Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 13th - 22nd of March 2024

Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 13th – 22nd of March 2024 | 3 and 4 pax

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Description and schedule of services
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13th of March: arrival to Madrid and introductory history, architecture and art tour of the city including the Prado Museum
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9:25am: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport (American Airlines 36), collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your private driver. He will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Kreitman family – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in the city.

11am (estimated): upon arrival to your hotel in Madrid, check-in (subject to your rooms being ready. We will be on top of things so you can occupy your room as soon as possible) and enjoy some free time to rest, freshen up and have a bite before your introductory tour of the city. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see during your free time in the city and also of places to eat.

2pm: 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 Spain.

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.

4:15pm: after this introduction to the Spanish capital, you will continue your discovery journey of the city and of Spain with a visit 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.

6pm: after your tour of Madrid, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Madrid: premium room with an extra bed for 3 pax at Gran hotel Inglés (5*). Small fridge in the room (minibar) and market and grocery store nearby
(*) The hotel will be informed about Molly’s allergies so she can enjoy breakfast safely.

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14th of March: from Madrid to Granada via high-speed train and introductory tour of Granada city
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6:30am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Madrid train station.

6:50am: arrival to Madrid train station on time to take your high-speed train to Granada.

7:25am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Granada (1st class seats).

11:04am: upon arrival to Granada train station, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Kreitman family – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in the city.

11:35am: arrival to your hotel in Granada (we will be on top of things so you can occupy your room as soon as possible) and free time to rest, freshen up and have a bite before your introductory tour of the city. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see and of places to eat during your free time in the city.

1pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3h walking tour of Granada old town that will allow you to discover, learn about the history and architecture and experience the beauty of three different quarters of the city.

These are three key areas in the history of the city that also stand out for their beauty and authenticity.
You will start visiting the first quarters that developed in Granada after the Christian conquest of the city in 1492. It is in these areas where the Cathedral of Granada was erected and in one of its chapels, the so-called Royal Chapel, you will visit the tombs of the monarchs that were responsible for the conquest of the city (Isabel of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragón). Their tombs are an exquisite sample of Spanish renaissance sculpture.

Near this chapel, you will also visit the palace of la Madraza: a unique building that originally was a medieval Quran School and that later was used as a noble residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.

From there you will be taken to the nearby quarter of El Realejo. This part of Granada was once home to the Sephardic community that lived in the city from the 8th century until 1492. Your tour of El Realejo will take you to the spot where the main synagogue was while you are explained about the origins of this Hispanic-Jewish settlement and about the events that happened in this part of the town during the centuries when it was inhabited by Jewish people. Along your tour you will also learn about important members of the Sephardic community of Granada and about their contribution to subjects such as medicine, poetry, philosophy and translation in medieval Spain.

Later, you will be taken to the iconic quarter of el Albayzín, 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.

The quarter of Albayzín 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.

This introduction to the city of Granada will set the historical context for your tour to the Alhambra and el Generalife the next day.

4pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Granada: Junior Suite with an extra bed and breakfast included at Hotel Áurea Catedral (4*). Small fridge in the room (minibar) and market and grocery store nearby.
(*) The hotel will be informed about Molly’s allergies so she can enjoy breakfast safely.

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15th of March: tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife in the morning and visit to the cave-houses quarter of el Sacromonte with a 19th century photography workshop in a cave house in the afternoon. Flamenco music and dance performance in the evening to top up your day
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9am: be met by your personal Alhambra expert at your hotel and be transferred by taxi to the top of the hill of la Sabika, where the Alhambra and El Generalife are located.

9:15am: upon arrival to the top of the hill of la Sabika, start your private walking tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife. This tour will allow you to enjoy the exquisite refinement of the most splendorous construction that the Muslims built in Spain: the Alhambra. The Alhambra was a palatial town where the Muslim Sultans lived with their court, their army and some selected artisans. It features different parts, all of which you will get to discover with your local host in order to understand how they all worked together, the role that each of them had and the different people who inhabited them.

