Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 4th – 22nd of April 2024 | 6 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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4th of April: flight from the US to Madrid and high-speed train to Seville. Then day at leisure to recover from your journey
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7:50am: (Cindy and Stuart) upon arrival of your flight (AA8741) to Madrid airport, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall of flight AA36. Then wait there until the AA36 flight arrives.
9am: (the rest of the group) upon arrival of your flight (AA36) to Madrid airport, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet Cindy and Stuart. Your personal driver will be also waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Sally Bell – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to Madrid Atocha train station.
10:30am (estimated): upon arrival to Madrid train station, enjoy some free time for a bite before boarding your high-speed train to Seville.
11:53am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Seville (1st class seats).
2:43pm: 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 “Sally Bell – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to your hotel in Seville.
3:15pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Seville an rest of the day at leisure to recover from your trip. 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 Seville: 3 deluxe premium rooms with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 (4*)
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5th of April: morning walking tour of Seville most impressive World Heritage Sites and evening flamenco and tapas tour through the quarter of Triana
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10am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its most impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar and the Cathedral with its Giralda tower.
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 gardening dating from the 17th 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. 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.
1pm: after your tour, you may want to be escorted back to your hotel or be given some orientation to enjoy lunch at leisure before your evening flamenco and tapas tour.
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 and wines 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: 3 deluxe premium rooms with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 (4*)
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6th of April: day trip from Seville to the city of Córdoba to see the Great mosque Cathedral and the old town
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the city of Córdoba.
10:45am: upon arrival to the city of Córdoba, meet your personal local host to start a private 3h walking tour of the historic 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.
1:45pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and free time for lunch at leisure before your return to Seville. We will give you recommendations of places to eat in Córdoba and we will book a table for you if you wish.
3:30pm: reconnect with your driver at a previously agreed meeting point and be transferred back to your accommodation in Seville.
Overnight in Seville: 3 deluxe premium rooms with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 (4*)
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7th of April: day trip from Seville to visit a farm of brave bulls and to have lunch there with the owner
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10am: meet your personal local host at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to a selected farm of brave bulls in the countryside outside Seville.
11am: upon arrival to the farm, be welcomed by the owner, who will show you first the family estate while giving you an introduction about the history of breeding brave bulls in the family. Then it will be time to get on a 4 x 4 minivan to go and explore the areas where their brave bulls are bred.
Along the journey you will learn about the art of breeding brave bulls. From the selection of the mother cows and breeding bulls, to the identification of the characteristics that are demanded by different bullrings in Spain for the bullfights. Then you will learn what being a farmer of brave bulls is like in the middle of the 21st century. Then visit the family stables to see the Spanish horses they have. Learn about their morphology and history and also about the special occasions when the family ride their horses and use their horse carriages.
Back at the house of the family, you will be able to enjoy some relaxed time with the owner and ask as many questions as you like while you are served some appetizers. Then you will be called for a homemade lunch that you will enjoy with the owner and your personal local host. This will make an excellent opportunity to immerse yourselves into the life of a farmer of brave bulls in Southern Spain and to learn some very interesting facts about this Spanish tradition.
2:30pm: reconnect with your private driver and be transferred back to your hotel in Seville.
3:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Seville and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: 3 deluxe premium rooms with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 (4*)
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8th of April: from Seville to the coast of light via Jerez to visit a farm of purebred Spanish horses and have a sherry immersion in a private sherry vineyard with a homemade lunch there
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus with a dedicated driver to a farm of purebred Spanish horses owned by the Spanish State. Along the way you will be explained about the geography, landscape, economy, culture, traditions and overall character of Southernmost continental Spain.
10:30am: upon arrival to the farm, be welcomed by a staff member to start a private tour of the premises. The Spanish purebred horse is considered national heritage so the state is responsible for preserving the breed, for doing the necessary research and for developing the necessary reproduction techniques. Along the tour, you will learn about the origin of this breed, about its evolution and about the role that the farm has in its preservation, while you visit the premises where the horses are kept and trained. This tour will also offer you the possibility to see some stunning animals bred and raised at the farm.
