Reflections of a BP Traveler: Luxury Travel Experiences In Portugal & Spain
Join one of our travelers as she shares her experiences exploring Spain and Portugal on two luxury personalized journeys focused on insider access, cultural immersion, and once-in-a-lifetime moments.
Blue Parallel first hosted Marianne in Portugal in 2024, followed by a trip to Spain in 2025. As an avid traveler who has explored destinations around the world, she knows how she likes to travel and values a tailored, detail-oriented approach that elevates a trip from excellent to unforgettable.
In this Q&A, we hear firsthand what stood out to Marianne, what surprised her, and what keeps her coming back.
How did you first hear about Blue Parallel?
I was initially referred to Blue Parallel in 2024 by our go-to travel executive, Laurie Reitman, who has planned multiple luxury trips for my family and me over the years. After I spoke to Laurie about my desire to visit Portugal with eight members of my family, she recommended that we work with Blue Parallel. We returned in 2025 for our Spain trip, which was just for my husband and me.
How was working with Blue Parallel different from other tour companies you’ve worked with?
We have been lucky enough to travel around the world and work with multiple tour companies, including some of the industry’s bigger names. Blue Parallel simply spoils us, in the best way.
If I had to summarize the difference, it comes down to people, places, and things.
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People
In Portugal, especially in the Douro Valley, we weren’t sure what would work best for our family. Blue Parallel took the time to really understand us, our tastes, our dynamic, and what we cared about most. They didn’t just plan a trip, they profiled us thoughtfully so every choice felt right.
Our guide in Portugal was incredible. One example of her going the extra mile was when she hunted through Lisbon to find a studio that could create custom ceramics for our family, which was a special request we’ll never forget.
Another time, a church we wanted to visit had attracted some large crowds however, she knew of a lesser-known access point, and we were able to go inside without the other visitors.
What’s more, a restaurant we were looking forward to changed its menu days before our arrival, and she used her local relationships to have them create a custom meal just for us. These touches made the trip unforgettable and really showcased Blue Parallel’s high standards for their team on the ground.
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Places
Blue Parallel reads the “tea leaves” exceptionally well. They find niche, perfectly suited hotels that match our style, our family needs, and our price point. In Portugal, we arrived at one hotel, and the manager immediately brought us beautiful trays of tea and coffee, a thoughtful detail that set the tone for the rest of the trip.
Every hotel in Spain and Portugal hit the mark, and the Seville property was particularly over-the-top wonderful. Blue Parallel also built in a profile for when it was the whole family versus when it was just my husband and me, giving us something more ultra-luxurious for the two of us.
Experiences
The experiences Blue Parallel can organize are insane, such as a two-hour private tour of the Alhambra without the general public. This level of insider access sets Blue Parallel’s journeys apart.
The experiences are also consistent, whether we’re traveling in a large multi-generational group or as a couple. We also referred Blue Parallel to some friends who wanted to tour Spain and Portugal in luxury with their family. They were so pleased with Blue Parallel, they traveled with them again to the Galapagos Islands, and raved about that trip also.
Can you summarize your experience with Blue Parallel in 5 words or phrases?
Five phrases I would use to describe Blue Parallel are:
- Personalized experience
- Extraordinary access
- Knowledgable team
- Exceptional on-the-ground partners
- Responsive to our preferences
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How did you find the pre-trip experience with your personal Travel Expert?
They understood our needs and travel preferences, they were in contact regularly, and they shared helpful information every step of the way. Blue Parallel really went the extra mile and invested time into getting to know us, all to ensure our itinerary was perfectly suited.
Other tour operators we have worked with haven’t given us the itinerary in advance, while Blue Parallel not only gave it ahead of our trip, but also allowed us to make several iterations until we were happy with the final trip.
If I could, I would travel with Blue Parallel for every trip we take.
Can you share 3 ‘wow moments’ of your trips?
There were many wow moments during both our Portugal and Spain trip, but if I had to pick just three, it would be:
- Private access to the Alhambra in Spain, where we were able to explore the palace in a way that felt truly exclusive and unforgettable.
- Ceramics surprise in Portugal, when our guide went above and beyond to track down a studio that could create custom pieces just for our family.
- Special tasting tour in Spain, filled with lively tapas stops, conversations about Spanish life, and an immersive glimpse behind the curtain of local culture.
How do you find the hotels Blue Parallel selects?
I found the hotels outstanding across both trips.
In Seville, the property was truly over the top and wonderful, while our Madrid hotel was ideally and thoughtfully located. The hotels selected just for my husband and me were extra luxurious and perfectly matched to our travel style, and every venue we stayed at in Portugal as a family was absolutely spot-on.
Did all of the experiences, guides, properties, transfers meet your expectations?
Yes, everything was personally vetted, and it showed.
The guides were exceptional: knowledgeable, personable, and able to read our family dynamic perfectly. Every experience felt thoughtfully curated, the transfers were seamless, and the on-the-ground team consistently elevated each day with small touches and insider access we could never have arranged on our own.
The entire journey felt managed, cohesive, and connected, and there was nothing left for us to worry about.
How valuable was the team’s insider knowledge and experience?
Blue Parallel’s insider knowledge and experience across their destinations is exceptional, and adds a huge amount of value to the trip. Compared to other tour operators we have worked with, Blue Parallel is far more seamless and tailored.
It is clear that there is constant communication between the whole Blue Parallel team; the guides and hosts talk to each other so even when we’re moving between destinations, it feels like one consistent experience. They know who we are and our backstory, and are also up to date with the happenings of the trip – we don’t have to go through the same conversations with everyone we meet.
Blue Parallel’s experience in creating and hosting these super luxury itineraries means we’ve never had to worry about managing anything ourselves. They really do take care of everything, and it’s obvious they have great behind-the-scenes cohesion. They are coordinated, connected, and entirely bespoke.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
I wouldn’t change a thing about either trip we have taken with Blue Parallel. If we ever had the slightest reaction to something the team had suggested, they were so flexible and had alternative recommendations at the ready, and I think that’s so valuable.
What do you think makes Blue Parallel special?
The people, the insider access, the thoughtful touches, and the ability to connect every detail into a seamless, personalized journey.
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