Our adventure starts in:
We are looking forward to these two Tauck tours in May 2012, and will update this page with our experience! Our review will be similar in format to our Tauck "Classic Italy" review page.
Our Experience
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Choosing Tauck
We chose Tauck
for a number of reasons:
- We have toured with Tauck before (on the "Classic Italy" tour), and were very impressed by the entire experience. We have been excitedly waiting for our next opportunity to take another vacation with them.
- We have taken other tours with Trafalgar, Uniworld, and Insight. Tauck has been our best experience.
- Tauck has a good balance of scheduled activities and free time.
- Tauck has a great reputation, and continues to win many awards in the travel industry.
- We appreciated the way their literature starts with Day 1 as the actual day the tour starts (many other tour agencies list Day 1 as the day you leave home and start flying).
- Tauck tends to use hotels that are better located, making it easier for us to explore on our own during our free time. The quality of chosen hotels is also better than other tours.
- We appreciate how Tauck does not try to upsell extra activities or options during the tour.
- They also do not make stops at places that are clearly shopping stops thinly disguised as sightseeing.
- The Tauck reputation as a company helps them attract top-notch tour directors.
- Tauck is a generous company. They give back to our world community on local, national, and global levels. And they promote volunteerism in numerous ways.
Destinations Visited On This Tour
"Paradors of Northern Spain" tour:
- Barcelona, Cardona, La Seu d'Urgell, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santillana del Mar, Fuente De, Leon, Astorga, Piedrafita del Cebrero, Santiago de Compostela, Porto, Coimbra, Fatima, Lisbon.
"Spain and Portugal" tour:
- Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Evora, Merida, Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Gibraltar, Marbella, Ronda, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo, Madrid.
Attractions and Sites Seen In These Tours
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Planning Our Trip
According to the World Tourism Organization, Spain is #4 in the world for tourist destinations (behind France, U.S.,and China). We didn't realized it was that popular, but the more we talked to other travelers who have been to this area, the more interested we became. And everyone who had also been to Portugal said to include it if at all possible.
We compared tours from Tauck, Collette, Insight, Globus, and found the actual Tauck itineraries much more appealing than the others. We saw that it was very convenient to combine these two Tauck tours back-to-back; the "Paradors of Northern Spain" ended in Lisbon, and the "Spain and Portugal" started from Lisbon the next day. This would give us two 14-day tours that extensively covered both countries. We chose a May departure because of our schedule.
In early October 2011 I bookmarked Tauck's web page for Spain and Portugal tours, and checked it literally every day, anxiously waiting for the 2012 tours to be posted. Well, I received their "Yellow Roads of Europe" brochure in the mail on October 24th, which contained the 2012 tour details! This was two days before it was posted on their web site (2012 itineraries were posted a few weeks earlier for some of the other Tauck tours, but not for these two). Since I was a previous Tauck customer, the mailing included an offer to past clients of two free hotel nights if booked by the end of the year.
Booking Our Tours
We made our tour reservations through Mindy at Pavlus Travel. Mindy is very experienced with booking Tauck tours, and has been great to work with. I would definitely recommend her if you are considering booking a tour with Tauck. Here's how to reach Mindy.
Here is the information Mindy needed to relay to Tauck order to book our reservations:
- Tour name
- Departure date
- Traveler names (exactly as on our passports)
- Traveler’s mailing address
- Traveler’s phone number(s)
- Emergency contact name and phone number
- Interest in purchasing Tauck’s travel insurance
- Interest in pre- or post-trip hotels
- Interest in Tauck air arrangements
- Pre- and post-tour flight numbers, times, and connecting city, if making our own arrangements.
I gave her the information, she called Tauck and made the booking, and called me back within the hour with details. I confirmed pricing details, and provided my credit card information for Tauck's required $600 per person per tour deposit. She said that Tauck was good about mailing out documents 3 or 4 weeks after final payment is received (which is due no later than 60 days before departure).
By the end of the day, I had received an email from Pavlus Travel with a PDF attachment that contained our tour reservation details, payment information, and the standard fine print disclosures and notices.
About 4 months before the tour, I authorized Mindy to charge the final payment for the tours to my credit card. By the end of that day, I had an email with a PDF attachment that was a Pavlus Travel statement reflecting the final payment and the zero balance. In another three days, I received an email with a copy of my receipt from Tauck ("Summary of Purchase"), again showing the final payment and zero balance. Ten days after this, I received a package from Pavlus via UPS, containing the final Tauck documents (see Pre-Tour Documents section for a list), and other Pavlus promotional items.
Incidentally, Pavlus Travel claims to be "the world's largest single office seller of Tauck World Discovery Tours". I appreciate working with a travel company that has plenty of experience with the specific travel I am doing.