12pm: after your visit to the horse farm, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to a selected sherry vineyard.
12:30pm: upon arrival to the vineyard, be introduced to the owner and together with him and your local host, take a private walking tour aimed at learning some basic notions about sherry viticulture and also at understanding the particularities of the soil, of the grapes, of the climate and of the vines that make sherry so unique.
1:10pm: after your introduction to sherry viticulture, enjoy a tasting of the sherries that the owner makes in the vineyard only for him and his family. This will be accompanied by a selection of appetizers.
2:15pm: then and surely hungry, you will be called for a homemade country lunch cooked on site in the vineyard by the owner’s wife and including a selection of starters, mains and desserts that you will be able to pair with sherries of the owner if you like. This will make an excellent opportunity to immerse yourselves into the wine scene of Jerez.
3:45pm: end of lunch and farewell sherry cocktail before being transferred to your accommodation in Sancti Petri.
4:10pm: private transfer from the vineyard to your accommodation in Sancti Petri.
5pm: arrival to your accommodation in Sancti Petri and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Sancti Petri: 3 premium rooms with frontal sea view and breakfast included at hotel Meliá Sancti Petri (5*)
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9th of April: day trip from Sancti Petri to the colonial city of Cadiz for a Culture and Gastronomy tour of the city
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9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to the city of Cadiz.
Along the journey, you will be able to enjoy the views of the natural park of the bay of Cádiz, which is formed by a series of coastal towns, marshes, estuaries and salt pans. During the ride, you will be explained about the particular activities and industries that have taken place along the bay of Cádiz throughout history.
9:45am: upon arrival to Cadiz, enjoy a panoramic tour along the perimeter of the city in order to understand its particular geography and to see its colonial defensive architecture.
After your panoramic tour, 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, gastronomy and wines 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.
12:30pm: end of your introductory walking tour in the local market of Cádiz with tastings of selected local produce in hand-picked stalls.
1:10pm: end of your tour of the market and short walk to a selected local tavern to learn about the famous fortified wines that traveled from Cádiz to América. Tasting of selected local fortified wines there.
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 wines per person.
3:15pm: end of lunch private transfer back to Sancti Petri.
4pm: arrival to Sancti Petri and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Sancti Petri: 3 premium rooms with frontal sea view and breakfast included at hotel Meliá Sancti Petri (5*)
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10th of April: day at leisure in Sancti Petri
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Today: 2 boys play golf in Sancti Petri in the morning and early afternoon (Tee time around 10:30am) and 1 boy and 3 girls have other plans.
Overnight in Sancti Petri: 3 premium rooms with frontal sea view and breakfast included at hotel Meliá Sancti Petri (5*)
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11th of April: day trip from Sancti Petri to the natural park of the straits of Gibraltar for a hike with panoramic views there and to visit the Roman archaeological site of Baelo Claudia and the quaint hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera
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8:30am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the hamlet of Betis in the heart of the natural park of the straits of Gibraltar.
9:30am: upon arrival to Betis start a hike to the summit of the sierras of Saint Bartholomew. You will walk through a forest of Mediterranean pines that slowly will become less and less dense, giving way to different lower Mediterranean bush and allowing for breath-taking views of Southernmost Spain, Northernmost Africa, the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
11am: arrival to the summit and small mid-morning picnic to celebrate the simply spectacular views and the achievement of having made it to the top of this mountain range.
11:15am: start of your walk down to the bottom of the mountain range, enjoying the different views of this unique reserve in Southern Europe.
12pm: arrival to the bottom of the mountain range and private transfer to the archaeological Roman site of Baelo Claudia.
12:20pm: arrival to Baelo Claudia and private walking tour of the site aimed at understanding the very important Roman settlement that it once was. This was thanks to a particular local industry that produced a fermented fish sauce, called Garum, that was an absolute delicacy for the Roman empire. You will be explained how this sauce was produced and the industrial configuration that this Roman city had.
