Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 16th – 22nd of October 2024 | 2 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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16th of October: arrival to Seville airport, transfer to hotel and introductory evening flamenco and tapas tour
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1:15pm: upon arrival of your flight (Air Maroc 924 from Casablanca) to Seville airport, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your personal driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Debra and Adam – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Seville.
2:15pm (estimated): arrival at your hotel in Seville and rest of the afternoon at leisure to check-in, freshen up, have a bite and a rest before your evening flamenco and tapas tour. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Seville and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
6:30pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards the flamenco quarter of Triana. Along this walk you will be explained about the origins of flamenco music in South West Spain and also about its evolution throughout the centuries. 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 4 people on stage (one singer, one guitarist and two dancers).
7:30pm: start of the flamenco performance.
8:30pm: after your flamenco performance, enjoy a tapas tasting tour through the quarter of Triana. Along the journey, your host 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 and up to 3 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water). This will give you a very good overview of SouthWestern Spanish gastronomy before deepening into both during the following days of your trip.
10:30pm: after your tapas adventure, be escorted back to your hotel stopping along the way for a sweet local treat.
11pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville: Junior Suite with breakfast included at Hotel Mercer (5*)
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17th of October: Seville World Heritage Sites walking tour in the morning and rest of the day at leisure
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10am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish palace, the Cathedral with its Giralda tower and the Archive of the Indies.
You will start your discovery journey by visiting the Alcazar, which is a massive complex of palaces erected in different periods and of breath-taking gardens of different styles. The Alcazar has stunning historical constructions featuring a very particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles, called Mudejar. This style became very fashionable in Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries amongst the Christian nobility and it reached its maximum splendor in Seville. Another essential part of the Alcazar is the famous house of Trade, which once hosted the offices from where all the commerce with the New World was managed. After enjoying these inner areas, you will be taken to the gardens, which are an exquisite sample of European landscaping from the 16th until the 20th centuries.
Then you will be taken to visit the Cathedral, which is the largest gothic temple in the World and where Christopher Columbus is buried. The Cathedral of Seville was built on a vast extension of land where previously a Mosque had been erected. An important part of the Mosque was preserved and it is now a part of the Cathedral. This makes it a unique construction featuring styles as diverse as Hispanic-Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical and Baroque. A most important part of the Cathedral is its bell tower known as la Giralda, which is a perfectly preserved Hispanic-Muslim minaret from the period when a Mosque occupied the grounds where the Cathedral stands today. During your tour you will be taken to the top in order to enjoy the wonderful views of Seville that one can admire from there.
To finish you will visit the Archive of the Indies. The Archive of the Indies is an iconic neoclassical building erected to keep invaluable documents from all those commercial expeditions that took place between Seville and the New World. Learning about it will uncover probably the most glorious period of the history of Seville and how it connects to the American continent and to the present character of the city.
2pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: Junior Suite with breakfast included at Hotel Mercer (5*)
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18th of October: from Seville to Cádiz and half day culture and gastronomy tour of Cadiz old town upon arrival. Rest of the day at leisure (beach)
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Cádiz.
10:20am: upon arrival to your hotel in Cádiz, leave your luggage with the reception staff, freshen up and get ready to start your private culture and gastronomy tour of Cadiz old town.
10:30am: meet your personal local host at your hotel to start a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on the foundation of the city by the Phoenicians 3000 years ago and on the period when the city held the monopoly of all trade with America, formerly established in Seville.
You will start this walk seeing incredibly well preserved evidence of the Phoenician past of the city. This will allow you to understand who the Phoenicians were, where they came from, why they based themselves in Cadiz 3000 years ago and the impact that their arrival had in the present history, culture and gastronomy of Southern Spain.
Later, you will travel forward in time to the 18th century, when the city held the monopoly of all trade with the Americas, formerly established in Seville. The bourgeoisie that settled down in Cádiz in this period transformed the city completely into a refined and cosmopolitan colonial hub. These new inhabitants of the city brought to Cádiz not only gold, silver, mahogany and other precious materials but also new ideas that transformed the mentality of the city and later of the whole of Spain.
Along this second part of the tour you will visit some selected buildings that will reveal the wealth, refinement and change of mentality that the city enjoyed in this colonial period.
