Payment of private trip to Spain | 1st - 13th of August

Payment of private trip to Spain | 1st – 13th of August | 7 pax

–

Description and schedule of services
–
1st of August: arrival to Madrid airport, transfer to your hotel and day at leisure to recover from your flight.
–
6:40am: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport, collect your luggage, head to the arrivals hall and meet your private driver there. He will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Denise Ashby – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in Madrid.

8:30am: upon arrival to your hotel in Madrid drop-off your luggage and enjoy the morning at leisure while your rooms get read. Then check-in, freshen up and enjoy the rest of the day exploring the city following our recommendations.

Overnight in Madrid. 2 classic double rooms for double occupancy each and 1 deluxe double room with an extra bed for triple occupancy, all of them with breakfast included at hotel H10 Villa de la Reina (4*)

–
–
2nd of August: private walking tour of Madrid old town including the Prado Museum in the morning and self-guided visit to the Royal Palace in the afternoon.
–
9:30am: 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 city in order for you to understand where Madrid has its roots and from where it has evolved until becoming the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital city it is today.

A 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.

Your introductory tour of Madrid will finish at its most iconic museum: The Prado. 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 introductory tour of Madrid and free time for lunch at leisure before your (self-guided) afternoon visit to the Royal Palace.

4pm: be ready at the door of the Royal Palace with your skip the line tickets to enjoy a self-guided visit to this landmark. After your introduction to the history and art scene of Madrid in the morning, this will make a great continuation of your discovery of the city.

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Spanish monarchy and it portrays the splendor of Spanish royal power through its architectural design and lavish interiors. Your visit will be a journey through the history of Spain while you enjoy a selection of royal rooms, works of art and banqueting halls.

5pm: after this second discovery journey of the history and architecture of the city, you will have gained a deep understanding of Madrid as a city and of Spain as a country, having the right context to continue on with your trip.

–
–
3rd of August: Private day trip from Madrid to Toledo.
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minivan to Toledo old town.

10am: upon arrival to Toledo, meet your personal local host to start a private walking tour of the city with a special focus on its Jewish history, from its origins and maximum splendor under the Hispanic-Muslim rule until the Christian conquest of the city. Along your tour you will visit the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, which is an extraordinary example of the Jewish-Sephardic heritage of the city.

Your tour will also take you to see some remarkable evidences of the presence of the Hispanic-Muslim culture in the city, such as the former Mosque of el Cristo de la Luz. Halfway along your tour, you will take a stop to sample the local marzipan and get some energy to keep discovering the city. You will then visit the former church of San Román which is the most exquisite example of the interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures that took place in Toledo. This is especially present in the architecture and iconographic program of the church which features some impressive frescoes from the Middle ages.

Finally, to top up your tour you will visit the Cathedral of Toledo, which is one of the most important ones ever erected in Spain.

1:30pm: end of your private walking tour of Toledo and free time for lunch at leisure before your return to Madrid (recommendations will be given).

4:30pm: private transfer in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan with a dedicated driver from Toledo back to your hotel in Madrid stopping along the way at mirador del valle for excellent panoramic views of the city.

5:45pm: arrival to your accommodation in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure.

–
–
4th of August: from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela by train and private introductory tour of Santiago de Compostela.
–
7am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Madrid train station.

7:25am: arrival to Madrid train station on time to catch your direct high-speed train to Santiago de Compostela.

8am: departure of your high-speed train to Santiago the Compostela (1st class seats).

11:20am: upon arrival of your train to Santiago de Compostela, collect your luggage, head to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Denise Ashby – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in the city.

12am: upon arrival to your hotel in Santiago de Compostela, drop off your luggage and enjoy some free time for lunch at leisure before checking in and starting your introductory tour of the city (recommendations will be given).

3pm: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on an introductory history and architecture tour of Santiago old town.

Located at the end of one of the world’s most famous religious pilgrimages, the city of Santiago de Compostela has also one of the most beautiful and best preserved medieval old towns in Europe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, Santiago old town treasures a unique Romanesque Cathedral in the world as well as many other exquisite examples of civil and religious medieval architecture.

Your tour will take you to visit the Cathedral in order for you to learn about Romanesque architecture and about the history of Saint James the Great who is buried there. This part of the tour will also explain the origins of the pilgrimage and how the city became one of the most important religious destinations in the world along with Rome and Jerusalem. This will help you to understand how this helped to create a strong Christian identity in Northern Spain and an intense cultural connection with the rest of Europe during the times when an important part of what we know today as Spain was ruled by Muslims.

Your tour will also take you to the most important squares of the old town, which feature the greatest examples of medieval architecture in the city. These are the square of El Obradoiro with the majestic Hospital of the Catholic Monarchs, Azabacheria square with the archbishop’s palace, Quintana square with the monastery of Antealtares and the palace of the Parra family and Platerías square. Finally you will be taken to the inner areas of the medieval town to explore their winding cobbled streets, while you are given some recommendations to make the most of your stay in the city.

