Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 6th – 14th of June 2025 | 2 pax
–
Description and schedule of services
–
6th of June: flight from Porto to Madrid, transfer from Madrid airport to Madrid hotel and introductory flamenco and tapas tour in the evening
–
1:45pm: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport from Porto (UX 1146), collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your private driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Jim and Kathleen – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Madrid.
2:45pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Madrid and free time to check-in, freshen up and rest a little before your introductory flamenco and tapas tour of Madrid old town. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Madrid during your free time and also of places to eat. We will also book tables for you if you like.
5pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards a selected flamenco venue in Madrid old town.
This introductory walk is aimed at learning how flamenco music emerged from Spain as a result of a slow fusion of the ancient multicultural musical heritage of the country 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 6 people on stage (two singers, one guitarist and three dancers).
6pm: start of the flamenco performance.
7pm: after your flamenco performance, enjoy a tapas tasting tour through Madrid old town. 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. This will make an excellent opportunity to learn about Central Spanish gastronomy, about the connection of different foods to different festivities, regions and specific periods of history and also about the dynamics of tapas bars in the Spanish capital.
9pm: after your tapas adventure, be escorted back to your hotel, maybe stopping along the way for a sweet local treat.
9:30pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Madrid: premium double room with breakfast included at hotel Coolrooms Palacio de Atocha (4*)
–
–
7th of June: Madrid history, architecture and art tour including the quarters of Plaza Mayor, Palacio and a visit to the Prado Museum
–
9:30am: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on an introductory tour of Madrid old town aimed at adding context for your stay in the city and in the country.
Your tour will take you through the oldest quarters of the Spanish capital in order for you to understand where Madrid has its roots and from where it has evolved until becoming the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital it is today.
A first highlight of your walk will be the iconic Plaza Mayor where you will be explained about the important historical events that have happened there over the past 400 years and their importance in the history of Madrid and of Spain. Another highlight will be learning about the history of the Spanish monarchy while you stroll along the grand façades of the Royal Palace, to later enjoy a panoramic view of its gardens and of the nearby opera house.
11:30am: after this introduction to the Spanish capital, take a taxi with your guide 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.
1:30pm: after your tour of Madrid, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure, maybe following our recommendations.
Overnight in Madrid: premium double room with breakfast included at hotel Coolrooms Palacio de Atocha (4*)
–
–
8th of June: Madrid neighborhoods tour: Malasaña, Conde Duque and Argüelles finishing with a visit to Museo Cerralbo
–
10am: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on discovery journey of the neighborhoods of Malasaña, Conde Duque and Argüelles to finish with a visit to the lesser known yet fascinating Museo Cerralbo.
The first part of the tour will take you to visit the areas that emerged as the medieval extension of Madrid and that combine tradition and modernity these days. They together form an area of contrasts where some of the most historic streets of Madrid 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 the area of Madrid where they are located.
After this third discovery journey of different aspects and areas of Madrid, you will be taken to visit the lesser known yet exquisite Museo Cerralbo.
Located in what used to be the stately home of the 17th Marquis of Cerralbo, your visit will take you back in time to experience what life was like for aristocratic families in late 19th-century Madrid. The museum boasts over 50,000 objects, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glassware, tapestry, furniture, lamps and clocks amongst many other artifacts and is of great architectural interest too as it reveals the type of mansions where well-to-do families lived and still live in Madrid.
2pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: premium double room with breakfast included at hotel Coolrooms Palacio de Atocha (4*)
–
–
9th of June: day trip from Madrid to the medieval city of Toledo
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Madrid and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Toledo old town.
10am: upon arrival to Toledo, meet your personal local host to start a panoramic tour that will take you to see excellent views of the city first to later start a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its Jewish, Hispanic-Muslim and Christian history.
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 Cathedral of Toledo, which is one of the most important ones ever erected in Spain.
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 vehicle back to your hotel in Madrid.
4:30pm: arrival to your accommodation in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: premium double room with breakfast included at hotel Coolrooms Palacio de Atocha (4*)
–
–
10th of June: high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona and introductory culture and gastronomy tour through the medieval quarters of Barcelona (Gothic quarter and quarter of el Born)
–
8:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Madrid and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Madrid train station.
8:50am: arrival to Madrid train station on time to take your high-speed train at 10:30am.
9:30am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Barcelona (1st class seats).
12:37pm: upon arrival of your train to Barcelona train station, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Jim and Kathleen – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Barcelona.
2:15pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and free time to check-in, freshen up and rest a little before your introductory tour of Barcelona old town. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Barcelona and of places to eat and will also book tables for you if you wish.
5:30pm: meet your personal local host at the door of your hotel and be transferred by taxi to Barcelona medieval quarters.
Upon arrival to Barcelona’s medieval section, you will start an introductory walking tour of the Gothic quarter through which you will learn about the Roman origins of Barcelona and about its expansion until the medieval times. Your walk will take you through a maze of narrow streets that open onto charming squares with impressive temples and noble houses. During your walk, your guide will allow you to understand the first stages of the growth of the city from a Roman town to a thriving medieval metropolis.
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 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, 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.
9:30pm: end of your tapas tour and private transfer by taxi back to your hotel.
10pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: deluxe garden room with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
–
–
11th of June: market tour and cooking lesson with a personal cooking instructor in their cooking studio, followed by lunch there
–
10am: be met by your personal cooking instructor at your accommodation and take a short walk to a local market that they will choose for the occasion.
