3 Weeks in Spain (via Japan)

[rbjhan]

As mentioned previously, AVE wasn't running to Granada. Either take a bus to Antequera Santa Ana to transfer or a MD slow train 5 hours to Madrid... I chose option #3, ALSA Premium.

This was by far the nicest bus ride I've ever done.
2+1 seating, free wifi, breakfast and snacks, even a bus attendant onboard. Oh entertainment system as well.



Breakfast


As there's a bathroom, no stops midway.
We reached Madrid in 4.5 hours.

 

[rbjhan]

For the last leg I booked Gran Melia Fenix in Salamanca. Determined to take full advantages of all the shops on Calle Serano

Booked via FHR for €230 per night.

Lobby. Nothing says historical like a grand staircase.



My room. Apparently it's been upgraded....I wonder what the basic room is like?




Bathroom is TINY


Who designed this???


The style was okay for me. And room size acceptable.
But that bathroom really was meh I've never seen a more cramped bathroom in a 5 star hotel.

Having said that, I did pay about the same for Double Tree Prado. In comparison Gran Melia Fenix certainly was much better.

 

[rbjhan]

Hmmm nothing much to report for those two days in Madrid.
Well let's look at more food picture then!

Ramon Freixa
Two Michelin stars. Unfortunately I was by that time at the end of my rope... so only ordered the petit menu.

The presentation certainly was worthy of two stars.





Main, 3 meats cannelloni. The other option was prawn and confit duck.


Wish I had come at the beginning of the trip and tried the full tasting menu, sigh.

 

[JohnM]

Great TR!

 

[rbjhan]

Great TR!

Thanks!
Nothing like your trips though, one month is probably my max....at the end I was so tired and ready to go home.

 

[JohnM]

I’ve travelled a lot in Spain for both work and leisure in the past. Your TR has brought back some great memories.

I’m lining up another trip there next year to fill in some gaps.

 

[rbjhan]

I’ve travelled a lot in Spain for both work and leisure in the past. Your TR has brought back some great memories.

I’m lining up another trip there next year to fill in some gaps.

Great to hear!
I've got two trips to Japan coming up in Oct 19 & Feb 20

 

[LA10]

Hmmm nothing much to report for those two days in Madrid.
Well let's look at more food picture then!

Ramon Freixa
Two Michelin stars. Unfortunately I was by that time at the end of my rope... so only ordered the petit menu.

The presentation certainly was worthy of two stars.
View attachment 171201


View attachment 171202

Main, 3 meats cannelloni. The other option was prawn and confit duck.
View attachment 171203

Wish I had come at the beginning of the trip and tried the full tasting menu, sigh.

I had the petit menu there last week! Really amazing experience.

 

[rbjhan]

I had the petit menu there last week! Really amazing experience.

I'm glad you enjoyed it
Is there a TR coming?

 

[rbjhan]

After 3 amazing weeks, time to go home!

MAD T4 is incredibly stylish


Fast Track security, thumb up. Wish we have this in Melbourne.


Sala Velazquez, entrance well hidden in the duty free area...


It was massive but also packed. This picture was taken much later.


When I first arrived it looked like this


Guess I was too early for lunch? Not hungry anyways...

 

[rbjhan]

IB 6801 MAD - NRT (code share with JAL)

Iberia uses A330-200 for the 13 hour trip to Narita.
The business cabin is very small with only 19 seats.


Since I only bought my ticket in March, couldn't get a true window seat, sigh. In terms of privacy I actually prefer the aisle seats on JAL.


The slippers were flimsy... when my friend saw the picture she instantly asked if those were from a hotel
JAL slippers were so much better.
BTW the tray table folded down vertically, that's something I've never seen before.


Not a fan of the cabin colour scheme, grey everywhere...luckily the screens provided some bright red.

Entertainment system was quite good, touchscreen very responsive. Watched Bohemian Rhapsody, didn't think I would like it but pleasantly surprised.
Received complimentary wifi for 30 mins or 50 mb, speed was okay.​

 

[rbjhan]

For me what let the experience down was service and food.
I didn't expect the service to be as polished as JAL, but still....The male flight attendant in one of the pictures above was very good. However another female (Spanish) attendant had some attitude...the Japanese ones were okay but much warmer to the Japanese guests.

And the food! Aagghh.
I had to look up the menu to remember what those things were


Meh


Okay


Best of the flight, sigh

 

[rbjhan]

Landed in Narita, my luggage again came out last, again I saw familiar faces around me waiting at the carousel...
Since I've been to Narita many times before, together with what happened in Madrid, I decided this must be Iberia's fault.

So the conclusion was, it's an average product, acceptable if it's a direct flight (or redemption) but otherwise better avoided.

 

[rbjhan]

Hotel Nikko Narita

Originally I planned to go to Tokyo as the layover was over 20 hours. Later decided against it fearing jetlag. wise decision
Lots of hotels around Narita, just randomly picked one based on price, 6500 + 2000 for early check in.

Room is spacious (I mean Tokyo spacious).


View, Toyoko Inn and another hotel (could be Tobu?)
Amazingly 8 trips to Japan and I've never stayed in a Toyoko inn!


Coming back from Europe is always difficult. I grabbed something to eat from Lawson downstairs and jumped onto the bed...

Was planning to go to the Aeon Mall nearby but woke up too late. Took shuttle bus to Narita for dinner (there were several restaurants in the hotel, I just wanted to go out).
Unagi chasuke.


For a one night stay near Narita it's acceptable. Only problem was you can't control the aircon temperature in your room, and the Japanese like it warm! If I'm staying near Narita again will probably try somewhere else, MyStays looks nice.

 

[rbjhan]

JL773 NRT - MEL
I feel like recycle some old pictures, surely must look the same?

Breakfast in Sakura lounge


Only noticeable thing was that JAL changed aircraft for this route. The new seat map:


So they got rid of PE altogether...hmm....

 

[rbjhan]

That's it for this TR.
Thank you all for coming along!

Time to plan my next trip which would be Koyo - chasing in Tohoku, Oct 19.

 

[drron]

Wonderful TR.
We had previously been to Madrid and Barcelona.People there plus on IB put us off going back.But several TRs driving or getting around outside the big cities will see us doing a weeks driving of southern Spain before boarding a cruise in Barcelona.
Some good tips here.
So thanks very much for taking the time to do this TR.

 

[rbjhan]

Wonderful TR.
We had previously been to Madrid and Barcelona.People there plus on IB put us off going back.But several TRs driving or getting around outside the big cities will see us doing a weeks driving of southern Spain before boarding a cruise in Barcelona.
Some good tips here.
So thanks very much for taking the time to do this TR.

Thanks for your kind words.
Yeah Madrid was not that interesting but I absolutely love Salamanca/Segovia/Sevilla/Granada...I hope you will enjoy the next one!

 

[VPS]

Great TR. I’m hoping to get back to Spain soon. Happy travels

 

[RB]

A great trip report (first or otherwise). As with others you have bought back some great memories of Spain