Payment of bespoke trip to Barcelona and Catalonia | 29th of June – 6th of July | 4 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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29th of June: arrival to Barcelona and rest of the day at leisure
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4pm: upon arrival of your flight to Barcelona airport, collect your luggage, walk to the arrival hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Liz, Chris, Beach and Gus – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your accommodation in Barcelona.
5:30pm (estimated): arrival to your accommodation in Barcelona and rest of the day at leisure. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Barcelona during your free time and of places to eat and drink too. We will also book restaurant tables for you if you wish (as long as credit/debit cards are not needed to make reservations).
Overnight in Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia 2 bedroom apartment at Majestic Residence Apartments. Owned, managed and serviced by Hotel Majestic (5*). Breakfast available at the hotel if you like.
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30th of June: morning introductory bike tour of Barcelona new town and waterfront areas and evening immersion into the medieval areas of the city on foot, followed by a tapas and wines journey there
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10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and start your Barcelona bike tour from there (your bicycles will be delivered directly to your accommodation). This tour will take you to see the areas outside the medieval quarters, which are ideal to pedal through, before your discovery journey of the old town in the evening. These areas are very representative of how Barcelona has grown over the centuries until becoming the vibrant and elegant Mediterranean capital it is today.
From your accommodation, you will pedal first along Paseo de San Juan. This is a section of the city built in the eighteen hundreds when the nearby military citadel was demolished in order to accommodate Barcelona’s growing population. Paseo de San Juan treasures some of the lesser known modernist gems of Barcelona as well as some of the most important gardens and fountains in the city.
At the end of Paseo de San Juan, you will reach the Arc de Triomf, which was the main entrance to the World Exhibition that the city held in 1888. The Arc also leads to the main park of the city: park of la Ciudadela, dating from the 19th century. Your ride through the park will show you its most important spots, meaningful sculptures and hundred-old trees.
Then it will be time to reach the Villa Olímpica neighborhood and the Olympic port. This part of the tour will allow you to learn about the transformations that the city went through to get ready for the Olympic Games of 1992. Then, to top up your tour you will cycle along the Mediterranean Sea, enjoying the openness, vibrancy and beauty of Barcelona’s waterfront and urban beaches.
1pm: your tour will finish near the old city port, where your bikes will be collected. Then enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure before your evening tour through the medieval areas of the city.
6pm: meet your personal local host at your accommodation to start a private walking tour of the oldest quarters of Barcelona (the Gothic quarter and the quarter of El Born) aimed at learning about the Roman origins of the city and about its evolution towards a modern 21st-century metropolis.
During your walking tour of the Gothic quarter, you will learn about the Roman origins of Barcelona and about its expansion until the medieval times. Your walk will take you through a maze of narrow streets that open onto charming squares with impressive temples and noble houses. Along your walk, your guide will allow you to understand the first stages of the growth of the city from a Roman town to a thriving medieval metropolis.
Then you will be taken to the quarter of El Born to start a private culture and gastronomy tour of this part of the city. El Born emerged as the medieval extension of Barcelona and it is a quarter that combines tradition and modernity these days. It is an area of contrasts where some of the most historic streets of Barcelona coexist with modern fashion, gastronomy and art businesses. Your guide will share with you both history and architecture aspects while they throw in relevant information about the present character and personality of this area of Barcelona.
8pm: after your introduction to the history and architecture of El Born, it will be time to immerse yourselves into the local dynamics and to start discovering the character of Barcelona through its food and wine scene.
Understanding how Catalonia works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the culture of the region. The Catalans love their excellent food and they like to make a celebration out of every meal, together with family and friends. Food, conversation, wine, laughter and a magical common feeling of thankfulness combine in perfect harmony around Catalan tables to make meals memorable.
Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the region has to offer gastronomy-wise. They are small portions of food that people usually have as an appetizer before a meal. However, especially when eating out, a meal can consist of several different tapas and this is exactly what this tour is about.
