Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 21st – 29th of December 2023 | 4 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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21st of December: arrival of your flight to Madrid airport, tour of Madrid including the Prado Museum and high-speed train to Seville
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9:15am: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport (United Airlines Flight #51), collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your personal driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Judy Charlie, Jane and Jacob – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Madrid old town.
10:30am (estimated): upon arrival to Madrid old town, enjoy some free time at leisure to have a bite before meeting your guide for your private tour of the city.
11:15am: meet your personal guide at a previously agreed meeting point in Madrid old town to go on an introductory tour of the city including the Prado Museum.
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 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.
1pm: after this introduction to the Spanish capital, reconnect with your driver and be transferred 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.
3pm: after your tour your guide will leave you in the hands of your driver and you will be transferred to Madrid train station.
3:20pm: arrival to Madrid train station on time to take your high-speed train to Seville.
4pm: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid train station to Seville train station.
6:34pm: upon arrival of your train to Seville train station, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your personal driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Judy Wimpfheimer – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in the city.
7:10pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Seville and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Seville during your free time and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements
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22nd of December: late morning walking tour of Seville World Heritage Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish Castle, the Cathedral and the medieval Jewish quarter
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9:30am: 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 medieval Jewish quarter.
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 the tour you will visit the quarter of Santa Cruz, with its countless quaint corners, narrow streets, cozy squares, houses of traditional Southern Spanish architecture and Moorish urban planning. It is in this quarter where an important part of the Jewish Sephardic community of Seville lived in the medieval times and you will learn about what life in the quarter was like then and how it has evolved until becoming what it is today.
1:30pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: own arrangements
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23rd of December: Morning at leisure in Seville and evening flamenco and tapas tour through the quarter of Triana
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6:30pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards a selected flamenco venue in the quarter of Triana.
This introductory walk is aimed at learning how flamenco music emerged from South West Spain as a result of a slow fusion of the ancient multicultural musical heritage of Southern Spain 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 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 Triana. 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 and up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water). This will make an excellent opportunity to learn about Southern Spanish gastronomy and wines, about the connection of different foods to different festivities, regions and specific periods of history and also about the dynamics of tapas bars in Southern Spain.
10:30pm: after your tapas and wines 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: own arrangements
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24th of December: private transfer from Seville to Granada via Córdoba to tour the Great Mosque – Cathedral and the Jewish quarter
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8:30am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Córdoba old town.
10:10am: upon arrival to Córdoba be met by your personal local host to go on a 3’5h discovery journey of the historical center of the city.
A UNESCO site since 1994, Córdoba is an inspirational city, which during the Middle Ages, saw a peaceful interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures. Jews, Muslims and Christians coexisted then in the city turning it into a unique intellectual hub that gave birth to very renowned philosophers, poets, scientists and doctors. This also resulted in the construction of unique buildings of remarkable historical significance.
During your private walking tour, you’ll learn about the period of maximum intellectual splendor of the city and you will see beautiful examples of architecture and urban planning that will allow you to recreate all the grandeur of this era, which has the Great Mosque – Cathedral, the synagogue and the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew as its most representative constructions.
The Great Mosque-Cathedral is probably the most thought-provoking building in Spain and your personal local host will uncover all its beauty and complexity for you. You will understand its origins, its different enlargements and the role that the building has played in the culture and social fabric of the city throughout the centuries.
The synagogue will allow you to understand the very important Jewish – Sephardic community that Córdoba once had and how much it embraced Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts in its places of devotion.
In the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew you will be explained about the transformations that the Jewish quarter of Córdoba suffered after the pogrom of 1391 and how it was repopulated with Christians, who were also very heavily influenced by Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts.
1:40pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and free time for lunch at leisure. We will give you recommendations of places to eat and will book a table for you if you wish.
3:30pm: reconnect with your driver at a previously agreed meeting point and be transferred from Córdoba old town to your hotel in Granada.
