Mark's 65th Birthday Spain Extravaganza!

Don't worry about getting chilly, our trips are scheduled in the warm months ensuring maximum warmth and sunshine! Temperatures will vary from warm to hot depending on your chosen travel month and itinerary stop. In Madrid we can expect temperatures in the high 80's and 90's Fahrenheit (low-mid 30's Celsius) during the day, while Bilbao tends to stay milder, in the high 70's and low 80's Fahrenheit (mid-high 20's Celsius) thanks to its coastal Basque climate. Maspalomas stays warm and sunny throughout, generally in the high 70's to mid 80's Fahrenheit (mid-high 20's Celsius), with the Atlantic breeze keeping things comfortable. That said, weather can sometimes be unpredictable so it's always good to pack a "just in case" outfit for the odd rainy day, especially in Bilbao.

We REALLY suggest just bringing your regular bank card from home and using the ATMs in Spain to get cash; in our experience it's cheaper than any currency exchange service in Spain or even at home. Spain uses the Euro as their local currency and shops/restaurants do not accept US dollars so once you arrive into Madrid airport you should stock up on some Euro cash. Credit cards are widely accepted in Spain so it's good to bring one on your trip too. Travelers checks are a thing of the past so we don't recommend them any more.

It can sometimes be challenging to use large-denomination bills at shops and restaurants, so we encourage you to request small denomination bills when getting cash prior to your trip.

If possible, it's always a good idea to travel internationally with a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. The savings will add up over the course of your trip and may end up being worth the work of getting a new card prior to your trip. Once you're overseas, if presented with the option to pay in the local currency or your home currency, we suggest always choosing the local currency to further avoid fees.

Who doesn't like Spanish food?! Think Mediterranean favorites such as paella, and unique tapas served on perfect people-watching patios. In Bilbao, you'll get to experience the Basque take on tapas known as pintxos, bite-sized creations often pinned together with a toothpick and just as much about presentation as flavor. Spanish people love taking long breaks ("siesta hours") in the afternoon when they'll close up shops for a couple hours to grab a bite with friends. This is a perfect time to indulge in some afternoon tapas and a glass of sangria (or, once we reach Maspalomas, a cold glass of local Canarian wine paired with papas arrugadas). Detours doesn't believe in limiting your choices by including all of your meals at pre-decided restaurants as part of the trip package. Instead, we include all of your breakfasts to start your day off, then we explore all of the different restaurant options available for lunch and dinner, with some lunches and dinners included on this trip. This way we can eat when we want, where we want, and spend what we want! Your trip leader definitely has their favorite spots so if you'd like some advice on the best in each location, just check with them.

Our advice is simple. Pack your bag, then take half of those things out and leave them back home. It’s common to hear people wishing they’d packed less stuff, but we’ve never heard anyone complain that they didn’t bring enough. Even if you realize you forget to pack some crucial item you can always pick up a replacement once you arrive in Spain. Just make sure to review the climate section above and remember that our trips are run in a casual style so you can leave your tuxedos at home. We'll include some trip-specific packing advice based on expected weather as part of our update email to you, sent 10 days prior to your trip.

While tipping isn't a native custom in this destination, those working in the tourism industry all over the world have come to expect gratuities when providing good service.  This extends to local guides, restaurant wait staff, bus drivers, and your Detours trip leader.  Of course the actual amount is left up to your discretion, if you've been provided excellent service we suggest leaving around 15% for restaurant/wait staff as well as the local equivalent of a few dollars to bus drivers and luggage porters, as well as around $10-15 USD per day for local guides and your Detours trip leader.

We have pretty high standards when it comes to choosing our accommodations, and trust us, we’ve done plenty of room-sniffing, pillow-patting, bed-jumping and bathroom inspections to make sure we stay at quality spots. To be approved as a Detours accommodations provider, a hotel/guesthouse must: be locally owned (to support the local community), be in an amazing location (close to the beach or other hot spots), AND be gay-owned or gay-friendly. We won't be staying in 5-star Ritz-Carltons but we also won't subject you to anything we wouldn't want to stay in ourselves. Clean, comfortable, well-located spots that'll put a smile on your face, you can count on that!

All Detours trips are led by one of our own Detours trip leaders.  They're there with you every day and their job is to help ensure that this is your trip of a lifetime by taking the hassle out of your trip and enabling you to experience everything you came to Spain for.  Consider them like a friendly concierge that's traveling along with you.  All of our trip leaders are gay and all are well-traveled and experienced in the destination they're leading in, so they'll be a great part of your experience!

We do absolutely everything possible to avoid needing such a mundane awakening. A world without alarm clocks is one we want to be part of, and your “rise and shine” while in Spain should come from the sound of crashing waves or church bells in the distance. However, sometimes due to current train or flight schedules we are required to make early departures, but we do everything we can to minimize this.

This trip is a private group of Mark's closest friends, gathered to celebrate his birthday together in Spain. Rather than joining complete strangers, you'll be traveling with Mark's chosen family, which means the fun starts before you even land. A Detours trip leader will still be on hand throughout to make sure everything runs smoothly, from logistics to local know-how, so the group can just focus on celebrating Mark and having the time of your lives. It's the same seamless Detours experience, just tailored for your crew.

Spain uses a "type C" and "type F" plug, the same as most European countries and several other places in the world. The voltage is 230V with 50 Hz frequency. These days, the majority of items that are plugged into an outlet are built to handle varying voltage and frequency levels, but just to be sure, we suggest checking your item for its accetable range.

To ensure you don't lose connection along the way, your cell phone provider likely has several roaming options available.  We suggest reaching out to them prior to the trip to find out which package is right for you as it will depend on how much you intend to use your phone while traveling.  Keep in mind that all accommodation and most restaurants have free WiFi available as well.