Cancellation Fees
Taking various factors into account, we are usually comfortable declining travel insurance. But we always try to familiarize ourselves with policies concerning cancellations. Tauck's cancellation fees (if you don't have Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver) for these tours are:
- 60 days or more before departure - $600 per person per tour
- 8 to 59 days before departure - $900 per person per tour
- 1 to 7 days before departure - $1500 per person per tour
Pre-Tour Documents From Tauck
Five days after my initial reservation, I received the first Tauck documents (sent to Pavlus Travel and forwarded to us) in the mail. There were two packets, one for each tour, each containing:
- "Summary of Purchase" confirming our name spelling, tour name, tour beginning and ending dates, cost, deposit paid, and final payment due date.
- Brief information on airfare, passports, itinerary changes possibility, recommendation to visit Tauck web site, checked luggage, airport transfers, and traveling with children.
- Tauck's Guest Protection plan (travel insurance) overview.
- "Conditions of Tour"
- Reading Guides specific for these tours.
Ten days after making my final payment, I received the final documents (sent to Pavlus Travel and forwarded on to us). They were very well-organized and inclusive, and left few unanswered questions. There was a separate set of documents for each of the two tours. The final documents consisted of:
- A green leatherette 4.5" x 9.5" folder for holding your various Tauck travel documents.
- "Summary of Purchase" (an updated one from their initial mail), showing Tauck number, Reservation number, Guests names, Journey name, Tour beginning and ending dates, Itinerary exception (a change of one hotel), Room request (one bed/no smoking), breakdown of costs and payments, balance due of zero, Passport requirements, and brief comments on itinerary changes, flexibility, pre-trip preparations, airlines and checked luggage, airport transfers, traveling with children.
- "Hotel Confirmation" for the extra pre-tour and post-tour nights I booked through Tauck at the time of the booking. This paper had a Tauck Reservation Number. It also stated the check-in time, cancellation policy, confirmed that it was prepaid as part of my Tauck package, noted that buffet breakfast was included in the room rate, and instructions to present this confirmation letter at check-in.
- "Tauck Photo Contest Entry Form"
- "Reading Guide" — Specific for each tour; contained two lists, Essentials, and Also Recommended.
- "Conditions of Tour" — Two-page document containing the usual fine print about liabilities, responsibilities, rules, guidelines, and agreements. It is easy to read and understand, and is typical of any similar document that is required for literally all tours with any provider.
- "Tauck Travel Tips" — A nice brochure that has tips for Tauck Tours in general. Very useful for those who haven't taken many group tours.
- Tauck Luggage Tags — Large heavy paper tags to attach to your checked suitcases. You write in your name on one side. The other side has room for Room Numbers; this is for hotel use only, and helps get your suitcase to your room in an efficient manner. Blue tags for Paradors of Northern Spain; yellow tags for Spain and Portugal.
- 24-page document printed on their high quality letterhead, containing these details:
- Reservation Number
- Traveler Names (always confirm correct spelling, and exact match to passport spelling)
- Date tour begins
- Date of arrival
- Arrival Information
- Instructions on what to do after landing in Barcelona or Lisbon airport. Go through Immigration; get luggage in baggage claim; go through Customs. Explained what to do if there was a problem with luggage.
- After clearing customs, look for the Tauck representative holding a Tauck sign in the Arrivals lobby. The representative would then assist us with our transfer to the first night's hotel.
- The ride to the hotel takes 20 - 30 minutes, and might be shared with other Tauck guests with similar arrival times.
- At the hotel, check in as a member of the Tauck program, and give them your tour name. Check-in time is 2:00pm. For earlier arrivals, luggage may be checked with bellman, and use the time to explore.
- Emergency/Late Arrival Contact Information — Provides the transportation company name and phone numbers, to call if there is a flight delay, as well as Tauck phone numbers to call if a substantial delay will cause you to miss the start of the tour.
- Travel Documents Required — For entry into Spain and Portugal, U.S. citizens need a valid passport. It must be valid for at least six months after the date of completion of travel. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens. They recommend carrying a photocopy of the first page of your passport with you on your travels, and leave another copy at home.
- Airline Security Measures — TSA requires that name on passport exactly matches name on airline ticket. Check TSA limitations on carry-on items. Plan your airport arrival to give plenty of time to pass through security.
- Tauck Director and Driver Gratuities — Tauck suggests extending any gratuities on an individual basis, and not as a group. Gratuities for local guides, hotel bellmen, restaurant staff, and others, have been included in tour cost. Tauck suggests:
- Tauck Director: USD $8 per person per day (or equivalent in Euros)
- Driver: USD $4 per person per day (or equivalent in Euros)
- Additional Expenses — Points out that not all meals are included, nor are incidentals such as phone calls, laundry, room service.
- Checked Luggage — Your luggage limitations on this trip are not really the maximums that airlines allow, but what is reasonable for a bus tour. Tauck asks you to limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person, and not to exceed 50 pounds. They also instruct you to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.
