Spain but it’s also well known here for its cuisine and charming countryside. At Totally Spain, we’ve been planning trips to La Rioja for over 16 years, and here’s our award-winning guide to the region!
Category Archives: Food & Drink
A Trip to the Basque Country? Yes, please!
The Basque Country is a coastal region in Northern Spain made of up cities such as the triumphant Bilbao and elegant San Sebastian (plus dozens of small fishing villages) on the coast. Inland there are lots of treats also including the wonderfully un-touristy Vitoria – and the Rioja Alavesa wine region – which is an area that once visited, you’ll want to return to again and again.
Totally Spain Guide to San Fermin Pamplona Bull Running Festival – Enjoy The Party Whether You Run With The Bulls Or Not
We think everybody should see the passion and drama of the Pamplona bullrunning festival at least once in their lives – from the safety of the sidelines or up in a balcony with views of the action. The world-famous San Fermin festival held from 6-14 July is a busy one and it’s never too early to book your place.
Tipping in Spain – What & When to Tip
UPDATED: 20 June 2025
Along with mealtimes in Spain, tipping and gratuities are among the topics our clients ask about most frequently. As a Spain-based travel agency specialising in custom travel to Spain & Portugal since 2000, Totally Spain has put together 15 clear examples to help you understand when you should (or shouldn’t) tip in Spain. These guidelines are based on one or two people—if you’re in a larger group, simply adjust the amounts accordingly.
The Great Cantabrian Outdoors – A Slice of Heaven not to be Missed at the Picos de Europa
As a Spain-based travel specialist, there’s nothing we love more than exploring this amazing country. We (that is Ken and Belen of Totally Spain) have just returned from a Winter weekend break in the Cantabrian Picos de Europa Mountains with our two daughters and friends, Juan and Veronica, and their two young boys. The tourist season is about to kick off there and we were delighted to revisit this stunning part of Cantabria known as the Liebana Valley and see what it had in store for us and our clients. The result was a stunning weekend where we all agreed that the Great Cantabrian Outdoors is heaven made and ideal for visitors of all ages to enjoy. You simply have to go there. It’ll do you good.