5:45pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Granada during your free time and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Granada: own arrangements
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25th of December: day at leisure in Granada
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All day: enjoy your day at leisure in Granada.
Overnight in Granada: own arrangements
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26th of December: half day walking tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife
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9:30am: be met by your personal local host and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the top of the hill of la Sabika, where the Alhambra and el Generalife are located.
9:45am: 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.
1pm: after your tour of the Alhambra, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada: own arrangements
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27th of December: from Granada to Toledo via the Renaissance UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ubeda and Baeza
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9am: be met by your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the UNESCO city of Úbeda.
10:40am: upon arrival to Úbeda, meet your personal local guide and take a private walking tour aimed at discovering its splendid monumental legacy made up of churches, palaces, noble houses and a unique medieval synagogue.
Ubeda’s Renaissance Monumental Ensemble has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and your tour will take you to visit the interiors of its most exquisite temple: the Chapel of El Salvador. Then you will be taken to discover the Sephardic history and heritage of Úbeda. Along this part of the tour you will visit a private palace in town along with its library, which treasures some interesting books linked to the Sephardic history of Spain.
1:30pm: end of your private walking tour of Úbeda and free time for lunch at leisure. Your guide will point you in the right direction for lunch and will ask your driver to pick you up at the restaurant after lunch.
3pm: reconnect with your private driver and be transferred to Baeza.
3:20pm: upon arrival to Baeza, meet your personal local guide to start a private walking tour of the old town.
Declared a historic-artistic site, Baeza has also an incredible Renaissance legacy, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where the carved stone contrasts with the whitewashed farmhouses. Your tour will take you to stroll through the main medieval streets while admiring (outside only) the Plaza del Pópulo, the Puerta de Jaén, the Arco de Villalar, the Plaza de Santa Cruz, the Plaza de Santa María, the Palacio de Jabalquinto, the old University, the Cathedral and the Iglesia de Santa Cruz. This will make a delightful afternoon stroll to top up your visit to NorthEast Andalusia.
4:50pm: end of your tour of Baeza and private transfer to your hotel in Toledo.
7:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Toledo and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Toledo: own arrangements
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28th of December: private walking tour of Toledo with a special focus on its Sephardic Heritage
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10am: meet your personal local host at your hotel to start a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its Jewish history, from its origins and maximum splendor under the Hispanic-Muslim rule until the Christian conquest of the city.
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 rest of the day at leisure in the city.
Overnight in Toledo: own arrangements
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29th of December: private transfer from Toledo to Madrid airport and departure from Madrid
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8am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Toledo and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Madrid airport.
9am: arrival to Madrid airport on time to take your flight at 11:15am and end of services for the day.
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke tour program for a private group of 4 people is 7300 Euros (3650 Euros per couple)
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This price includes
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver.
– All private tours mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for all your guided tours.
– High-speed trains (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Seville.
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 guitarist and 1 singer).
– A tapas and wines dinner in Seville including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share, up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– 24h guardian angel service throughout your trip.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit.
– Table reservations if you wish to book tables for you in any restaurants (as long as credit/debit cards are not necessary in which case we will send you the right instructions to book the tables yourselves).
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– Your international flights
– Accommodation
– 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 no later than the 11th of August 2023 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) via credit/debit card as well as all your full names and passports numbers (necessary to book your train, Alhambra and Seville Alcazar tickets). 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: 7300 Euros (3650 Euros per couple)
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30% deposit (already paid) needed per couple no later than the 11th of August 2023 to confirm the trip: 1095 Euros
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Final 70% needed from Judy and Charlie no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 2555 Euros
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Final 70% (+ extra fee of 43€) needed from Jane and Jacob no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 2598 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you all cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge the 30% deposit only.
– If you all cancel your trip between 30 and 15 days prior to its scheduled start, we will change 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 50%.
– If you all cancel your trip between 14 and 4 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 70% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the 30%.
– If you all 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 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.
(***) If Spain closes its borders due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country because of this, we will give you a full refund.
