Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 24th of December – 1st of January | 8 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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24th of December: arrival to Seville airport and private transfer to your hotel in the city. Rest of the day at leisure
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5:15pm: upon arrival of your flight to Seville airport, collect your luggage, head to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. Your driver will be holding a sign saying “Fanty Soenardy – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to your accommodation in Granada.
6:15pm: upon arrival to your accommodation in Seville, check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to recover from your trip. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see and of places to eat in Seville and tables will be booked for you if you wish (as long as credit cards are not needed, in which case we will send you a link so you can finalize the bookings yourselves online).
Overnight in Seville: 1 deluxe double room and 2 grand deluxe triple rooms all of them with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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25th of December: morning and afternoon at leisure followed by a private introductory guided walk of Seville old town with a flamenco show and a tapas and wines tour of the city
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Morning and afternoon: enjoy your Christmas day at leisure following our recommendations.
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 Seville old town.
This introductory walk is aimed at learning how flamenco 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 Seville old town. Along the journey, you will be taken to 2 – 3 different bars where Sevillanos like to gather with relatives and friends and where you will be immersed into the local culture through its gastronomy and wine. Along the tour you will taste a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water). This tour will also make an excellent opportunity to learn about the differences between the tapas and wines of Granada and Seville.
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: 1 deluxe double room and 2 grand deluxe triple rooms all of them with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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26th of December: private walking tour of Seville Alcazar, Plaza de España and Plaza del Cabildo. Rest of the day at leisure to see Metropol Parasol and the surrounding areas at your own pace
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9:30am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel to start a private walking tour that will take you first to the most impressive World Heritage Site of the city: the Alcazar or Royal Moorish Palace.
The Alcazar is a massive complex of palaces erected in different periods and of breath-taking gardens of different styles. It 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 gardening from the 16th until the 20th centuries.
After visiting the Alcazar, you will visit Plaza del Cabildo, which is a hidden gem in Seville old town treasuring not only a beautiful semicircular series of apartments but also some very well preserved remains of the medieval walls of the city.
Finally, to top up your tour, you will be taken to visit Plaza de España, which is a monumental open space in the middle of the main park of the city. It was erected in the late 1920s for an important event that the city held back then and which you will be explained about during your tour.
12:30pm: after your tour, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, maybe exploring further the park where your tour will finish, visiting Metropol Parasol and / or following other recommendations we will give you.
Overnight in Seville: 1 deluxe double room and 2 grand deluxe triple rooms all of them with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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27th of December: private day trip from Seville to Cordoba to see the Great Mosque Cathedral and to have lunch in the city
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to Córdoba.
10:40am: upon arrival to Córdoba old town, be met by your personal local host to go on a 3h 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 Cordoba suffered after the historical pogrom of 1391 and how it was repopulated with Christians, who were also very heavily influenced by the elaborate Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts of that time.
1:40pm: end of your tour and free time for lunch at leisure. We will give you recommendations of places to eat in Córdoba and we will book a table for you if you wish (as long as credit cards are not needed, in which case we will send you a link so you can finalize the bookings yourselves online).
4pm: reconnect with your driver at the same spot where you were dropped off (your guide in Córdoba will give you directions) and be transferred back to your hotel in Seville.
5:45pm: arrival to your hotel in Seville and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: 1 deluxe double room and 2 grand deluxe triple rooms all of them with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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28th of December: private day trip from Seville to the natural park of Aracena to visit a farm of Iberian Pigs with its own curing chambers and learn all about the production of Jamón Ibérico including tastings and lunch in a town of the area
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus with a dedicated driver to the natural park of Aracena, home of the best Iberian Ham in the world. Along the way, you will be given some explanations about the geography, landscape, economy, culture, agriculture and farming of South West Spain.
10:30am: upon arrival to the natural park of Aracena, visit a private extension of dehesa forest with an expert, to learn about the habitat where free range, acorn-fed, Iberian pigs live and about the animals themselves. Dehesa is a unique type of ecosystem ideal to raise Iberian pigs for the production of top-quality Iberian ham. During your visit you will discover the particularities of this ecosystem and about its connection to the breeding of Iberian pigs.
11:30am: after your visit to the dehesa and with all the knowledge acquired there, be transferred to the facilities where the Iberian ham of this farm is cured.
11:45am: upon arrival to the curing cellars, you will be taken on a private tour aimed at learning about the very specific artisanal treatments and particular humidity and temperature conditions to cure Iberian pig meats. This will be followed by a guided tasting of iberian ham, which will make a great end to your discovery journey of the most iconic food from SouthWest Spain.
1pm: after your visit to the iberian ham farm, be transferred to the whitewashed village of Aracena for lunch.
1:30pm: arrival to Aracena and lunch in a selected local restaurant including a selection of starters to share, one main course per person, one dessert per person and up to 3 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water).
