During June we visited Europe for 2 weeks at the end of my parents’ visit in US. This time we went over to Spain and Russian Federation with a short 1 day stay in Brussels. We stayed 2 nights each in Madrid, Barcelona, Brussels and St. Petersburg followed by 4 nights in Moscow.

Europe Itinerary

In the following months, I will be posting reviews on the following:


Cost (Total for 4 travelers):

Airfare:

  • $493 for 4 one-way coach tickets from San Diego to Chicago
  • $692 for 4 one-way coach tickets from Barcelona to St. Petersburg via stopover in Brussels
  • $127 for 2 one-way coach tickets from Chicago to Los Angeles

Hotel:

  • $100 for 1 night (1 room) for Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Center
  • $465 for 2 nights (2 rooms) for Artiem Madrid
  • $770 for 3 nights (2 rooms) at Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya
  • $107 for 1 night (1 room) at Ibis Moscow Domodedovo Airport
  • $75 for 1 night (1 room) at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Chicago O’Hare South, IL (cash portion of cash + points booking)

Rail fare:

  • $193 for 4 one-way rail from Madrid to Barcelona
  • $472 for 4 one-way on Sapsan High Speed rail from St. Petersburg to Moscow

Visa:

  • $556 for 2 Russian visa (3 year, Multiple Entry)

Miles/Points/Certificates Redeemed:

  • 204,000 Iberia Avios for 2 one-way and 2 round-trip Business Class tickets from Chicago to Madrid
  • 85,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles for 2 one-way Business Class tickets from Moscow to Kolkata
  • 30,000 British Airways Avios for 2 one-way Coach tickets from Moscow to Madrid
  • 15,000 Radisson Rewards points for 1 night (1 room) at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Chicago O’Hare South, IL
  • 200,000 Hilton HHonors points for 2 nights (2 rooms) at Hilton Barcelona
  • 120,000 Hilton HHonors points for 1 night (2 rooms) at Hilton Brussels Grand Place
  • 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for 1 night (2 rooms) at Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel
  • 100,000 IHG Rewards Club points for 2 nights (2 rooms) at Staybridge Suites St. Petersburg
  • 12,500 Marriott Bonvoy points for 1 night (1 room) at  Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Center
  • 5,000 Radisson Rewards points for 1 night (1 room) at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Chicago O’Hare South, IL (points portion of cash + points booking)