Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 5th – 14th of October 2024 | 2 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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5th of October: arrival to Madrid and day at leisure to recover from your flight
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7:45am: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport (flight DL #126 from JFK), collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Barbara Varlotta – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Madrid.
9:15 (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Madrid in your free time and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Madrid: Mandarin Oriental hotel (own arrangements)
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6th of October: introductory tour of Madrid old town including the Prado Museum and finishing with a tapas lunch Madrid style
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9am: meet your personal guide at your hotel in Madrid to go on an introductory tour of Madrid old town aimed at setting the context for your stay in the city and in the country.
Your tour will take you through the oldest quarters of the Spanish capital in order for you to understand where Madrid has its roots and from where it has evolved until becoming the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital it is today.
A first highlight of your walk will be the iconic Plaza Mayor where you will be explained about the important historical events that have happened there over the past 400 years and their importance in the history of Madrid and of Spain. Another highlight will be learning about the history of the Spanish monarchy while you stroll along the grand façades of the Royal Palace, to later enjoy a panoramic view of its gardens and of the nearby opera house.
After this introduction, your tour will continue with a visit to the Prado Museum. There your guide will take you on a private journey through Spanish history of art, along which you enjoy the remarkable works of Spanish master painters such as Velazquez, Goya and El Greco amongst others. This will allow you to understand how different historical periods shaped the artistic creation at those times and how much of Spain’s culture and sentiment is expressed in the works of its main artists.
1pm: after your art immersion, be taken for a tapas tasting lunch in a selected tapas bar of Madrid old town.
Understanding how Madrid works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the culture of the city. The Spanish love their excellent food and they like to make a celebration out of every meal, together with family and friends and Madrid is a melting pot of people from all over the country. Food, conversation, wine, laughter and a magical common feeling of thankfulness combine in perfect harmony in Madrid bars to make tapas meals memorable.
Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the city 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 part of the tour is about.
During your tapas tasting lunch, you’ll get to taste a selection of 6 – 9 different local tapas dishes, combined with the corresponding drinks. Along this culinary journey, you’ll be explained about the hectic social life that Madrileños have and how most of it takes place around food in tapas bars.
The Spanish capital can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing a place to eat so this lunch 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.
3pm: end of your tapas tour back at your accommodation.
Overnight in Madrid: Mandarin Oriental hotel (own arrangements)
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7th of October: high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona and introductory tour of the architecture highlights of Antoni Gaudi
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8:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Madrid and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Madrid train station.
8:50am: arrival to Madrid train station on time to take your high-speed train at 9:30am.
9:30am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona (1st class seats).
12:37pm: upon arrival of your train to Barcelona train station, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Barbara Varlotta – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Barcelona.
1:15pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and free time to check-in, freshen up and have a bite before your introductory tour of the Architecture highlights of Antoni Gaudí. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Barcelona in your free time and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
3pm: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred by taxi to Parc Güell.
3:20pm: 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.
5pm: after your tour of Parc Güell, be transferred by taxi to the church of La Sagrada Familia.
5:10pm: 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.
7pm: after your visit to la Sagrada familia, be transferred by taxi back to your accommodation or anywhere in the city of your choice where you may want to spend the rest of the evening.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Cotton House (own arrangements)
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8th of October: day trip from Barcelona to the Dali museum in Figueres and to the medieval town of Girona and village of Besalú
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9am: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to the Dalí Museum in Figueres.
10:40am: once at the Dalí museum, take a private tour with your guide aimed at learning about the life and work of the artist and about the museum itself, which is one of the most eclectic ones in the world.
12pm: after your tour of the museum, be picked up by your private driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the medieval town of Besalú.
12:30pm: upon arrival to Besalú, take a private walking tour of its picturesque medieval quarters, while you learn about the history of its former Hispanic-Jewish community and about how it coexisted with the Christian majority. Besalu also features an impressive bridge from the 11th century that you may want to cross to capture the lovely views of the town from across the river.
1:45pm: after your introductory tour of Besalú, enjoy a well deserved lunch in a local restaurant with your local host. This will make an excellent opportunity to learn about life in Catalonia beyond Barcelona and about how different the rural areas can be from the urban ones.
3:30pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the nearby city of Girona.
4:10pm: upon arrival to Girona, enjoy a private walking tour of the old town including the Jewish Quarter, its Gothic Cathedral and the picturesque bridges over the Onyar river, which separates the old sections of the city from the new ones.
6pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your hotel in Barcelona.
7:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Cotton House (own arrangements)
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9th of October: market tour and cooking lesson in the morning and afternoon trip to the Monastery and Natural park of Montserrat
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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 particular. 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, be met by your personal local host and a dedicated driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the natural park of Montserrat.
3:05pm: upon arrival to the Montserrat natural park, 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.
3:35pm: upon arrival to 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.
