Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 6th – 15th of May 2023 | 5 pax
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Description and schedule of services
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6th of May: arrival to Madrid and introductory history, architecture and art tour of the city including the Prado Museum
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9am: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your private driver. He will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Shradha and Raj – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in the city.
10:30am (estimated): upon arrival to your hotel in Madrid, check-in (subject to your rooms being ready) and enjoy some free time to rest, freshen up and have lunch before your introductory tour of the city. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see during your free time in the city and also of places to eat. We will book tables for you if you wish.
2:30pm: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on an introductory tour of Madrid old town aimed at setting the context for your stay in the city and in Spain.
Your tour will take you through the oldest quarters of the Spanish capital in order for you to understand where Madrid has its roots and from where it has evolved until becoming the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital it is today.
A first highlight of your walk will be the iconic Plaza Mayor where you will be explained about the important historical events that have happened there over the past 400 years and their importance in the history of Madrid and of Spain. Another highlight will be learning about the history of the Spanish monarchy while you stroll along the grand façades of the Royal Palace, to later enjoy a panoramic view of its gardens and of the nearby opera house.
5pm: after this introduction to the Spanish capital, you will continue your discovery journey of the city and of Spain with a visit to the Prado Museum. There your guide will take you on a private tour that will allow you to travel through Spanish history of art while you enjoy the remarkable works of Spanish master painters such as Velazquez, Goya and El Greco amongst others. This will allow you to understand how different historical periods shaped the artistic creation at each time and how much of Spain’s culture and sentiment is expressed in the works of its main artists.
6:30pm: after your tour of Madrid, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: hotel Palacio del Retiro (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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7th of May: day trip to Toledo from Madrid
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9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation 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 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 allow you to learn about the presence of the Hispanic-Muslim culture in the city while you are shown some selected samples (civil, religious and defensive) of a particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles called Mudéjar and which you will later re-encounter in Seville.
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. We will give you recommendations of places to eat in Toledo and will book a table for you if you wish.
3:30pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver 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: hotel Palacio del Retiro (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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8th of May: from Madrid to Seville via Cordoba to see the Great Mosque Cathedral
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8:45am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Madrid train station.
9:05am: arrival to Madrid train station on time to take your high-speed train to Cordoba.
9:35am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Córdoba (1st class seats).
11:27am: upon arrival to Córdoba train station, meet your personal driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Córdoba old town.
11:50am: upon arrival to Córdoba old town, meet your personal local host (your driver stays in the van with your luggage) to start a private walking tour of Córdoba old town.
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 splendour 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 as its most representative construction.
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.
1:50pm: end of your tour and free time for lunch at leisure. We will give you recommendations of places to eat in Córdoba and will book a table for you if you wish.
3:30pm: reconnect with your private driver and be transferred from Cordoba old town to your hotel in Seville.
5:10pm: arrival to your hotel in Seville and end of services for the day. 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 book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Seville: hotel Gran Meliá Colón (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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9th of May: private walking tour of Seville UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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9:30am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish palace, the Cathedral with its Giralda tower and the Archive of the Indies.
You will start your discovery journey by visiting the Alcazar, which is a massive complex of palaces erected in different periods and of breath-taking gardens of different styles. The Alcazar has stunning historical constructions featuring a very particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles, called Mudejar. This style became very fashionable in Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries amongst the Christian nobility and it reached its maximum splendor in Seville. Another essential part of the Alcazar is the famous house of Trade, which once hosted the offices from where all the commerce with the New World was managed. After enjoying these inner areas, you will be taken to the gardens, which are an exquisite sample of European landscaping from the 16th until the 20th centuries.
Then you will be taken to visit the Cathedral, which is the largest gothic temple in the World and where Christopher Columbus is buried. The Cathedral of Seville was built on a vast extension of land where previously a Mosque had been erected. An important part of the Mosque was preserved and it is now a part of the Cathedral. This makes it a unique construction featuring styles as diverse as Hispanic-Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical and Baroque. A most important part of the Cathedral is its bell tower known as la Giralda, which is a perfectly preserved Hispanic-Muslim minaret from the period when a Mosque occupied the grounds where the Cathedral stands today. During your tour you will be taken to the top in order to enjoy the wonderful views of Seville that one can admire from there.