1:10pm: end of the walk through Baelo Claudia and private transfer to a coastal family owned restaurant for lunch.
1:20pm: arrival to the restaurant and lunch there.
2:45pm: end of lunch and private transfer to the village of Vejer de la Frontera.
3:30pm: arrival to Vejer de la Frontera and small walk through the old town to enjoy its picturesque Moorish architecture and countless quaint corners and to learn about its living traditions.
4:45pm: private transfer from Vejer back to your accommodation in Sancti Petri.
5:15pm: arrival to your hotel in Sancti Petri and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Sancti Petri: 3 premium rooms with frontal sea view and breakfast included at hotel Meliá Sancti Petri (5*)
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12th of April: from Sancti Petri to Ronda for a private walking tour of Ronda old town followed by a visit to a vineyard in the outskirts of the city, to learn about the local wine production and to have a homemade lunch in the vineyard
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8:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to Ronda.
10:45am: upon arrival to Ronda, be dropped off at your hotel and leave your luggage there.
11am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation in Ronda to start a private guided tour of the city that will start with the local bullring (the oldest in Spain).
This 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.
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 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.
1:30pm: after your tour of Ronda, be transferred to a selected winery just outside Ronda for lunch, in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver.
1:45pm: upon arrival to the winery, you will be welcomed by a member of the family who owns it. Then you will be explained why Ronda has become such an interesting wine region in the international wine scene in spite of its small size. With a common approach to wine making, based on quality and not on quantity, the winemakers from Ronda have formed a solid team that is achieving great recognition and prizes worldwide. The winery you will visit was a pioneer in this wine scene and it is a local reference.
Then you will visit its vineyards to later be explained about the aging process of the different wines that the family makes, which are produced with different grapes from different areas, that have adapted extremely well to the soil and climate conditions of Ronda. Later enjoy a homemade pairing lunch there including 3 courses and 1 dessert, all paired with their wines.
4:15pm: end of your experience at the winery and private transfer to your accommodation in Ronda.
4:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Ronda and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Ronda: 3 superior double rooms with breakfast included at Parador de Ronda (4*)
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13th of April: day trip from Ronda to the valley of the Genal River for a hike there and an immersion into the life of one of its rural villages and finishing with lunch in the house of a local chef
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9am: meet your personal nature guide at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to the village of Benadalid, in the heart of the valley of the Genal river, a magical unspoilt reserve south of Ronda.
9:35am: arrival to the village of Benadalid to start an easy 5km guided hike towards the village of Benalauría. You will first be explained about the Berber origins of Benadalid, which still keeps its Moorish castle. Later you will take the old paths that the cork workers used to use in the past to transport the cork that they would harvest every 9 years and that are actually still in use today. You will cross a vast extension of Mediterranean forest filled with old olive trees, chestnut trees, holm oaks and cork oaks while you are explained about the many species of flora that you will see and how they have been used by the people of the area throughout the centuries.
11:15am: upon arrival to Benalauría, you will have an immersion into its present culture and lifestyle through visits to some selected local spots and meeting the local community along the way.
Your first stop will take you to the old local mill (not in use anymore), where you will understand how the local chestnut wood and stone allowed for the construction of very robust houses and local infrastructures until the late 20th century. The old mill is in an excellent state of conservation and the local population has donated several old artifacts to create a little exhibition space representing its roots and ancient industries.
Your second stop will take you to a private home where a local family makes and bakes their own bread in a wood oven. There you will be introduced to them to later make your own bread with them in a fun and interactive way that will allow you to meet and learn about the local community.
Your third stop will take you to the house of a local chef, who uses ingredients from the surrounding plots and farms. There you will enjoy a homemade lunch that will be the icing on the cake to your discovery journey of the Genal Valley.
3:30pm: end of lunch and private transfer from Benalauría back to Ronda.
