In the Press: Seville Tourism's post-Covid task force
In the Press: Seville Tourism's post-Covid task force
Spain Savvy has been participating in the task force set up the local Tourism Board in Seville to brainstorm ways the city will reopen to international visitors post-COVID.
“{The panel experts} specifically referred to the United States, the third country in terms of the origin of visitors who connect to the city, and pointed out the relevance of strengthening the air connection between the U.S. and Seville.”
On the panel to which Spain Savvy was invited, there was a focus on the international tourism market. Participants shared in discussions of how important it will be to ensure and communicate travelers' safety and security in returning to Spain after the crisis is contained, as well as pre-plan measures to avoid "tourism of the masses" once again, that can be so dangerous to a virus-prone society. Professionals in the local tourism world proposed an international marketplace for new digital experiences and Spain Savvy spoke of the ways it is contributing to clients' "armchair travel". Many spoke of the U.S. market taking its time to return to the international travel space, but Spain Savvy interjected saying that Americans cannot be dismissed as scared, as we feel strongly that they will be back just as soon as it is safe and permitted.
Spain Savvy shared sentiments of colleagues that travel will become more personalized, with longer stays and smaller groups, the the focus of our business even before the COVID crisis.
Spain Savvy also brought up the important of more air connections, specifically between the U.S. and Seville, and Sarah made mention of the fact that it would be ideal to use this unexpected downtime to continue and complete negotiations, and that it would be fantastic to see that first U.S.-Seville flight inaugurated in the first months that we are back in business.
You can read more about Spain Savvy's involvement in the roundtable discussion between the public and private tourism sectors on opening up Seville once confinement measures around the COVID health crisis are fully eased, at this link.
Contact us if you're ready to plan now and experience later!
#YoMeSumoAlPlan8
Travel Tips: Share your travel memories!
Travel Tips: Share your travel memories!
We need your travel stories!
Since we can't cross borders at the moment, reminiscing about past travel, harking back to our favorite journeys with family and friends, offers a welcome distraction to help us get through challenging times. We have heard from so many of our past travelers as this worldwide crisis has unfolded, and now, more than ever, we would love to hear from you again!
Spain Savvy is gearing up to kick off a new Spain Savvy Travel Memories blog series, designed to inspire our future and past clients to dream and galvanize one another, while engaging in our online community - here on our website, on Facebook and on Instagram. In these blog posts, we ask our previous clients to present their past Spain Savvy trips and bring their travel experiences and memories to life through writing, photos, videos, slideshows, and more. Spain Savvy will be happy to help you prepare your Travel Memories project.
If you traveled with children, we would love it if they contributed to the post as well - maybe with an original piece of art depicting their favorite part of the trip, or a short video recording. As homeschooling becomes a new reality for so many of us, we think this will make for a fun project for the whole family!
Our aim is to connect with our community to offer an innovative form of "armchair travel". These posts will serve to inspire potential travelers in brainstorming for their own future trips, generate new bucket list items for both you and other adventurers, as well as helping you to organize those precious memories from your trips in a cohesive format. How many great photos and videos from recent journeys are still languishing on your phone or tablet? Celebrate them - we are confident that this project will be a lot of fun!
Here's something even more rewarding - for the first three clients who sign up to participate in this blog series, we are thrilled to offer free passes to an online experience with our partner DEVOUR TOURS. Head to their website to check out the exciting online events they are offering for small groups, such as live cooking and wine pairing classes. We personally think the historical culinary tour of Portugal sounds amazing!
If you are interested in participating in the Spain Savvy Travel Memories series, please get in touch with us so we can begin to work on it with you. Even if you just have just one photo or story to share, we'll be delighted to publish it!
Family memories
The father of this California family had to cancel the first few days of their graduation celebration trip at the last minute due to a work emergency, but he reached out to us clandestinely and we got to work immediately to orchestrate a surprise reunion for the family earlier than expected. It was a truly special and unforgettable moment for everyone involved!
Check out our Facebook page for more special family memories »
A lifelong dream
Rani and Joel from Minnesota fulfilled a bucket list item of learning to dance flamenco while on their extended trip throughout Spain. Together with our flamenco expert Eva (currently offering online experiences!) - who breaks it down and makes this colorful art form truly come alive for our guests - they were able to learn about the music and dance so typical to Andalusia.
Learn more about Eva and other Spain Savvy collaborators »
We thank you in advance for contributing to this exciting project that will see Spain Savvy continue to offer stimulating travel "experiences" for our clients - while staying home and feeling hopeful that one day soon, we WILL travel again.
Oh, and please know that It is NOT lost on us that you might be one of our clients who had to cancel/postpone their trip this year. If that's the case, we want you to know about this new endeavor to keep you excited for your future travels.
Sending you all warm wishes from sunny Spain!
In the Press: Spain Savvy in the time of COVID-19
In the Press: Spain Savvy in the time of COVID-19
First of all, we hope more than anything that this message finds you healthy and safe in the midst of these crazy, scary, turbulent times. We wanted to take a moment to address the current state of world affairs as Spain Savvy navigates the COVID-19 crisis.
