Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 7th – 18th of January 2023 | 2 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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7th of January: arrival of your ferry to the port of Tarifa and private transfer to Ronda with a stopover in Gibraltar for lunch and to tour the city
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12pm: upon arrival of your ferry to the port of Tarifa, collect your luggage and walk to passport control to later enter the arrivals hall. Your personal driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Deborah and Bill – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the border between Gibraltar and Spain.
1:30pm (estimated): once at the border, be dropped off there and enter the city of Gibraltar (you will need to carry your passports with you). Then, enjoy some free time for lunch at leisure in the city before meeting your driver guide. We will give you recommendations of places to go for lunch in Gibraltar.
2:45pm: meet your personal driver guide at a previously agreed meeting point and enjoy a private 2,5h tour of the city. Along this tour, you will learn about the origins, history and present social composition, local dynamics and general character of the city. You will also enjoy the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, of the Mediterranean Sea, of the African continent and of Spain from the top of the rock, which is a protected nature reserve with indigenous monkeys. You will also learn the important role that the city played during WWII while you visit some unique remaining infrastructures that were created during this period in the city.
Your visit will also take you to visit the caves of Saint Michael and to drive along the scenic coastal road that surrounds the city. You will understand the interaction that there is between this British city and the neighbour Spanish town of la Línea the la Concepción and how this has generated a very particular economy in the area throughout the decades.
5:15pm: your tour will finish at the border where you will reconnect with your private Spanish driver, who will then drive you to your accommodation in Ronda.
7:15pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see and of places to eat in Ronda.
Overnight in Ronda: superior double room with breakfast included at Parador de Ronda (4*)
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8th of January: day trip from Ronda to the Genal Valley nature reserve for a small hike there and an immersion into the life of one of its rural villages including a visit to a winery and a homemade pairing lunch there
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9am: meet your personal nature guide at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable vehicle with a dedicated driver to the village of Benadalid, in the heart of the valley of the Genal river, a magical unspoilt reserve south of Ronda.
9:30am: arrival to the village of Benadalid to start an easy 5km guided hike towards the village of Benalauría. You will first be explained about the Berber origins of Benadalid, which still keeps its Moorish castle. Later you will take the old paths that the cork workers used to use in the past to transport the cork that they would harvest every 9 years and that are actually still in use today. You will cross a vast extension of Mediterranean forest filled with old olive trees, chestnut trees, holm oaks and cork oaks while you are explained about the many species of flora that you will see and how they have been used by the people of the area throughout the centuries.
11:30am: upon arrival to Benalauría, you will have an immersion into its present culture and lifestyle through visits to some selected local spots and meeting the local community along the way.
Your first stop will take you to the old local mill (not in use anymore), where you will understand how the local chestnut wood and stone allowed for the construction of very robust houses and local infrastructures until the late 20th century. The old mill is in an excellent state of conservation and the local population has donated several old artifacts to create a little exhibition space representing its roots and ancient industries.
Your second stop will take you to a private home where a local family makes and bakes their own bread in a wood oven. There you will be introduced to them to later make your own bread with them in a fun and interactive way that will allow you to meet and learn about the local community.
Your third stop will take you to the very small artisanal winery of a local winemaker. There you will learn how the Genal Valley had a thriving wine industry until a devastating pest arrived in the late 19th century. Slowly, more than 100 years later, this wine scene is having a comeback and this winemaker is one of the pioneers in the recovery. At the winery you will enjoy a tasting of his red and white wines as well as a local pairing lunch cooked there. This will be the icing on the cake for your immersion into the life of a remote mountain village in South West Spain.
3:30pm: end of lunch and private transfer from Benalauría back to Ronda.
4:05pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Ronda: superior double room with breakfast included at Parador de Ronda (4*)
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9th of January: from Ronda to Seville with an e-bike ride through the sierras of Cadiz along the way and lunch and a guided tour in the whitewashed town of Arcos de la Frontera
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9am: be met by your personal local host and a dedicated driver at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the start of a selected cycling route in the sierras of Cadiz.
