I recently returned from 15 days in Spain and I must admit- I fell in love 😍 (with Spain of course!). I’ll tell you a little about it, how much it cost and how I can help YOU get a great deal like this too! We all deserve to getaway and I want to help you!

Spain

Spain is a beautiful country located in southern Europe known for its intricate architecture, traditional cuisine, deep-rooted history, vibrant nightlife, and relaxed lifestyle….oh and the wine, let’s not forget the wine! I wanted to explore as much of the country as possible, to embrace their culture and vibe. My two weeks in Spain were supposed to include 3 days in Morocco (did you know its a quick, cheap flight from Madrid or other parts of Spain?!), but Morocco closed its borders due to the pandemic. So that was one country I was NOT checking off my list just yet 😤. I used these days to explore more of southern Spain. My hopes for the perfect trip included 4 nights in Madrid (1 was tacked onto the end of our trip as a buffer before our flight home), 3 nights in Seville (aka Sevilla), 2 nights in Granada, 5 nights in Barcelona with 1 of those nights spent in Mallorca. 

MADRID

I flew into Madrid from Newark airport in New Jersey. I was lucky enough to get a nonstop roundtrip flight for under $700 after having to wait foreverrrr to see if International travel would finally open up after a year and a half of being trapped in the states.  I wasn’t even mad about having to wear my mask everywhere we went, even outdoors, I was just happy to be traveling again! We did have a slight issue trying to get out of New Jersey…and by slight I mean a FOUR HOUR delay due to the first floor of the airport flooding out from a hurricane! But my friends and I had postponed this trip once before, we were GOING, come hell or high water (literally). The 7 hour overnight flight was a breeze and I woke up in the capital of Spain, ready to have the most epic vacation with a couple of great friends!

I just loved the hustle and bustle of the streets in Madrid at all hours of the night. One of my favorite things to do was to people watch from my balcony. I scored a beautiful 4 bedroom (2.5 bath/4.8 ⭐) Airbnb with 3 friends and we only paid $48 a night each! If you want to get away, I can find a deal like this for you too.

We did a LOT of walking in Madrid, this is how I justified drinking all of that Cava 😂 (Spain’s famous sparkling wine 🍷). If you need a quick snack you can stop at the famous San Gines Chocolateria for churros and chocolate, something you will see a lot of in Spain. If I’m being honest, I’m used to those (really bad for you but so damn good) super sugary cinnamon churros that we get in the states. This wasn’t that, lol. These are very plain churros that you dip into some boring chocolate…but for a couple bucks it’s worth just trying them because…well, when in Spain! In Madrid, pretty parks decorated the city and provided a serene break from the busy streets that were lined with shops and markets. I loved the Mercado de San Miguel, which reminded me of Reading Terminal in Philly. There were so many foods to try, but of course I ended up at the bar (who is shocked?).

Did you know they siesta from around 4-7pm and don’t eat dinner until 8-9pm in Spain? And dinner is supposed to last a few hours. Us Americans are so used to rushing through our meals, it really did take a minute to adopt this slower pace. But I must say- I’m here for it! The art of enjoying your meal, I suppose. One of my favorite meals was at the OLDEST restaurant in the WORLD established in 1725, called Restaurante Botin. Exposed wooden beams lined the ceiling while blue and white tile covered the walls providing a nostalgic feeling. The maitre d’ was extremely attentive, filling our glasses the second they dipped below the halfway point. All of our entrees were exceptional and I highly recommend you visit if ever in Madrid. I will find you these gems if you plan travel through me! 💎 There are so many beautiful and serene parks to enjoy, shops to explore, and enticing alley ways that beg to be discovered in Madrid. My visit there was only 3 days, I think it was the perfect amount of time, but I didn’t get to visit the Royal Palace or Prado Museum so perhaps another day wouldn’t hurt.

