Topic Wiki

Barcelona
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, Yehoshua, CGR
Kosher Restaurants: http://www.restaurantmaccabi.com/en/
Activities: Jewish Tours in Barcelona, http://www.urbancultours.com
http://www.barcelonadreaming.com/package/barcelona-jewish-tour/
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: Stay at Hotel Condado it is about a 3 minute walk from the shul (local community), bear in mind there is no eruv, so you will need to either leave the room open or make some arrangement with the hotel, they do not offer keys (or have that option at all)
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Barcelona (Orthodox): http://www.cibonline.org; Go to the local shul and meet Rabbi Daniel Ashkenazi he is wonderful and quite helpful.

Madrid
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, @Yehuda pics, Yehoshua, @zalc (Mini)., CGR
Kosher Restaurants: http://www.restaurantelaescudilla.com  https://www.pinatimadrid.com/  https://www.pizzeriarimmon.com/(teuda)
Activities: Toledo - a day trip from Madrid to see 2 old Shuls. Can hire a tour guide, Rabbi Hanoka (info@jewishtoledotour.com), which is not cheap, or can take a train on your own. 1 of the Shuls (El Transito) is closed on Mondays. @Yehuda went on a day when that Shul was closed, and the other Shul was really just an empty room and seemed like a Christian organization now runs the center. Without a tour guide, it was hard to get anything Jewish out of our trip (other than an antique store that had some Judaica). But, people who have taken the tour (discussed in the thread) have said it was great! Recommended to go with a tour or not go at all (and ensure to go on a day when both are open!). Report in the thread that the sometimes-closed Shul has audio headsets for use, so that would help. If going alone, you can research the Jewish places at the link HERE
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: Chabad Site
Public Transport options: Uber works well, as does the subway if you speak Spanish.
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Madrid (Orthodox), http://www.cjmadrid.org

Malaga
Links to Trip Reports:
CGR
Kosher Restaurants:
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Comunidad Israelita de Malaga (Orthodox), http://www.cimalaga.es

Seville
Links to Trip Reports: @Yehuda, Yehoshua, CGR
Kosher Restaurants:
Activities: Jewish Tours in Sevilla/Cordoba, http://www.jewishsevilla.com
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Comunidad Judia de Sevilla, synagoguesevilla@gmail.com

Gibraltar
Links to Trip Reports: Yehoshua
Kosher Restaurants: Amar's Bakery and Coffee shop, http://www.amarsbakery.com/
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips:
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips: Jewish Community of Gibraltar, http://www.jewishgibraltar.com

Mallorca
Links to Trip Reports:
CGR
Kosher Restaurants: Their is not - one restaurant serve felafel it's own by an israeli but no hechsher
Activities:
Hotels:
Shabbos Tips: The Shul its open on Friday night
Public Transport options:
Guidebooks:
Other Tips:
 
4500 IB Avios from anywhere to anywhere in the country
Best way to get around anywhere in this country is by scooter. It is safer driving them there since they outnumber cars by great proportions.
« Last edited by cgr on September 04, 2023, 09:01:01 PM »

Author Topic: Spain Master Thread  (Read 272005 times)

Offline Ergel

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #460 on: February 15, 2015, 02:53:53 PM »
I definitely wouldn't stay at a place that's "out of the way".
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #461 on: February 15, 2015, 02:57:31 PM »
I definitely wouldn't stay at a place that's "out of the way".
It's not too far out of the way, still near a subway stop. Would you do Priceline or Le Meridien instead?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #462 on: February 15, 2015, 03:01:28 PM »
At that price point I'd probably do priceline. But I'd first check out what property you are likely to get on better bidding
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #463 on: February 15, 2015, 03:09:27 PM »
At that price point I'd probably do priceline. But I'd first check out what property you are likely to get on better bidding
Can't seem to figure out that site (any tips?), but there are tons of 4* properties in the Ramblas area.

Offline amx

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #464 on: February 15, 2015, 04:26:07 PM »
What about 5*

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #465 on: February 15, 2015, 09:44:46 PM »
I hear why it's nice to be more in "town" by La Ramblas, but other than the restaurant and the Jewish tour, the other activities are all a subway ride away. Which means that once you have to get on the subway for any activity, who cares if your hotel is also another subway ride away?

Although I'm saying that, for some reason I remember that Barcelona was one city (in addition to Rome) that we regretted being "out of town". That was likely due to the fact that I wanted to get to Minyan and the Shul was yet another "trip" to get to (no convenient subways even - and don't waste your time, they didn't have a consistent Minyan) so to me it felt like we spent a considerable amount of time travelling that if we could have at least had our hotel near something significant (read: La Ramblas and the restaurant) that might have made things a bit easier.

