WHY IT RATES: Hidden in Spain was honored with of the Exclusive Tour Operator of the Year award for its customizable journeys. -Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Senior Writer
Spain has set new tourism arrival records for six years in a row, with over 82 million people visiting the country in 2018, according to the country's National Institute of Statistics. It's a great time for travel agents to recommend Spain to their clients. Agents will also earn great commissions, with one of the country's premier boutique tour operators, Hidden in Spain, offering 15 percent commission for booking its preplanned tours.
Winner of the "Exclusive Tour Operator of the Year" award, Hidden in Spain offers customizable experiences that reveal the country's hidden cultural, historical and culinary treasures. The company's 15 percent commission is valid for all preplanned tours booked by April 30, 2019.
Luis Fernandez de Vega, founder of Hidden in Spain, explained that his company can take guests to all the popular tourist sites and attractions, but it can also take them to the extraordinary and often hidden gems that provide an authentic taste of Spain and its fascinating history, natural beauty, gastronomic traditions, and friendly people.
"I know every corner of Spain and all the exceptional spots because I was born and lived here all of my life," said Fernandez de Vega.
"Through Hidden in Spain, I have created an extensive network of talented and highly experienced people to help design the perfect vacation for every interest, whether it's sports, gastronomy, wellness, culture, or traditional sightseeing. We can take care of every aspect of their vacation, from accommodations, to ground transportation and domestic air, to excursions, such as wine tastings, to sight-seeing and all activities. Guests can travel on their own or with one of our knowledgeable, English-speaking guide."
Travel Agent Friendly
Fernandez De Vega enjoys working with travel agents because they appreciate his exceptional knowledge of Spain.
"We make their jobs as easy as possible," he said. "They can select from our preplanned packages or tell us what their clients want and we create a tour that precisely meets their needs. It's as simple as that."
Headquartered in Spain, the company can respond quickly to any customer request or concern during the tour. Agents can, therefore, partner with hidden in Spain with confidence, knowing that their clients are in good hands, with a company that is focused on providing outstanding service.
Food for Thought
With Spanish cuisine among the most popular in the world, Hidden in Spain can provide tours that allow guests to sample the widest range of cuisine, from Michelin-starred restaurants to the intimate, local establishments serving the authentic dishes of the region. A typical, seven-day Food & Wine Tour could focus on the Basque Country of northern Spain, for example.
Guests would touch down in Madrid and stay at a four-star hotel in the city center. The itinerary could include a private walking tour of the Old Quarter and a meal at a local restaurant in La Plaza Mayor, site of one of the most popular marketplaces until the end of 15th century. They can also enjoy traditional squid sandwiches at a local eatery.
Other activities could include a cooking class given by a master chef at a private, members' only gastronomy club. They would accompany the chef to the marketplace to purchase the ingredients and return to watch or participate in the preparation of the meal, then "dig in" with a glass of fine wine.
In Basque country, they can tour the prestigious Rioja wine region, which is synonymous with wine. Daily excursions would include wine tastings at local vineyards, such as Marques de Riscal, the first winery in Rioja to produce wines following the Bordeaux method, and the Ysios Wineries, a spectacular facility consisting of over 8,000 square feet of building space and over 120 acres of vineyards. This can be followed by a guided tour of a nearby village, Laguardia, known for its medieval old quarter.
Tours could also include a visit to Biarritz, a city that boasts some of the most beautiful coastal villages on the French Basque Coast, with exotic names like Hendaia, Saint Jean de Luz, and Hondarribia.
North And South
For those who would like to sample a little bit of everything that Spain has to offer, Hidden in Spain can design a tour such as A Bit of the North and South. A typical itinerary would begin with accommodations at a 4-Star hotel in the heart of Madrid, close to Plaza del Sol. In addition to guided tours of the city, guests would be treated to a private Flamenco demonstration, led by a local expert in the art, who will explain the dance, its history and the significance of performers' movements.
Among the activities would be a Pintxos Tour to sample the gastronomic richness of San Sebastian, on the Bay of Biscay. A form of "bar hopping," guests would go from bar to bar, drinking wine and beer and sampling the different pintxos, the small snacks typically served in these establishments.
On longer tours, they can enjoy a domestic flight to Sevilla and a stay at a quaint 18th-century boutique hotel. Guests can delight in an Andalusian horse show in the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Later, they can visit a winery in Jerez for a taste of the popular sherry wines.
The itinerary could also include a train ride to Cordoba and a stay at an elegant 18th-century Moorish mansion, along with a private tour of the Jewish quarters. This could be followed by a visit to the Alcazar of Seville, a royal palace built by the Christian king Peter of Castile, as well as a visit to the magnificent Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, also known as the Great Mosque of Córdoba.
"What makes our tours unique is that we can provide knowledgeable guides at every step of the way. Clients will never feel alone in a strange country, even if they choose to travel independently," said Fernandez de Vega. "We will make sure they enjoy the best of Spain."
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