To finish you will visit the Archive of the Indies. The Archive of the Indies is an iconic neoclassical building erected to keep invaluable documents from all those commercial expeditions that took place between Seville and the New World. Learning about it will uncover probably the most glorious period of the history of Seville and how it connects to the American continent and to the present character of the city.
1:30pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: hotel Gran Meliá Colón (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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10th of May: from Seville to Granada and private tour of The Alhambra and el Generalife.
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10am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Seville and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in Granada.
12:45pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and free time to check-in, to freshen up and to have lunch before your private tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife.
3pm: be met by your personal Alhambra expert at your hotel 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.
3:15pm: start your private walking tour of the Alhambra and el Generalife. This tour will allow you to enjoy the exquisite refinement of the most splendorous construction that the Muslims built in Spain: the Alhambra. The Alhambra was a palatial town, formed by different parts, all of which you will get to discover with your local host in order to understand how they all worked together, the role that each of them had and the different people who inhabited them.
After your tour of the Alhambra you will be taken to the Generalife or summer palace of the Nasrid Sultans, where they would go to get away from the hustle of life in the Alhambra. The Generalife is a magical place designed for relaxation and contemplation and its gardens, architecture and views are simply spectacular.
6:30pm: end of your private tour of the Alhambra and rest of the day at leisure in Granada.
Overnight in Granada: hotel Seda Club (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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11th of May: day trip from Granada to the Mediterranean Sea for a hike in the nature reserve of the cliffs of Maro and to discover the charming villages of Nerja and Frigiliana.
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9am: private transfer from your accommodation in Granada to the village of Nerja with your own personal local host and a dedicated driver in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan.
10:10am: arrival to Nerja and private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on its beautiful viewpoints overlooking the Mediterranean sea, and on its traditional Mediterranean architecture. Along your tour you will learn about the evolution of Nerja from a traditional fishing village to a much-loved destination for Mediterranean lifestyle lovers.
11:10am: private transfer from Nerja to the car park of the unspoilt beach of El Cañuelo.
11:25am: upon arrival to the car park of the beach of El Cañuelo, you will be taken on a short introductory hike towards this unspoilt Mediterranean beach. Then, from there, you will be taken along the cliffs of Maro to the also unspoilt beach of Cantarriján. This hike will offer you beautiful views of the Mediterranean coast while you cross green areas of Mediterranean forest. Once at the beach of Cantarriján, continue on towards the tower of Cerro Gordo for spectacular final views of your hike.
1:45pm: reconnect with your driver near the tower of Cerro Gordo and be transferred to the inland hillside village of Frigiliana for lunch and for a relaxed walk of its old town.
2pm: arrival to Frigiliana and lunch in a selected local restaurant representative of the gastronomy of the area.
3:15pm: after lunch, enjoy a private walking tour of Frigiliana old town with a special focus on its countless quaint corners, whitewashed streets and unbeatable Mediterranean charm.
4:30pm: end of your tour of Frigiliana and private transfer back to Granada.
5:40pm: arrival to your accommodation in Granada and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Granada: hotel Seda Club (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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12th of May: morning flight from Granada to Barcelona and rest of the day at leisure.
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7:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Granada airport.
8am: arrival to Granada airport on time to take your flight to Barcelona at 9:30am.
9:30am: departure of your flight from Granada to Barcelona (Vueling airlines VY2011).
11am: 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 “Shradha and Raj – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in Barcelona.
12:15pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and rest of the day at leisure. 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 book tables for you if you wish.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Des Arts (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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13th of May: morning introductory tour of Barcelona old town
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10am: be met by your personal local host at your accommodation to start a private tour of the oldest sections of Barcelona aimed at learning about its origins and evolution until the present times.
Your discovery journey will start with a short private transfer from your hotel in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver to the Gothic quarter of Barcelona, which is the oldest one in town. Once there, you will start an introductory walking tour through which you will learn about the Roman origins of Barcelona and about its expansion until the medieval times. Your walk will take you through a maze of narrow streets that open onto charming squares with impressive temples and noble houses. During your walk, your guide will allow you to understand the first stages of the growth of the city from a Roman town to a thriving medieval metropolis.
