Thank you Varmint for the welcome. And thank you dear for the explanation which I had not time to get to until now Unfortunately, I usueally post in-between calls at the office and in trying to be helpful I did not give complete information about the "Amigos". Not to mention that one does not seem to be able to join online as posted BUT, one can join by mail, if one had the application. I had some in the office but have given them away. I called the Spanish Tourist Office, here in NYC, but they did not have any left. So, I sent email messages to the custormer service, marketing department and sales of the Amigos site. I also asked if there was a way they could send it by email so I could post it and others can benefit. "The problem here is that the card is sent to your home address and valid only through the year. " The membership is forever, the points you earn for every stay are good for two years (you get 1 point for every 3 euros you spend at any parador, including meals) and expire if not used within that period. Throughout the year the association offers special deals for certain paradores, if you happen to be going at that time you can take advantage of them. As for the 5 night card one prepays, they can be a very good deal if you are going to use them all. For example, the Parador in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia which is one of their treasures, costs about 160-180 euros. If you use one of the 5night cards the cost becomes more like 136 euros (some paradores have a supplement). Same for the one in Leon which is another beauty, both are located in the city not in the burbs so one can eat someplace else. I hope this clarifies my post.