5:30pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure (recommendations will be given).

Overnight in Santiago de Compostela. 3 double rooms (1 of them with an extra bed) all of them with breakfast included at hotel Parador de Santiago (5*).

–
–
5th of August: private day trip from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre and Costa da Morte.
–
9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus to the stretch of Costa da Morte near cape Finisterre, a stunning area in NorthWest Spin with impeccable white sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, green pastures, fishing villages and majestic lighthouses.

10:15am: upon arrival to Costa da Morte, you will be taken to visit its most impressive beaches such as Praia do Rostro, Praia Arnela and Praia do Mar de Fora. These are some of the best unspoilt beaches in Spain. Upon arrival you may want to go for a stroll on the beach or even have a swim if the weather is nice.

11:45pm: from Praia do Mar do Fora, you will take a scenic short hike towards Finisterre Lighthouse to enjoy the beautiful coastal landscapes in this area and to also learn about the history of an extended route of the pilgrimage to Santiago that actually finishes there.

1pm: after your introduction to the beautiful nature of this unique coastal area, you will be taken to enjoy its wonderful gastronomy in a selected local restaurant by the sea.

2:30pm: after lunch, you will visit the quaint fishing villages of Corcubión and Sardinheiro.

3:45pm: then, reconnect with your driver and make your way back to Santiago in your minibus.

5pm: arrival to your hotel in Santiago and rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Santiago de Compostela. 3 double rooms (1 of them with an extra bed) all of them with breakfast included at hotel Parador de Santiago (5*).

–
–
6th of August: from Santiago de Compostela to Seville by plane and introductory evening flamenco and tapas tour of Seville old town
–
7am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Santiago airport.

7:25am: arrival to Santiago airport on time to take your direct flight from Santiago to Seville.

9:25am: departure of your flight from Santiago to Seville airport.

10:50am: upon arrival to Seville airport, collect your luggage, head to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Denise Ashby – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in Seville.

12pm: arrival to your hotel in Seville and free time to have lunch, check-in and freshen up before your introductory flamenco and tapas tour of the city.

6:30pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards a selected flamenco venue in Seville old town.

This introductory walk is aimed at learning how flamenco emerged from South West Spain as a result of a slow fusion of the ancient multicultural musical heritage of Southern Spain with the original gypsy rhythms and musical roots. This will set the context for (and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of) the flamenco performance in a small and intimate venue that will follow, with 4 people on stage (one singer, one guitarist and two dancers).

7:30pm: start of the flamenco performance.

8:30pm: after your flamenco performance, enjoy a tapas tasting tour through Seville old town. Your tour will take you to 2 – 3 selected tapas bars where the locals like to gather with family and friends and where you will taste a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water). This will make an excellent opportunity to learn about Southern Spanish gastronomy, about the connection of different foods to different festivities, regions and specific periods of history and also about the dynamics of tapas bars in Southern Spain.

10:30pm: after your tapas and wines adventure, be escorted back to your hotel stopping along the way for a sweet local treat.

11pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.

Overnight in Seville: 2 Seville double rooms for double occupancy each and 1 triple room for triple occupancy, all of them with breakfast included at hotel H10 Casa de la Plata (4*). Pool at the hotel

–
–
7th of August: private walking tour of Seville’s most impressive World Heritage Sites and of the quarter of Santa Cruz
–
9:30am: be met by your personal local guide at your accommodation in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to the most impressive World Heritages Sites of the city (the Alcazar and the Cathedral with its Giralda tower) and to the Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz.

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. 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 quarter of Santa Cruz, with its countless quaint corners, narrow streets, cosy squares, houses of traditional Southern Spanish architecture and Moorish urban planning. It is in this quarter where an important part of the Jewish Sephardic community of Seville lived in the medieval times and you will learn about what life in the quarter was like then and how it has evolved until becoming what it is today.

1:30pm: after your tour, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

–
–
8th of August: private transfer from Seville to Nerja via Córdoba to see the great Mosque Cathedral
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Córdoba old town.

10:40am: upon arrival to Córdoba, meet your personal local host to start your private walking tour of the 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 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.

Later you will take a stroll through the Jewish quarter to learn about one of the most prosperous and intellectually developed Sephardic communities in Europe in the middle ages.

12:40pm: after your tour of Córdoba, enjoy some free time for lunch at leisure before being transferred to your accommodation in Nerja (recommendations will be given).

2:30pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred to your accommodation in Nerja.

4:45pm: arrival to your accommodation in Nerja and rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Nerja: 2 deluxe double rooms and 1 suite with a sofa bed all of them with breakfast included at Hotel Sibarys (3*). Pool at the hotel.

