Payment of bespoke trip Spain | 2nd – 14th of May | 2 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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2nd of May: arrival of your flight to Madrid airport, private transfer to your hotel and day at leisure to recover from your journey
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7:50am: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport (Iberia 6274), collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your private driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “George and Bonnie – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Madrid.
9am (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure to recover from your journey. We will be on top of things so you can occupy your room as soon as possible but please bear in mind that guaranteed check-in is not until mid afternoon. We will also give you recommendations of things to do and see in Madrid and of places to eat and will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Madrid: premium double room with breakfast included at Hotel Only you Boutique (4*)
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3rd of May: introductory tour of Madrid old town including the Prado Museum and evening flamenco and tapas tour
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9:30am: meet your personal guide at your hotel 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.
11:30am: after this introduction to the Spanish capital, take a taxi with your guide to the Prado Museum. There your guide will take you on a private tour that will allow you to travel through Spanish history of art while 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 each time and how much of Spain’s culture and sentiment is expressed in the works of its main artists.
1:30pm: after your tour of Madrid, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure before your evening flamenco and tapas tour.
5pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards a selected flamenco venue in Madrid old town.
This introductory walk is aimed at learning how flamenco music emerged from Spain as a result of a slow fusion of the ancient multicultural musical heritage of the country with the original gypsy rhythms and musical roots. This will set the context for (and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of) the flamenco performance in a small and intimate venue that will follow, with 6 people on stage (two singers, one guitarist and three dancers).
6pm: start of the flamenco performance.
7pm: after your flamenco performance, enjoy a tapas tasting tour through Madrid old town. Your tour will take you to 2 – 3 selected tapas bars where the locals like to gather with family and friends and where you will taste a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share. This will make an excellent opportunity to learn about Central Spanish gastronomy, about the connection of different foods to different festivities, regions and specific periods of history and also about the dynamics of tapas bars in the Spanish capital.
9pm: after your tapas adventure, be escorted back to your hotel, maybe stopping along the way for a sweet local treat.
9:30pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Madrid: premium double room with breakfast included at Hotel Only you Boutique (4*)
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4th of May: 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.
Finally, to top up your tour you will visit the Cathedral of Toledo, which is one of the most important ones ever erected in Spain.
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: premium double room with breakfast included at Hotel Only you Boutique (4*)
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5th of May: day trip to Segovia from Madrid
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Segovia.
10:20am: upon arrival to Segovia old town, pick up your personal local host, who will get in the vehicle with you to start a short panoramic tour of the city followed by a private walking tour of the historical center.
Along your walking tour you will visit the three historic gems of the city, which are its Roman Aqueduct, its Cathedral and its Alcazar (a fortification of Roman Origin later used and transformed by different civilisations). Your tour will also allow you to enjoy the medieval charm of the quarters of the old city which feature palaces, cute little squares, quaint alleyways, an iconic old Jewish section and the main square of the city (plaza mayor).
1:20pm: end of your walking tour and free time for lunch at leisure. This will make a great opportunity to sample the gastronomy of Castilla León, the iconic region where Segovia is, and that you will explore further on your way from Madrid to San Sebastian.
3pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your hotel in Madrid.
4:15pm: arrival to your hotel in Madrid and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Madrid: premium double room with breakfast included at Hotel Only you Boutique (4*)
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6th of May: from Madrid to San Sebastian with a stop in Burgos halfway along the way to visit its old town and have lunch there
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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 Burgos old town.
11:40am: upon arrival to Burgos old town, meet your personal local host and start a private 2 walking tour of the old town including its impressive cathedral and its medieval quarters. Burgos (along with Segovia) is one of the most important cities in the Castilla León region, which separates Madrid from the North of Spain. Your tour of Burgos will make a great continuation of your discovery journey of this particular area of Spain, that you will have started in Segovia.
Burgos Cathedral was given the World Heritage Site designation in 1984 and it is an exquisite example of Castilla and León’s religious architecture. Your tour will also take you to the medieval quarters of the city in order to see the most representative buildings as well as the iconic Plaza Mayor.
After visiting Madrid and with your previous experience in Toledo, you will understand the diversity that Spain has to offer and that you will keep discovering in the Basque country.
