Like Madrid, Quito was simply an overnight airport stop. We booked the Holiday Inn Quito Airport  on points, mainly because it offered a shuttle bus. Immigration was painfully slow — one of those queues that barely seems to move. By the time we finally emerged, we were exhausted. Thankfully, the shuttle was waiting right outside, which felt like a small but significant win. In hindsight, we probably should have chosen the Courtyard by Marriott Quito Airport , which was walkin

Madrid Our first stop en route to South America was Madrid — primarily to take advantage of a direct flight to Quito, Ecuador. Avios prices were very reasonable too, which made the decision even easier. It was our first time travelling within Europe on our Irish passports, and the exit from the airport couldn’t have been smoother. The non-EU queue, on the other hand, was enormous — so we felt quietly smug. Uber works brilliantly at Madrid Airport, with a specific car park lev