February had us traveling in Porto, Portugal on a site visit, meeting partners and sussing out new spots for our clients - we were excited and gearing up for what looked to be one of our best seasons yet. A short month later, the virus hit Europe hard and everything began to change. We had to quickly repatriate some of our clients back to the U.S., and now spend most of our time cancelling plans we so painstakingly put together for clients who reluctantly had to cancel or postpone trips in March, April and May. Each cancellation email that came in over the past few weeks has been a crushing, disappointing blow for us.
We are taking things day by day, admittedly hesitant to make any new plans for summer until we see how this whole crisis unfolds, but holding out hope that by September, things will be somewhat back to normal. We are keeping an eye on the news, conversing with and supporting our partners and collaborators in the industry as best as we can, and preparing for what's to come. This was all very unexpected but we are trying to see it as a challenge to overcome that will make us that much stronger on the other side.
A silver lining to all the disappointments has been the kindness, understanding, and flexibility of all our clients. Despite the unpleasant nature of cancelling trips and everything that goes along with that, we have never felt more supported by those who believe in us and want to see us through these trying times. However difficult these moments have been, they have been moments that have allowed us to really showcase our ability to problem solve and advocate for our clients. We believe there is no better time than now to team up with a travel advisor for your next trip. Read more about the many benefits in this article.
We were grateful to read these words from clients who had to cut their trip short when things started to get hairy here in Spain:
"Sarah and Spain Savvy saved us on our recent trip! We’ve just returned home thanks to Sarah’s efficient rescheduling of our return trip. Can’t say enough good things about this business and Sarah! And it was a great trip. We will definitely be working with Sarah again!"
We have been so touched by so many clients past and present who have reached out to check on us as Spain became one of the focal points of the virus' spread over the past few weeks. Our little family is currently hunkered down at home, homeschooling our three children (ages 9, 7 and 4) and organizing ourselves to get work done as best we can - much like many of you around the world. In this weird time of being confined to our homes, we have our health and we have each other, as well as a good-sized yard for fresh air, and the magical internet for connecting with the outside world. For these things, we are truly grateful.
We have faith that the world will become a safe place to discover again once we get this virus under control and when that happens, we will be here to help you make your dream trip a reality. If you are taking advantage of this life pause to focus on your own travel dreams, don't hesitate to reach out and let us use this down time to put something together for you. We don't even have to put a firm date on it - remember, all our trips are custom-designed and we can tweak as needed once you have the green light to travel and can set actual dates. Spain Savvy is proud to partner with Global Rescue, one of the few international travel insurance firms that offers CFAR ("Cancel For Any Reason") insurance, which we highly recommend all our clients secure for post-COVID travel.
In the meantime, we want to share some online resources with you that might help you do a bit of "armchair travel" while we wait for the travel bans to be lifted.
Our partner in Granada, Molly at Piccavey.com offers a list of 50 Spain books to devour. If you like to read in Spanish, we're spending our down time reading "La Tesis de Nancy", a tongue-in-cheek read about Spanish folklore through the eyes of an American student in Seville in the late 1950s.
Our food tour partner, Devour Tours, offers 32 European recipes to try out in your home kitchen. We could all use a little comfort food right now!
Take a virtual tour of Barcelona's Picasso Museum right here.
Use Google Street View to take in the Alhambra or La Rambla. Here is an article that gives some of Spain's highlights!
Check out "La Casa de Papel", "Élite", or "Tiempos de guerra", all Spain-based Netflix series ripe for a marathon.
Take an on-line beginners' flamenco class via Zoom with our savvy partner Eva!
If you'd like to know what life on COVID lockdown is like in Spain, check out this article from our very own content editor Fiona Flores Watson, recently published in The Guardian.
Keep up on all COVID-related news on The Local or El Pais English edition, or contact us if you have any specific questions.
Above all, stay healthy & safe, stay home whenever possible, and never give up on your travel dreams!
Sarah & the Spain Savvy team
Culture Corner: 4 rainy day ideas for Andalusia
Spring in Andalucia often means rainy days - which are not ideal if you're traveling with kids.
But fear not, we're here to help: these are great ideas for places to see and things to do indoors when the heavens open. From fabulous fish to interactive science exhibits, you'll find something to keep everyone happy, even on rainy days.
ACUARIO DE SEVILLA - SEVILLE AQUARIUM
All kids love seeing animals, and ones which are brightly colored and oddly-shaped are always winners with the younger generation. The Seville Aquarium, located by the river near the Puente de Los Remedios, has 400 marine species in 7,000 creatures, from tiny tree frogs to nurse sharks. TV screens give information about each creature's size, habitat, diet and whether they're in danger of extinction (all information is in both Spanish and English).
Look out for the clown fish (as seen in Finding Dory) and the "nursery" where young sea creatures are kept. On Saturday at midday there are workshops where you can look at coral skeleton, shark skin and baby pipefish (seahorses with long bodies) through a microscope, while if you're there on a Monday or Friday at 1pm, you'll see divers in the shark tank, one of Europe's largest, offering the fearsome beasts some tasty morsels.
Best of all are the jellyfish, extraordinary sea creatures which are 95% water - they float through the water, trailing their tentacles: you can see tiny transparent ones and orange ones which look like nuclear mushroom clouds.
