- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2013 - 2018 , Pilgrim Office volunteer 2014 - 2022
I came across this in my reading recently and thought it might be of interest to my fellow pilgrims. NOTE: I have no commercial stake in nor do I receive any emoluments from Iberia or any other source for this. It is not a commercial plug, but is offered as shared information of interest to other pilgrims.
Check this out: http://www.iberia.com/us/en/stopover-in-madrid/
(you can then change your origin country to see your specific offer availability)...
The gist of this offer, available from most countries of origin, is that, if you fly Iberia to your destination, and it has a connection in Madrid, you can extend your visit with a free or cheap layover in Madrid for a few days. The website also includes other discounts and free stuff you get with this optional package.
By way of a valid example, I use my own paradigm. Let's say, I am going to walk the Camino Via de la Plata... I fly Iberia from Miami to Madrid, and connect to n Iberia Express flight to Sevilla. I walk from there towards Santiago.
This would also work flying to a Camino starting point in Bilbao, Pamplona, Barcelona, and any other Spanish, Portuguese, or French airport where Iberia or a codeshare (like Vueling) has service from Madrid.
After my Camino activities, I fly from Santiago to Madrid on Iberia Express. this is called an "open-jaw" and is very common. BUT, instead of connecting for my flight back to the US at Madrid, I build-in a tourist layover to enjoy Madrid for several days. While there, I enjoy reduced cost hotels, rental cars, tour packages, and IIRC get a city discount card as well.
This could be helpful to many of you planning 2020 Caminos now. I am thinking about starting the de la Plata in 2020. At present, I am waiting for my assorted doctors to weigh in. However, if I DO proceed, I DO plan to avail myself of this feature on my return from Santiago.
Hope this helps.
Check this out: http://www.iberia.com/us/en/stopover-in-madrid/
(you can then change your origin country to see your specific offer availability)...
The gist of this offer, available from most countries of origin, is that, if you fly Iberia to your destination, and it has a connection in Madrid, you can extend your visit with a free or cheap layover in Madrid for a few days. The website also includes other discounts and free stuff you get with this optional package.
By way of a valid example, I use my own paradigm. Let's say, I am going to walk the Camino Via de la Plata... I fly Iberia from Miami to Madrid, and connect to n Iberia Express flight to Sevilla. I walk from there towards Santiago.
This would also work flying to a Camino starting point in Bilbao, Pamplona, Barcelona, and any other Spanish, Portuguese, or French airport where Iberia or a codeshare (like Vueling) has service from Madrid.
After my Camino activities, I fly from Santiago to Madrid on Iberia Express. this is called an "open-jaw" and is very common. BUT, instead of connecting for my flight back to the US at Madrid, I build-in a tourist layover to enjoy Madrid for several days. While there, I enjoy reduced cost hotels, rental cars, tour packages, and IIRC get a city discount card as well.
This could be helpful to many of you planning 2020 Caminos now. I am thinking about starting the de la Plata in 2020. At present, I am waiting for my assorted doctors to weigh in. However, if I DO proceed, I DO plan to avail myself of this feature on my return from Santiago.
Hope this helps.