Planning a bank holiday trip during your year abroad in Spain

One of the (many) perks of going to Spain on a year abroad is the sheer amount of bank holidays they have, made even sweeter by the fact that they can fall on any day of the week, as opposed to English ones which tend to be on a Monday. This means that, if there’s a bank holiday on a Tuesday, most people will opt to take a long, four-day weekend and university professors, knowing this, might give you the Monday off too! Taking advantage of the fact that there were two bank holidays in the same week in early December, I decided to plan a five-day trip to the Spanish capital with some friends and loved every minute of it. Here’s how you can do it too!

Transport is arguably the first consideration to take into account – how exactly are you going to get to your destination? When traveling in Spain, the cheapest options are either by train or coach. My friends and I opted for the coach, booking tickets with Alsa, the leading road transport operator in Spain, which offers discounts for under 25s and Black Friday deals, with destinations all over the country. If you want to travel by rail, the Renfe (Spanish national railway) website is where it’s at; they also offer discounts for under 25s. You might also want to check out Trainline to ensure you get the best price possible – it’s also always a good idea to book early in advance.

In terms of accommodation, there are a few options available: my friends and I managed to find a particularly cheap Airbnb in the east of Madrid, but other sites like Booking.com also have a wide range of options, including affordable hostels – which can also be found on Hostelworld. It’s important to do this in advance and take your time comparing prices in order to get the best deal possible!

When planning your itinerary, it’s good to do a Google search of the most interesting places located in the area you’re going to. TripAdvisor also has a lot of recommendations, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to see all the places listed one after the other; asking a Spanish friend or coursemate for some suggestions might help you narrow down your options and discover a hidden gem! Moreover, it’s important to book tickets in advance when visiting particularly touristy places if you want to avoid big queues (waiting for 2 hours in the rain at the Prado Museum was an experience I don’t wish to repeat). Make sure that you buy them from the site’s own website, though, as there are false ones claiming to be official which might charge you extra. Tickets for some of the most popular attractions in Madrid can be found on patrimonionacional.es.

Finally, I have to mention that an alternative way of traveling during bank holidays (or even just regular weekends) is through travel agencies. In the south of Spain, where I study abroad, there are a couple agencies geared specifically towards exchange students, offering trips throughout the year. Best Life Experience and EMYCET Viajes are the most prominent ones in Granada. Going on a trip with them will save you the hassle of planning your itinerary – and might also be a cheaper option overall. Ultimately, it all depends on your budget and personal travel preferences!

Some pictures from my trip to Madrid: