| This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. |
Is a trip to Spain in your future? Sometimes it’s hard to know how to get started. Follow these easy steps and you’ll be strolling the charming streets and indulging in delicious tapas in no time.
Step 1: Figure out your flights
The only way to make this trip so affordable is to plan ahead and use points and miles for your flights. Ideally, you should begin this process around a year before your trip, although it’s possible to book on a shorter timeline.
Partner A signs up for Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect starter card because it’s easy to use and has a ton of transfer partners. After spending $4,000 in the first three months and paying the annual fee, you’ll receive a 60,000 point Ultimate Rewards bonus.
Partner A refers Partner B
Once partner A has finished the $4,000 minimum spending requirement and received the bonus, they should create a referral link for partner B to use to sign up (it’s fine to refer your spouse or someone else in your household).
When both minimum spending requirements are completed, you will have at least 138,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which gives you a ton of options (two 60k sign-up bonuses, plus the 10k referral bonus and 8k in spending).
Depending on where you are departing from, you should look into either transferring your points to Virgin Atlantic or Iberia.
Here’s an example search on Virgin Atlantic from Minneapolis to Madrid.
And here are the flights home.
Transferring your points to Virgin Atlantic gives you a round trip ticket from the USA to Spain for 50k points each, plus $46.
This leaves you with 38k Ultimate Rewards to spend on lodging.
Step 2: Plan your itinerary
For a beginner trip to Spain, I recommend the following itinerary:
Start with three days in Madrid
There are so many things to see in Madrid. Begin your journey with a visit to the iconic Prado Museum, home to masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco, then stroll through the historic streets of the old city center, stopping by the majestic Royal Palace and the lively Plaza Mayor.
Visit the exciting La Latina and Malasaña neighborhoods for tapas. I had the most incredible meal at Casa Macareno in the Malasaña neighborhood – highly recommended!
After that, relax in Retiro Park, where you can sit by the lake or visit the beautiful Glass Palace. Madrid has something fun for everyone, whether you’re into art, food, or just hanging out in beautiful parks.
Depending on your preferences, a day trip from Madrid to either Segovia or Toledo is a great option.
Where to stay in Madrid
Transfer 38k Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt to stay at the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid. The hotel costs 15k points per night, or 7,500 points combined with a variable cash payment, depending on dates. You can get two free nights, plus a discount on your third night with your points. I stayed in this comfortable hotel on my last trip to Spain and plan to stay again this summer.
The hotel is conveniently located close to a Metro stop, which makes it easy to get around.
The staff at the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid are very kind and welcoming. I found the room to be comfortable and clean.
Take a high-speed train to Granada
The tickets vary in price depending on date and time traveled, but it’ll typically be around $50/person. Traveling by high-speed train is a fantastic experience. The seats are comfortable, there’s plenty of room, and it feels like you’re just gliding through the air.
Spend two days exploring Granada
There is so much to see in Granada, with the absolute highlight being the Alhambra. The Alhambra is a breathtaking palace complex in Granada, Spain, known for its stunning Islamic architecture and beautiful gardens. Be sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time.
Then, wander through the Albaicín neighborhood for beautiful architecture and cozy cafes.
Check out Sacromonte for cave restaurants and flamenco shows. Don’t forget to try tasty tapas and local treats like piononos.
Where to stay in Granada
In Granada, book your preferred hotel or vacation apartment with cash. We’re saving the last of the Ultimate Rewards points for the last night in Madrid.
Check out this interactive map showing both hotels and apartments. Just enter your travel dates.
I recommend the Palacio Santa Inez, currently $300 for two nights.
Take a train to the cliff-side town of Ronda
Ronda is a smaller town (population 30,000) with a lot to offer!
Book your train to Ronda through Trainline. Prices vary by date, but are typically $25/person.
Spend two days in Ronda
Ronda is a beautiful city that will give you a smaller-town perspective of southern Spain. There’s so much to do in Ronda, aside from just enjoying the beautiful bridge and smaller town charm. You can visit an old fortified water mine, visit the Arab baths, and hike the Tajo Gorge.
Where to stay in Ronda
Again, we will be booking with cash, to save the points for Madrid. If you have additional Ultimate Rewards points, you can always book a hotel through the Chase Travel Portal. I recommend choosing a hotel or apartment with a view of the gorge. This point in the trip would be a great time to book an apartment with a washer to get some laundry done. I recommend packing light and doing laundry on the trip. This apartment has a great view of the gorge, it has a washer (most Spanish apartments don’t have dryers), and comes in at only a little over $100/night.
Take a train to Sevilla
Tickets range in price, but are typically $40/person. Book your tickets ahead on Trainline. Since Ronda is a smaller city, be sure to book your voyage ahead of time, since routes are limited.
Spend two days in Sevilla
Sevilla is a beautiful city with so much to see. Be sure to check out the majestic Seville Cathedral and climb the Giralda Tower for fantastic views.
Wander through the charming streets of the Santa Cruz neighborhood, filled with cozy cafes and colorful houses.
Don’t miss the royal palace, Real Alcázar, with its beautiful gardens and impressive architecture.
Where to stay in Sevilla
Again, we are booking with cash, unless you have extra Ultimate Rewards points to spend on the Chase Travel Portal. Uma Suites Parada del Marques is a centrally located option with great reviews for around $150/night.
Take the train back to Madrid
Board another high-speed train for the journey back to Madrid. A ticket from Sevilla to Madrid costs around $45/person, depending on the date and time.
Final night in Madrid
You have a lot of different lodging options in Madrid. I really enjoyed the Posada del Leon de Oro Boutique Hotel, located within walking distance to Plaza Mayor. You can find an affordable VRBO or Airbnb, if that suits your needs better.
Extend your trip
If you’d like to stay longer, you could consider adding a week as an English language volunteer with Vaughantown. They offer a free week in a nice hotel in Spain with food and drinks (including wine!) included, in exchange for your participation as an English conversation partner.
Step 3: Fly home
After a beautiful ten days in Spain, you’ll return to the United States with a new perspective and memories to enjoy for a lifetime.
The budget
- Credit card annual fees: $190
- Hotels: $1000
- Trains: $320
- Food and tours: $490
For a grand total of $2,000.
Remember that almost every city has a free (tip-based) walking tour. Just google the city name and walking tour.
Your food budget will vary depending on the type of restaurants you eat in and how frequently you get sandwiches from grocery stores instead of elaborate sit-down meals. We like to have a nice mix of both.
You’ll find that groceries are much less expensive in Spain than the US. Beer and wine are also much less expensive to order at restaurants (3-4 euros for a glass of wine). Here are some things to know if you’re heading to Europe for the first time.
What to pack
I suggest traveling with only a carry-on and a backpack, for ease of movement. We’ve traveled to Europe this way many times and it’s the most convenient way to get around. As I mentioned earlier, this means you’ll need to find laundry. I provide more details in this packing article.
Don’t forget to pack plug adapters for the outlets in Spain, in order to charge your American electronics. You also might want a satellite wifi hotspot and a back up power bank. These have all made my trips so much easier and more enjoyable!
Final thoughts
Spain is one of my favorite countries of all time. It has so much to offer – natural beauty, history, incredible food, art, friendly people. With the Chase Sapphire sign-up bonus, you can easily take a ten day trip for two to this beautiful country for under $2,000. Enjoy!