Barcelona has banned all passenger ships from its central port effective October 22, sending them instead to terminals farther from the popular La Rambla district.

The new regulation, designed to control cruise ship emissions, will send smaller ships from AIDA Cruises, Azamara, Oceania, Regent and Virgin to the Moll Adossat Pier, where large ships dock. Passengers then will have to take a 30-minute shuttle ride.

Barcelona also has cut the number of cruise ships that can visit its ports at one time, from 10 to 7.

The move follows protests against tourism by Barcelona residents over the past six years.

“The closure of the Barcelona northern docks for cruise operations is a new step to comply with the agreement signed in 2018 with the Barcelona municipal government to eliminate the negative impact that this activity could produce for citizens,” said Lluís Salvado, president of the Port of Barcelona.

While many cities have been looking to cut the number of ships arriving on their shores, business owners in Palma, Majorca, this month called on the government to scrap the cruise ship limits set there. They cited an 18% fall in passengers since legislation limited cruise ships to three a day.

“Don’t demonize cruise ship passengers, it is family tourism with a high spending power,” eight local business organizations, including bar and restaurant owners, shopkeepers and tour guides, said in a statement.

Tourism has returned to Spain in a massive wave of visitors to Barcelona. In response to complaints about overtourism, municipal authorities in Barcelona have taken new measures seeking to crack down on tour companies Read the rest of this entry »

As the European country with the oldest consistent borders, Portugal is a multivariate experience. The cultural influences brought on by this 900 years of existence have added to the flavor of Portugal. And, though a smaller nation, it is busting at the seams with a lively culture and sublime scenery for the traveler to explore.

They say the stomach is the window to happiness, and Portugal is well on its way to being the perfect portal. The cafes and restaurants that line the streets are well known around the world for their culinary treats. These are often simple and delicious dishes: fresh baked bread with olive oil or cheese, or both smooth red wines and crisp, green wines (vinho verde). But, far more often, Portuguese dishes feature Read the rest of this entry »

Wholesale tour operator Avanti Destinations has teamed with the Tourist Office of Spain to educate and inspire advisors and their clients on customized independent travel to Spain. Avanti sells custom independent (FIT) travel exclusively through travel advisors.

The new joint campaign focuses on the key cities of Barcelona, Madrid and Seville with three customizable suggested vacations – two are new — in a new 24-page e-brochure, “La  Buena Vida; Savor the Good Life in Spain”, available on Avanti’s agent portal at https://www.flipsnack.com/779977E569B/visit-spain.html .

In addition to descriptions of destinations, a sample of hotels and activities, such as cooking classes, the e-brochure gives advisors helpful information for planning independent travel to and around Spain, including the best times to visit, typical food and drink, and transportation options.  Clients can choose a self-drive vacation for maximum flexibility or take advantage of Spain’s efficient rail system, especially its network of high-speed trains, to connect destinations quickly and conveniently.

Travel advisors can easily tailor each client’s vacation to suit specific interests and preferences selecting from a total of over 180 hotels, 13 recommended vacations, and more than 100 activities, transfers, tours, and experiences that Avanti offers throughout Spain.  Experiences described in the e-brochure include: a paella cooking class with a market visit; wine cellar tour; all-day excursion to Spain’s picturesque medieval capital of Toledo; private walking and driving city tours; tapas walking tour; and flamenco and tapas dinner.

“Spain is, and justifiably has long been, one of our best-selling European destinations,” said Paul Barry, Avanti’s CEO. “With milder winter temperatures and plenty of sunshine all year, it also has a rich diversity of food, culture, history, and landscapes. That makes it a perfect one-country destination for custom-tailored independent vacations.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Tourist Office of Spain on this campaign.  We also highly recommend that advisors encourage clients to book now in order to lock in current pricing since transportation costs are rising and likely to continue doing so,” added Barry.

Two new customizable independent vacations – one self-drive, the other by rail

Of the three vacations described in the e-brochure, two are new.  One new itinerary is by rental car, the other by rail. Rental car segments can be added to any rail itinerary to explore more of the surrounding areas, and rail can be substituted for rental car to travel quickly between cities.

• NEW Spanish Heritage (self-drive): 7 days/6 nights self-drive vacation staying in Madrid, Toledo, and Segovia (home to a Roman aqueduct and historic city center), with suggested stops in the medieval walled city of Avila and the royal monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial. Includes: private tapas walking tour in Madrid, private walking tour of Toledo with local guide, plus entrance to the cathedral and synagogue; car rental; choice of hotel accommodations; daily breakfast.
• NEW Culture and Tradition (by rail) –9 days/8 nights vacation staying in Madrid and the Andalusian cities of Cordoba, Seville and Granada, all showing the cultural and culinary influence of 700 years of Arab rule.  Includes: private Madrid tour by car; three-course restaurant dinner in Madrid; walking tour in Cordoba, the largest city in Europe in the 10^th century when it was the capital of the Moors; flamenco performance and tapas dinner at a private home in Seville; 24-hour hop-on/hop-off Seville city sightseeing tour; private Alhambra Palace walking tour in Granada; arrival and departure transfers (private or shared) in Madrid; rail travel between cities; choice of hotel accommodations; daily breakfast.

For additional information on booking unique experiences and custom-built, multi-destination FIT travel 365 days a year to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and South America, log onto the travel agent portal https://book.avantidestinations.com or call Avanti Destinations at 1-800-422-5053 to speak with an expert travel specialist.