The website has downloadable materials for kids (some with information Spanish, some just for coloring), and you can see plenty of interesting information about the environment - plastic sea pollution and melting polar ice-caps. Visiting the aquarium is a great way to save a rainy day in Seville.
PABELLON DE NAVEGACION - NAVIGATION PAVILION, SEVILLE
Staying with a marine theme, this museum - also located on the riverbank, this time next to Torre Seville (the 145-metre tower just outside the centre) - charts the navigational adventures of Spain's New World sea captains, who sailed across the ocean at risk from pirates, shipwrecks, mutiny and more to discover.
A futuristic sea of LED lights, which fade on and off to simulate waves, greetS you as you arrive. You can see model ships, including the Victoria, flagship of Magellan's fleet which eventually completed the world's first circumnavigation, and historical items from the Spanish conquest of the Americas, such as slave's manacles and an Amazonian headdress. This is a fantastic kid-friendly option for a rainy say in Seville.
The pavilion, which was built for Expo 92 (the Universal Exposition held in Seville in 1992), often houses temporary exhibitions in addition to the permanent collection. Look out for special events during the Magellan fifth centenary celebrations.
PARQUE DE LOS CIENCIAS - SCIENCE PARK, GRANADA
As wondrous as the Alhambra is, kids may find that tiled rooms with arched windows lose their attraction after a while. Promise them a trip to this excellent interactive science park, and they'll be good as gold.
From controlling robots to exploring a mobius strip, there are countless hands-on activities, as well as another aquarium and a geodome, with 250 species including lemurs, otters and toucans - the latter two are very tame, and you can get up close and meet them.
In the section Viaje al Cuerpo Humano (Voyage to the Human Body), you can learn about biomedicine, anatomy, transplants, genetics, and the latest research and scientific discoveries. Biosfera explains about life on our planet - a big ecosystem where diversity and interdependence are key themes.
There is also a planetarium, while temporary exhibitions have included excellent multimedia presentations on robots and music.
Be aware that you need to walk around outdoors to get from one part of the park to another, so umbrellas are advisable if the weather is wet.
MUSEO AUTOMOVILISTICO Y DE LA MODA - AUTOMOBILE AND FASHION MUSEUM, MALAGA
This museum in Malaga's former tobacco factory - the museum capital of Andalucia has countless institutions celebrating everything from art and furniture to wine - has targeted gender stereotypes, with considerable success. We'd recommend this for older children - teenagers ideally.
Car buffs will salivate over the 80-plus classical models - Bugattis, Ferraris, Bentleys and Jaguars, a customised Rolls-Royce - all from the private collection of Portuguese collector Joao Magalhaes, while fashion mavens will love the 200 or so outfits and hats.
Special events such as fashion catwalk shows are often held at the museum - check the upcoming calendar for details.
Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda
Contact us if you'd like us to put together a custom itinerary for you for your next trip - we'll be sure to add some options for rainy days in case that's your fortune!
This is a guest post written exclusively for Spain Savvy by travel journalist and photographer Fiona Flores Watson.
Destination Spotlight: Palaces, ports and pistes of Andalusia
Destination Spotlight: Palaces, ports and pistes of Andalusia
As you may already know, Andalusia is a vastly varied region in terms of geography and landscapes – imagine the finest attributes of Florida, Vermont, Arizona, Montana and California, all packed into an area the size of Maine. You’ve got snow-capped mountains, rolling hills, beaches, lakes, even deserts (the only one in Europe, no less).
So when you’re planning your trip to Spain, be sure to spend at least a week in Andalusia, where you can chill out on a deserted beach, hike through sun-dappled chestnut forests, and stroll around white-cube villages perched picturesquely below Moorish castles. And you can even, if you’re here in winter or early spring, whizz down the pistes. OK, so it’s not Aspen, but where else can you swim in the sea, and then ski – downhill, cross-country or freestyle - on the same day?
Note that each province’s capital city bears the same name –for example Seville city (known as “Sevilla capital”) is the main conurbation of its province, and so on.
Huelva province – beaches, hills, marshland, and ham
Columbus set off from the port of Palos de la Frontera on his voyage to the New World in 1492 – you can visit the historic monastery where Señor Colon stayed while planning his great adventure. Fans of jamón iberíco, made from pure-bred acorn-fed pigs, can meet the beasts in their natural habitat of oak-covered meadows, and then see how the sweet, nutty ham is made. Tiny, ancient villages with steep cobbled streets in the Sierra de Aracena take you back in time to the era of communal outdoor laundry areas and stone wheat-threshing circles, while Huelva’s pristine beaches are a well-kept 21st-century secret – at El Rompido, you can take a boat over to a long, narrow, uninhabited island with golden sand and turquoise waters. The wild-west town of El Rocío, next to birdwatcher’s heaven Doñana park, has sandy streets and posts outside the bars to tie up your horse.