Your local Spanish foodie host will take you on a tapas journey through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of the city, during which you’ll be able to taste a selection of 6 – 9 different local tapas dishes, combined with the corresponding drinks. Along the tour, you’ll be explained about the hectic social life that citizens of Barcelona have and how most of it takes place around food in tapas bars.
Barcelona can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing a place to eat so this tour will allow you to relax and to enjoy the magnificent culinary scene of the city, while you also learn about its particular character and identity, together with your local host. Of course Gus’s food allergies will be taken into consideration.
10:30pm: after your tapas tour, be escorted on food or by taxi to your accommodation in Barcelona.
Overnight in Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia 2 bedroom apartment at Majestic Residence Apartments. Owned, managed and serviced by Hotel Majestic (5*). Breakfast available at the hotel if you like.
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1st of July: half day tour of the masterpieces of genius architect Antoni Gaudí: Parc Güell and Sagrada familia and evening flamenco music and dance performance
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10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to Parc Güell.
10:20am: upon arrival, you will be taken on a private walking tour of the park aimed at understanding the extent to which Gaudi was able to expand his creativity and versatility. Promoted by the local businessman Eusebi Güell, the park was originally devised as an exclusive garden for the well-to-do local families who wanted to get away from the busy city life and be closer to nature. Güell gave Gaudí free rein to design the site, in such a way that the architect was able to experiment with new construction techniques and incorporate references to Classical mythology, the history of Catalonia and the Christian religion and this is what your tour will uncover for you.
11:45am: after your tour of Parc Güell, be transferred by your driver to the church of La Sagrada Familia.
12:05pm: arrival to la Sagrada Familia and private tour of the site. After your initial discovery of Catalan Modernist architecture and the work of Gaudí at Park Güell, you will have the right context to enjoy the magnificence of this temple and to understand the visionary that Gaudí was, by taking a private tour of both the inside and the outside of the building with your personal local host. The church of la Sagrada familia is the most ambitious and complex project of Gaudí as it incorporates all the structural innovations he had developed during his career. Also, the temple contains a fascinating symbolism revealing the in-depth knowledge of Christian liturgy that Gaudí acquired after several decades of intense study.
1:45pm: after your visit to la Sagrada familia, be transferred by your driver back to your accommodation or anywhere in the city of your choice where you may want to spend the rest of the afternoon before your flamenco performance in the evening.
6:30pm: be ready at a selected flamenco venue in Barcelona for the performance at 7pm and for which we will have booked tickets for you.
7pm: start of the flamenco performance with 4 artists onstage: 2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist.
8pm: end of the flamenco performance and rest of the evening at leisure.
Overnight in Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia 2 bedroom apartment at Majestic Residence Apartments. Owned, managed and serviced by Hotel Majestic (5*). Breakfast available at the hotel if you like.
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2nd of July: day trip from Barcelona to the Penedés wine region to learn about the production of Catalan wines in a family-owned winery and to enjoy the gastronomy of the area
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to the Penedés wine region. Along the way you will be explained about this particular area of Catalonia located West from Barcelona.
10am: upon arrival to the Penedés wine region you will visit a family-owned and family-run winery. During your visit you will get to learn about the local viticulture while you walk among the family vineyards discovering and learning how the family elaborates its wines combining ancestral and modern techniques.
After this introduction, you will enjoy a comprehensive wine tasting of different types of wine. You will discover the soils, microclimates and grape varieties that the family grows in its vineyards. The tasting will be accompanied by some morning snacks.
2pm: after your discovery journey of the local viticulture in the vineyard and of the aging of the local wines in cellars you will be taken for lunch to a selected local restaurant in the area to discover the local gastronomy. Gus’s food allergies will of course be taken into consideration.
4pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your accommodation in Barcelona.
5pm: arrival to your accommodation in Barcelona and services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia 2 bedroom apartment at Majestic Residence Apartments. Owned, managed and serviced by Hotel Majestic (5*). Breakfast available at the hotel if you like.
