Payment of bespoke tour program of the Basque Country and Catalonia | 21st of February – 1st of March 2025 | 2 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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21st of February: Arrival to Bilbao airport and private transfer to your hotel in San Sebastian
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4:10pm: upon arrival of your flight to Bilbao airport (VY2701), collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Helen and Edward – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in San Sebastian.
6pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in San Sebastian and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in San Sebastian and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in San Sebastian: hotel Maria Cristina (own arrangements)
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22nd of February: San Sebastian discovery journey: history, architecture and food scenes
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10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation in San Sebastian and start a private tour of the city that will take you first to Mount Igueldo (local transportation with a private driver in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle) for excellent panoramic views of the bay of La Concha.
It will be there where you will be given an overview of the origins, evolution and present character of the city, before exploring in depth its most iconic sections. This will make the perfect starting point to set the context for your stay in San Sebastian for the next few days. Near Mount Igueldo you will also see the most iconic work of Basque Sculptor Chillida.
Then, you will be driven to the old town quarters, where you will see the oldest buildings of the primitive fishing town that San Sebastian was before becoming a glamorous Summer destination for aristocrats and well to do families in the 19th and 20th centuries and until today.
12:30pm: after your introduction to the geography, history and architecture of San Sebastian, say goodbye to your driver and enjoy a pintxos lunch through San Sebastian old town with your local host. Along the tour you will learn what makes the gastronomy from San Sebastian so unique. in San Sebastian pintxos are small and elaborate gourmet bites that concentrate the soul of the city in their elegant and honest presentation. During this part of the tour you will also be explained about the iconic Basque white wine Txakoli and also about the exceptional red wines that are made in the Basque part of the Rioja wine region.
3pm: end of your tour back at your hotel. Alternatively, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in San Sebastian old town.
Overnight in San Sebastian: hotel Maria Cristina (own arrangements)
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23rd of February: day at leisure in San Sebastian
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All day: enjoy your day at leisure in San Sebastian, maybe following our recommendations.
Overnight in San Sebastian: hotel Maria Cristina (own arrangements)
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24th of February: day trip from San Sebastian to the French Basque Country towns of Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz finishing with a stroll through the medieval quarters of the Spanish Basque Country town of Hondarribia
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9:30am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to the French Basque Country city of Biarritz.
Along the way, you will be given some explanations about the geography, culture, customs and history of the French Basque Country in order to set the context for your stay in the region.
10:20am: upon arrival to Biarritz, enjoy a private walking tour of the old town and learn why, when the European Royal families searched for a holiday destination they chose this particular town. Iconic buildings such as the Hotel du Palais, the lighthouse and the bridge by Eiffel will give you a hint of why this was and is such a hot and refined spot. Also Biarritz boasts some of the best beaches for surfing and this also infuses the city with a vibrant outdoorsy atmosphere.
Another highlight of Biarritz will be its food market where you will be able to understand the ingredients that shape the local gastronomy. During your visit to the market, you may want to take a stop to have an aperitif and maybe a quick seafood bite to open your appetite for lunch.
After your introduction to the city, you will be taken for lunch to a selected local restaurant specialized in French Basque Country recipes.
2:30pm: after lunch in Biarritz, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the nearby coastal town of Saint Jean de Luz.
3pm: upon arrival to Saint Jean de Luz, enjoy a private walking tour through its very picturesque old town while you learn why this small fishing village was loved by pirates and corsairs alike and how it became a center of economic power thanks to the fortunes made by local ship-owners mostly in the 17th century.
4:30pm: end of your tour of Saint Jean de Luz and private transfer back to San Sebastian, taking a quick stop at the picturesque town of Hondarribia, exactly on the border between Spain and France and which treasures a very well preserved medieval old town filled with quaint corners and houses of traditional Basque architecture.
6pm: arrival to San Sebastian and end of services for the day.
Overnight in San Sebastian: hotel Maria Cristina (own arrangements)
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25th of February: Scenic hike from San Sebastian to the port of Passaia
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10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation to start an urban first and later nature walk that will take you to the scenic port of Passaia.
Your journey will take you first through the quarter of Gros until reaching the city limits of San Sebastian. From there, you will leave the city behind to enter a coastal path that will cross a forest of Chestnut, Pine, Oak and Beech trees offering excellent panoramic views of the rugged Basque coast in some sections and even remains of an old aqueduct.
As you approach the port of Passaia, your guide will start setting the context for your stay in the area by sharing some insider’s information about the history of whaling in the Basque country. Passia was a thriving port and a ship building hub in the 16th century and the grandest and most iconic Basque whaling ships were built right there.