- Tauck Luggage Tags — These are for checked luggage only, to identify it by local agents and hotel bell staff. Attach the provided Tauck tags before you leave home. Attach them only to your checked suitcase. Your carry-ons should have an identification tag, but not the Tauck luggage tag.
- Check with your specific airline for their checked luggage policy.
- Some hints are included to minimize the chances of losing luggage, and minimizing the impact of it does happen.
- Carry-On Luggage — Space on a tour bus is more constrained than on an airplane. Space under seats and in overhead rack is typically small. Tauck requests that you limit your hand luggage to a small carry-on piece, and only to those items you will need handy during the day, such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras. Items that are too large to fit under seats or in overhead racks must be stored in luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not be accessible during daytime travel.
- Traveling With Minors — Be fully aware of foreign country entry requirements for children under age 18 who are traveling without one or both parents.
- Weather — Is extremely variable depending on the region and the time of year, but be prepared for occasional temperature extremes and rain showers.
- Health — This is a notice that there will be a fair amount of walking, climbing stairs, and uneven surfaces, so travelers must be in good enough physical shape to accomplish this. Wheelchairs or scooters cannot be accommodated on this tour. Individual assistance cannot be provided. Days start early, and are scheduled full.
- Clothing and Packing Suggestions — Tips are given that are typical for travelers. A brief recommended packing list is included.
- For most evenings, resort casual attire is acceptable. You may wish to dress up more for the Welcome and Farewell Dinners. Sports jacket with or without tie for men, and cocktail dress for women, are appropriate, and may also be suitable for other nights.
- Bring adequate supply of prescription medicines; keep in carry-on bag rather than checking on airline.
- Leave expensive jewelry at home.
- Currency and Exchange Rates— Spain and Portugal use the Euro (EUR). Airports and most hotels have exchange facilities. ATMs for withdrawing Euros are convenient and readily available. Contact your banks with your travel dates and destination.
- General Safety Awareness — This suggests normal recommendations, such as locking tickets, passports, and valuables in hotel safes; don't carry valuables in outside pockets; be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Lost or Left Behind Items — Personal items are responsibility of guests. Tauck director might be able to connect you with help, but they cannot assist if it will negatively impact the rest of the guests.
- Accommodations —
- All hotels will have air conditioning, but it might not be in use in spring or fall due to local law.
- All will have elevators.
- All offer valet laundry and dry cleaning service. Irons are available upon request.
- All have hair dryers and in-room minibars.
- Rooms and elevators will be much smaller compared to those in the U.S. (this is true all over Europe).
- Some of the hotels have fitness centers, but might charge an extra fee for use.
- Two hotels have swimming pools.
- Several hotels have Internet facilities.
- Adjoining rooms cannot be guaranteed.
- Triple rooms usually have two beds with a rollaway cot or sofa bed.
- Dining
- All breakfasts are included, and are buffet style.
- Some lunches and dinners are not included.
- Included meals might be full a la carte, limited a la carte, set menu, or buffet.
- Included meals includes coffee, tea, and soft drinks, but not alcohol (except selected meals and receptions).
- This tour may have more limited menus than is typical on other Tauck itineraries due to local culinary customs.
- Dinner in Spain is customarily taken after 10:00 pm, but Tauck has arranged earlier dinners where possible.
- Water/Ice — Water is safe to drink from the tap. Restaurants will offer bottled water. Ice is served only upon request.
- Shopping — Tauck does not recommend any specific vendors.
- Customs and Tax Free Shopping — U.S. residents have restrictions on duty-free purchases. Spain levies a 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most goods and services. Portugal adds 21% VAT. U.S. citizens may get a refund. Get appropriate paperwork when you make each purchase.
- Time Zones — Spain is six or seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Portugal is five or six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
- Electrical Current — Spain and Portugal use 220 volt power. You will need an adapter, and possibly a converter.
- Cellular Phone Usage — Tauck asks guests to refrain from cell phone usage during motor coach travel, Tauck Director commentary, group functions, and sightseeing.
- Photos —A disclaimer that Tauck my use photos of you for promotional purposes.
- Reading Guide — A separate reading list is enclosed.
- Tauck on Facebook — www.facebook.com/taucktravel
- Itinerary — Six pages of day-by-day itinerary, containing daily descriptions similar to the brochures and web site, but also containing specific hotel names and phone numbers for each night, and meals included on each day.
- Paradors of Northern Spain — A two-page summary sheet, containing dates and hotel names, addresses, phone numbers, to leave at home with family and friends.
Connecting With The Tour Group
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Day-By-Day — Our Itinerary at a Glance
(will be made available for download as MS Word document after the tour)
(Yellow highlighed text is from Tauck's literature and documents.)