See also: Best beaches in Andalusia and El Rocío pilgrimage
Seville province – Roman ruins, baroque architecture, traditional pastries
Venture beyond the eponymous city (best time to visit: spring and autumn) and you’ll find stunning baroque cities such as Osuna (where, like in Sevilla capital, Game of Thrones was filmed) and Ecija. Explore the Roman ruins of Itálica (host to the GoT’s last-ever scene) and Carmona, where a vast Moorish fortress is one of the most impressive paradors (state-run hotels). In Estepa, almond and honey cookies are a centuries-old specialty, as well as superb olive oil. For aniseed liqueur and good wines, head to the Sierra Norte, while Morón and Utrera are the cradle of true cante jondo flamenco.
See also: Feria de Abril (Seville Spring Fair), Semana Santa in Seville, and 6 Gifts with an Andalusian flavor
Cadiz province – kite-surfing, white villages, seafood and sherry
The crazy, fancy-dress spectacle of Cádiz carnival, with its satirical singing groups and flocks of priest-frocked and diapered revelers, is not for the faint-hearted; the rest of the year, it’s a charming seaside city which was chosen as one of New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2019 (must try: tortilla de camarones, or shrimp fritters). A short hop away is Jerez, home to sherry, fortified wine made in vast “wine cathedrals” (foodies: bag a table at nearby three-Michelin-star pescatarian‘s delight Aponiente), while Bolonia is a laid-back beach town with a massive sand dune, and Tarifa is the draw for kite-surfing dudes – and jumping-off point for Morocco, a one-hour boat trip across the Straits of Gibraltar. White towns like Arcos, Vejer and Medina Sidonia still feel like African settlements, while Grazalema has superb hiking high above emerald-green lakes.
See also: Best beaches in Andalucia, Colourful Cadiz and 6 Christmas gifts with an Andalusian flavor
Cordoba – Moorish architecture, wine
Smaller than Seville, but just as charming, Cordoba city has the religious-architectural curiosity of a cathedral inside a mosque – La Mezquita. Over 800 columns of marble and jasper were designed to transport you to a forest; other delights here include flower-bedecked patios and paradisical gardens with fountains and pools at the Alcazar palace. Outside the capital, Medina Azahara is a ruined hillside city built by Moorish Caliph Abderraman III as the magnificent heart of his kingdom, originally boasting golden fountains and exquisite carvings – it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2018. Moving to other worldly pleasures, Montilla-Moriles is a yet-to-be-discovered area which produces unusual fortified wines (golden, nutty amontillado sherry originated here).
This video has an excellent CGI recreation of Madinat Al-Zahra
Granada – hilltop palace, unspoiled mountains, winter and water sports
Of course, no one should visit Andalusia without seeing the wondrous Alhambra, the Nasrid palace whose rich interiors are bedecked with jewel-colored ceramic tiles and intricate painted stucco; pools whose reflections are a work of art, and the rest of this magical city with a strong Moorish-Jewish heritage. Discover the literary legacy of Spain’s most-lamented poet, Federico Garcia Lorca; drive up to the Sierra Nevada, Spain’s most southerly ski resort; snake around terraced slopes of the Alpujarra mountains whose villages bear exotic names - Capileira and Pampaneira; and wonderful beaches on the “Costa Tropical” with marine adventures galore, from scuba-diving to sailing.
See also: The Lemon Tree Retreat near Loja and Best beaches in Andalusia
Málaga - museums, beach resorts, shopping
The family-friendly resorts, golden sandy beaches and warm, gentle waters of Malaga’s Costa del Sol are famous throughout the world, as are the glitzy clubs, designer boutiques and super-yachts of Marbella, Puerto Banús and Sotogrande. The city of Malaga itself is a cultural hub, with countless museums and chiringuitos (beach restaurants) – try the espeto (barbequed sardines). When you leave the coast behind and go inland, it gets more low-key: rural vineyards on slopes (stop for a tasting), raisins drying in the sun, and avocado fields in the rugged Axarquia hills. Lake Viñuela is a storybook sight, cerulean waters backed by tree-covered peaks and azure sky, and nearby Vélez Málaga is one of those perfect small-scale, manageable towns with a lively cultural scene and stunning architecture. The pretty coves near Nerja present an alternative type of coast.
See also: Best beaches in Andalusia
Almería - virgin beaches, mini Hollywood, desert
The most south-easterly point of Spain, Almeria feels cut off from the rest of Andalucia, and closer to Africa. The capital has a magnificent Alcazaba (fortress) which perches proudly above the city looking out to sea. While a desert may not be the most obvious choice of holiday destination, Tabernas featured in Game of Thrones (remember those Dothraki horses thundering across the valley?), and has two quirky Hollywood film sets, complete saloon bars and shoot-outs. with Beach bunnies will love Cabo de Gata’s remote beaches - no mod cons (toilets, showers or chiringuitos), and sometimes a walk away from the car park.
See also: Best beaches in Andalusia and Destination Spotlight: Mojácar, Almeria
Jaen - olives, Renaissance architecture, national parks
This province is all about one thing: olives. It produces more olive oil annually than the whole of Italy. Jinense producers – Castillo de Canena, Oro Bailen, Oro del Desierto - regularly sweep all the international EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) prizes. Popular olive types include picual, arbequina and hojiblanca – at cutting-edge Terra Oleum museum in Mengibar, you can learn more about this so-called “liquid gold”, and do a tasting. Two Renaissance gems, Ubeda and its smaller neighbor Baeza, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, boast impressive buildings; a highlight is the Palacio de Jabalquinto in Baeza. For nature-lovers, Cazorla Park is a haven of wildlife.