1pm: end of your introductory walking tour in the local market of Cádiz with tastings of selected local produce in hand-picked stalls.
1:45pm: end of the tasting and short walk to a selected tapas bar for a tapas and wines lunch there including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
3:15pm: after lunch, be escorted back to your hotel or spend the rest of the day at leisure in Cadiz old town.
3:30pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Seville and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Cadiz: Junior Suite with breakfast included at Hotel Casa Palacio Sagasta (4*)
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19th of October: from Cadiz to Ronda visiting artisanal food producers (olive oil and cheese) and whitewashed villages (Zahara de la Sierra and Benaocaz) along the way.
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to visit a selected cheese maker in the heart of the natural park of Grazalema.
10:05am: upon arrival to the cheese maker’s, be introduced to him to later learn about his artisanal cheese production and about what it is to be an artisanal food producer in the middle of a natural park in Southern Spain. This will be followed by the corresponding tastings of the cheeses that he elaborates in his workshop.
11am: after the visit to the cheese maker’s be transferred to the nearby whitewashed town of Benaocaz.
11:10am: upon arrival to Benocaz, enjoy a private walking tour of the village, which is surrounded by some spectacular Southern Spanish mountains and features countless quaint corners of traditional Southern Spanish architecture as well as narrow streets and an old Moorish quarter.
12:10pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred to a selected olive oil manufacturer near the village of Zahara de la Sierra, through probably the most scenic mountain road in Southernmost continental Spain.
1pm: upon arrival to the olive oil producer, enjoy a private guided tour of the pressing facilities in order to learn about the production of olive oil in Southern Spain. This will be followed by the corresponding tastings and by a tapas lunch there where olive oil will be the star!
3pm: after lunch, be transferred to the nearby village of Zahara de la Sierra.
3:10pm: arrival to Zahara de la Sierra and private walking tour of the old town aimed at enjoying its traditional Southern Spanish charm and to learn about its history and evolution from a fortified settlement on top of a rock to a more spread-out rural village. During the tour you may also want to walk to the top of its Moorish castle, which offers not only very representative evidence of the Hispanic-Muslim medieval configuration of the town, but also beautiful views of the nearby lake of Zahara – El Gastor.
4:10pm: end of your tour of Zahara de la Sierra and private transfer to your hotel in Ronda.
5pm: arrival to your hotel in Ronda and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Ronda and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Ronda: superior double room with breakfast included at Parador de Ronda (4*)
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20th of October: discovery journey of Ronda old town followed by an immersion into the artisanal production of one of the most iconic Spanish delicacies (Iberian Ham) in a private pig farm in the middle of the nature reserve of the Genal Valley, then transfer to Granada.
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation in Ronda to start a private guided tour of the old town with a special focus on its history, most representative landmarks, viewpoints and picturesque locations.
This private walking tour of Ronda old town will give you an excellent overview of the Hispanic-Muslim origins of the city and of the transformations that it started to experience in 1485 when it was conquered by Christians. It was then when many wealthy military orders settled down in Ronda in order to defend its strategic location near the straits of Gibraltar and very well connected to the main Southern Spanish cities.
These new inhabitants erected many noble residences and funded the construction of impressive religious constructions too. In the 18th century Ronda experienced a time of maximum splendor and its main landmark was built: the majestic New Bridge, which you will visit during your tour.
Ronda also has stunning nature in its surroundings and your tour will take you to the best viewpoints. This will allow you to understand why this whitewashed gem attracted so many romantic travelers in the 19th century during their Grand Tour and the impact that their written, drawn and painted portraits of Andalusia had in the international perception of Spain in the following decades until today.
To finish your tour, you will visit the local bullring (the oldest in Spain). This part of the tour will allow you to learn about the origins and evolution of bullfighting in Spain, while you see the different sections of the bullring, from the pens where the bulls are kept before the fight, to the arena where the actual fight takes place, from the chapel where the matadors say their prayers before the fight, to the areas where the audience and the bullring authorities sit. This will make an excellent opportunity to keep learning about bullfighting after your visit to the brave bull farm.
11:30am: after your tour of Ronda, connect with a private driver and be transferred along with your local host to a selected pig farm in the nearby village of Faraján in the nature reserve of the Genal Valley.