1pm: once at Passaia cross the old town on foot to later come back to San Sebastian by taxi or by bus. It is a very short ride.
1:30pm: arrival to your hotel in San Sebastian and end of services for the day
Overnight in San Sebastian: hotel Maria Cristina (own arrangements)
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26th of February: early morning flight from San Sebastian to Barcelona and introductory tour of the highlights of master architect Antoni Gaudí (Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell) upon arrival.
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6am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to San Sebastian airport.
6:30am: arrival to San Sebastian airport on time to take your flight to Barcelona at 8:05am (Vueling airlines).
8:05am: departure of your flight from San Sebastian to Barcelona. Vueling airlines VY2485.
9:05am: upon arrival of your flight to Barcelona, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Helen and Edward – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Parc Güell.
10am: upon arrival, meet your personal local guide and 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.
11:15am: after your tour of Parc Güell, be transferred to the church of La Sagrada Familia.
11:35am: 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.
1:15pm: after your visit to la Sagrada familia, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to your hotel in Barcelona.
1:30pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Barcelona and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you like.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Majestic (own arrangements
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27th of February: day trip from Barcelona to the medieval city of Girona
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10am: 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 medieval town of Girona.
With one hundred thousand inhabitants, a colorful history and an impressive collection of historic buildings, Girona is a great example of a city with a very well preserved old town still inhabited mostly by locals.
11:15am: upon arrival to Girona, you will enjoy a private walking tour of the old town along which you will learn about its Roman origins and about the important settlement the town also became in the middle ages. The old city ramparts date from the 9th century and feature a charming labyrinth of winding streets once inhabited by Christians, Jews and Muslims.
Along your tour you will visit the 12th century Moorish baths, which are a beautiful example of what life in the town was like then and of the very interesting mix of architecture styles that the city embraced at that time.
From there you’ll continue your tour, visiting its Cathedral. An impressive temple featuring the hallmarks of varying architectural styles of different periods, this cathedral is home to the sacred chapel of the patron saint of Girona, and to the magnificent 11th century Tapestry of the Creation, considered to be a true masterpiece of medieval textile artwork.
Then, you will walk down toward the Onyar river, which features many picturesque bridges separating the old sections of the city from the new ones. It is in this part of the town where most of the cafes, restaurants and commercial areas of the old town are located.
1:45pm: surely hungry, after your discovery of Girona your local host will take you for a light lunch to recover some energy and to taste the gastronomy of the region.
2:45pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your hotel in Barcelona.
4pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Majestic (own arrangements
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28th of February: day at leisure in Barcelona
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All day: enjoy your day at leisure in Barcelona, maybe following our recommendations.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Majestic (own arrangements
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1st of March: departure from Barcelona
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Time TBC: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Barcelona and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Barcelona airport.
30min later (estimated): arrival to Barcelona airport and end of trip.
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke tour program for a private party of 2 pax is 5075 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.
– 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.
– A pintxos lunch in San Sebastian through 2 – 3 selected pintxos bars and including up to 5 pintxos and 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– All entrance tickets and admissions for all your guided tours.
– Airplane tickets to fly from San Sebastian To Barcelona on the 26th of February and with a luggage allowance per person of 1 large suitcase to check-in, 1 carry-on bag (55x40x20cm) and 1 small bag.
– All taxes.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit.
– 24h Guardian Angel service throughout your trip.
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This price excludes
– Your international flights.
– Accommodation.
– Lunch during your day trip to the French Basque Country (your personal local host will take you to a restaurant suited to your taste but the cost of lunch is not included).
– Lunch during your day trip to the French Basque Country (your personal local host will take you to a restaurant suited to your taste but the cost of lunch is not included).
– 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 bespoke tour program, we required a deposit of 1522,50 Euros via credit/debit card. This has already been paid. The balance of the trip (4342,5 Euros) 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 tour program: 5075 Euros
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Deposit needed (already paid) no later than the 1st of October 2024 via credit/debit card to confirm the trip: 1522,5 Euros
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Balance needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the tour program to pay it in full: 3552,5 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 deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 20 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the tour program and we will refund the remaining 50%.
– If you cancel your trip between 19 and 14 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 60% of the full cost of the tour program and we will refund the remaining 40%.
– If you cancel your trip between 13 and 8 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 70% of the full cost of the tour program and we will refund the remaining 30%.
– If you cancel your trip 7 days or less prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the tour program.
(*) 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 tour program.
(**) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance packages from Medjet.