4:15pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Ronda: 3 superior double rooms with breakfast included at Parador de Ronda (4*)
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14th of April: from Ronda to Granada via Antequera for a small hike in the nature reserve of el Torcal de Antequera and to tour the UNESCO site of the dolmens of Antequera
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9am: be met by your private driver by the reception desk of your hotel in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus 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.
12pm: after the hike, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the UNESCO site of the Dolmens of Antequera.
12:30pm: 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.
2pm: end of your private tour of the UNESCO sites of the dolmens and private transfer to Antequera old town for lunch at leisure.
2:05pm: arrival to Antequera old town and lunch at leisure there.
3:30pm: end of lunch and private transfer to your hotel in Granada.
4:45pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Granada: 3 deluxe rooms with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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15th of April: private walking tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife
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10am: be met by your personal local host and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan 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.
1:30pm: end of your tour of the Alhambra and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada: 3 deluxe rooms with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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16th of April: day trip from Granada to the Mediterranean Costa Tropical to visit a plantation of tropical fruits overlooking the sea and to visit the picturesque towns of Nerja and Frigiliana
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9:30am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation in Granada and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the Mediterranean Costa Tropical. Along the way, your host will give you some general information about the history, geography, landscape, economy and overall character of the place in order to set the context for your stay there.
10:30am: upon arrival to the Costa Tropical, your will take you to a private farm (12 Hectares) that grows tropical fruits. There you will be welcomed by the owners, who will show you the different plantations to later welcome you into their farm estate (which overlooks the plantations and the Mediterranean Coast) for a tasting of different fresh tropical fruits. During the tasting you will learn about different ways to prepare and eat these fruits as well as about recipes that you can prepare with them.
12pm: after your visit to the farm, be transferred to the picturesque village of Frigiliana.
12:20pm: upon arrival to Frigiliana, enjoy a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its history, iconic economic activity (sugarcane honey), countless quaint corners, whitewashed streets and unbeatable Mediterranean charm.
1:45pm: after your tour of Frigiliana, you will be taken for lunch in a selected local restaurant overlooking the ocean in the village of Nerja.
2pm: arrival to the restaurant and lunch there.
3:30pm: after lunch, enjoy a walking tour through Nerja 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.
4:30pm: end of your tour of Nerja and private transfer back to your hotel in Granada.
5:40pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Granada: 3 deluxe rooms with breakfast included at Hotel Seda Club (5*)
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17th of April: from Granada to Barcelona and introductory culture and food tour of Barcelona medieval quarters
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10:15am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to Granada airport.
10:45am: arrival to Granada airport on time to take your flight to Barcelona at 1:05pm.
12:55pm: departure of your flight from Granada to Barcelona (Vueling airlines VY2013).
2:20pm: 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 “Sally Bell – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus 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. We will also book tables for you if you wish.
5pm: meet your personal local host at the door of your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated river to the medieval areas of Barcelona to start a private tour of the Gothic quarter and of the quarter of El Born, aimed at learning about the Roman origins of Barcelona and about its evolution towards a modern 21st-century metropolis.
At the Gothic quarter, your walk will take you through a maze of narrow streets that open onto charming squares with impressive temples and noble houses. During this part of the tour, your guide will allow you to understand the first stages of the growth of the city from a Roman town to a thriving medieval metropolis.
From the gothic quarter, you will go to the quarter of El Born to start a private culture and gastronomy tour of this part of the city. El Born emerged as the medieval extension of Barcelona and it is a quarter that combines tradition and modernity these days. It is an area of contrasts where some of the most historic streets of Barcelona coexist with modern fashion, gastronomy and art businesses. Your guide will share with you both history and architecture aspects while they throw in relevant information about the present character and personality of this area of Barcelona. Along your tour, you will visit the iconic basilica of Santa María del Mar, dating from the 14th century and built with the help of the inhabitants of the quarter at that time.
7:30pm: after your introduction to the history and architecture of El Born, it will be time to immerse yourselves into the local dynamics and to start discovering the character of Barcelona through its food and wine scene.