Tuesday May 8 Travel day
9:30am Departure for USA to Spain flights
Wednesday May 9 Travel day; Barcelona
3:15pm Arrive in Spain
Transportation from Barcelona airport to hotel: Provided by Tauck.
Hotel: Le Méridien Barcelona (1st of 4 nights)(extra pre-tour hotel stay)
Thursday May 10 Barcelona
Entire day on our own.
Hotel: Le Méridien Barcelona, (2nd of 4 nights) (extra pre-tour hotel stay)
Friday May 11 (Day 1) Barcelona
Entire day on our own.
Tauck “Paradors of Northern Spain” tour begins with Day 1.
Tauck's most unforgettable of Spain tours begins at 6:00 PM at Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport to Le Méridien Barcelona. At a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight, we invite you to meet those who will join you to discover the cultural diversity of Spain’s northern regions and Portugal.
6:00pm Welcome cocktail reception and dinner
Meals: D
Hotel: Le Méridien Barcelona (3rd of 4 nights)
Saturday May 12 (Day 2) Barcelona
Barcelona, capital of the unique Catalonia region of Spain, beguiles at every turn. With a local guide, we'll walk to the fascinating Cathedral and Barrio Gotico, the medieval quarter of the city. By motor coach, we'll continue on to architect Antoni Gaudi's extraordinary La Sagrada Familia, his amazing and still unfinished church. We'll also see Barcelona's 1992 Olympic Stadium set high upon the hilltop of Montjuic, which offers splendid views of the city below. The remainder of the day is yours to wander through Barcelona's labyrinth of paths and alleys at leisure.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Le Méridien Barcelona (4th of 4 nights)
Sunday May 13 (Day 3) Cardona; Castellciutat; La Seu d'Urgell
Today we'll discover the rural charms of Catalonia soon after we depart the metropolitan area of Barcelona, as we travel along the "Yellow Roads" to the spectacular mountaintop monastery at Montserrat. Later, we'll continue along through verdant, wooded valleys to Cardona, a village crowned by an ancient castle atop a cone-shaped hill. Here we'll enjoy a taste of Catalan cuisine during lunch in the medieval dining room of a 9th-century castle, the Parador de Cardona. This afternoon, we continue along the western edge of the Sierra del Cadi to tiny Castellciutat, near historic La Seu d'Urgell in the Pyrenees, where you'll spend the next two nights at an elegant resort. Arriving at our small, elegant hotel, we'll enjoy the delightful views that surround us. Dinner this evening will be in our hotel. Most dinners at the paradors will be full à la carte on this ultimate of northern Spain tours.
Lunch at the Parador de Cardona.
Dinner at our parador.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: El Castell de Ciutat (1st of 2 nights)
Monday May 14 (Day 4) La Seu d'Urgell
We'll enjoy a brief orientation tour this morning of one of Catalonia's oldest towns, La Seu d'Urgell, and visit the 12th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria d'Urgell, considered to be one of the best examples in the world of early Romanesque architecture. After lunch at the hotel, you have a choice of activities which include a Catalan cuisine cooking demonstration, a round of golf, or a pampered visit to the hotel spa. Feast on a seven-course dinner this evening at a medieval castle on the grounds of our hotel.
Lunch at our hotel.
Dinner at hilltop castle on hotel grounds.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: El Castell de Ciutat (2nd of 2 nights)
Tuesday May 15 (Day 5) Pamplona; San Sebastian
We travel today through stunning mountain scenery into the heart of Basque country, where we'll discover the charms of this very diverse region. Pausing in Pamplona, site of the annual running of the bulls, you'll enjoy free
time and lunch on your own. We stop at Mt. Igueldo this afternoon to enjoy the amazing views overlooking the
seaside resort of San Sebastian, where we will spend two nights. Enjoy dinner this evening in your hotel.
Lunch on our own in Pamplona.
Dinner at our Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra.
Meals: B, D
Hotel: Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra (1st of 2 nights)
Wednesday May 16 (Day 6) San Sebastian
A walking tour with a local guide reveals San Sebastian's La Parte Vieja (Old Town). Known as the "Pearl of the Gulf of Biscayne," San Sebastian is an ideal resort, and its bustling, traffic-free old town has a great atmosphere. Many
small restaurants and tapas bars in this section cater to locals and tourists alike. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the aristocratic summer capital of Spain and popular surfing destination as you wish.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra (2nd of 2 nights)
Thursday May 17 (Day 7) Bilbao; Santillana del Mar; Fuente De
The world-renowned Guggenheim Museum Bilbao awaits us this morning. The sleek new building houses works by prominent artists of the 20th century, and includes contemporary Basque and Spanish art. In Santillana del Mar, an exceptionally well-preserved medieval village, we'll enjoy a delicious lunch at Parador Gil Bias. Following some free time to explore, we'll then embark on a scenic afternoon drive toward the Picos de Europa. This impressive mountain range is yet another one of Spain's many surprises. Gorges, remote villages and verdant valleys are seen on the way to Fuente De, where the road literally stops at the foot of the Picos. Enjoy dinner this evening at the Parador de Fuente De, set in the foothills of the Picos mountains.
