For many of us who have watched Zoya Akhtar’s feature film, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Spain is an absolute must-visit place. Through the journey of three friends, you see the natural beauty that encapsulates the country occupying the Iberian peninsula. While the friends travel through Costa Brava, Sevilla, and Pamplona, they do not visit the center and hub of Spanish culture, Madrid.
For those travellers wanting to explore the Spanish capital, Madrid is offering a visitors loyalty programme based on a catalogue of offers that can be redeemed through a points system. The programme is called ‘Vuelve a Madrid’ which means ‘Return to Madrid’.
The programme allows access to amazing local food and cultural experiences in Madrid- either with a discount or free or charge. There are currently over 50 companies who have tied up with the loyalty programme, including cultural organisations such as ARCO; the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, La Zarzuela Racecourse, the Wax Museum, flamenco venues like El Corral de la Moreria and Casa Patas, and other musicals and shows. ere are also offers at restaurants such as La Esquina del Real, La Bola and the universal Hard Rock Cafe.
Membership is free of charge. Just ensure that you are of legal age and are currently residing outside the city of Madrid.
How it works
One has to register on the official website here to gain access to all the programme’s benefits and rewards. On registering, all new members get 600 welcome points. One can redeem these to get free tickets and discounts for shows, exhibitions, and other experiences in this city. For instance, currently they’re offering coupons to horseracing show for 200 points, a quick dessert at a restaurant for 60 points and even access to a Billy Elliot musical for a 100 points.
Once you redeem your points for one of the offers in the programme, you download a coupon from the Vuelve a Madrid website with the chosen offer.
If you’re wondering how to earn further points, the Tourism Board themselves will send more points and coupons your way all through the year (keep an eye out for your emails).
Important: An offer on a coupon is valid for a maximum period of 3 months or less, as per the fine print on each voucher. Either carry a print out or a copy of the voucher on your phone, and you’re good to go.