SEVILLE

My next stop was Seville, known for its authentic culture, deep rooted history and striking architecture. Seville’s beauty set the perfect background for many photo ops, but the history behind the beauty is truly what makes Seville shine. Seville is the birth place of the gypsy art of Flamenco 💃, the home of a beautiful palace (the Royal Alcázar of Seville) and is centered around the largest Gothic cathedral in the world- Seville Cathedral. I visited a majestic square designed by famous architect Aníbal González called the Plaza de España, drank sangria on rooftops (and everywhere else!) and enjoyed a little shopping (Zara home! 🙌). Myself and 3 friends stayed in a beautiful 4 bedroom (2 bath/4.98 ⭐) Airbnb for $40 a night with huge rooms and cute balcony. It was great that we could walk to all of the sights.

The Royal Alcázar of Seville is an incredible palace (and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) that was built for King Peter of Castile, a Christian king. The Alcazar was constructed on a site of a Muslim fortress that was destroyed in 1248. The design and archways of the lower level of the palace show Muslim influence while the upper levels arches and design are more European Renaissance. Regarding more recent history, I read that Game of Thrones fans would recognize this palace 🤷 but I’m sorry, I didn’t watch GOT…please don’t attack me! Haha

Visiting the palace was quite peaceful, barely any visitors when I went towards the end of the day.  Across from the Royal Alcazar of Seville was a great place to sit outside with a drink and people watch. People roaming down this quiet tram car road on all kinds of transportation- bikes, segways, roller blades. And what gorgeous people they were! I swear this is where all of the models are born! Even the “unattractive” ones were hot. So…yeah…I could have sat there all day 😂.

One beautiful afternoon we spent walking around the Plaza de España which is located in Parque de Maria Luisa. Built in 1928, Moorish Revival and Renaissance style architecture blend to create one extravagant landmark complete with a canal that streams around it and two towers acting as bookends on the this semi-circle plaza. It was so peaceful to listen to the horses trot around the square. A great to people watching while indulging in a little history. Wrapping around the foot of the plaza you will see 52 mosaic benches which represent the provinces of Spain. They are quite stunning (and provide a gorgeous backdrop!) and each bench stands out as unique. Check out this gallery for more photos & videos of Plaza de España.

After our trip to Plaza de España, we were thirsty (of course!). So we spent the evening on a rooftop drinking sangria and learning about it history from a wonderful local man named Antonio. In case you are not aware of Airbnb experiences, let me praise them a little. Not only does Airbnb offer great places to stay at an affordable cost, but it also incorporates experiences with local guides for a deal! Some of my favorite, most unique experiences when I’ve traveled have been through Airbnb. For around $22, I was able to taste different sangrias and some authentic tapas made by the charming and funny Antonio, a local historian, on a private rooftop overlooking a canal. Literally the best day ever.

Check out Antonio’s Sangria Wine Tasting on a Rooftop here

GRANADA

Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada is known for its Islamic architecture, intriguing history, UNESCO World Heritage site Alhambra, old Arab bath houses and free tapas (yes FREE!)! One of the most unique experiences I had was visiting the old African gypsy caves of Sacromonte to watch a powerful Zambra Flamenco show. Zambra is a type of Flamenco that is unique to the Andalusian gypsies. (Side note: Andalusia is a large autonomous community of southern Spain that includes the provinces of Huelva, Cádiz, Sevilla, Málaga, Córdoba, Jaén, Granada, and Almería)

The hilly, windy roads provide not only a great workout but some exquisite views. We had quite a view from our wrap around balcony at the Airbnb I was lucky enough to grab. $70 a night (4p) for this spacious 4 bedroom (2 bath/4.8 ⭐) Airbnb complete with blackout shades (perfect for those daily siestas!).

 

With only two days to explore Granada, our first stop had to be one of the most visited places in all of Spain- The Alhambra. Resting high up on a hill overlooking the city, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a palace that is rich in history, decorated with exquisite architecture and perfectly manicured gardens, complete with stunning views. The Moorish Nasrid Dynasty built the palace in the 13th and 14th centuries for the royal family to live, though parts of it were once a fortress from the 9th century. The Generalife Gardens were quite spectacular and also quite peaceful to walk around. Check out some of my photos and videos in this gallery.