3:15pm: after lunch, you may want to take a stroll around Aracena to enjoy its picturesque streets and traditional architecture.
4pm: end of your visit to Aracena and private transfer back to Seville.
5:15pm: arrival to Seville and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville: 1 deluxe double room and 2 grand deluxe triple rooms all of them with breakfast included at hotel Alfonso XIII (5*)
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29th of December: from Seville to Granada vía Ronda including a tour of Ronda old town to see the oldest bullring in Spain and followed by a visit of to selected local winery with a pairing lunch there
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9am: meet your personal local host at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus with a dedicated driver to Ronda.
10:45am: upon arrival to Ronda, enjoy a walking tour of its old town. This tour will allow you to learn about the origins and evolution of bullfighting in Spain, while you see the different sections of the local bullring (the oldest in Spain), 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. You will also be explained about brave bull breeding and about how different bullrings choose different bulls with different characteristics for their fights.
After your tour of the bullring, enjoy a private walking tour of Ronda 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 splendour 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 travellers 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.
1:15pm: end of your tour of Ronda and private transfer to a local winery for a private visit and lunch there.
1:30pm: arrival to the winery and private visit with lunch there. Ronda has proved to be an excellent area for the cultivation of very many different grapes from different parts of the world and this is allowing for the production of excellent wines, often organic and biodynamic, that you will get to taste at the end of your private tour, before starting a pairing 3 course lunch there topped up with a dessert.
4:30pm: end of lunch and private transfer to your hotel in Granada.
6:45pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Granada: 3 dreamer’s double rooms (two of them with an extra bed) all of them with breakfast included at hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*)
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30th of December: morning introductory tour of Granada, lunch at leisure and evening tapas and wines tour of the city in order to see (and taste) the differences between the tapas scenes of Granada and Seville.
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10am: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your 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 two different quarters of the city.
These are two 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 residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.
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.
1pm: end of your tour and rest of the afternoon at leisure before your evening tapas tour of the city.
7:30pm: reconnect with your personal local host to enjoy a tapas and wines journey through Granada old town.
Understanding how Granada works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the local culture. Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the city 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 Granadinos have and how most of it takes place around food in tapas bars.
This second tapas tour of your trip will make a perfect continuation after your introduction in Seville to this genuinely Southern Spanish eating habit. Besides, it will allow you to understand the differences between the gastronomy and wines of the Western and Easter regions of Southern Spain.
10:30pm: end of your tapas tour back at your hotel.
Overnight in Granada: 3 dreamer’s double rooms (two of them with an extra bed) all of them with breakfast included at hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*)
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31st of December: private walking tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife. Rest of the day at leisure
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10am: be met by your personal local host at your hotel and be transferred by taxis 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.
1:30pm: end of your tour of the Alhambra and rest of the day at leisure. We will help you book dinner for New Years’ Eve.
Overnight in Granada: 3 dreamer’s double rooms (two of them with an extra bed) all of them with breakfast included at hotel Palacio de los Patos (5*)
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1st of January: private transfer to Granada airport and departure from Granada
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10:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Granada and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to Granada airport.
11am: arrival to Granada airport and end of trip.
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Pricing
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The cost of this 9-day bespoke private trip for a private group of 8 people is 25650 Euros
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This price includes
– 8 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable minibus with a personal driver.
– All private tours and experiences mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for the guided tours.
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 people on stage (2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist)
– A tapas and wines dinner in Seville including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share, up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments or water) and 1 sweet treat to finish.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the town of Aracena including a selection of 3 starters to share, one main course per person, one dessert per person and up to 3 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water).
– A tapas and wines dinner in Granada including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share, up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments or water) and 1 sweet treat to finish.
– A private visit to a selected farm of iberian pigs with the corresponding iberian ham tastings there.
– A private visit to a selected winery in Ronda including a pairing lunch there with 2 starters, 1 main course and 1 dessert, all paired with wines from the winery.
– A list of recommended restaurants in each of the places you will visit and bookings of tables for you if you wish unless a credit card is necessary for the reservation, in which case we will send you a link for you to finalize the reservation yourselves.
– A list of recommended things to do and see during your free time in each of the places you will visit.
Petrol, parkings and tolls.
– 24h emergency support throughout your trip.
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– You 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 we required a deposit of 7287 Euros, which has already been paid. The balance must be paid no later than 30 days prior to the start of your trip.
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Grand total of this trip: 25650 Euros
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Deposit needed no later than the 8th of November 2022 at 11:59am (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 7287 Euros. This has already been paid.
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Balance needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 18363 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge the 30% deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 11 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 40% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 60%.
– If you cancel your trip between 10 and 4 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 60% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 40%.
– If you cancel your trip 3 days or less prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends buying travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance via Medjet.
(**) If Spain closes its borders due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country to take this trip because of 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 length of the trip.
