Spain at a Discount

With travel to Spain up significantly from a year ago, helped by the recent start of nonstop scheduled service from Los Angeles to Spain aboard Iberia Airlines, there are some air and rail passes to consider.

Iberia has a Visit Spain Airpass for $199, the same rate as last year, which is good for flying to any of 30 destinations in Spain during a 60-day period, including Majorca in the Balearic Islands. You can add flights to and between the Canary Islands for an extra $50 to $249.

Children from 2 to 12 get a 50% discount off these rates. The fare is reduced 90% for infants 2 and younger.

Passes have to be bought in the United States, in conjunction with a round-trip transatlantic Iberia flight.

Iberia also issues a discount shopping and dining card that provides breaks of 5% to 15% on purchases at more than 60 galleries, nightclubs, restaurants and craft shops in Madrid.

Contact travel agents or Iberia at (800) 221-9741.

The Spanish National Railway Network (Renfe) is offering a tourist card that provides unlimited travel on its system for 8, 15 or 22 days. At current exchange rates, the prices are about $108 first-class and $75 second-class for the eight-day pass. The 15-day pass costs $175 first-class and $125 second-class; the 22-day pass, $208 and $158. The rail pass has to be bought at Renfe’s offices in Spain or at some stations in France near the Spanish border.

For more information contact the Spanish National Tourist Office at 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 960, Los Angeles 90211, telephone (213) 658-7188.

Dan-Air, a British airline, has a Visit UK program that offers discounts of about 60% off its regular fares. You can buy a one-way flight between London and any of eight other cities on its domestic route system for $66. A round-trip flight is $99. Most of the carrier’s flights are from its Gatwick hub.

These fares have to be bought in the United States and are only valid in conjunction with an international airline ticket. The non-refundable fares must be used within a 30-day period that begins with the day of your arrival in the United Kingdom, not the first day you fly on the airline.

You must make the booking for your first flight segment in the United States, with the option of booking other segments after arrival. Stopovers are allowed. The eight cities are Newcastle, Cardiff, Bristol, Jersey and Bournemouth, Inverness and Aberedeen in Scotland, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Contact travel agents or Dan-Air at (800) USA-6677.