See also: 6 Christmas gifts with an Andalusian flavor
Spain Savvy travel programs: the Best of Andalucia
This is a guest post written exclusively for Spain Savvy by travel journalist and photographer Fiona Flores Watson.
Spain Savvy Partners: An authentic experience in Seville
Spain Savvy Partners: An authentic experience in Seville
Have a real, authentic experience with Spain Savvy
Here at Spain Savvy, we promise that you will have the most rewarding and authentic experience in Spain.
While you’re in Seville, we want you to feel that you’re really getting under the skin of the place, meeting the locals, and understanding what makes the city tick, from gastronomy to flamenco dancing. In addition, we want you to feel comfortable and right at home, so you that can have a relaxed meal in your apartment, or go out to eat knowing that your children are in safe hands.
With this in mind, we offer extra services that will offer you an authentic experience while you are staying in Seville, so that you can enjoy the best home-cooking in your own private space; learn to speak useful Spanish – out and about, rather than in a classroom; take a flamenco dance class (complete with outfit); have professional photos taken in a stunning Sevillano setting, capturing perfect memories of your trip with friends or family; and enjoy a night out while your children are happily entertained.
Meet our collaborators who make it happen in Seville. We know all of these people personally, and have used their services for years.
The chef: Eva Cepero, Chef at Home Svq
What Eva offers:
Professional chef Eva will come to your rental apartment and prepare any meal that you want: breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even brunch. Perhaps you are staying in Seville with a group of friends, or for a special family occasion or anniversary. You can enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, with Spanish and Andalusian dishes, in the comfort of your own apartment – Eva will bring all the ingredients, cook them to order in your kitchen, and then you can dine on her delicious food – for example salmorejo, paella and fresh fruit salad – in a relaxed atmosphere.
Eva says: “The best thing about my job is when I see happy, satisfied clients - I want my clients to feel at home, thanks to the food I serve them. I can offer any meal, but I especially love cooking breakfast and brunch – laying out all that fresh, colourful food. I ask them what they want – porridge, eggs any style - and then when they come in to eat, and see the table, they say “Wow, that looks amazing!”
The Spanish teacher: Cristina Expósito, LaCasa Sevilla Cultural Experiences and Language Classes
What Cristina offers:
As a Spanish teacher with ten years of experience, Cristina is used to working with all levels of knowledge, from the most basic beginner, up to advanced. But most importantly, she wants you to learn phrases which you can put to immediate use. Tailoring each private class to your own needs, she can come to your apartment, meet you in a café, or take you out to a local Seville food market, where you’ll learn how to order fresh produce from the stallholders yourself. Before you know it, you'll be doing your own shopping: "Can I get half a kilo of tomatoes?" "How much are those oranges?"
Cristina says: “What I love most about my work is how personal I can make the classes, to fit each student. I like to find out their interests, how I can help them improve their Spanish, if this is their first visit to Seville. For me, every student is like a friend, and I am here to help them during their stay in the city. After all, I’m not just their teacher, I can also help them in many other things such as giving recommendations, and telling them about Seville’s culture and history.”
The flamenco instructor: Eva Izquierdo, I Show U Sevilla
What Eva offers:
Outfitted with your flippy skirt and clicky heels, fringed shawl and a flower in your hair (men can get dressed up too), you’re all set to start your flamenco dance class with Eva. Featured in Rick Steves Spain, this exuberant Trianera has been dancing since she was seven years old, and discovered her passion for teaching flamenco by chance while studying in Germany. Thanks to her enthusiasm for the Andalusian dance with its complex rhythms, you’ll soon have all the right moves for a simple routine - she specializes in teaching beginners. She can also take you out to the best Triana bars for seeing flamenco, where her friends perform live. There is no more authentic experience than this one!
Eva says: “I love teaching beginners - I want them to have fun learning the basic flamenco moves and footwork. I want them to understand flamenco, to appreciate it and to fall in love with it. If I can make a difference in their lives, that makes my day!”
The photographers: Sara Fisel and Arancha Morera, Picture Perfect Seville
These days we all come back from our vacation with reams of photos on our smartphones. But what about a set of professional portraits in a beautiful location – a park, or historic building – with Seville’s reliably azure-blue sky? This is a beautiful, timeless memory of your holiday in Spain celebrating with your friends or family that can be posted on your Social Media channels, gifted to relatives, or take pride of place in your living room, to keep the Spanish sunshine shining into your home. Together Sara, who hails from Indiana, and Madrileña Arancha, offer stunning forever keepsakes to keep alive those memories of your wonderful vacation in Seville.
Sara and Arancha say: “As photographers, we love working with visitors to Seville to create beautiful images which they can take home with them and treasure. It's so rewarding to see people engage with these historic and stunning surroundings. Plus, as we're both English-speakers, we can communicate easily on the shoot, making it a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone!"