Then you will venture into the quarter of el Born, which is the medieval extension of the gothic quarter and where you will visit the iconic basilica of Santa María del Mar, dating from the 14th century and built with the help of its inhabitants at that time.
El born is a quarter that combines tradition and modernity these days. It is an area of contrasts where some of the most historic streets of Barcelona coexist with modern fashion, gastronomy and art businesses.
Your guide will share with you both history and architecture aspects while they throw in relevant information about the present character and personality of this area of Barcelona.
To finish your tour will take you to the quarter of la Barceloneta: a fishing quarter built in the 18th century known today for being a recreational waterfront with great local bars and restaurants.
1:30pm: end of the tour and rest of the evening at leisure.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Des Arts (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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14th of May: morning tour of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces
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Your tour today will have a special focus on the masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí: the Church of la Sagrada familia and Parc Güell. Two great examples (one religious and one park) representative of the talent of this master architect.
9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Parc Güell.
9:25am: upon arrival, you will be taken on a private walking tour of the park aimed at understanding the extent to which Gaudi was able to expand his creativity and versatility. Promoted by the local businessman Eusebi Güell, the park was originally devised as an exclusive garden for the well-to-do local families who wanted to get away from the busy city life and be closer to nature. Güell gave Gaudí free rein to design the site, in such a way that the architect was able to experiment with new construction techniques and incorporate references to Classical mythology, the history of Catalonia and the Christian religion and this is what your tour will uncover for you.
10:45am: after your tour of Parc Güell, reconnect with your driver and be transferred to the church of La Sagrada Familia.
10:55am: arrival to la Sagrada Familia and private tour of the site. After your initial discovery of Catalan Modernist architecture and the work of Gaudí, you will have the right context to enjoy the magnificence of this temple and to understand the visionary that Gaudí was, by taking a private tour of both the inside and the outside of the building with your personal local host. The church of la Sagrada familia is the most ambitious and complex project of Gaudí as it incorporates all the structural innovations he had developed during his career. Also, the temple contains a fascinating symbolism revealing the in-depth knowledge of Christian liturgy that Gaudí acquired after several decades of intense study.
12:45pm: after your visit to la Sagrada familia, be transferred back to Barcelona old town.
1pm: arrival to Barcelona old town and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Barcelona: hotel Des Arts (not booked through Genuine Andalusia)
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15th of May: departure from Barcelona
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5:30am: private transfer in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan from your hotel in Barcelona to Barcelona airport.
6am: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight to Chicago at 8am.
9:30am: private transfer in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan from your hotel in Barcelona to Barcelona airport.
10am: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight to the US at 12pm.
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Pricing
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The cost of this bespoke tour program for a private group of 5 people is 10090 Euros
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This price includes
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated uniformed driver.
– All private tours mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide from Genuine Andalusia.
– All entrance tickets and admissions for all these guided tours.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Córdoba on the 8th of May.
– Airline tickets to travel from Granada to Barcelona on the 12th of May. Direct flight with Vueling Airlines (a subsidiary or Iberia Airlines) including one checked-in piece of luggage per person (25kg max), one cabin bag (max 10kg and 55x40x20cm) per person and one handbag (40x20x30cm) per person.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat during your free time. We will make the necessary restaurant reservations if you wish.
– 24h guarding angel service throughout your trip.
– All taxes.
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This price excludes
– Accommodation
– Your international flights.
– Any meals.
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
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Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this tour program at this price we require a 30% deposit of the grand total via credit/debit card no later than the 2nd of March 2023 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) as well as a photo / scan of each of your passports. The final 70% must be paid via the same method no later than 30 days prior to the start of the tour program.
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Grand total of this bespoke tour program: 10090 Euros
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30% deposit needed no later than the 2nd of March 2023 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 3027 Euros.
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Final 70% needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the tour program: 7063 Euros
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Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to its scheduled start, we will charge the 30% deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 10 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 cancel your trip between 9 and 4 days prior to its scheduled departure, we will charge 75% of the full cost of the trip and we will refund the other 25%.
– If you cancel your trip 3 days or less prior to scheduled departure, 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 tours, activities and duration of the trip.
(**) If Spain closes its borders due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country because of this, we will give you a full refund.
(***) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends buying travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our guests purchase their travel insurance from Medjet.