Lunch at Parador Gil Bias.
Dinner at our Parador de Fuente De.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Parador de Fuente De (1 night)
Friday May 18 (Day 8) León
Today we cross the Cantabrian Cordilleras on the way to the high Meseta Plateau of central Spain. The mountains are now behind, with the endless plains of Castile ahead. The area is thinly populated and wheat is seemingly grown
everywhere. You'll enjoy lunch in the small town of Riano. In the late afternoon we arrive in León, once the capital of the Kingdom of León and an important stop for pilgrims. We'll enjoy a walking tour of the city center which includes a visit to the cathedral, one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Spain, with a local guide. Our accommodations tonight are in the Parador de Leon, once the former seat of the Knights of Santiago, it is itself a famous attraction of Leon. Enjoy dinner this evening in your Parador de León, one of the most luxurious in Spain.
Lunch in Riano.
Dinner at our Parador de León.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Parador de León (1 night)
Saturday May 19 (Day 9) Piedrafita del Cebrero; Santiago de Compostela
After the discovery of the grave of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in the ninth century, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across Europe have walked El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) to the city's cathedral, named in St. James' honor. Follow in their footsteps today for an understanding of the territory that had to be crossed to complete their strenuous pilgrimage. Enjoy lunch in the town of Piedrafita del Cebrero, then continue into the region of Galacia. We arrive late this afternoon in Santiago de Compostela, the pilgrims' final destination, where we'll enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic quarter featuring the extraordinary Cathedral of St. James. Our hotel this evening is one of Spain's most remarkable hotels; accommodating travelers since the 15th century, it is located on the same beautiful square as the cathedral. Enjoy dinner this evening in your Parador de Santiago de Compostela, a remarkable parador that began accommodating travelers in the 15th century; set on the same square as the cathedral, it's one of the oldest hotels in the world, and a highlight of your most intriguing of northern Spain tours with Tauck.
Lunch in Piedrafita del Cebrero.
Dinner at our Parador de Santiago de Compostela.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Parador de Santiago de Compostela (1 night)
Sunday May 20 (Day 10) Porto
This morning is at leisure to further enjoy Santiago de Compostela. After lunch at the Parador, we cross the border into Portugal, bound for the medieval port city of Porto. Today, Porto is Portugal's second-largest city and offers
much to interest visitors. Remember... Change clocks back one hour to reflect local time in Portugal! Enjoy dinner this evening in your hotel.
Lunch at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela.
Change clocks back one hour.
Dinner a la carte in our Sheraton Porto Hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa (1st of 2 nights)
Monday May 21 (Day 11) Porto
Giving its name to port wine, it's well-known export, the city of Porto has a rich and colorful history. Sightseeing with a local guide here today includes visits to the colorful market of Bolhao and Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. We'll also explore the Gothic Church of Sao Francisco before enjoying a cruise on the Douro River aboard a traditional Rabelo boat - these boats have been used to transport barrels of port wine along the river for over 200 years. Tonight, you'll be able to sample the locally produced port when you visit Taylor's winery for a tour that's followed by a wine tasting and dinner in the elegant Restaurante Barao de Fladgate.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner and wine tasting at Taylor’s winery Restaurante Barão de Fladgate.
Meals: B, D
Hotel: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa (2nd of 2 nights)
Tuesday May 22 (Day 12) Coimbra; Fatima; Lisbon
Delve into Portugal's history today as you visit Coimbra, liberated from Moorish occupation in 1064 and the site of the oldest seat of higher learning in Portugal. After lunch at a local restaurant we journey to Fatima, home to the famous pilgrimage shrine commemorating the reputed appearances of the Virgin Mary to three children here in 1917. We arrive in Lisbon in the early evening, where dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Lunch in a local Coimbra restaurant.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B, L
Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (1st of 5 nights)
Wednesday May 23 (Day 13) Lisbon
Today we embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Portugal's capital. We'll learn about the "Period of Great Discoveries," when Portuguese explorers ventured into previously unchartered waters and discovered new continents. Our day also includes a visit to the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos and the Museu Nacional dos Coaches (National Coach Museum) which exhibits an exceptional collection of ceremonial vehicles used by European courts from the 17th to the late 19th century. We'll also see the Tower of Belem and the Discoveries Monument, where the caravels (15th-century sailing vessels) departed. This evening, we invite you to join us for a farewell reception and dinner in your hotel.
Lunch on our own.
Farewell cocktail reception and dinner.
Meals: B, D
Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (2nd of 5 nights)
Thursday May 24 (Day 14) Lisbon
“Paradors of Northern Spain” tour ends.