–
–
9th of August: day at leisure in Nerja
–
All day: enjoy all your day at leisure in Nerja.

Overnight in Nerja: 2 deluxe double rooms and 1 suite with a sofa bed all of them with breakfast included at Hotel Sibarys (3*). Pool at the hotel.

–
–
10th of August: private day trip to Granada and the Alhambra from Nerja
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to the Alhambra in Granada.

10:15am: upon arrival to the Alhambra, your driver will leave you in the hands of your personal local guide. Once with your guide, 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 free time in the city of Granada for lunch at leisure and to explore the city at your own pace before returning to Nerja.

5:30pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred back to your hotel in Nerja.

6:45pm: arrival to your hotel in Nerja and end of services for the day.

Overnight in Nerja: 2 deluxe double rooms and 1 suite with a sofa bed all of them with breakfast included at Hotel Sibarys (3*). Pool at the hotel.

–
–
11th of August: from Nerja to Barcelona via Málaga airport and evening at leisure in Barcelona.
–
11:55am: after a morning at leisure in Nerja, meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Malaga airport.

12:55pm: arrival to Malaga airport on time to take your direct flight to Barcelona at 2:55pm.

2:55pm: departure of your direct flight from Malaga to Barcelona.

4:35pm: upon arrival of your flight of your flight to Barcelona, collect your luggage, head to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Denise Ashby – Genuine Andalusia”. Then, be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to your hotel in Barcelona.

6pm: arrival to your hotel in Barcelona and rest of the evening at leisure in the city.

Overnight in Barcelona: 2 deluxe double rooms for double occupancy and 1 deluxe garden triple room for triple occupancy, all of them with breakfast included at hotel H10 Casa Mimosa (4*). Pool at the hotel

–
–
12th of August: private walking tour of Barcelona including Gaudi’s masterpieces: Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell.
–
9:30am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable minibus with a dedicated driver to Parc Güell.

9:55am: upon arrival to Parc Güell, 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.

11:15am: after your tour of Parc Güell, be transferred in your minibus to the church of La Sagrada Familia.

11:35pm: 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.

1:30pm: after your visit to la Sagrada familia, enjoy the rest of your day at leisure in Barcelona.

–
–
13th of August: private transfer to Barcelona airport and departure.
–
10:30am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes minivan to Barcelona airport.

11:10am: arrival to Barcelona airport on time to take your flight to the US at 1:40pm.

–
–
Pricing
–
–
The cost of this bespoke trip to Spain for a private group of 7 people is 22490 Euros

–

This price includes

12 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
All private transportation services mentioned above in modern and comfortable Mercedes minivans with a dedicated driver (when traveling without a guide) and in a modern and comfortable minibus (when traveling with a guide for the day trip to Costa da Morte and for your city tour in Barcelona).
All private tours mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide.
All entrance tickets and admissions (skip the line) for each of the sites included in the guided tours.
Radio transmission systems (whispers) when needed for the private guided tours.
Skip the line tickets for a self-guided visit to the Royal Palace in Madrid.
High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela on the 4th of August.
Airline tickets to travel from Santiago de Compostela to Seville on the 6th of August. 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.
Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 performers onstage: 2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist.
A tapas dinner in Seville including a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share, up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments, water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
Airline tickets to travel from Málaga to Barcelona on the 11th of August. 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 in each of the places where you will be.
24h assistance during your trip.
Petrol, parkings and tolls.
All expenses of your drivers and of your guides.
All taxes.

–

This price excludes

Your international flights to travel to/from Spain.
Any meals not mentioned right above.
Anything else not mentioned right above.

–

Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this private trip at this price, we require a 25% deposit of the grand total no later than the 13th of June 2022 at 8pm (Madrid time) via credit/debit card as well as a photo / scan of each of your passports. The final 75% must be paid via the same method no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip.

–

Grand total of this trip: 22490

–

25% deposit needed no later than the 13th of June at 8pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 5622,5 Euros

–
–

Final 75% needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 16867,5 Euros

–

Cancellation policy

If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to its scheduled start, we’ll charge the 25% deposit only.
If you cancel your trip between 30 and 10 days prior to its scheduled start, we’ll charge 45% of the full cost of the trip and we’ll refund the remaining 55%.
If you cancel your trip between 9 and 3 days prior to its scheduled start, we’ll charge 65% of the full cost of the trip and we’ll refund the remaining 35%.
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.

(*) If the travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic didn’t allow for this trip to happen, we will give you a full refund. Please note that the travel restrictions we will take as official will be the ones imposed by the corresponding government/s on the general vaccinated traveler coming to Spain from the US and not your specific personal circumstances.

(**) Please note that partial cancellations won’t result in partial refunds. This applies to the group size and to the duration of the tour program.

EXTENDED TOURS

DAY TRIPS

WALKING TOURS

SHORE EXCURSIONS