Understanding how Catalonia works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the culture of the region. The Catalans love their excellent food and they like to make a celebration out of every meal, together with family and friends. Food, conversation, wine, laughter and a magical common feeling of thankfulness combine in perfect harmony around Catalan tables to make meals memorable.
Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the region has to offer gastronomy-wise. They are small portions of food that people usually have as an appetizer before a meal. However, especially when eating out, a meal can consist of several different tapas and this is exactly what this tour is about.
Your local Spanish foodie host will take you on a tapas journey through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of the city, during which you’ll be able to taste a selection of 6 – 9 different local tapas dishes, combined with the corresponding drinks. Along the tour, you’ll be explained about the hectic social life that citizens of Barcelona have and how most of it takes place around food in tapas bars.
Barcelona can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing a place to eat so this tour will allow you to relax and to enjoy the magnificent culinary scene of the city, while you also learn about its particular character and identity, together with your local host.
9:45pm: after your tapas tour be transferred back to your hotel in Barcelona in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver.
10pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: 3 deluxe garden rooms with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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18th of April: half day tour of the architecture masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí: Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell
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10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to Parc Güell.
10:25am: 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.
11:45am: after your tour of Parc Güell, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the church of La Sagrada Familia.
11:55am: 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.
1:45pm: end of your tour at La Sagrada Familia and transfer back to your hotel.
2pm: arrival to your hotel and end of the services of your local host and of the tour.
Overnight in Barcelona: 3 deluxe garden rooms with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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19th of April: day trip from Barcelona to the medieval city of Girona and town of Besalú
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10am: 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.
11:30am: 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 take you for lunch to a restaurant suited to your taste.
3:30pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the nearby medieval village of Besalú.
4pm: 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.
5:15pm: after your introductory tour of Besalú, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to Barcelona.
6:45pm: arrival to Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: 3 deluxe garden rooms with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
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20th of April: high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid and private tour of the Prado Museum
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10am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Barcelona and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus with a dedicated driver to Barcelona train station.
10:25am: arrival to Barcelona train station on time to take your high-speed train to Madrid.
11am: departure of your high-speed train to Madrid (1st class seats).
1:45pm: upon arrival of your train to Madrid train station, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your private driver. He will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Sally Bell – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to your hotel in the city.
2:15pm (estimated): upon arrival to your hotel in Madrid, enjoy some free time to check-in and have a bite before your private tour of the Prado museum.
5pm: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on an art tour of the Prado Museum, which is the largest art gallery in Spain.
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.
7:15pm: after your tour of the Prado Museum, enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: 3 preferential rooms with balcony and breakfast included at Gran hotel Inglés (5*)
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21st of April: day trip from Madrid to the medieval city of Toledo
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Madrid and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Toledo old town.
10am: upon arrival to Toledo, meet your personal local host to start a panoramic tour of the city from your vehicle, aimed at setting the context for your exploration of the local history and architecture.
This first part of the tour will take you to see some excellent panoramic views of Toledo allowing you to understand its geography and strategic location.
Then you will be driven to the old town quarters to start a private walking tour of the city with a special focus on its medieval 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.
Finally, to top up your tour you will 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.
1:30pm: end of your private walking tour of Toledo and free time for lunch at leisure before your return to Madrid.
3:30pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan from Toledo back to your hotel in Madrid.
4:30pm: arrival to your accommodation in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: 3 preferential rooms with balcony and breakfast included at Gran hotel Inglés (5*)
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22nd of April: departure from Madrid
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9:15am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred to Madrid airport in a modern and comfortable minibus.
9:45am: arrival to Madrid airport on time to take your flights back to the US (AA 8644 and AA37).
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Pricing
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The cost of this 18-day bespoke trip for a private party of 6 pax is 53349 Euros (17815 Euros per couple with the men playing golf and 17719 for the couple with the man not playing golf)
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This price includes
– 18 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable minibus when traveling with your luggage and in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan when traveling without your luggage.
– All private guided tours and guided travel experiences mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide with a great command of the English language.