Entire day on our own.
Lunch and dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (3rd of 5 nights) (extra pre-tour hotel stay)
Friday May 25 (Day 1) Lisbon
Tauck “Spain and Portugal” tour begins with Day 1.
2:00pm Guided sightseeing tour of Lisbon.
The afternoon's guided sightseeing tour in Lisbon provides an introduction to this intriguing city and its most famous landmarks. Learn about the "Period of Great Discoveries," when Portuguese explorers ventured into previously unchartered waters and discovered new continents. Visit Mosteiro du Jeronimos and get a close look at the 17th- to 19th-century gilded Baroque coaches showcased in the Coach Museum, see the Discoveries Monument where the caravels (15th-century sailing vessels) departed, and view the Tower of Belem. Meet your traveling companions this evening at a welcome reception and dinner.
Breakfast on our own.
Lunch on our own.
Welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: D
Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (4th of 5 nights)
Saturday May 26 (Day 2) Sintra; Cascais; Lisbon
An excursion from Lisbon today takes you to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a visit to the 14th-century Royal Palace of Sintra, a highlight of every Portugal tour. Continue to the fishing village of Cascais, its bay dotted with brightly colored boats, before returning to Lisbon to spend the rest of the day and evening as you please. Enjoy lunch and dinner on your own.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (5th of 5 nights)
Sunday May 27 (Day 3) Evora
Cross Europe's longest suspension bridge – the Vasco da Gama Bridge over the Tagus River – en route to the medieval, walled city of Evora, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and another highlight of any Portugal tour. With a local expert, visit the Capela dos Ossos (ossuary) in the 15th-centurychurch of Sao Francisco, and the Cathedral of St. Maria, the largest cathedral in Portugal. Enjoy lunch at the Pousada de Evora-Loios, a former convent and one of Evora's most precious architectural buildings, before continuing to our hotel. Dinner and overnight accommodations tonight are at the Convento do Espinheiro, a former 15th-century convent, elegantly renovated into a historic hotel and spa.
Lunch at the Pousada de Evora-Loios.
Dinner at our Convento do Espinheiro hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Convento do Espinheiro (1 night)
Monday May 28 (Day 4) Mérida; Seville
As your Portugal tour concludes, your exploration of Spain heats up! Arrive in Merida and enjoy a walking tour with our local expert. We'll see some of the city's many unique bridges (one is over a mile long) and view the remains of the Roman Circus and the Aqueduct. Our tour also includes the Roman Theatre, built in the 15th-century BC and accommodating up to 5,000 people. It is still used today for classical performances. Continue to the 8th-century Amphitheatre, where up to 15,000 people witnessed gladiator battles. Our tour concludes at Templo de Diana. Spanning 800 square-meters (over 8,500 square-feet) and built from granite, the temple boasts Corinthian-style columns that are remarkably well preserved. After lunch at the Merida Parador, it's off to Andalucia, Spain's storied southern province of whitewashed villages, elegant resorts, gypsies, flamenco and olive groves. Arrive in the romantic provincial capital of Seville, a remarkable blend of old-world charm and modern-day elegance. Seville, Granada and Cordoba were the pinnacles of civilization some 1,000 years ago and have fascinated travelers ever since. Spend the next two nights in the heart of the city at one of Europe's most luxurious hotels, commissioned by the King of Spain for the famous Exposition of 1929. Dine a la carte tonight in your hotel.
Set clocks ahead one hour today.
Lunch at the Merida Parador.
Dinner a la carte at our Hotel Alfonso XIII.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Hotel Alfonso XIII (1st of 2 nights)
Tuesday May 29 (Day 5) Seville
Seville offers many attractions which we will see on our orientation tour with a local guide, including Parque de Maria Luisa, site of the 1929 Spanish-American Exhibition, the Tobacco Factory of "Carmen" fame, Murillo Gardens, and the Macarena district. A horse-drawn carriage transports you to Seville Cathedral, thought to be the world's largest Gothic cathedral, for a look at its wealth of art, relics, architecture and the sarcophagi of kings and cardinals, including the reputed tomb of Christopher Columbus. Visit the former Jewish quarter before spending the afternoon and evening as you please.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Hotel Alfonso XIII (2nd of 2 nights)
Wednesday May 30 (Day 6) Jerez de la Frontera; Gibralter; Marbella
Depart Seville for Jerez de la Frontera, known for its fine horses, flamenco dancers, sweet wines, and sherry (whose name is derived from the town's). It is called "de la Frontera" because it once stood on the frontier between the Moorish and the Christian realms. Enjoy a guided visit to the palatial Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Equestre (Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art) – where you may watch the famous Andalucían horses that are bred here in a training session – and the renowned Carriage Museum. Enjoy a true taste of the region during a tapas lunch and wine tasting at a the House of Sandeman. After lunch we journey to Gibraltar, where you'll view the fabled Rock (weather permitting). Your final destination today is the glamorous coastal resort town of Marbella on the Costa del Sol, for a two-night stay at a beachfront resort and spa.
