Meet Luis, your expert in Spain!
🌍 Lives in: Gijón, Asturias
Regions of Expertise: Countrywide throughout all of Spain, with specialization in the north. General coverage for Portugal as well.
Languages: English, Español
Experience: 10 years designing tailor-made trips
Luis’ specialties:
Get to know Luis!
A note from Luis
"Hola a todos! I'm Luis and I was born in northern Spain and have lived most of my life in this beautiful country. While I have traveled abroad fairly extensively and lived in other countries for some periods, ( the US, England, and Ireland), I have always returned to my beloved homeland. What can I say, I love Spain!
If you are reading this, it means you're planning a trip to Spain, which is an incredibly wise decision. :-) Some of you have probably already been to other European countries, while for others, I imagine this may be your first foray into Europe. Either way, you will have a fabulous time in Spain, but please be aware: nowhere else will ever measure up quite as well!!
While I've now been a tourism professional for over a decade, this wasn't my original path in life. In univeristy I studied for a bachelor's in advertising and marketing and after graduating I worked in that field for many years. I lost my job somewhere along the way, and during the brief period that I was looking for new work, a very good foreign friend of mine came to visit me in Asturias, and I showed him around, taking him to the hidden corners, the tiny unknown places, great local restaurants, and our magnificent natural areas.
We had an absolute blast, and just before he left he said: "Luis, why don't you do this as a job? People would absolutely love it". That was a little more than 10 years ago, but I took his advice and as they say, the rest is history.
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My aim as a local expert and trip planner has always been to show the "hidden" areas of Spain, because while everyone is at least familiar with Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, fiesta, toros, and "olé!", far fewer people know or ever get to see the real Spain. So I pride myself on helping travelers discover Spain as they would if they were traveling side by side with locals.
I want to help you discover the fabulous places that don't make it into the guidebooks, the charming local hotels run by families, hole in the wall restaurants, and authentic Spanish life. Of course, I understand that the "highlights" and famous places in Spain are famous for a reason (they're fantastic!), and I regularly advise on and organize trips to these world-renowned destinations as well. When doing so, my focus is just on helping my clients see them in the best, most authentic way possible.
Over the years, I have planned trips everywhere in Spain, and I am totally comfortable advising on travel throughout the entire country. Being based in the north myself and specialized there, many of my guests also like to include Portugal on their trips, so I can also help you plan your time in Porto, the Douro Valley, and Lisbon and its surroundings.
I think that's enough about me now, so let's turn this back to you, my dear travelers! No matter what, you will have a wonderful time in Spain, but if you want some expert assistance, I would be very pleased to help you plan a trip to my beloved Spain. Let's start planning!
Q&A with Luis
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I love that Asturias, but really all of northern Spain, has not yet become too touristy. When you visit this part of Spain, you are treated to real local life, where you’ll always find many more locals going about their daily lives than tourists.
Here, we still have small villages lost in the mountains, that are almost uninhabited during the winter, but where you can find a tiny restaurant where the "grandma" prepares the food (likely a heavenly meat stew) just like she has done for the last 50 years.
And you also have great coastal villages with amazing beaches that I think can compete even with the best ones in the Caribbean (except for maybe the temperature of the water - yes, it’s cold here!).
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Waking up and spending some time with my kids. We’ll make breakfast, and then maybe head to the beach or the mountains (depending on the time of year) and spend the day there.
Have a good lunch, either picnic or at a restaurant, and return home whenever we’re ready. In the evening, it’s the perfect time to meet up with friends to catch up and enjoy of a cold beer, and if time permits, to get dinner together.
This may not be a terribly exciting or uniqye day, but for me, it’s perfect!
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Rent a car and just get lost exploring the coastal and inland villages anywhere and everywhere in Spain.
There are so many hidden corners here with great local restaurants, warm people, and amazing sights, that the best way to experience it all is by hopping in the car and just letting the road lead you to somewhere special.
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Here in Gijón and Asturias more broadly, there are too many great restaurants for me to pick just one.
However, I love "sidrerías", local restaurants specialized in cider, where the drink is poured in the traditional way, holding the bottle over your head and pouring the cider into a glass placed under your hip. If you want a “local” experience, these are the places to go.
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A good fabada (the most popular dish in Asturias), which is a stew of white beans with black pudding, chorizo and a kind of bacon.
Or how about a great chachopo, a giant breaded steak filet stuffed with serrano ham and cheese.
Better yet, some rice with lobster or clams... mmmm there are so many things I'd choose to eat here!And of course, we can’t forget the rice pudding for dessert!
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I love spending time with my children and wife, as well as my mother and 3 sisters. And, of course, time with friends to chat about this and that, about the big things and the little things that don’t matter at all, is always welcome!
I love all sports, especially soccer, but also skiing, a well as getting out into nature.
Traveling is my passion as well as my job, but I have to admit I wish I had more time (and money!) to do it more often!
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When I travel, I walk, walk, and walk some more, because I think the best way to know the cities or places that you’re visiting is by exploring every corner of them.
I love that when doing this, I find many hidden corners that don't appear in the guide books, locally owned shops and stores with unique items, and great unassuming restaurants that you don’t even need a reservation for,
And if we’re on a road trip, we make sure to always drive the local roads rather than the highways, so that we pass through the places that you’d otherwise miss.
What else? Well, we like a mix of culture, history, food, and relaxation, always trying to make time for a few days where the only plan is to relax and enjoy ourselves.
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My trip to Argentina. I went with my whole family: my wife (nowadays), my father, mother, and my 3 sisters and their husbands. It was truly a family affair!
We had such an amazing time exploring the country together, from Iguazu Falls to Bariloche, the lakes and mountains, el Calafate, the glaciers, and Buenos Aires, the amazing capital city. They were all spectacular.