The family entertainer for a true authentic experience: Chio Lopez-Alonso
What Chio offers:
As a bilingual professional, Chio has 20 years of experience working with children as a stage school director, crafting designer and sitter, including three summers spent on the East Coast with American families (and as our personal go-to sitter). She is an energetic and creative person who your kids will fall in love with, as she gets them playing games, doing crafts, and ensuring that they feel safe and happy, so that you can feel confident in leaving them and going out for dinner with your grown-up family group, or for that much-needed date night with your significant other. Having your children spend time with a local child-minder, or even some other local Spanish children, is a wonderful way to have them live their very own authentic experience.
Chio says: “I have always connected with children, thanks to my lively and happy personality and my creativity. I love being with children because they’re so authentic and full of life. Every day I work with them is a unique experience – I learn so much from them, and I express my thanks for the happiness they bring me by showing my affection."
Contact us today so we can design a custom itinerary for you with some (or all!) of these authentic experiences!
Culture Corner: Seville's 500th circumnavigation anniversary
Culture Corner: Seville's 500th circumnavigation anniversary
Magellan’s Molluca Fleet: Circumnavigation
Five hundred years ago, a fleet of five ships with 245 men on board, led by Portuguese mariner Ferdinand Magellan, set off from Seville. Their goal? To find a new trading route to the Molluca Islands, in modern-day Indonesia. They ended up making the first circumnavigation of the globe.
These islands were famed in medieval times for their spices. Back in the 16th century, dealing in such highly-valued luxuries as nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and saffron was vastly profitable, although risky due to risky oceanic ventures.
Magellan knew that the islands lay to the east of Iberia. But the Portuguese had already claimed the eastern trade routes, so the only possibility was to sail westwards. King Carlos V of Spain agreed to fund the expedition
Three years later, in 1522, only one ship returned - the Nao Victoria, with just 18 men, captained by Juan Sebastian Elcano. Magellan had died in the Philippines. The remaining few stalwart men had sailed around the world for the first time, discovering the Magellan Straits and making the maiden crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
One of the survivors was a Venetian, Antonio Pigafetta, whose detailed journal provided a huge amount of information about every aspect of the voyage, from the weather conditions, to the mood among the crew.
See their exact route, complete with snippets about sailing conditions, ports of call and dates, here.
The 5th centenary of this historic voyage, 1519-1522, is being celebrated in Seville with exhibitions, full-sized replicas, routes and other events.
Circumnavigation Visitor Center
The best way to start off your own Magellan explorations of Seville is at the new visitor center, Espacio de la Primer Vuelta al Mundo (First World Circumnavigation Center), appropriately located by the river Guadalquivir, close to where the ships set off.
This small but informative center explains the historic context and purpose of the voyages, with images of Seville at the time, how the ships were built, and fascinating details about each vessel – its weight, value (in maravedis), and the number of crew, as well as their nationalities. A small scale model of the Nao Victoria, its sails emblazoned with the cross of Santiago, holds pride of place.
Apart from Spain and Portugal, the five crews came from eight other countries: Belgium, Holland, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, and England – Chief Gunner Andrew from Bristol was responsible for firing the cannons on Nao Trinidad, Magellan's ship.
The center's long main gallery shows a map of the voyage, from Spain to South America, and across the Pacific to Australia and Asia, with relevant snippets for each country, such as where and how Magellan met his fate. The exhibit paints a live picture of the world's first circumnavigation.
You get the feel of the oceans with their surges and swells, thanks to films shown on huge TV screens, as well as video loops on smaller porthole-shaped screens showing sailors climbing the rigging on a latter-day RTW voyage.
Read about the hardships, from hunger to disease; which instruments they used to navigate; the common misconceptions regarding world geography back then – the oceans aren’t connected, the Pacific is a small sea - and how this voyage shattered them.
Children will enjoy collecting an ink stamp in each section, to add to their “First Trip Around the World” passport.
A full-size replica of the Nao Victoria, built for the Seville World’s Fair 1992 and the first historical replica to circumnavigate the earth, will be moored outside the centre from January 2020.
More maritime marvels
If you’re interested in finding out more about Spain’s sea-faring adventures, pop across the river to the Pabellon de Navegación (the Navigation Pavilion) near the Torre Sevilla, a ship-like space with an exhibition themed around life on board, with plenty of interactive exhibits and games, plus some great animated films.
Further down river, towards the modern port, the Seville Aquarium has sea life displays from the route taken by Magellan’s fleet.
Other events and activities in Seville
You can also follow a route through the centre of Seville themed around Magellan, which takes in important locations such as the Archivo de Indias (then the trading house),a key location where all imported produce was registered on arrival; and the Plaza de Contratación, next to the Alcázar, and formerly home to the Casa de Contratación, centre for maritime research, navigation and map-making, and from where naval expeditions were organised; as well as many other interesting locations.
At the Archivo de Indias you can see two exhibitions – El Viaje Mas Largo (The Longest Voyage, on till February 2020), with documents relating to the voyage, and showing the human side of this great adventure.
The other, entitled Nuestra Isla de la Especias (Our Spice Island, on till 31 March 2020) shows works by 20 artists who spent time aboard the Swiss sailing ship, Fleur de Passion. This 33-meter vessel also completed a round-the-world voyage, returning to Seville this month. Following Magellan’s route - which took four and a half years - its combined cultural, socio-educational and scientific role included "mapping" the state of the ocean - researching environmental damage to marine life, while also hosting disadvantaged youngsters, who helped with projects such as collecting microplastics and observing coral.