– All entrance tickets, admissions and tastings for all the guided tours.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Seville on the 4th of April.
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist).
– A tapas and wines dinner in Seville with a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share, up to 4 wines per person (or beer, refreshments and water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– A private visit to a selected farm of brave bulls and Spanish horses outside Seville including an aperitif with tapas followed by homemade lunch there with the owner (one starter, one main course, one dessert per person and drinks (beer, red wine, white wine, water or refreshments) during lunch).
– A private visit to a state-owned farm of Spanish purebred horses outside Jerez.
– A private visit to a selected sherry vineyard outside Jerez including a tasting (with tapas) of the sherries that the owner makes and ages only for him and his family and a homemade lunch including starters, mains, desserts, sherries and water.
– Tastings in selected stalls at the food market in Cadiz and one drink per person during the visit to the market.
– A tasting of fortified wines in a selected local tavern in Cadiz old town (3 wines per person).
– A tapas and wines lunch in a selected local tapas bar in Cadiz old town including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 wines per person (or beer, refreshments or water).
– Green Fee for 2 pax to play the 18-hole golf course in Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri on the 10th of April at 10:30am.
– A light mid-morning picnic atop the sierras of San Bartolomé overlooking the straits of Gibraltar.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant overlooking the straits of Gibraltar including a selection of 2 starters to share, one main course per person, one dessert per person and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– A private visit to a selected family owned and family run winery outside Ronda including a pairing lunch there (4 wines paired with 3 dishes and 1 dessert).
– A private visit to the house and winery of a local chef in the village of Benalauría including a wine tasting of the wines he makes there followed by a pairing lunch cooked on site by the chef including one starter, one main course and one dessert per person.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the village of Nerja including a selection of 2 starters to share, one main course per person, one dessert per person and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– Domestic flight to travel from Granada to Barcelona (vueling airlines VY2013) with a luggage allowance per person of a large suitcase of up to 25kg, another large suitcase of up to 20kg and a small handbag of max 40x20x30cm.
– A tapas and wines dinner in Barcelona including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 wines per person (or beer, refreshments or water).
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the city of Girona including a selection of 2 starters to share, one main course per person, one dessert per person and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– High-speed train tickets to travel from Barcelona to Madrid (1st class seats).
– All taxes
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit and management of restaurant reservations if you wish (unless credit/debit cards are needed to finalize the reservations, in which case we will send you a link for you to complete the reservations).
– 24h Guardian Angel service during your trip.
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This price excludes
– Your international flights.
– Any meals not mentioned right above.
– Golf clubs for your golf session (you can rent them at the golf course. We can reserve them for you but we would need to know your heights and if you are left or right handed).
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this bespoke trip at this price we need a 30% deposit of the grand total via credit/debit card no later than the 22nd of October at 11:59pm (Madrid time) as well as all your full names, passport numbers, dates of birth and dates of expiration of your passports. The final 70% must be paid via the same method no later than 35 days prior to the start of the trip. If you wish to confirm this trip at a later stage, we will need to re-quote the trip.
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Grand total of this bespoke trip: 53349 Euros
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30% deposit needed no later than the 22nd of October 2023 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 16004,7 Euros
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Sally and her husband: 5344,5 Euros
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Mr and Mrs Kraft: 5344,5 Euros
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Cindy and Stuart: 5315,7 Euros
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Final 70% needed needed no later than 35 days prior to the start of the trip: 37344,3 Euros
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Sally and her husband: 12470,5 Euros
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Mr and Mrs Kraft: 12470,5 Euros
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Cindy and Stuart: 12403,3 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you all cancel your trip more than 35 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge the 30% deposit only.
– If you all cancel your trip between 35 and 20 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 50%.
– If you all cancel your trip between 19 and 10 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 60% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 40%.
– If you all cancel your trip between 9 and 4 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 75% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 25%.
– If you 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 to the duration / activities of the trip.
(**) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends buying 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 crisis and you are not able to enter the country due to this closure, we will give you a full refund.