Lunch at the House of Sandeman.
Dinner
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Hotel Fuerte Miramar (1st of 2 nights)
Thursday May 31 (Day 7) Marbella
A day of delight by the sea begins with a morning orientation walk with your Tour Director through Marbella, with its Old Town (Casco Antigua) surrounded by shops and cafés, and the imposing 15th-century Iglesia de la Encarnación. Afterwards, the entire day is yours to enjoy the seaside pleasures of this famed Costa del Sol resort, a year-round favorite of the rich and famous.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Hotel Fuerte Miramar (2nd of 2 nights)
Friday June 1 (Day 8) Ronda; Granada
Journey from the coast into the mountains to visit scenic Ronda, perched on a cliff overlooking the spectacular El Tajo gorge. Ronda is synonymous with the evolution of the art of bullfighting; along with revealing the town's Moorish heritage and remains, a guided walking tour with a local expert includes a visit to one of Spain's oldest bullrings, the Plaza de Toros. Continue on to Granada, situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The city boasts extraordinary architecture from over 250 years as the capital of a Moorish kingdom; your hotel is steps away from Granada's celebrated Moorish palace, the Alhambra. Enjoy a private flamenco show tonight!
Lunch in Ronda
Dinner and private flamenco show in our Hotel Alhambra.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Hotel Alhambra Palace (1st of 2 nights)
Saturday June 2 (Day 9) Granada
A highlight of your Spain and Portugal tour is today's guided visit to Granada's famed Moorish palace, The Alhambra, constructed to be a "paradise on Earth" by caliphs who ruled here in the 13th century. Tour the palace, considered to be one of the world's most beautiful, and stroll the Generalife, grounds of the summer palace of former sultans. Enjoy free time to explore on your own and join us for an à la carte dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner a la carte at a local restaurant.
Meals: B, D
Hotel: Hotel Alhambra Palace (2nd of 2 nights)
Sunday June 3 (Day 10) Cordoba
Journey to Córdoba today for a guided walking tour through the cobblestone streets of the Judería, Córdoba's old Jewish Quarter; from its alleyways, you can see the walls and decorative details of the candy-striped La Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque.") Your visit to this masterpiece of architecture and art reveals its nearly 1,200-year history as an early Christian church, a Moorish mosque, and, since the 16th century, a Roman Catholic cathedral. Dine family-style tonight for a taste of local life.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner family-style.
Meals: B, D
Hotel: Hesperia Cordoba (1 night)
Monday June 4 (Day 11) Madrid
Board the AVE train in Preferente class for a rail journey to Spain's amazing capital city of Madrid. A local guide awaits your arrival to lead an orientation tour of the capital city, including a walk through Plaza Mayor and the Mercado San Miguel. We'll break for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to our guided visit at the Royal Palace. Spend the next three nights at The Westin Palace, Madrid – a Belle Époque landmark in the heart of the city, a short walk from the tapas bars that American novelist Ernest Hemingway made famous.
Lunch at a local Madrid restaurant.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B, L
Hotel: Westin Palace, Madrid (1st of 4 nights)
Tuesday June 5 (Day 12) Madrid;
View the art treasures of the Museo del Prado with a local expert. The rest of the day is free to spend as you please in one of the world's most popular cities. Tauck has arranged complimentary admission to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum; view works by Titian, Goya and Picasso at your leisure.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Westin Palace, Madrid (2nd of 4 nights)
Wednesday June 6 (Day 13) Toledo; Madrid
Embark on a full-day excursion to Toledo today. A guided tour of this monument-filled city includes the Synagogue Santa Maria La Blanca dating from the 12th century, the Church of Santo Tome, and admission to the Cathedral. Your included lunch follows at a local restaurant. Back in Madrid, a farewell fiesta awaits!
Lunch
Farewell cocktail reception and dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
Hotel: Westin Palace, Madrid (3rd of 4 nights)
Thursday June 7 (Day 14) Madrid
“Spain and Portugal” tour ends.
Lunch on our own.
Dinner on our own.
Meals: B
Hotel: Westin Palace, Madrid (4th of 4 nights) (extra post-tour hotel stay)
Friday June 8 Madrid; Travel day
Check out of hotel.
Transportation to Madrid airport: Provided by Tauck
10:25am Fly home
Day 1 Orientation
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
The Coach
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Welcome Cocktail Reception and Dinner
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Farewell Reception and Dinner
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Handouts
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Money
The official currency in Spain and Portugal is the Euro.
