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The Chris Robinson
Travel Show
Saturday April 9, 2011
10:00 am – 11:00 am EST
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www.parador.es
a href="http://www.parador.es/en/portal.do?IDM=96&NM=1" class="UsefulLinksTitle" target="_blank">Book the Paradores online
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Culture, history and unique vacations in Spain!
Spain is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations - rich in history, culture and architecture it also has stunning beaches, wineries, gourmet restaurants, and never ending entertainment. This summer Transat Holidays offers flights to Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga plus the packages, cruises, à la carte accommodations and excursions to allow you to create your perfect Spanish vacation.
Right in the heart of Spain, Madrid is a cosmopolitan European centre with a unique culture. Madrid has distinctive cuisine and nightlife that goes on and on. The city blends history with modern innovation, a relaxed pace of life, warm people and several nearby UNESCO World Heritage sites. And Madrid will host World Youth Day 16 – 21 August, 2011. The streets will be filled with youth from all over the world as Pope Benedict meets his youthful followers.
Catalonia is simply magnificent, with the beaches of the Costa Brava, the mountains of the Pyrenees and a culture and a cuisine all its own. Barcelona, Catalonia's vibrant capital, is the classic European city and a perfect mix of fascinating history and contemporary ambience.
Andalucia includes the stunning cities of Cordoba, Seville and Granada. Malaga is the gateway to the region and to the beautiful beaches and excellent golf courses of the Costa del Sol.
Transat Holidays don’t just fly you to Spain – they have an unmatched program of tours, excursions, transportation and accommodations, with many options to help you get the very best out of your trip to Spain.
Experience Spain in a very special way by staying at the Paradores. These luxury, state-run hotels are in old castles, palaces and historic buildings …but with all modern comforts.
For over 80 years the Paradores have provided a high quality product while preserving the historic heritage of Spain. There are currently over 90 Paradores throughout Spain. They are often located in undiscovered parts of Spain and encourage sustainable tourism development through providing local fare in their dining rooms and promoting the discovery of both cultural destinations and beautiful natural areas.
Currently a project is underway so that most of the Paradores located in historical buildings will become "Paradores Museums", allowing guests to become immersed in the history, architecture, art and legends of these beautiful old buildings. Most recently the Parador of Úbeda became the sixth "Paradores Museum", after those of Santo Estevo, Santiago, Granada, Oropesa and Cardona. The medium term target is to convert about 50 hotels into "Paradores Museums".
Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists travel Spain from Parador to Parador. Staying at the Paradores hotels they can follow routes such as Don Quixote, the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route or the white villages of Andalusia, among many others. There are also Paradors in World Heritage Cities such as Toledo, Segovia, Ávila, Santiago de Compostela, and Salamanca, as well as the most important nature reserves in the country. With the new Paradores Routes programs you can take different trips around Spain with comprehensive packages of three and seven nights at very attractive prices.
Paradores "Unique Rooms" are a selection of the best of each Parador - best for their size and class: suites, junior suites, superior rooms; and because of their views, décor and history. The 60 most spectacular have been chosen because these are authentic rooms in which kings and nobles have lodged - high atop the tower of a medieval castle or in the cell of the abbot of a Cistercian monastery. These all offer many extras, such as a dinner, very special décor, and above all, the sensation of savoring a bit of Spain’s ancient history.
The Paradores are famous for their exceptional food, and this year all 93 Paradores will create their own "20.11 Menu". They will offer a traditional menu prepared with fresh local products from the region in which the Parador is located, and the menu will change according to the seasons. In this way, guests will enjoy the best cuisine from each Spanish region. There are special menus for babies and toddlers as well as senior citizens, vegetarians, diabetics and gluten sensitive guests. And a new wine list has been designed primarily to make it easier for guests to choose the most suitable wine for each occasion.
Selected "Gastronomic Paradores" will offer the highest level of gastronomy, with a wide selection on the menu and a very full wine list. And Paradores located closest to the main roads – such as Benavente, Puebla or Manzanares - are ideal lunch stops for travellers offering a light and very digestive meal, with fast and efficient service.
Visit www.parador.es to find out more about the Paradores and to check out some great promotions including a 5 Night Card, a 2 Night Special, Golden Days (with discounts for over 55s), and Young Getaway (for under 30s). Golf lovers also have many opportunities to enjoy their sport with Paradores. The network has two courses of its own, and one of these, El Saler, is among the 60 best in the world. Another 50 golf courses throughout Spain are accessible in partnership with the Paradores.
Tune in Saturday to win a Transat Holidays City package for two with flights to Barcelona, seven nights at the HCC Montblanc Hotel and a Hop on Hop off Barcelona transit pass. Opened in 2000, the HCC Montblanc enjoys a good location right in the heart of Barcelona - just few steps away from La Rambla, Plaça Catalunya, the Barri Gòtic, Passeig de Gràcia and opposite the Palau de la Música.