12pm: upon arrival at the farm, be welcomed by the owner (3rd generation farmer) who will greet you and give you an introduction about the farm, about breeding Iberian pigs and about the part of Southern Spain where the family is based. After this introduction, they will offer you a tour through the family’s 340-Hectare property in a 4 x 4 vehicle. Along this part of the tour, you will learn about the nature reserve where their pigs live, about their behavior and their diet. You will understand the difference between acorn-fed and chestnut-fed pigs and also the difference between Iberian pigs and other breeds.
After this introduction, you will learn how the meat is cured to produce the finest Iberian ham and you will finish with a tasting that will make up for a good tapas lunch.
3pm: end of the visit and private transfer from the farm to your hotel in Granada, with a quick stopover in Ronda to drop off your guide.
5:45pm: arrival to your accommodation in Granada end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Granada and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Granada: deluxe room with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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21st of October: full day tour of Granada: Alhambra, Generalife and quarter of el Albayzin
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10am: be met by your personal local host and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to the top of the hill of la Sabika, where the Alhambra and el Generalife are located.
10:15am: upon arrival to the Alhambra, be taken on a private walking tour of this palatial city which is the most exquisite example of the Hispanic-Muslim architecture. The Alhambra was the city where the Hispanic-Muslim sultans used to live with their army, their court and some selected artisans. Because of this, it has several parts, all of which you will get to visit during your tour while you understand the role that each of them had. Later you will visit the summer palace or Generalife. This is the place where the sultans would go to escape from the hustle and bustle of the Alhambra. It was a place designed for relaxation and contemplation and because of this, it has the most beautiful gardens and some of the nicest views that the city of Granada has to offer.
1:45pm: end of your tour of the Alhambra and free time for lunch at leisure before your tour of the Albayzin quarter.
3:15pm: reconnect with your guide at a previously agreed meeting point to start a private tour of el Albayzin. Located on top of a hill and overlooking the Alhambra. El Albayzín was the part of Granada where regular people would live: people whose social scheme inside the walls of the palatial areas of the Alhambra was rather unclear. This quarter is a UNESCO site and it treasures some of the most beautiful corners and views of the Alhambra that the city of Granada has to offer. Your local host will share the most special ones with you, while you are explained about the architecture and infrastructures that the quarter had in the medieval times and of which you will see beautifully preserved evidence.
5:15pm: end of your tour of El Albayzin and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada: deluxe room with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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22nd of October: early morning high-speed train from Granada to Madrid, transfer from the station to the airport and departure from Madrid
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6:15am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Granada and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Granada train station.
6:25am: arrival to Granada train station on time to take your high-speed train to Madrid at 6:56am.
6:56am: departure of your high-speed train from Granada to Madrid.
10:43am: upon arrival to Madrid train station, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Debra and Adam – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Madrid airport.
11:30am (estimated): arrival to Madrid airport and end of trip.
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Pricing
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TThe cost of this bespoke trip for a private party of 2 pax is 9785 Euros
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This price includes
– 6 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 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 for all guided tours.
– Admission to a selected flamenco show in Seville with 4 artists onstage (2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist).
– A tapas dinner through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars in Seville old town including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share, up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– Tastings of selected local produce at the local food market in Cadiz.
– A tapas lunch at a selected tapas bar in Cadiz old town including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– A private visit to a selected olive oil manufacturer in the sierras of Cadiz with the corresponding tastings there and a tapas lunch including different tapas dishes where olive oil will be the star.
– A private visit to an Iberian Pig farm in the Genal Valley followed by an Iberian Ham tasting and other cured meats that will make up for a light tapas lunch.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Granada to Madrid on the 22nd of October.
– 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.
– 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 trip at this price we require a 30% deposit of the grand total via credit/debit card no later than the 21st of June 2024 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 trip: 9785 Euros
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30% deposit needed no later than the 20th of June 2024 via credit/debit card to confirm the trip: 2935,5 Euros
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Final 70% needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 6849,5 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 30% of the full cost of the trip only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 21 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 40% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 60%.
– If you cancel your trip between 20 and 11 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 50%.
– If you cancel your trip between 10 and 5 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 70% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 30%.
– If you cancel your trip 4 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 duration, activities and services included in the trip.
(**) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance packages from MedJet.