The stunning Southwestern Spanish countryside offers a landscape of rolling hills, whitewashed villages and small rivers which is delightful to explore by bicycle and this is what this day trip will take you to enjoy.
9:45am: upon arrival to the start of the cycling route, be given your e-bikes and helmets to start a picturesque 36km cycling route, going slightly downhill along a former railway. Your personal host (an experienced local touring cyclist) will accompany you along the journey to show you the way and to provide you with water and some small bites for the adventure. You will cross farms, tunnels, bridges, rocky ridges and olive groves for approximately 2,5 – 3 hours before arriving at your destination, where you will drop off your bikes and meet your driver again.
12:45pm: end of the cycle, bike drop-off and private transfer to the whitewashed hilltop town of Arcos de la Frontera.
1:15pm: arrival to Arcos de la Frontera and lunch in a selected local restaurant in the village.
2:45pm: after lunch, enjoy a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its Hispanic – Muslim urban planning and traditional constructions, on its Christian monumental buildings, on its traditions and on its breath-taking viewpoints. Understanding of what life on the frontier between the Christian Kingdom of Castilla and the Muslim Kingdom of Granada was like in the 14th and 15th centuries.
4pm: end of your tour and private transfer to Seville.
5:10pm: arrival to your accommodation in Seville and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see and of places to eat in Seville.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements with Marriott points.
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10th of January: morning walking tour of Seville World Heritage Sites (the Alcazar or Moorish Castle, the Cathedral and the medieval Jewish quarter and evening flamenco performance
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10am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish palace, the Cathedral with its Giralda tower and the medieval Jewish quarter.
You will start your discovery journey by visiting the Alcazar, which is a massive complex of palaces erected in different periods and of breath-taking gardens of different styles. The Alcazar has stunning historical constructions featuring a very particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles, called Mudejar. This style became very fashionable in Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries amongst the Christian nobility and it reached its maximum splendor in Seville. Another essential part of the Alcazar is the famous house of Trade, which once hosted the offices from where all the commerce with the New World was managed. After enjoying these inner areas, you will be taken to the gardens, which are an exquisite sample of European landscaping from the 16th until the 20th centuries.
Then you will be taken to visit the Cathedral, which is the largest gothic temple in the World and where Christopher Columbus is buried. The Cathedral of Seville was built on a vast extension of land where previously a Mosque had been erected. An important part of the Mosque was preserved and it is now a part of the Cathedral. This makes it a unique construction featuring styles as diverse as Hispanic-Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical and Baroque. A most important part of the Cathedral is its bell tower known as la Giralda, which is a perfectly preserved Hispanic-Muslim minaret from the period when a Mosque occupied the grounds where the Cathedral stands today. During your tour you will be taken to the top in order to enjoy the wonderful views of Seville that one can admire from there.
To finish the tour you will visit the quarter of Santa Cruz, with its countless quaint corners, narrow streets, cozy squares, houses of traditional Southern Spanish architecture and Moorish urban planning. It is in this quarter where an important part of the Jewish Sephardic community of Seville lived in the medieval times and you will learn about what life in the quarter was like then and how it has evolved until becoming what it is today.
1:30pm: end of your tour.
7:15pm: be ready at a selected flamenco culture center in Seville old town for the performance that will start at 7:30pm with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 guitarist and 1 singer). There will be tickets booked for you under your name at the reception desk of the venue.
7:30pm: start of the flamenco performance.
8:30pm: end of the flamenco performance and rest of the evening at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements with Marriott points.
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11th of January: exploration of Seville old town beyond the World Heritage Sites area followed by a tapas and wines tour
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9:30am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation to start a private walking tour of Seville old town beyond the World Heritage Sites area of the city.
Along this walking tour, you will explore and learn about the architecture, identity and local everyday life of 4 different quarters in Seville old town with your local host. The tour will focus on their history and differences in order for you to get a wide perspective of the city and its inhabitants.