1:40pm: after your tour, enjoy some free time for lunch at leisure. Burgos is famous amongst Spanish natives for its gastronomy so you will be in the right city for a nice lunch Castilla y León style! We will give you recommendations of places to eat and will book a table for you if you wish.
3:15pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred to your hotel in San Sebastian. Your guide will have given you instructions on where to meet your driver.
5:30pm: arrival to your hotel in San Sebastian and end of services for the day. We will also give you recommendations of things to do and see in San Sebastian and of places to eat and will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in San Sebastian: classic double room with sea views breakfast included at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra (4*)
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7th of May: day trip from San Sebastian to Bilbao to explore the city and visit the Guggenheim art museum
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in San Sebastian and be transferred to the Basque city of Bilbao.
10:15am: upon arrival to Bilbao meet your personal local host to start a private tour of the city along which you will see its most representative and iconic sections such as the Guggenheim Museum, the tower of Iberdrola, the Gran Vía area, and the river sections (with the bridge of Calatrava, the Isozaki Towers, and the City Hall).
You will also enjoy the old 7 streets district area with the cathedral of Santiago, the covered market of Rivera and the New Square.
Along your tour you will learn how Bilbao evolved from being an old industrial city to a modern and cosmopolitan European capital, which contrasts substantially with San Sebastian in spite of their proximity and shared latitude. You will see the grand buildings that the primitive bourgeoisie of the city erected to match those of other important European bourgeois cities and the contemporary ones that have shaped a new personality for the city.
Your introductory history and architecture tour of the city will continue with a pintxos lunch with your personal local host in order for you to learn about this representative part of the culture and gastronomy of the city.
3:15pm: end of your tour of Bilbao and private transfer back to San Sebastian.
4:30pm: arrival to San Sebastian and end of services for the day.
Overnight in San Sebastian: classic double room with sea views breakfast included at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra (4*)
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8th of May: discovery journey of San Sebastian finishing with a pintxos lunch in town (4 pax)
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10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation in San Sebastian and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Mount Igueldo 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 its most iconic sections. This will make the perfect starting point to set the context for your stay in San Sebastian and in the Basque Country. 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 be explained the history and evolution of Basque culture. It will be there where your host will share with you what makes this culture unique to Spain and how this connects to the particular geography, climate and economy of the Basque Country.
1pm: after your introduction to the geography, history and architecture of San Sebastian, enjoy a pintxos lunch through San Sebastian old town and learn what makes the gastronomy of the Basque Country different from the ones you will have already discovered in Central Spain. Pintxos are small and elaborate gourmet bites that concentrate the soul of San Sebastian in their elegant and honest presentation.
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: classic double room with sea views breakfast included at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra (4*)
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9th of May: day trip from San Sebastian to the french Basque Country towns of Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz
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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.
During your tour of Biarritz you will be taken to visit the local food market. It will be there where you will learn about the produce that shapes the local gastronomy and where you may want to do some tastings of selected local produce.
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 of the old town and learn why this small fishing village was loved by pirates and corsairs alike. Its cobbled streets are also filled with charming gourmet shops of cheese, foie, sausages and other French Basque Country delicacies, making it the perfect place to buy some foodie souvenirs.
5pm: end of your tour of Saint Jean de Luz and private transfer back to San Sebastian.
5:30pm: arrival to San Sebastian and end of services for the day.
Overnight in San Sebastian: classic double room with sea views breakfast included at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra (4*)
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10th of May: from San Sebastian to Barcelona and introductory culture and gastronomy tour of Barcelona old town
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11am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to San Sebastian airport.
11:30am: arrival to San Sebastian airport on time to take your direct flight to Barcelona at 1:35pm (Vueling airlines VY2485).
1:30pm: departure of your flight from San Sebastian to Barcelona.
2:40pm: upon arrival of your flight to Barcelona airport, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your private driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “George and Bonnie – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Barcelona.
4pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and free time to check-in, freshen up and rest a little before your introductory tour of Barcelona old town. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Barcelona and of places to eat and will also book tables for you if you wish.
6pm: meet your personal local host at the door of your hotel and be transferred by taxi to Barcelona medieval quarters.
Upon arrival to Barcelona’s medieval section, you will start an introductory walking tour of the Gothic quarter through which 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. During 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.
