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Expat trips -
Frequent Questions |
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What about
spouses and children? Why public transportation? Help, my best friend
from kindergarten is coming, Coffee, lunch or both? Why see this website? |
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What kind of things do you offer?
Are these activities open to everyone?
Our specialty is off-track walking tours in the city and country, and
some less-active cultural tours. This trip program began as part of
International Newcomers Club, a club for expat women living in or near
Madrid. Over the years, seeing interest from other people, these
activities are now open to all the expat community plus travelers who
want to get beyond the usual tourist attractions. That might be return
visitors who've already done the classics or even curious travelers on
their first visit to Spain. |
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What is the goal of these
activities?
Helping new
residents to accelerate their cultural adaptation and
awakening a spirit of adventure and curiosity about Spain.
To accelerate adaptation we have two kinds of
activities: learning experiences and
tours that see things in more depth: classic sights in a new way,
or minor sights in a way that makes them interesting. The "Old Shops"
trips in Madrid are an example: by doing a walk around a typical
neighborhood we can see how people live and learn how to observe when
exploring a new area - and find places with unusual products where
shopping means some interaction, unlike the big department stores.
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Awakening a spirit of
adventure is a little more complicated - first because it builds
partly on the first, and second travelers have to want to get beyond the
superficial knowledge of Spain that some people never surpass - even
people who live here for a while.
As part of this process, we try to get off that beaten track, seeing things that delight and intrigue - if you're a curious traveler, you'll oooh
and aaah, learn something new AND come away with more questions and and
a desire to explore that path we left for another time.
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Why don't we have private buses for
all the tours outside the city?
One reason is that a private bus is
expensive, requiring a high minimum number of people to make a trip
affordable for everyone. Those minimum numbers can be hard to reach, so
we use private buses for a trips where public transportation is not
practical - usually cultural
trips where we will be in more isolated areas. The other reason
is that for most day trips near Madrid, trains and buses are fast
and affordable. Learning how to use the public transportation system on
our trips will make you more self-sufficient for other occasions, when
you don't want to drive or your car is not available. Trip meeting times are planned
for transportation schedules, and
you'll get an explanation of how to reach meeting places for activities
outside the city. If you want some company during the trip, you can go
with the guide. To help you learn about Madrid's transportation
system, watch for the Public Transportation Deciphered workshop. |
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Sometimes
I need to get back
quickly after a trip. I've also noticed that some activities don't have
direct transportation from my home. On those days, I really need to
drive. If you have time
issues, please advise upon signup, and remind the guide at the start of
the activity. For driving, some of the activities start and
finish at the same place so driving is easy. For the walks with different start and finish
places you have two options. One is to drive to the ending place and take the bus or train to the starting point -
so you'll
have your car ready at the end of the walk (please ask - this is
sometimes possible
but not always). Another option is that if several people are driving, meet
with cars at the place the walk ends, re-distribute people, and drive to
starting point, leaving one car at the end. After the walk, the drivers get in the "end
car" and go pick up the cars at the starting point. (This may sound
complicated and time consuming but isn't - this is how kayakers and many
groups of hikers manage driving). Our walking distances are
short so usually the drive would be less than 20 minutes). |
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Are trips open to
spouses and children? Most
of these activities are open to to spouses. Some
activities are open to children, though please ask when signing
up, stating ages and number of children, as some activities may not be
appropriate for younger children (walks with longer distances, cultural
trips). Special prices will sometimes be applicable, but not always as
this depends on prices given by hotels and museums, space on buses and
other factors. IN ALL CASES parents are responsible for the
actions and behaviour of their children. |
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Coffee, lunch, a drink?
Oh, my yes, that's part of the fun! But to help people who are on a tight
schedule, let's do the coffee before or (and?) after the activity so
they can participate and still fulfill other obligations, even if they
have to miss chatting over coffee or wine.
City walks have a rest stop partway through, and
people often stay on afterwards for a meal or a snack - ask for
suggestions on where to go. |
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Why walking trips? click
HERE to see why! |
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Visitors coming, eeek, need some
help?
If
you're overwhelmed by the idea of showing people around a city you don't
know very well, or if you want repeat visitors to see something
different, ask about our
walks around the city, easy walks in the
mountains or near villages close to Madrid. |
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Why see this website instead of your
club
newsletter? This is an additional information service. There's more trip
information on this site than other places - both for current
trips and for future trips, which due to space may not be shown in the newsletter or
e-bulletin until shortly before trip time. By watching this site you can
start planning, sign up in time to get a spot, or pencil in dates
on your calendar.
And don't forget the other information like the
reading list, travel tips, trip ideas, hints for fun around Madrid (snow,
picnics, swimming holes), and a corkboard of things going on in Madrid. |
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Click
HERE for home page for Expat
trips |