During your discovery journey, you will be taken to visit some meaningful landmarks for the locals and meet some who participate actively and on a daily basis in the most representative traditions of the city.
You will also be taken for a tapas and wines lunch to two places where foodie Sevillanos usually gather with friends and finally, before returning to your hotel you will stop for a sweet local treat.
2:30pm: end of your private tour back at your hotel.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements with Marriott points.
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12th of January: day trip from Seville to Jerez for an immersion into the world of Sherry wines including a visit to a selected sherry bodega and a homemade country lunch in a private vineyard
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Jerez old town.
10:15am: upon arrival to Jerez, meet your personal sherry host and start a private walking tour of the old town aimed at learning about the Hispanic-Muslim origins of the city and about the transformations that it experience (architecture, urban planning, social composition and overall character) in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the local wines became probably the most fashionable drinks in the world.
Your visit will also include a tour of the local market in order for you to understand not only the produce that shapes the local gastronomy but also the very important proximity service it is for the local community and the role it plays in the social fabric of the city.
11:15am: end of your walking tour in a selected sherry bodega and private tour with the owner aimed at learning about the aging process of the different types of sherry. This will be followed by the corresponding tastings.
12:45pm: end of the visit to the sherry bodega and private transfer to a selected vineyard in the countryside outside Jerez.
1:05pm: arrival to the vineyard, meeting with the owner and tour around the vines with him, aimed at having an introduction to sherry viticulture. Understanding of the particularities of the soil, of the climate, of the vines and of the grapes that make sherry so unique.
1:35pm: end of the walk in the private bodega of the owner, where he makes and ages Sherry only for him and his family. Tasting of his artisanal sherries accompanied by a selection of tapas.
2:30pm: homemade lunch (starters, mains and dessert) in the vineyard house of the owner cooked on site by his wife and accompanied by the corresponding sherries.
4:15pm: end of lunch and farewell sherry cocktail.
4:45pm: private transfer from the vineyard to your hotel in Seville.
5:15pm: arrival to your hotel in Seville and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements with Marriott points.
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13th of January: from Seville to Cordoba with a stopover along the way to tour the archaeological site of Medina – Azahara (UNESCO site)
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9am: be met by your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the archaeological site of Medina – Azahara (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
10:30am: upon arrival to Medina-Azahara, meet your personal local host and start a private walking tour of the site to understand the massive palatial complex that it once was, the different parts it featured, their functions, the relationships between the people who inhabited it, its defensive system, the political role it played during the caliphate of Córdoba and the reasons that led to its decay and abandonment.
1pm: after your tour, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to your accommodation in Córdoba.
1:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Córdoba and rest of the day at leisure. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see and of places to eat in Córdoba.
Overnight in Cordoba: deluxe room with terrace and breakfast included at hotel El Balcón de Córdoba (4*)
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14th of January: walking tour of Cordoba old town including the Great Mosque Cathedral, the synagogue, the chapel of Saint Bartholomew and the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs
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10am: be met by your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3,5h discovery journey of the historical centre of the city.
A UNESCO site since 1994, Córdoba is an inspirational city, which during the Middle Ages, saw a peaceful interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures. Jews, Muslims and Christians coexisted then in the city turning it into a unique intellectual hub that gave birth to very renowned philosophers, poets, scientists and doctors. This also resulted in the construction of unique buildings of remarkable historical significance.
During your private walking tour, you’ll learn about the period of maximum intellectual splendour of the city and you will see beautiful examples of architecture and urban planning that will allow you to recreate all the grandeur of this era, which has the Great Mosque – Cathedral, the synagogue, the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew and the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs as its most representative constructions.
The Great Mosque-Cathedral is probably the most thought-provoking building in Spain and your personal local host will uncover all its beauty and complexity for you. You will understand its origins, its different enlargements and the role that the building has played in the culture and social fabric of the city throughout the centuries.
The synagogue will allow you to understand the very important Jewish – Sephardic community that Córdoba once had and how much it embraced Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts in its places of devotion.
In the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew you will be explained about the transformations that the Jewish quarter of Córdoba suffered after the pogrom of 1391 and how it was repopulated with Christians, who were also very heavily influenced by Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts.
The Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs will be your last stop. This is a fortification treasuring Roman and Visigothic remains that became an important royal residence in the Hispanic-Muslim and Christian times. Your tour of this landmark will be a journey through the history of the city and also through probably the most beautiful gardens that one can find in Córdoba.
1:30pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Cordoba: deluxe room with terrace and breakfast included at hotel El Balcón de Córdoba (4*)
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15th of January: from Cordoba to Granada via the Renaissance towns of Ubeda and Baeza (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
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9am: be met by your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the UNESCO city of Úbeda.
10:30am: upon arrival to Úbeda, meet your personal local guide and take a private walking tour aimed at discovering its splendid monumental legacy made up of churches, palaces and noble houses.
Ubeda’s Renaissance Monumental Ensemble has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and your tour will take you to visit the interiors of its most exquisite temple: the Chapel of El Salvador. Then you will be taken to discover the Sephardic history and heritage of Úbeda, while you learn about the important Jewish community that lived in the city in the middle ages.
1pm: end of your private walking tour of Úbeda and free time for lunch at leisure. Your guide will point you in the right direction for lunch and will ask your driver to pick you up at the restaurant after lunch.
2:30pm: reconnect with your private driver and be transferred to Baeza.
2:50pm: upon arrival to Baeza, meet your personal local guide to start a private walking tour of the old town.
Declared a historic-artistic site, Baeza has also an incredible Renaissance legacy, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where the carved stone contrasts with the whitewashed farmhouses. Your tour will take you to stroll through the main medieval streets while admiring (outside only) the Plaza del Pópulo, the Puerta de Jaén, the Arco de Villalar, the Plaza de Santa Cruz, the Plaza de Santa María, the Palacio de Jabalquinto, the old University, the Cathedral and the Iglesia de Santa Cruz. This will make a delightful afternoon stroll to top up your visit to NorthEast Andalusia.
3:30pm: end of your tour of Baeza and private transfer to your hotel in Granada.
5pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Granada and of places to eat.
Overnight in Granada: deluxe room with Alhambra views with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 Granada (3* superior)
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16th of January: introductory walking tour of Granada old town and of the quarter of El Albaicín (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
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10am: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3h introductory walking tour of Granada old town that will allow you to discover, learn about the history and architecture and experience the beauty of two different quarters in the city.
These are two key areas in the history of Granada that also stand out for their beauty and authenticity.
You will start visiting the first quarters that developed in Granada after the Christian conquest of the city in 1492. It is in these areas where the Cathedral of Granada was erected and in one of its chapels, the so-called Royal Chapel, you will visit the tombs of the monarchs that were responsible for this conquest (Isabel of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragón). Their tombs are an exquisite sample of Spanish renaissance sculpture.
Near this chapel, you will also visit the palace of la Madraza: a unique building that originally was a medieval Quran School and that later was used as a private residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.
Later, you will be taken to the iconic quarter of el Albayzín, located on top of a hill and overlooking the Alhambra. El Albayzín was the part of Granada where regular people would live: people whose social scheme inside the walls of the palatial areas of the Alhambra was rather unclear.
The quarter of Albayzín is a UNESCO site and it treasures some of the most beautiful corners and views of the Alhambra that the city of Granada has to offer. Your local host will share the most special ones with you, while you are explained about the architecture and infrastructures that the quarter had in the medieval times and of which you will see beautifully preserved evidence.
This introduction to the city of Granada will set the historical context for your stay in Southern Spain and also for your tour to the Alhambra and el Generalife the next day.