5pm: after your visit to the monastery, enjoy the beautiful nature of the area by taking a short guided walk in the natural park to the cross of Saint Michael for beautiful panoramic views of the mountains and of the Monastery. After enjoying the natural beauty of the area, take a short walk back to the monastery area.
6:30pm: after your tour of the nature reserve and sanctuary or Montserrat, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your accommodation in Barcelona.
7:15pm: arrival to your accommodation in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Cotton House (own arrangements)
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10th of October: from Barcelona to Marbella and day at leisure at your resort in Marbella
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6:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Barcelona and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Barcelona airport.
7am: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight to Málaga at 8:50am.
8:50am: departure of your flight from Barcelona airport to Málaga airport (IB# 5164).
10:35am: upon arrival of your flight to Málaga airport, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Barbara Varlotta – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Marbella.
12pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Marbella and rest of the day at leisure. Please note that check-in time is 3pm but we will be on top of things to ask the hotel to have your room ready as soon as possible, so you can occupy it earlier.
Overnight in Marbella: Junior Suite Deluxe with breakfast included at hotel Marbella Club (5*)
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11th of October: day at leisure in Marbella
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All day: enjoy your day at leisure in Marbella.
Overnight in Marbella: Junior Suite Deluxe with breakfast included at hotel Marbella Club (5*)
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12th of October: from Marbella to Madrid by high-speed train
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10:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Marbella and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Málaga train station.
11:20am: arrival to Málaga train station on time to take your high-speed train to Madrid at 11:58am.
11:58am: departure of your high-speed train from Málaga train station to Madrid.
2:48pm: upon arrival of your train to Madrid train station, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Barbara Varlotta – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Madrid.
3:30pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: hotel JW Marriott (own arrangements
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13th of October: day trip to Toledo from Madrid
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9am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Madrid and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Toledo old town.
10am: upon arrival to Toledo, meet your personal local host to start a panoramic tour that will take you to see excellent views of the city first to later start a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its Jewish, Hispanic-Muslim and Christian history.
Along your tour you will visit the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, which is an extraordinary example of the Jewish-Sephardic heritage of the city.
Your tour will also take you to see some remarkable evidence of the presence of the Hispanic-Muslim culture in the city, such as the former Mosque of el Cristo de la Luz.
You will then visit the former church of San Román which is the most exquisite example of the interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures that took place in Toledo. This is especially present in the architecture and iconographic program of the church which features some impressive frescoes from the Middle ages.
2pm: end of your private walking tour of Toledo and free time for lunch at leisure before your return to Madrid.
4pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle back to your hotel in Madrid.
5pm: arrival to your accommodation in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: hotel JW Marriott (own arrangements
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14th of October: departure from Madrid
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6:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Madrid and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Madrid airport.
7am: arrival to Madrid airport on time to take your flight to JFK at 10am (DL #127).
10am: departure of your flight from Madrid airport.
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke trip for a private group of 2 pax is 10610, of which 450€ have already been paid, so the balance is 10160 Euros
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This price includes
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a personal driver.
– Accommodation in Marbella with breakfast included for 2 nights as per mentioned above.
– All high-speed train tickets (1st class seats) mentioned above.
– All private tours and travel experiences mentioned above with 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.
– A tapas and wines lunch in Madrid including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– All taxi rides for your tour of the architecture highlights of Antoni Gaudí.
– A market tour and cooking lesson in Barcelona with your own personal cooking instructor followed by lunch in their cooking studio and including a selection of 5 dishes and 1 dessert, accompanied by wine, beer, refreshments and water.
– Cable car tickets to get to the top of the natural park of Montserrat.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit. We will also book restaurant tables for you if you wish.
– 24h Guardian Angel service for any emergencies you may have.
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– Accommodation in Madrid and Barcelona.
– Flights to travel from Barcelona to Málaga.
– Any other flights.
– Lunch during your day trip to Figueres, Girona and Besalú. Your guide will take you to a restaurant suited to your taste and you can pay locally.
– Any other meals not mentioned right above.
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this trip we need a 30% deposit of the balance no later than the 28th of July 2024 via credit/debit card. 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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Balance to pay of this trip: 10160 Euros
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30% of the balance needed no later than the 28th of July 2024 via credit/debit card to confirm the trip: 3048 Euros
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Final 70% of the balance needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 7112 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 30% of the full balance of the trip only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 15 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full balance of the trip and we will refund the remaining 50% of the balance of the trip.
– If you cancel your trip between 14 and 8 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 60% of the full balance of the trip and we will refund the remaining 40% of the balance of the trip.
– If you cancel your trip between 7 and 3 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 70% of the full balance of the trip and we will refund the remaining 30% of the balance of the trip.
– If you cancel your trip between 2 days or less prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 100% of the full balance of the trip.
(*) Please note that partial cancellations won’t result in partial refunds. This applies to the group size and to the duration, activities and services included in the trip.
(**) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests purchase their travel insurance from MedJet.