After your tour of the Alhambra you will be taken to the Generalife or summer palace of the Nasrid Sultans, where they would go to get away from the hustle of life in the Alhambra. The Generalife is a magical place designed for relaxation and contemplation and its gardens, architecture and views are simply spectacular.

12:30pm: end of your private tour of the Alhambra and time at leisure before your photography workshop later on.

3pm: meet your personal local host at your accommodation for a private walking tour of the cave-houses quarter of el Sacromonte.

This hilltop quarter is probably the most unique in Granada. Perched on a hillside offering fabulous views and with a very particular residential architecture of cave houses, el Sacromonte also has some very interesting inhabitants. This tour will take you on a visit to this magical area of the city aimed not only at enjoying its rustic beauty but also at meeting some local artists and at engaging with them through a unique 19th photography workshop.

You will start your tour by taking a guided walk to el Sacromonte. Along the way, you will be explained the history of the quarter and how the first gypsy communities that arrived in Granada in the 15th century settled down in the area, carving their houses on the rock.

Once in el Sacromonte, you will enter one of its caves. There you will be introduced to a couple of local artists – photographers who have their studio there. There they research and work with historical and vintage photography techniques from the 19th century. Their specialty is “Wet Plate”: the most popular and widespread technique for portraiture in the old days, first described in 1851.

Then and together with them, you will travel back in time through a photography workshop that will include a portrait shoot of the whole family. Your hosts will make you feel comfortable and they will do their best to take the best shot of you, that later you will develop in their dark room. Wet Plate photography is a 100% artisanal technique, which will demand your full care and attention in every aspect of the process. Witnessing the images appear in the darkroom is a beautiful and rewarding experience. Your portrait, casted in pure silver by the action of sunlight, will last over 200 years and it will make not only a memorable experience but a long-lasting souvenir too!

After your photo workshop, you will leave with a unique artisanal portrait and also with an unforgettable experience!

6pm: after your photography workshop, be escorted by your guide to a selected flamenco venue in Granada old town.

6:30pm: arrival to the flamenco venue, where we will have booked tickets for you to witness a traditional flamenco show with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist).

7pm: flamenco show starts.

8pm: end of the show and services for the day.

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16th of March: day trip from Granada to the Mediterranean Sea for a coastal hike in the nature reserve of the cliffs of Maro and to discover the charming villages of Nerja and Frigiliana.
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9am: private transfer from your accommodation in Granada to the village of Nerja with your own personal local host and a dedicated driver in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan.

10:10am: arrival to Nerja and private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its beautiful viewpoints overlooking the Mediterranean sea, and on its traditional Mediterranean architecture. Along your tour you will learn about the evolution of Nerja from a traditional fishing village to a much-loved destination for Mediterranean lifestyle lovers.

11:10am: private transfer from Nerja to the car park of the unspoilt beach of El Cañuelo.

11:25am: upon arrival to the car park of the beach of El Cañuelo, you will be taken on a short introductory hike towards this unspoilt Mediterranean beach. Then, from there, you will be taken along the cliffs of Maro to the also unspoilt beach of Cantarriján. This hike will offer you beautiful views of the Mediterranean coast while you cross green areas of Mediterranean forest. Once at the beach of Cantarriján, continue on towards the tower of Cerro Gordo for spectacular final views of your hike.

1:45pm: reconnect with your driver near the tower of Cerro Gordo and be transferred to the inland hillside village of Frigiliana for lunch and for a relaxed walk of its old town.

2pm: arrival to Frigiliana and lunch there in a place suited to your preferences (your guide will offer you different options).

3pm: after lunch, enjoy a private walking tour of Frigiliana old town with a special focus on its countless quaint corners, whitewashed streets and unbeatable Mediterranean charm.

4:30pm: end of your tour of Frigiliana and private transfer back to Granada.

5:40pm: arrival to your accommodation in Granada and end of services for the day.

