MICHELE OBAMA VACATION IN SPAIN 2010

Many people talk about Michele Obama's vacation in Spain. The first lady has a four-day private trip with her youngest daughter, Sasha, in Spain. They flight by Air Force Two and landed in Malaga Airport. She chooses a luxurious hotel Villa Padierna, a Ritz-Carlton resort in the mountains outside Marbella. The resort boasts two golf courses, a posh spa with Turkish baths, views of the Mediterranean Sea and a high-end restaurant specializing in avant-garde fare. Room rates start at $400 and rise to $6,500 for a two-bedroom villa with a private pool and 24-hour butler service.


Even the Officials say the Obamas will pay for personal expenses, still the vacation draws critics from many sides. It is because people read from the news that 68 secret service agents from U.S and several family friends are accompanying her. The aircraft that she uses costs the government $11,555 an hour, and the total cost of eight-hour flight to nearby Malaga for round-trip is about $178,000.










Anita McBride, who was chief of staff to former First Lady Laura Bush, was not surprised that the trip has its critics.

"When you are a public figure, it can be difficult to lead a private life. Despite the fact that much of this trip is paid for personally, the American people know that there are costs borne by the taxpayers, and it's to be expected that the more expensive the trip, the greater the risk of criticism," McBride said.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has declined to answer questions about the vacation, saying only that it is a "private trip."