Jac’s Tip: Buy tickets ahead of time (only a certain amount of visitors are allowed a day), bring water (it’s hot and hilly), be prepared to spend at least half a day there (it is huge). Buy tickets HERE

 

Later that day we rejuvenated in the Arab baths of Hammam Al Andalus (no photos allowed but an absolutely beautiful and tranquil setting). As an important ritual of the Muslim culture and lifestyle, the Arab baths provided a gathering place for Granada’s Arab community. The water is a symbol of purity, used to cleanse oneself both spiritually and physically. During the Reconquest of Spain, these and many other Arab establishments were torn down. They turned many of these Arab baths into bakeries due to the large boilers they had to heat the water. One of these establishments still stands, El Banuelo, and you can visit them and learn the history but they are no longer baths there. Hammam Al Andalus has baths and spa treatments, for the ultimate day of relaxation and spiritual healing.

After some more sangria on a rooftop and a siesta, it was time to head to the caves of Sacromonte to witness our first Flamenco show. Now I know Sevilla is the birthplace of Flamenco, but where else can you see a Flamenco show performed in an old African gypsy cave?! (I think the answer is nowhere!) We took some very tight, windy roads up to experience this once-in-a-lifetime show. Our Uber driver apparently knew every single person in the entire town of Granada and stopped to tell each of them his life story on the way up the hill so we were glad that we left early. There were several performances throughout the evening, each of them so special. To be there, in this intimate room, watching the dancers every move up close and personal, hearing their breath, it was truly moving.

To get back home after the show we had to walk down this steep road, where cars are just inches from running you over (because why would there be a sidewalk?!), but there was a cool view of Alhambra at night (I see now why it is the “red castle”). Great way to end our stay there.

BARCELONA

A little bit of city, a little bit of beach, a ton of hidden gems! Beautiful Barcelona won my heart! If you ever visit, make sure to allot enough time for all of the amazing things there are to see and do in this remarkable city! So many unique experiences (for a steal!) like the ONLY Icebar on a beach in the WORLD ($20), drinking wine in a castle ($80), sailing around its popular shores ($45), making authentic Catalan Espadrilles ($80, best souvenir ever!), a paella cooking class with a charismatic chef ($100) and a quick trip to the neighboring island of Mallorca ($40 flight/40 min). Barcelona certainly kept me bulaxed! Busy but relaxed, get it? 😆 Did I mention the speakeasy hidden behind a deli door?! Paradiso was a fun experience- very unique drinks, cool vibe, definitely worth a stop. 

The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is aspiring to be the tallest church in the world (if it ever gets completed!), this magnificent jewel is unlike any you have seen before, a masterpiece of artist Antoni Gaudi. His dreamlike works of art can be found throughout the city, many located in Park Guell. It’s an interesting place to walk around, kind of feels like a Dr. Seuss book.

Every day in Barcelona was my favorite, but our first full day there was my favorite chill day. We started the morning by getting on the absolutely wrong boat and drinking all of their wine and eating their food (I personally was hanging off the back of the boat most of the time, but everyone else had a blast!) being sailed around the shores for hours only to find out as we were exiting the boat (drunk and delirious) that it was in fact the wrong boat. Whoops!! Jac’s Tip: Make sure to check that BEFORE you leave port! 😉

After that we went to the ONLY Icebar on a beach in the WORLD! (Can you tell Jac Of All Travels loooves to find hidden gems?! Yes I will find them for you too!) The Icebar is -8 degrees celsius and the entire bar (chairs, walls, decor) is all ice! They give you coats and gloves and the $20 admission gets you a drink as well (served in an ice glass, naturally, drink fast!). A really cool experience….pun intended haha…but when it gets too cold just walk out the door and there is the beach! But you should definitely stay and people watch there because they played the best music! (totally 80’s!)

