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Sail along a southwest-bound coastal route from Kirkenes, an Arctic outpost near the Russian border, past fjords and ancient settlements to Bergen, a Viking-founded harbor town.
For the next two days, you'll continue to travel through northern Spain, with stops in Pamplona, famous for the annual running of the bulls, for a walking tour and San Sebastián, on the Bay of Biscay in the Basque region. You'll stay for two nights at the 162-room Hotel Silken Amara Plaza, where you'll have dinner and can relax at the piano bar. You can also unwind at the beach, just a five-minute walk from the hotel.
Your second day of visiting San Sebastián will begin with a morning tour. The area is known for its beautiful beach and swanky vibe—it was once an exclusive resort for Spanish royalty and is still a playground for the wealthy. You will also take a two-hour walking tour with a scenic climb up Monte Urgull.
Barcelona's Park Guell
(Jack Hollingsworth/Corbis)
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The next two days will take you farther into Spain. You'll head to the Santillana del Mar region along Spain's Costa Verde, or Green Coast, and into Bilbao. In Bilbao, see the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum, renowned for its collection of art from the mid-20th century to the present, and take a walking tour of the Old Town. After an included dinner, you'll stay at the 32-room Hotel Altamira, a charming residence in a central location, which will aid you on your next day at your leisure.
After a morning visit to the Altamira Museum, you'll head toward Oviedo by way of Comillas. In Oviedo, you'll stay at the 118-room Tryp Oviedo, located near a shopping center, and partake in an included dinner. This ancient town has a medieval flavor and has been meticulously preserved.
On the last leg of your trip, you'll go to Santiago de Compostela, another important pilgrimage destination. Here you'll spend two nights in the Lugo Avenue Hotel Husa Ciudad de Compostela, close to all the action in the heart of Santiago de Compostela (for those of you who need a little retail therapy, the hotel is next to the Fontiñas leisure-shopping district). You'll also be treated to dinner and a sightseeing tour, and will visit St. James's burial site. Santiago is known for its seafood, so take the opportunity of a free evening to savor the local cuisine.
The next day, you'll board your included flight to Madrid, where you'll stay at the Catalonia Hotel A Gaudi and partake in a farewell dinner. You can take the optional two-night add-on in Madrid beginning at $369.
Summer is high season for travel in Spain, so if you choose to book the summer departure with the special $500 discount, you can expect crowds and hot weather; July is Spain's warmest month, with high temperatures in the 80s. If you go with the lowest-priced departure, $2,479 for early December, you can expect temperatures in the 50s Fahrenheit. The higher regions (like Madrid) can get colder than that, and the rainy season is in October and November.
Keep in mind that for part of the trip, namely the stop in San Sebastián, you'll be traveling through the Basque area, which is the seat of a separatist movement. For more information on safety and travel to Spain, see the U.S. State Department's travel fact sheet.
For more tips on what to do, visit Barcelona's official tourism site. You can find the latest exchange rate, the local time, and the weather forecast at BudgetTravel.com.
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