Every Sunday until 24 November, you can enjoy free family activities (in Spanish) such as storytelling and treasure hunts in Parque Magallanes (Magellan Park), between Torre Seville and the river. Find out more here.
You can also see regattas on the river, concerts and plays themed around the voyage in Seville. Get more details here.
The V Centenary around Spain and Portugal
A program of events is also taking place in Sanlucar de Barrameda in Cadiz, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river. This was the fleet’s final stopping point on mainland Spain before sailing across the ocean.
To find out what's happening in other cities around Spain and Portugal, see the V Centenario 1a Vuelta Al Mundo website.
Contact us today if you're interested in learning more about local history with your own custom Spain Savvy itinerary.
In the Press: Spain Savvy at Emotions
Spain Savvy announces participation in Emotions Travel Community
Spain Savvy has recently confirmed its participation as an exhibitor in the exclusive travel industry event, EMOTIONS TRAVEL COMMUNITY, to be held in Seville this November 10-13, 2019. The European edition of this event will be held in Seville for the next three years. Other editions are held annually in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Emotions Sevilla 2019 will gather the best European luxury travel suppliers (luxury hotels, lifestyle, independent and boutique hotels, unique travel experiences and selected tailor made DMCs) and luxury travel buyers from around the world. Exhibitors and buyers work hard to bring happiness to their customers, sharing the same values embraced by Emotions.
The following, from the Emotions mission statements, have particularly drawn us to this community:
“We are restless. We move because moving keeps us alive. We are women who follow our dreams and who work every day with happiness. Our job is to connect journeys with travelers, our community with happy new experiences. We believe that generating a shared and happy workspace helps build strong, honest and lasting business relationships; the kind of relationships that contribute to creating a community. We enjoy and celebrate sharing the love we deliver in every detail. In each step we take, in each city, we look for new stories and new friends. We believe this is the best way to strengthen trustful relationships and to generate great opportunities. We are women who work to put happiness in motion.”
- Emotions is eco-friendly, green and plastic free, trying to use as many sustainable and recyclable materials as possible.
- Emotions is full of heart-crafted details, giving great importance to design, art and style. Their motto is simplicity, preferring functional and simple working spaces to big booths, banners and signs.
- Emotions is ”The Happiest Event in the Travel Industry” to do business, creating a happy and cozy working environment for the community.
Spain Savvy looks forward to becoming an integral part of the Emotions community!
Fave Properties: The Lemon Tree Retreat: A family-friendly Andalusian hotel
The Lemon Tree Retreat: A Family-Friendly Hotel in Spain's Deep Country
We recently had the opportunity to discover El Amparo, aka The Lemon Tree Retreat in the Axarquia mountains of Granada province.
This small luxury bed and breakfast is run by expats Nick, who is British, and Aussie Jody, together with their stellar local staff members - they proved to be the friendliest and warmest of hosts.
This region is still untouched by tourism and you can experience authentic rural Spain, while still being close enough to visit Seville, Granada or Córdoba. The must-see Alhambra Palace in Granada is just an hour away.
We were really amazed with just how above and beyond Nick, Jody and Ilu go to make sure their guests have everything they need, and above all, are happy. They arranged for our children to ride the local pony, and were very attentive hosts, always asking if we'd like a drink.
Our family suite, the Rosado, had plenty of space for the entire Spain Savvy family (our three kids each had their own bed!) and a nice walk-in shower. Bedding (hand-stiched with lemons, of course) was super comfortable and the overall design of the rooms was aesthetically pleasing. Jody has done a very nice job refurbishing and decorating the house, which has just eight rooms and suites, respecting traditional elements while infusing more modern amenities.
We had arranged to have dinner upon arrival, which proved to be perfectly chosen for both age groups. The kids were thrilled with their yummy pizza and ice-cream, while we had a delicious caramelized onion and goat cheese tart followed by oven-baked sea bass. Dessert was a to-die-for apple crumble with vanilla ice-cream! Breakfast, prepared fresh each morning by Ilu, featured local muffins, freshly-baked breads, a fruit spread and more, and was simply outstanding, with impeccable service.
Besides the pony, the kids absolutely loved splashing around in the hotel's pool and lounging on the large sunbeds. We also had a nice walk in the surrounding countryside, searching for our favorite wildflowers and insects.
Nick and Jody are committed to showing their guests the best of this area, nestled in the mountainous Axarquia region that bridges both Málaga and Granada provinces. The hotel offers amazing local experiences, like visits to the local goat's cheese farm, guided olive oil tastings, and more. They also specialize in events and have hosted quite a few weddings on their property.
We explored the town of Alhama de Granada and had a good lunch at Restaurante La Placeta - typical of this area is the choto frito or choto al ajillo (fried young goat, usually prepared with lots of garlic). We also visited the thermal baths at the nearby balneario and checked out the tiny village that The Lemon Tree pertains to - Santa Cruz del Comercio. Our kids were amazed to discover that there are only 25 children in the village's entire primary school - the same number of kids as in just one of their classes! Now that's #pueblolife redefined!