One of the absolutely coolest things I did in Barcelona was learning the history about and making my very own pair of espadrilles! For the men reading this- they are sandals 😑 No but seriously, these are hand stitched Catalan traditional espadrilles that were made famous by the Spanish painter Salvador Dali (we all know who that is right?!). Sonu from the Handmade store in Barcelona provided this awesome (Airbnb!) experience for me and my friend. She was a great teacher and made it such a unique and interesting experience! These one-of-a-kind shoes make an awesome gift (for yourself or a friend!), if you ever go to Barcelona please check out this experience with Sonu.

If you are a paella lover, then you should definitely go to The Paella Club for a cooking class! Yet another Airbnb experience, this night was filled with wine, food and laughs. The chefs are so funny and entertaining (and also heavy pourers!), they truly made it a fun night. We made new friends from all over the world (actually only the states and the UK…go figure…haha) and learned how to cook the perfect paella…though I guarantee you most of that class was too drunk to remember any of it (oops did I pour extra wine in that pan?). Luckily they provided us with the recipes to attempt when we are sober! Please don’t start sliding into my DM’s trying to get me to cook paella for you…I couldn’t cook before the class and I certainly didn’t learn a damn thing while I was there 😂. 

Our last full day in Barcelona was a perfect one, spent drinking wine all day in a beautiful medieval castle that was built in 1560. Fernando was an excellent host who shared his stories and knowledge with us. He drove us up to the Penedès Valley, which is 8 times the size of Napa! We walked the vineyards, learned about wine and how to properly taste and distinguish it. With it being just my group and one other couple, it was really intimate and felt even more special. To visit Castle de Pontons, check out Fernando’s experience here.

MALLORCA

Just a quick 40 minute flight ($45!) from Barcelona is the beautiful island of Mallorca with its beautiful coastline and stunning architecture. I only had less than 24 hours on this island, but I dream of going back for a long weekend one day. I had so much fun exploring the tight, windy roads that lead to unusual bars that sit behind gigantic wooden doors. Behind one set of these doors sits what was once named the “best bar in Mallorca” according to the Times, also known as the most unusual bar in Mallorca. Step through the heavy wooden doors and into the opulent bizarre fruit-themed decorated room that looks like a foyer of a mansion. Out in the courtyard you will find a peaceful setting complete with singing birds and a soothing fountain. Jac’s Tip: When you go up to the bathrooms, which are on the second floor, sneak up one more flight…shhhhh this is top secret!!…there are 2 doors, one should be open. If you go through it you will find some secret rooms that where once part of a noble family’s home.

I had a fantastic meal at La Paloma (seared scallops 🤤). You could see the wine cellar through the floor and people watch through a large window. Little plastic toys sat on reserved tables, which I found to be very funny at such a nice restaurant. The night was spent roaming the quiet streets, dipping into little bars here and there. The next morning was spent admiring the many STUNNING cathedrals and exploring this quaint little (but kind of big) island. Definitely coming back here some day soon!

ONE LAST NIGHT IN MADRID

I couldn’t believe our last night was here! Honestly after about day 8 you start to feel like this is your real life, THAT is when vacation really starts (this was actually studied and they found that to truly feel the relaxation of vacation you need more than 7 days off of work!). So to be told that this WASN’T actually my real life and I DID have to go back to Jersey, really didn’t go over very well (there may have been kicking and screaming). Reluctantly I boarded the train back to Madrid for one last night of fun. If you have never traveled by train through Europe, let me assure you, this is the way to go with its ease and comfort. 2 short hours later we were back in Madrid, checking into the most amazing hotel- Only You Boutique Hotel. I cannot stress enough how impeccably thought out each and every detail of this hotel is. From the perfect instagramable locations down to the BRILLIANT secret scavenger hunt that leads to a HIDDEN rooftop restaurant, seriously this hotel blew me away! Not to mention, every staff member provided stellar service. I found a great deal for this hotel and I was so happy to end our travels here!

Spain left me with so many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. If you ever get the chance to go- do not hesitate! If you need help planning the perfect trip, contact me!

¡Adiós España, hasta la próxima!

Check out more of my random Spain photos/videos HERE and on Instagram!

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