1pm: after your introductory tour of Granada and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada: deluxe room with Alhambra views with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 Granada (3* superior)
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17th of January: morning walking tour of the UNESCO sites of the Alhambra and El Generalife and late afternoon high-speed train from Granada to Madrid
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9:30am: be met by your personal local host and be transferred by taxi to the top of the hill of la Sabika, where the Alhambra and el Generalife are located. Please be check-out from your hotel. The reception team will keep your luggage for you until the late afternoon.
9:45am: upon arrival to the Alhambra, be taken on a private walking tour of this palatial city which is the most exquisite example of the Hispanic-Muslim architecture. The Alhambra was the city where the Hispanic-Muslim sultans used to live with their army, their court and some selected artisans. Because of this, it has several parts, all of which you will get to visit during your tour while you understand the role that each of them had. Later you will visit the summer palace or Generalife. This is the place where the sultans would go to escape from the hustle and bustle of the Alhambra. It was a place designed for relaxation and contemplation and because of this, it has the most beautiful gardens and some of the nicest views that the city of Granada has to offer.
1pm: after your tour of the Alhambra and El Generalife, enjoy some free time for lunch at leisure before your high-speed train from Granada to Madrid.
2:45pm: be back at your hotel and ask the reception team to call a taxi to take you to Granada train station.
3:10pm: arrival to Granada train station on time to take your high-speed train to Madrid.
3:40pm: departure of your high-speed train from Granada train station to Madrid train station (1st class seats).
7:11pm: upon arrival of your train to Madrid train station, take a taxi to your hotel near the airport.
Overnight in Madrid: own arrangements with Marriott points
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18th of January: departure from Madrid
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8:45am: ask the reception team of your hotel to call a taxi to take you to Madrid airport.
9:05am: arrival to Madrid airport on time to take your flight back to the US.
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Pricing
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The cost of this 11-day bespoke private trip for a private group of 2 people is 9480 Euros
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This price includes
– 6 nights accommodation (2 in Ronda, 2 in Cordoba and 2 in Granada) with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a professional personal driver.
– All private tours and experiences mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind, interactive and flexible fully licensed guide.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for every guided tour.
– A bread making workshop in the house of a local family in the village of Benalauría.
– A homemade pairing lunch in the winery of a local winemaker in the village of Benalauaría.
– E-bikes and helmets for your cycle ride through the sierras of Cadiz.
– Morning bites and water for your cycle ride through the sierras of Cadiz.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the town of Arcos de la Frontera including 2 starters to share, 1 main course per person, 1 dessert per person and up to 2 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water).
– Tickets for a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 guitarist and singer).
– A tapas and wines lunch through up to 2 bars in Seville old town including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share, up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water) and 1 sweet local treat to finish.
– A private visit to a selected sherry bodega with the corresponding tastings there.
– A private visit to a selected sherry vineyard with tastings of the sherries that the owner makes and ages only for him and his family, a homemade lunch there including starters, mains and dessert and sherries and a farewell sherry cocktail.
– Taxi ride to get from your accommodation in Granada to the Alhambra.
– High – speed train tickets (1st class) to travel from Granada to Madrid.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat during your free time in each city.
– Petrol, parkings and tolls.
– All taxes.
– 24h emergency support during your trip.
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This price excludes
– Your accommodation in Seville.
– Your accommodation in Madrid.
– Your international flights.
– Any meals not mentioned right above.
– Anything else not mentioned above.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this bespoke trip at this price we require a 30% deposit of the grand total no later than the 6th of November 2022 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) via credit/debit card. The final 70% must be paid no later than 30 days prior to the start of your trip.
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Grand total of this trip: 9480 Euros
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30% deposit needed no later than the 6th of November 2022 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 2844 Euros
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Final 70% needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 6636 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge the 30% deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 10 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 50%.
– If you cancel your trip between 9 and 3 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 75% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 25%.
– If you cancel your trip 2 days or less prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends buying travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance via Medjet.
(**) If Spain closes its borders due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country to take this trip because of this closure, we will give you a full refund.
(***) Please note that partial cancellations won’t result in partial refunds. This applies to the group size and to the length of the trip.