10:25am: upon arrival at the market you will take a guided tour aimed at learning about Catalan local produce, about the characteristics of the Mediterranean diet and about the Catalan gastronomy in particular. This will make a great introduction to the Northeastern Spanish cooking philosophy.
10:55am: after your visit to the market you will be taken to their cooking studio, located just a short walk from the market.
11:05am: upon arrival at the studio of your personal cooking instructor, enjoy a private hands-on cooking workshop with a special focus on traditional Catalan cuisine. ︎This workshop is ideal for travelers interested in discovering the secrets of Catalan gastronomy.
Traditional gastronomy always reveals the customs and lifestyle of a country, city or region and this workshop is aimed at creating an immersion into the culture of Catalonia.
You will learn the basics of Catalan cuisine, the stews and the flavors of traditional recipes, but with a twist in the way to present the dishes, which will be creative and modern.
Together with your personal chef, you will enjoy traditional Catalan cuisine and the aromas and flavors that Catalans have always shared with their families. This will take place during the second part of the activity during which you will eat what you will cook, celebrating the joyous Mediterranean lifestyle. We will send you a suggested menu beforehand for you to approve.
2:15pm: after your cooking workshop and lunch, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Barcelona: deluxe garden room with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
–
–
12th of June: day trip from Barcelona to the Penedés wine region to visit a family owned and family run winery with tastings and lunch in a village in the area
–
9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver to the Penedés wine region. Along the way you will be explained about this particular area of Catalonia located East from Barcelona.
10am: upon arrival to the Penedés wine region you will visit a family-owned and family-run winery. During your visit you will get to learn about the local viticulture while you walk among the family vineyards discovering and learning how the family elaborates its wines combining ancestral and modern techniques. After this introduction, you will enjoy a comprehensive wine tasting of different types of wine. You will discover the soils, microclimates and grape varieties that the family grows in its vineyards. The tasting will be accompanied by some morning snacks.
2pm: after your discovery journey of the local viticulture in the vineyard and of the aging of the local wines in cellars you will be taken for lunch to a selected local restaurant in the area to discover the local gastronomy.
4pm: after lunch, reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your hotel in Barcelona.
5pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and services for the day.
Overnight in Barcelona: deluxe garden room with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
–
–
13th of June: half day tour of masterpieces of architect Antoni Gaudí: Parc Güell and Sagrada Familia
–
10am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred by taxi to Parc Güell.
10:20am: 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, be transferred by taxi to the church of La Sagrada Familia.
12:05pm: arrival to la Sagrada Familia and private tour of the site. After your initial discovery of Catalan Modernist architecture and the work of Gaudí at Park Güell, 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: after your visit to la Sagrada familia, be transferred by taxi back to your accommodation or anywhere in the city of your choice where you may want to spend the rest of the afternoon.
Overnight in Barcelona: deluxe garden room with breakfast included at hotel Casa Mimosa (4*)
–
–
14th of June: departure from Barcelona
–
3:30am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Barcelona airport.
4am: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight back to Lisbon at 6am (TP 1041) and end of trip.
–
–
Pricing
–
The cost of this bespoke trip for a private party of 2 pax is 12650 Euros
–
This price includes
– 8 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated personal driver.
– All private tours and travel experiences mentioned above, led by a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide with a great command of the English language.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for all your guided tours.
– A tapas and wines dinner through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of Madrid old town and including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Madrid with 6 artists onstage.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Barcelona on the 10th of June.
– A tapas and wines dinner through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of Barcelona old town and including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– All taxi rides mentioned above.
– A private visit to a selected winery in the Penedes wine region including a tour of the vineyard and of the aging facilities with the corresponding wine tastings and some morning bites.
– Lunch in a selected local restaurant in the Penedés wine region specialized in traditional regional cuisine and including 2 starters to share, one main course per person, 1 dessert per person and up to 3 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water).
– A market tour and cooking lesson with your own personal local chef in Barcelona followed by lunch in a private cooking studio in Barcelona with wine. You will cook a selection of 5 dishes and 1 dessert.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit. We will also book tables for you if you like.
– 24h guardian angel throughout your trip for any emergencies you may have.
– All taxes.
–
This price excludes
– Your international flights.
– Any meals not mentioned right above.
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
–
Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this bespoke trip we require a 20% deposit of the grand total no later than the 1st of November 2024 via credit/debit card. The final 80% must be paid no later than 45 days prior to the start of the trip.
–
Grand total of this bespoke trip to Spain for 2 pax: 12650 Euros
–
20% deposit needed no later than the 1st of November 2024 via credit/debit card to confirm the trip: 2530 Euros
–
Final 80% of the balance needed no later than 45 days prior to the start of the trip to pay it in full: 10120 Euros
–
Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 45 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge the 20% deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 45 and 31 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 30% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 70%.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 16 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 50% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 50%.
– If you cancel your trip between 15 and 7 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 70% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 30%.
– If you cancel your trip between 6 and 3 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 85% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the remaining 15%.
– If you cancel your trip 2 days or less prior to its scheduled start, we will charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*) Please note that partial cancellations won’t result in partial refunds. This applies to the group size and to the duration, activities and services included in the trip.
(**) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance packages from MedJet.