From the Gothic quarter, you will go 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. Along your tour, you will visit the iconic basilica of Santa María del Mar, dating from the 14th century and built with the help of the inhabitants of the quarter at that time.
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 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, 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.
10pm: end of your tapas tour and private transfer by taxi back to your hotel.
10:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in San Barcelona: deluxe garden room with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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11th of May: a discovery journey of the life and work of Barcelona’s most iconic architect: Antoni Gaudi
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10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred by taxi 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 taxi 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 taxi back to your accommodation or anywhere in the city of your choice where you may want to spend the rest of the afternoon.
Overnight in San Barcelona: deluxe garden room with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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12th of May: day trip from Barcelona to Figueres to learn about the life and work of Salvador Dali and to the medieval village of Besalu and city of Girona
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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 San Barcelona: deluxe garden room with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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13th of May: half day trip from Barcelona to the Nature reserve and Monastery of Montserrat and high-speed train to Madrid
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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 minibus to the natural park of Montserrat.
9:45am: 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 guided walk 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 walk 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 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 to Barcelona train station stopping along the way for lunch in one of the towns of the natural areas in between the two places.
4pm: arrival to Barcelona train station on time to take your high-speed train to Madrid at 5pm.
5pm: departure of your high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid.
7:45pm: upon arrival of your train to Madrid train station, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your private driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “George and Bonnie – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel near Madrid airport.
8:15pm: arrival to your hotel near Madrid airport and end of services for the day.
Overnight near Madrid airport: king guest room with breakfast included at hotel Hilton Madrid airport (4*)
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14th of May: departure from Madrid
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9am: ask the hotel staff to order a taxi for you and be transferred by taxi to Madrid airport.
9:15am: arrival to Madrid airport on time to take your flight back to the US at 11:35am (Iberia 6275).
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke trip for a private party of 2 pax (4 pax for the tour on the 8th of May) is 20850 Euros
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This price includes
– 12 nights’ accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver.
– All private tours and 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 for all your guided tours.
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Madrid with 6 people onstage: 1 guitarist, 2 singers and 3 dancers.
– A tapas dinner in Madrid including a selection of 6 – 9 different local dishes to share, up to 3 drinks per person (non alcoholic for George) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– A pintxos lunch in Bilbao including up to 5 pintxos and 3 drinks per person (non alcoholic for George).
– A pintxos lunch in San Sebastian (for 4 pax) including up to 5 pintxos and 3 drinks per person (non alcoholic for George).
– Tastings of selected local produce in the local food market in Biarritz.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in Biarritz or Saint Jean de Luz including a selection of 2 starters to share, 1 main per person and up to 2 drinks per person (non alcoholic for George).
– Domestic flight to travel from San Sebastian to Barcelona on the 10th of May (Vueling airlines flight VY2485). Luggage allowance per person: 1 big suitcase per person (up to 20kg, 1 carry-on suitcase of max 10kg and 55 x 40 x 20cm and 1 small handbag.
– A tapas dinner in Barcelona including a selection of 6 – 9 different local dishes to share, up to 3 drinks per person (non alcoholic for George) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– All taxi rides during your Gaudi tour in Barcelona.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the village of Besalu including a selection of 2 starters to share, 1 main per person and up to 2 drinks per person (non alcoholic for George).
– Cable car tickets to get to the top of the natural park of Montserrat where the Monastery is.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in one of the towns between Montserrat and Barcelona including a selection of 2 starters to share, 1 main per person and up to 2 drinks per person (non alcoholic for George).
– High-speed train tickets to travel from Barcelona to Madrid on the 13th of May (1st class seats).
– 24h guardian angel service throughout your trip for any emergencies you may have.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit.
– Petrol, parkings and tolls.
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– Your international flights
– Any meals not mentioned right above
– Anything else not mentioned right 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 via credit/debit card no later than the 26th of February 2024 at 11:59pm (Madrid time). If you wish to confirm at a later stage, we will need to re-quote the trip. 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: 20850 Euros
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30% deposit needed no later than the 26th of February 2024 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 6255 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: 14595 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 15 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 50%.
– If you cancel your trip between 14 and 4 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 75% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 25%.
– 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.
(*) Please note that partial cancellations won’t result in partial refunds. This applies to the group size and to the activities, services and duration 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.
(***) 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 of the Spanish borders, we will give you a full refund.