And that’s without saying anything about the amazing food, especially the grilled meats!
It was simply an unforgettable trip, all the more special because it was with the whole family.
Spain Travel Consultations
Plan a better trip with some help from Luis
Sit down with Luis for a one-hour planning session to get his expert advice and the best local tips and recommendations.
Our travel consultations are the perfect solution for do-it-yourself travelers who want to plan on their own, but could use some expert local advice. Each consultation is personalized, and Luis is available to help in whatever way you need.
From working on your itinerary and advising on routes and transportation, to ideas for off the beaten path destinations and truly authentic experiences, he's got you covered.
For the best local advice, go ask a local!
Why plan with Luis
Spend 60 minutes tapping into Luis’ hyperlocal expertise to plan a better trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Consultations cost $150 USD.
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Consultations are held over Google Meet. Once you’ve scheduled your call, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing the link for your video call. On the scheduled day and time, just click that link to join.
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Each consultation is different, but here are some common things that our experts typically help with:
Itinerary planning
Transportation, driving routes, and tips for how to get around
Practical travel information; culture, safety, weather, language, money/tipping, etc.
Suggested hotels/accommodations and advice on where to base yourself
Local recommendations for restaurants, activities, and unique experiences
Advice on reputable tour guides, tour operators, and excursions
Pro tips on how to best visit popular sights and attractions
Ways to avoid overcrowded destinations and tourist traps
Insider ideas on off the beaten path places, authentic experiences, and ways to connect with locals
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What you can get done in an hour depends on your goals for the consultation and how organized you are coming into it.
In most cases, an hour is ample time to create a solid itinerary, answer your major travel questions, get practical advice on how to travel in your destination, and discuss lots of great local tips and recommendations.
To ensure that the hour is used efficiently, when you schedule your call, our pre-consultation questionnaire will ask you what your primary goals for the consultation are. Prior to the call, your Local Expert will review your questionnaire and prepare detailed information addressing those goals.
They’ll come into the call ready to share specific advice, recommendations, itinerary ideas/revisions, and useful links and resources for you to review together.
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Yes! Each consultation is guided by a comprehensive pre-consultation questionnaire that you fill out immediately upon booking.
We’ll ask you a series of 30+ detailed questions that really dig into you, your trip, your interests and travel style, and what you want to discuss with your Local Expert.
The questionnaire will cover things like: the dynamics of your group, the things you enjoy while traveling, your budget, how early you want to start your day and how late you want to end it, whether you want to hit the highlights or roam the back streets, and even what types of restaurants you want to eat at.
Your Local Expert will focus only on your interests and travel style.
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Our Local Experts are seasoned travel professionals who have spent decades working in their countries/regions. While their personal interests may be different from yours, they’ve worked with thousands of travelers and have recommendations and advice for every type of individual.
They know their destinations in-depth and can help plan a trip for every traveler and taste.
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No, this is not a part of our service. Your Local Expert will share lots of links, notes, and other written resources via the Chat Box during the call, but they cannot provide post-call notes, documents, or ongoing planning assistance via email.
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No. Our service is geared toward independent, do-it-yourself travelers who intend to make bookings on their own.
Our goal is not to plan your trip for you, but rather to help you plan a better trip independently. To that end, our Local Experts will give you all of the information that you need to confidently put your trip together yourself.
When Local Experts recommend things like restaurants, hotels, excursions/activities, tours, drivers, etc., they’ll provide you with contact details and links so that you can make the final arrangements on your own.
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Almost every Go Ask A Local expert has at least 10 years of professional travel experience as a guide or trip planner in their country/region.
We work with a vetted team of seasoned professionals who know their destinations inside and out.
Unlike other companies, when you book a call, you’ll always be connected directly with your chosen Local Expert. We never pass anyone on to a junior sales associate or some anonymous back office team. With us, what you see is what you get.
Ready to plan with Luis?
Here’s how to schedule your consultation:
Tailor-made Trips to Spain
Plan and book your dream trip with Luis
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In addition to offering Spain Travel Consultations, Luis is a licensed local travel agent who can plan and organize every aspect of your trip.
If you’re looking to go beyond the highlights and want to discover authentic Spain, Luis is your man. Every trip that he plans is unique and is completely customized according to your interests, travel style, and budget.
Based out of Gijón, in Asturias, Luis has been helping travelers discover Spain for over a decade. He knows his country like few others can claim to, and can help you plan a truly unique trip.
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To start things off, we’ll connect you directly with Luis by video call or email (whichever you prefer) to begin discussing your trip.
Here’s how it works:
If you’d like to meet with Luis via video call, you can schedule a quick, 20-minute introductory call to meet Luis, discuss your trip, and see if you think he’d be a good fit for you.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer not to start things off with a video call, you can instead submit a short form with some basic information about you and your trip. Luis will review that and will then reach out with some initial ideas and questions for you.
Whichever way you choose to connect, after you’ve gotten in touch with Luis, you’ll then be able to continue working together one-on-one to plan and organize your trip.
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After you’ve discussed the basics of your trip and Luis has a good understanding of your travel style and what you’re looking for, he’ll send you an itinerary outline and a price quote.
If you like what you see and decide you’d like to hire Luis as your Spain travel advisor, you’ll then continue planning together until you have every detail ironed out perfectly.
Once you have your final plan and are ready to book, Luis will send you a final price and we’ll collect a deposit to confirm your trip.
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Our Tailor-made Trip service is intended for travelers who like to be involved in their trip planning, but want an expert to manage the specifics.
Luis will take care of the itinerary creation, bookings and arrangements, transportation & logistics, tours/activities, etc., so that you can focus on the fun stuff.