After that back and forth... doing it again and not being in an @Yehuda I-don't-want-to-spend-real-$-on-my-trip kinda mood? I'd rather stay near La Ramblas.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #466 on: February 15, 2015, 09:51:28 PM »
What about 5*
5* are at least $120/night.
I hear why it's nice to be more in "town" by La Ramblas, but other than the restaurant and the Jewish tour, the other activities are all a subway ride away. Which means that once you have to get on the subway for any activity, who cares if your hotel is also another subway ride away?

Although I'm saying that, for some reason I remember that Barcelona was one city (in addition to Rome) that we regretted being "out of town". That was likely due to the fact that I wanted to get to Minyan and the Shul was yet another "trip" to get to (no convenient subways even - and don't waste your time, they didn't have a consistent Minyan) so to me it felt like we spent a considerable amount of time travelling that if we could have at least had our hotel near something significant (read: La Ramblas and the restaurant) that might have made things a bit easier.

After that back and forth... doing it again and not being in an @Yehuda I-don't-want-to-spend-real-$-on-my-trip kinda mood? I'd rather stay near La Ramblas.
So would you spend the extra SPG or do Priceline?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #467 on: February 15, 2015, 09:56:45 PM »
So would you spend the extra SPG or do Priceline?
Hmm that's tough. I'm someone who would use points if I had them, but if you're willing to spend actual cash when you could otherwise points, then the $70 may make sense. SPG to me have always been an enigma though. I got what I could from the signup bonuses and used them all already. I don't know how people always seem to have them, but it does seem like if you could save them for a good C&P value or for a partner transfer (+ 5K) then that's the best way to use them.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #468 on: February 15, 2015, 10:07:26 PM »
Hmm that's tough. I'm someone who would use points if I had them, but if you're willing to spend actual cash when you could otherwise points, then the $70 may make sense. SPG to me have always been an enigma though. I got what I could from the signup bonuses and used them all already. I don't know how people always seem to have them, but it does seem like if you could save them for a good C&P value or for a partner transfer (+ 5K) then that's the best way to use them.
To me $70/night can be reimbursed with Arrival+.  With SPG, I have done some MS and AmEx accidentally gave me 30k for no reason, but besides that I don't have that much left. The thing is there are so many 4* hotels in Las Ramblas it could be a toss up, especially considering that Le Maridien is considered 5*. Hmm I guess I should figure out how much a 5* would go for.

Offline SamKey

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #469 on: February 16, 2015, 12:22:05 AM »
Just go to the W... ;)

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #470 on: February 16, 2015, 01:38:52 AM »

Offline raphy781

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #471 on: February 17, 2015, 07:40:29 AM »
@yehoshua
What did you end up doing about a hotel?

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #472 on: February 17, 2015, 08:41:54 AM »
@yehoshua
What did you end up doing about a hotel?
Still deciding. I want to do Priceline, but many 4* hotels are around $70/night without it.

Offline ethana

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #473 on: February 17, 2015, 08:53:23 AM »
We rented an apt for cheap near the chabad

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #474 on: February 17, 2015, 09:30:16 AM »
We rented an apt for cheap near the chabad
Define cheap and "we. "

Offline ethana

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #475 on: February 17, 2015, 09:57:46 AM »
Sorry for the ambiguity. My wife and I rented a 3 bdrm apt for around $90 a night

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #476 on: February 17, 2015, 10:50:18 AM »
Sorry for the ambiguity. My wife and I rented a 3 bdrm apt for around $90 a night
Not bad. Did you rent from airbnb/homeaway/vrbo? Link? How and where was it?

Offline ethana

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #477 on: February 17, 2015, 11:04:39 AM »
Was in the soccer stadium area.more residential but still not too far away from ramblas Worked out well. The owners were very helpful and accommodating. Was from airbnb

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #478 on: February 17, 2015, 11:11:18 AM »
Was in the soccer stadium area.more residential but still not too far away from ramblas Worked out well. The owners were very helpful and accommodating. Was from airbnb
Why did you decide on an apartment as opposed to a hotel? 3 bdrms seems like overkill for 2 people and it doesn't come with free breakfast (which many hotels do, despite most of the food isn't kosher).

Offline ethana

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Re: Spain Master Thread
« Reply #479 on: February 17, 2015, 11:19:40 AM »
Well we wanted to be near chabad for Shabbos. And it was of the cheaper options. All the hotels in that area were pricier. Breakfast was cereal and milk and fruit. Disnt really factor into the decision