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17th of March: day trip from Granada to Antequera for a hike in the nature reserve of el Torcal and to see its prehistoric dolmens (UNESCO World Heritage Sites).
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9am: be met by your private driver by the reception desk of your hotel in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the UNESCO nature reserve of El Torcal de Antequera.

10:30am: upon arrival to the UNESCO nature reserve of El Torcal de Antequera, meet your personal guide there and start a guided hike through the reserve. El Torcal de Antequera features some of the most spectacular karst landscapes in Europe.

The shaping of this unique landscape started around 150 million years ago when this whole area was safely tucked under the Tethys Sea. One day, the seabed was pushed upwards by a massive tectonic shift, which created a series of mountains, some of them up to 1300 meters high above sea level.

The following millions of years, the erosion from rain and wind slowly turned this part of the world into some of the most impressive limestone landscapes on the European continent.

12:15pm: after the hike, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the UNESCO site of the Dolmens of Antequera.

12:45pm: upon arrival to the UNESCO site of the Dolmens of Antequera, meet your personal local expert again to start a tour of the site, which treasures some of the best preserved and most important megalithic monuments in Europe.

It is the number, size, weight and volume of the stone blocks transported and assembled in the basin of Antequera, using rudimentary technology, and the architectural characteristics of the monuments formed by these megaliths, what makes the Antequera Dolmens one of the most important engineering and architectural works of European Prehistory. Antequera Dolmens Site provides an exceptional insight into the funerary and ritual practices of a highly organized prehistoric society of the Neolithic and Bronze Age in the Iberian Peninsula.

2:15pm: after your private tour of the UNESCO sites of the dolmens, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the top of Antequera old town. It is up there where its Moorish Castle is located as well as its main temple. Besides, this place offers the best views of the historic center, beyond which you will be able to devise the fields of central Andalusia.

2:45pm: be transferred back to your hotel in Granada from Antequera old town.

4pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and end of services for the day.

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18th of March: early afternoon flight from Granada to Barcelona and introductory tour of Barcelona old town upon arrival.
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10:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Granada airport.

11:05am: arrival to Granada airport on time to take your flight to Barcelona at 1:05pm.

1:05pm: departure of your flight from Granada to Barcelona (Vueling airlines VY2012).

2:30pm: upon arrival of your flight to Barcelona airport, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Kreitman family – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in Barcelona.

3:45pm (estimated): upon arrival to your hotel in Barcelona, enjoy some free time to check-in and to have a bit before your introductory walking tour of the city. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see during your free time in the city and also of places to eat.

5pm: be met by your personal local host at your accommodation to start a private tour of the oldest sections of Barcelona aimed at learning about its origins and evolution until the present times.

Your discovery journey will start with a short taxi ride from your hotel to the Gothic quarter of Barcelona, which is the oldest one in town. Once there, you will start an introductory walking tour 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.

Then you will venture into the quarter of el Born, which is the medieval extension of the gothic quarter and where you will visit the iconic basilica of Santa María del Mar, dating from the 14th century and built with the help of its inhabitants at that time.

El born 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.

7:30pm: end of the tour and rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Barcelona: Mimosa Suite for triple occupancy and breakfast included at Hotel Casa Mimosa (4*). Small fridge in the room (minibar) and grocery store nearby.
(*) The hotel will be informed about Molly’s allergies so she can enjoy breakfast safely.

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19th of March: morning tour of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces and afternoon art workshop (Gaudi mosaic technique) with a local artist in his studio (Molly and Adam or Molly and Hailey only)
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Your morning tour today will have a special focus on the masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí: the Church of la Sagrada familia and Parc Güell. Two great examples (one religious and one park) representative of the talent of this master architect.

9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred by taxi to Parc Güell.

9:25am: 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.

10:45am: after your tour of Parc Güell, take another taxi and be transferred to the church of La Sagrada Familia.

10:55am: arrival to la Sagrada Familia and private tour of the site. After your initial discovery of Catalan Modernist architecture and the work of Gaudí, 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.