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3rd of July: market tour and cooking lesson with your own personal cooking instructor followed by lunch in their cooking studio
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10am: be met by your personal cooking instructor at your accommodation and take a short walk to a local market that they will choose for the occasion.
10:25am: upon arrival to the market you will take a guided tour aimed at learning about Catalan local produce, about the characteristics of the Mediterranean diet and about the Catalan gastronomy in concrete. This will make a great introduction to the Northeastern Spanish cooking philosophy.
10:55am: after your visit to the market you will be taken to their cooking studio, located just a short walk from the market.
11:05am: upon arrival to the studio of your personal cooking instructor, enjoy a private hands-on cooking workshop with a special focus on traditional Catalan cuisine. ︎This workshop is ideal for travelers interested in discovering the secrets of Catalan gastronomy.
Traditional gastronomy always reveals the customs and lifestyle of a country, city or region and this workshop is aimed at creating an immersion into the culture of Catalonia.
You will learn the basics of Catalan cuisine, the stews and the flavors of traditional recipes, but with a twist in the way to present the dishes, which will be creative and modern.
Together with your personal chef, you will enjoy traditional Catalan cuisine and the aromas and flavors that Catalans have always shared with their families. This will take place during the second part of the activity during which you will eat what you will cook, celebrating the joyous Mediterranean lifestyle. We will send you a suggested menu beforehand for you to approve.
2:15pm: after your cooking workshop and lunch, make your own way back to your accommodation or explore the city of Barcelona at leisure.
Overnight in Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia 2 bedroom apartment at Majestic Residence Apartments. Owned, managed and serviced by Hotel Majestic (5*). Breakfast available at the hotel if you like.
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4th of July: morning and early afternoon half-day tour to the natural park and Monastery of Montserrat and Trencadís (Gaudí mosaic technique) workshop with a local artist in his studio in the late afternoon
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9am: be met by your personal local host and a dedicated driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the natural park of Montserrat.
9:50am: upon arrival to the Montserrat area, you will take a cable car to go up to the monastery area. Along the way, you will enjoy stunning views of the dramatic nature that surrounds Montserrat.
10:15am: upon arrival to the Monastery area, take a short hike in the natural park to the cross of Saint Michael for panoramic views of the mountains and of the Monastery. After enjoying the natural beauty of the area, take a short hike back to the monastery area.
11:30am: back at the monastery area, take a tour of the basilica and of the different monastery sections including a visit to the room where the famous black Madonna is kept. This is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary that the catholic population of Barcelona have a great devotion for. This visit to the monastery area will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the site and also to learn about its historical and architectural significance.
12:30pm: make your way with your personal local host to the door of the basilica to secure a good spot near the altar in order to enjoy the singing that starts at 1pm.
1pm: enjoy the singing of two prayers that the choir of Montserrat dedicates to the Virgin Mary every day.
1:30pm: private transfer from Montserrat back to your accommodation in Barcelona.
2:30pm: arrival to your accommodation in Barcelona and time at leisure before your art activity in the afternoon.
5:15pm: depart from your accommodation on foot to the studio of a selected local artist with whom you will take a private art workshop based on the same mosaic technique (trencadís) that Gaudí used and that you will have learned about during your Gaudí tour.
5:30pm: upon arrival to the studio, you will be welcomed by the artist. Then, you will be given an introduction about the history of mosaic and its applications, both past and present.
After this you will be explained about the different materials and tools that you will use during the workshop. From the simple use of a hammer to more sophisticated tools for cutting marble and mosaic smalti, used since Roman times. Then you will be taught some quick and simple cutting techniques for straight lines, triangles and curves.
Then, as a group or individually you will create a design of your choice or drawn up with the assistance of the artist. Each member of the family should be able to complete a mosaic composition of 30 x 21cm that should be finished by the end of the session and ready to take home as a souvenir.