The Lemon Tree is only just over an hour's drive from the coast, so on our way there we stopped at La Cala del Cañuelo, a remote cove just outside Nerja. It was a lovely beach and we were lucky that the local bar offered us a ride down the steep cliffs to the cove and then back up again, as it would have been quite the difficult walk! If you go to this beach, make sure you have lunch at El Paraíso del Cañuelo - we recommend the fresh, catch-of-the-day grilled fish.
If you're interested in a rural stay, in off-the-beaten-path southern Spain, let us set you up at The Lemon Tree - you and your family won't be disappointed!
In the Press: Obama sprinkles stardust on Seville tourism conference (and Spain Savvy)
The following is a guest post written exclusively for Spain Savvy by travel journalist Fiona Flores Watson
Tourism’s most important annual event, the WTTC Global Summit (GS), took place here in Seville last week, April 2-4.
The conference is known as the “Davos of Tourism”, such is the high caliber of the attendees, and its international agenda. It was attended by global leaders including two former presidents, Barack Obama and Felipe Calderon (of Mexico), as well as over 1000 top industry professionals.
Spain Savvy was naturally among the delegates at this key event, to find out about new developments and innovations related to our work, and to network with international contacts, all to ensure that we can continue offering the best service to you, our clients.
POSSIBLE DIRECT AIR ROUTES FROM US TO SEVILLE
One of the most exciting developments to emerge from the GS was two possible new airline routes from the US to our southern Spanish city. While such routes have been mentioned previously, with no concrete results, it’s now a step closer to reality that Seville may get a direct link to New York and/or Miami. We can’t confirm this yet, but rest assured that as soon as either (or both) route is confirmed, we will be the first to let you know.
BARACK OBAMA IN SEVILLE
The headline speaker at the conference was Barack Obama. The 44th US President had been scheduled to visit Seville back in July 2016, but his trip to Spain was cut short by the Dallas shootings. So to have him speaking at the conference was a source of great local pride here in Seville, where he was awaited with great anticipation.
Mr. Obama visited the Reales Alcazares, the Royal Palace where Christopher Columbus signed his contract with Queen Isabella of Spain before setting off on his voyage to the New World in 1492. More recently, the palace was used to shoot scenes from TV series Game of Thrones. The “Water Gardens of Dorne” boasted resplendent gold ceilings, tiled walls, and pavilions.
Before his speech at the GS, Spain Savvy founder and managing director Sarah Gemba met the former POTUS. AS Seville’s premier American tourist agency, she offered her services to Mr. Obama on his next trip to Spain.
FAMILY GUY
Starting off his conversation with Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta, Mr. Obama had some high praise for Seville, describing it as “spectacular and beautiful”.
Mr. Obama talked about the rewards of travel, especially with family: “There’s something spectacular about seeing a new place, experiencing a different culture, being exposed to new ideas. Travel makes you grow. As a parent, when you’re able to watch that sense of discovery in your children’s eyes, that’s more special than anything else.” We couldn’t agree more.
On visiting cultural sites, the former president said: “Part of diplomacy is letting other people know that you recognize them. That you appreciate their culture and stories and history and memories. When people feel as if they’re known and understood and seen, then they’re more open to your perspectives as well. It’s true in individuals and in nations.”
Diversity has always been a subject close to President Obama’s heart. “One of the benefits of the travel industry is to remind people both of the incredible value of the diversity of this planet, and the differences we have… Travel also reminds us of what we share and what we have in common.”
FIT FOR A KING
Mr. Obama stayed at the Alfonso XIII hotel, a magnificent and iconic building constructed for the 1929 World Fair by the then King of Spain, as an appropriately regal residence for his family.
The hotel’s gourmet alfresco restaurant is named after the King’s English wife, Ena, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
Several sumptuous suites in the hotel include the Royal Alfonso XIII suite and the Reales Alcazares Suite. The hotel’s facilities include an outdoor (seasonal) swimming pool, an elegant cocktail bar, and a gourmet food shop offering cooking classes, food tours and wine tastings.
PRESIDENTIAL PICKINGS
Mr. Obama’s restaurant of choice to dine after his appearance at the conference was Bache San Pedro, located on Plaza Cristo de Burgos in the Alfalfa neighborhood. Owner Ale Alcántara, a native of the coastal city of Cadiz, has trained with Michelin-starred chefs Martin Bersategui and Jordi Arola.
Emphasis is on fresh seasonal local ingredients, especially seafood from the Cadiz coast and cheese from the sierra: dishes include pork crackling with Payoyo cheese and achiote sauce, and sea anenome saam with wakame, spring onion and olives.
SEVILLE ON SCREEN
At the same time as the conference in Seville, a parallel event took place honoring a close friend of the former POTUS, also attended by Spain Savvy founder Sarah Gemba.
James Costos, former US Ambassador to Spain, who had been a senior film executive previous to his diplomatic post, was named Honorary Ambassador by the Spain Film Commission. Costos helped to bring a number of large-scale productions to Spain during his 2013-2017 tenure, including the massively successful Game of Thrones TV series. As well as both being keen hispanophiles, Spain Savvy’s founder and Mr. Costos both hail from Massachusetts.