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Tips, Gratuities
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Extra Expenses
Not included in the tour price:
- Airfare
- Visa fees
- Hotel before or after tour (except those offered to previous Tauck travelers as a special)
- Lunches and dinners on our own
- Tip for Tauck Tour Director
- Tips for local drivers
- Tips for meals taken on our own
- Alcoholic beverages other than those provided with some group meals
- Water or soda during the day
- Snacks
- Room service
- Phone calls
- Laundry or dry cleaning
- And, of course, souvenirs.
There are no optional excursions offered, which is a refreshing contrast to the other non-Tauck Tours I have experienced.
Shopping
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Water
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Food
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Public Restrooms
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Luggage, Suitcases
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Packing
Even though we have traveled extensively, we still use a packing checklist every time to make sure we don't forget needed items. We like to use this travel packing list.
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Laundry and Ironing
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Clothing
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Passports, Visas
United States citizens must have a passport valid for at least 90 days beyond completion date of the tour (6 months is highly recommended). A visa is not required if your stay will be less than 90 days. If you have overseas connecting flights, that country may require a separate transit visa.
As a general rule, make two photocopies of your passport photo/information page. Also make a copy of other critical travel documents. Leave one copy at home with someone you could contact if your documents are lost or stolen. Bring the other copy with you, and keep it in your hotel safe while traveling. Remember to take it out again before you check out of your room! Some people upload a scan of their passport and other important documents for storage on a cloud website such as DropBox.com.
Phones
We bring our phones primarily for emergency use; in case we got separated from the group, we could call our Tour Director. Or if we got separated from each other, we could call each other. We usually keep the ringers silenced, however, so it does not disturb the others in our group.
We have iPhones with AT&T Wireless service. According to AT&T's web site, we should have coverage in both Spain and Portugal for voice, data, Edge, and text messaging.
We have international roaming activated on our account all the time. We sign up for an international data package before leaving home, and cancel it when we return.
If your phone connects to the internet, be careful. Data costs are extremely high once you are away from home ($0.0195/kb with AT&T in 2011). It is easy to run up hundreds of dollars on your phone bill with minimal web and email use. With my iPhone, I turned off Data Roaming except for a minute here and there to check emails. I also turned off the email's AutoCheck feature. International text messages are fairly expensive also ($0.50 per message with AT&T; $1.30 with picture or video). Here's a document from AT&T with tips on how to keep your international charges predictable.
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Cameras
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Group Contact List
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Group Photo
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Electricity
Electrical current in Italy is 230 volts, 50 Hz, AC.
Bring plug adapters. Most outlets in Spain and Portugal won't accept U.S.-type plugs. We actually bring two adapters, so we can be recharging both cameras, or camera and phone, at the same time.
Check the label on anything that you bring that will be plugged in to see if it operates on only 110v or if it is safe for higher 220v also. If 110 only, you might need a converter in addition to the plug adapter.
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Physical Activity; Health
No vaccines are currently required for U.S. residents.
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Hotels
Read more details on the separate Hotels and Overnight Accommodations page.
- Le Méridien Barcelona Hotel - Two extra pre-tour nights; Nights 1 - 2
- El Castell de Ciutat - Nights 3 - 4
- Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra - Nights 5 - 6
- Parador de Fuente De - Night 7
- Parador de Leon - Night 8
- Parador de Santiago de Compostela - Night 9
- Sheraton Porto Hotel and Spa - Nights 10 - 11
- Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon - Nights 12 – 13; extra pre-tour night; Nights 1 - 2
- Convento do Espinheiro Hotel - Night 3
- Hotel Alfonso XIII - Nights 4 - 5
- Hotel Fuerte Miramar-SPA - Nights 6 - 7
- Alhambra Palace Hotel - Nights 8 - 9
- Hesperia Cordoba Hotel - Night 10
- The Westin Palace, Madrid - Nights 11 – 13; extra post-tour night
Weather
Weather Underground forecasts for Spain and Portugal.
Personal Safety
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Books, Movies
- Books
- Eyewitness Travel Guide, Spain(see on amazon.com)
- Eyewitness Travel Guide, Portugal (see on amazon.com)
- Iberia, by James Michener (amazon.com)
- Don Quixote (see on amazon.com)
- Tales of the Alhambra (see on amazon.com)
- For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway (amazon.com)
- Eyewitness Travel Guide, Spain(see on amazon.com
- Movies
- Wikipedia article, "Films shot in Spain"
- Wikipedia article, "Films shot in Spain"
- Rick Steves' reading lists
Web Sites
- Travel Planning Resources
- Spain
- Portugal
- U.S. Dept of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs; Current Travel Warnings
- U.S. Dept of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs; Current Travel Alerts
- Tauck Facebook page
Flexibility
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
In Summary
[Will be completed after our tours, in June]
Photographs taken while on the "Paradors of Northern Spain"Tour
Photographs taken on the "Spain and Portugal" Tour
Videos taken on the tour
Current Time in Madrid, Spain:
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