12:45pm: end of your tour at La Sagrada Familia, take a taxi to return to your hotel.

1pm: arrival to your hotel and end of the services of your local host and of the tour.

4:15pm: depart from your hotel on foot (Molly and Adam or Molly and Hailey only) 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 morning tour.

4:30pm: 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.

7pm: end of your art workshop with the artist and rest of the day at leisure.

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20th of March: morning at leisure and afternoon trip to the natural park and sanctuary of Montserrat
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morning: enjoy it at leisure following our recommendations.

2pm: 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.

2:45pm: 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.

3:15pm: upon arrival to the Monastery area, take a tour of the basilica and of the different monastery sections. 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 for Catalonia.

4:30pm: after your visit to the monastery, enjoy the beautiful nature of the area by taking a 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.

6pm: after your tour of the nature reserve and sanctuary or Montserrat, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your accommodation in Barcelona.

7pm: arrival to your accommodation in Barcelona and end of services for the day.

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21st of March: day trip from Barcelona to the medieval village of Besalú and city of Girona.
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9am: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to the medieval city of Girona.

10:30am: 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 evidence of what life in the town was like in those times.

From there you’ll continue your tour visiting the Basilica of Sant Feliu, a prominent catholic temple nestled into Girona’s old city. Upon arrival, you may want to venture into the interior of the basilica to see an important sculpture of Jesus Christ for the local community.

The highlight of your Girona tour will be its catholic 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 artwork.

Then, you will walk down toward the Onyar river, which features many picturesque bridges, which separate the old sections of the city from the new ones.

2pm: surely hungry, after your discovery of Girona your local host will offer you different lunch options to recover some energies before continuing your exploration journey onto Besalú.

3pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the nearby medieval village of Besalú.

3:30pm: 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 a very well preserved Hispanich-Jewish bath house and 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.

4:45pm: after your introductory tour of Besalú, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to Barcelona.

6:15pm: arrival to Barcelona and end of services for the day.

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22nd of March: departure from Barcelona
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7am: private transfer in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan from your hotel in Barcelona to Barcelona airport.

7:30am: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight to Miami at 10am (American airlines 13).

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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke trip for a private group of 3 people (4 people for the afternoon and evening activities on the 15th and for all the activities on the 16th and 17th) is 14750 Euros.

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This price includes
– 9 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver.
– All guided tours and activities 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 these guided tours.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Granada on the 14th of March.
– Taxi ride to get from your hotel to the Alhambra.
– 19th century photography workshop in a cave house in the quarter of el Sacromonte in Granada with a framed family portrait of 25 x 30cm as a souvenir of your activity.
Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Granada with 4 artists onstage: 2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist.
– Domestic flight from Granada to Barcelona with vueling airlines (a subsidiary of Iberia) and including (per person) a luggage allowance of a checked-in bag of up to 20kg, a cabin bag of up to 10kg (55 x 40 x 20cm maximum) and a small handbag.
– Taxi ride to get from your hotel to Barcelona medieval quarters for your introductory tour of the city.
– All taxi rides for your tour of the highlights of Antoni Gaudi.
– Private art workshop for 2 pax (Gaudi-style mosaic technique) in the studio of a local artist in Barcelona.
– Tickets for the cable car that goes up to Montserrat from the bottom of the mountain where the monastery is located.
– 24h guardian angel service throughout your trip for any emergencies you may have.
– A list of recommended things to do and of places to eat, of grocery stores and markets in each of the places where you will be based.
Petrol and parkings.
– 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 and your full names, nationality, passport numbers, dates of birth and expiry date of your passports no later than the 2nd of October 2023. The final 70% must be paid via the same method no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip.

Grand total of this bespoke trip: 14750 Euros

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30% deposit no later than the 2nd of October 2023 to confirm the trip: 4425 Euros

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Final 70% needed needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip 10325 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 45% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 55%.
– If you cancel your trip between 14 and 8 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 60% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 40%.
– If you cancel your trip between 7 and 4 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 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.

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