8pm: end of your art workshop with the artist and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia 2 bedroom apartment at Majestic Residence Apartments. Owned, managed and serviced by Hotel Majestic (5*). Breakfast available at the hotel if you like.
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5th of July: day trip from Barcelona to the gorgeous Mediterranean costa brava for a coastal hike and a kayaking adventure there
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the Mediterranean Costa Brava town of Tamariu. Along the way, your host will set the context for your stay in the area by giving you some information about the character, customs, gastronomy, landscape and people of the province of Girona and of its coast.
10:30am: upon arrival to Tamariu, enjoy a coastal walk (5km) that will take you first through the old fishing center of the town and then along some spectacular cliffs toward the lighthouse of San Sebastian in the town of Llafranc. Along the way you will enjoy panoramic views of the Mediterranean sea as well as with crystal clear waters and splendid vegetation.
1pm: once at the lighthouse, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to a selected local restaurant in Llafranc for lunch, so you can enjoy the gastronomy of the area based on fish, seafood and fresh vegetables.
2:45pm: after lunch, enjoy a kayaking adventure with your own personal kayaking instructor to explore the coast of Llafranc this time from a different perspective. This will give you the opportunity to do some snorkeling and some underwater photography while you explore your preferred parts of the nearby coastline after being given some options by your personal kayaking instructor.
5:15pm: after your kayaking adventure, be transferred back to your accommodation in Barcelona.
6:45pm: arrival to your accommodation in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: Passeig de Gracia 2 bedroom apartment at Majestic Residence Apartments. Owned, managed and serviced by Hotel Majestic (5*). Breakfast available at the hotel if you like.
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6th of July: departure from Barcelona
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Time TBC: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred to Barcelona airport.
Time TBC: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight.
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke trip for a private party of 4 pax is 15700 Euros
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This price includes
– 7 nights’ accommodation as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated personal driver.
– All private tours and travel experiences mentioned above led by a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide with a great command of the English language.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for all your guided tours.
– Bike and helmet rental for your bike tour of Barcelona.
– A tapas and wines dinner through 2 – 3 selected bars of Barcelona old town including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Barcelona old town, including 4 artists onstage: 2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist.
– Private visit to the vineyards and aging facilities of a selected local winery in the Penedes wine region followed by the corresponding tastings and including a selection of mid-morning snacks.
– Private market tour and cooking lesson with your own personal cooking instructor in a professional cooking studio followed by lunch there with drinks.
– Private art workshop for 4 pax (Gaudi-style mosaic technique) in the studio of a local artist in Barcelona.
– Kayak and snorkeling gear rental for your kayaking adventures on the Costa Brava.
– 24h Guardian Angel throughout your trip for any emergencies you may have.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in Barcelona.
– Petrol and parkings.
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– Breakfast. You can go for breakfast to hotel Majestic, just across the street from your hotel and have breakfast there if you like and pay it locally.
– Lunch during your day trips to the Penedés wine region and to the Costa Brava. Your personal local host will take you to a restaurant suited to your taste but the cost of lunch is not included. You can pay locally.
– Any other meals not mentioned in the section “this price includes”.
– Anything else not mentioned in the section “this price includes”.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this trip we require a 30% deposit of the grand total paid via credit/debit card no later than the 20th of April at 11:59pm (Madrid time). The final 70% must be paid via the same method no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip.
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Grand total of this bespoke trip: 15700 Euros
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30% deposit needed no later than the 20th of April 2024 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 4710 Euros
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Final 70% needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip to pay it in full: 10990 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge the 30% deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 21 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 45% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 55%.
– If you cancel your trip between 20 and 8 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 55% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 45%.
– If you cancel your trip between 7 and 4 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 65% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 35%.
– If you cancel your trip 3 days or less prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) If Spain closes its borders due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country due to 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 duration / activities of the trip.
(***) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance from Medjet.
