Best of Spain Small Group… (trip)
Best of Spain Small Group Tour
- Spain, Spain (Barcelona), Spain (Granada), Spain (Madrid), and Spain (Sevilla)
- Culture & Nature
| from $4,979* per person | 12 Days | April-June, September, October |
| Luxury accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Story Land & Sea® | 16 people max | |
Loading map, please wait...
Locations visited/nearby
Spain, Spain (Barcelona), Spain (Granada), Spain (Madrid), Spain (Sevilla)
0 testimonials about this trip.
1 testimonial about the provider, Story Land & Sea®:
-
Reviewer: Laurie P
located in
Cortland,
NY
USA
There were absolutely no financial surprises on this trip! We booked the Deluxe package and added the Amalfi Extension. We came a day early, and stayed a day late…and are super glad that we made both of those decisions. Other additions that we added were transfers to/from the airports, the Uffizi in Florence, ferry to Capri, Pompei guided tour, and our flights. All breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 6 dinners were included in our cost. On the included dining nights appetizers were ordered for the table, and then we each ordered from the menu. The wine and limoncello flowed freely all night, and I never saw any attempt to slow it down. Most nights that we did not have an included dinner our tour captain invited us to join her for dinner at our own costs. Generally we went, as did many others in our group. Mark Story, the owner of Queenslander oversees a very organized/logically planned program. All of our hotels (details later) were in the center of the action and very lovely. All luggage was moved seamlessly from place to place.The earliest time we left in the morning was 8AM…very different from other tour companies that I had researched. A few times during our travels it rained, and Queenslander picked up the taxi cost. The tour had a great blend of included tour time, and free time to explore on our own. Generally hubby took a one hour nap every night before dinner to reenergize!!We had a slight problem when QLT booked our flights and a spelling error occurred. It was caught immediately by Queenslander, but Air Canada would not deal with it until 72 hours before travel. (We had booked last December). 72 hours prior Ron Gholston had to end up rebooking the entire flight for a change fee of almost $400. Queenslander paid that without a question, and Ron handled everything very professionally. This was the type of customer service that we encountered every time we contacted Queenslander.Jodie Hedrick was our Tour Captain. There were only 16 of us in the group. We all came from very diverse backgrounds and got along famously. Jodie was such a caring, knowledgeable person, and was gifted at working with many different personalities. Everyone felt very special on this trip. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to travel with such a travel enthusiast. Her enthusiasm was infectious.VENICE: This was our favorite city of the trip. Private water taxi was the transfer, with a greeter to meet us at the airport. We stayed at Hotel Saturnia & International. We had a huge room. The hotel is very close to Piazza San Marco. Included tours: Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, Basillica San Marco, Gondola Ride, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and a water taxi to visit of the Island of Murano. In addition, we independently visited the Campanile, the Opera House, the amazing Rialto market, and walked miles and miles getting lost in Venice and loving every second of our experience!!FLORENCE: We arrived via the Silver Bullet fasttrain. Our hotel was Helvetia & Bristol which was a quick walk to the Duomo. Included tours: Duomo, Galleria dell’Accademia (David…the most impressive thing I have ever seen!!), and the Basillica di Santa Croce. Independently we went to the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and the Market.CORTONA and the Tuscany Region: We traveled here by small bus and stopped at San Gimignano for a few hours. This is a very cute, medieval town, but it rained our entire stay. Independently we did the Church of Santa Maria. We had an included lunch at Castello della Paneretta; a winery that included wine tasting. The Cortona hotel was our favorite hotel of the trip. We stayed at the Villa Marsili. Stunningly gorgeous, and we had a very large room.ROME: We traveled to Rome by small bus, stopping in Assisi for a few hours along the way. We visited the St. Francis Basillica. Our hotel in Rome was Grand Hotel de la Minerve. It was located 10 yards from the Basilica of Maria Sopra Minerva, and 100 yards from the Pantheon (we visited both independently) Included tours: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiore, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel. We also walked to see the Castel Sant’Angelo at night from the bridge. Beautiful!SORRENTO and the Amalfi Coast: This gorgeous area of Italy was our favorite area of the trip. We loved the food in southern Italy the most, although all of the food was great throughout our vacation. We drove the Amalfi Coast Highway (the “Mama Mia” Highway-so named for its very winding curves.) Our stay here was at the beautiful Hotel BelAir which is literally cut into the cliffs, so the views are absolutely amazing. Free view of Mt. Vesuvius every morning from the balcony! We took the ferry to Capri for the day. Luckily while we were waiting for the ferry, a gentleman by the name of Salvatore Cioffi offered to guide us on the island for a fee. This was worth every penny, and without his help we would have spent a lot of time wandering aimlessly around. His private transportation took us to Anacapri so we could ride the chairlift to the top of Mount Solaro. Stunning, and one of those “Wow” experiences. I highly recommend his tour services if you want to see this island in its totality. We also spent the morning at Pompei.Overall, we had the time of our lives on this celebrating retirement vacation. No company is perfect, but Queenslander is very close. The only discussion I heard from anyone throughout the trip was the comparison of individual hotel rooms. I believe everyone was happy with the hotels themselves, but some guests had suites, and some had smaller rooms than others, and it actually was quite simply the luck of the draw. The hotels themselves are limited in types of rooms available for groups. This really is not a Queenslander problem, but worth mentioning that guests will all have individually different rooms, and some rooms will be better than others.Queenslander Tours are worth the money spent in my opinion. Generally you get what you pay for, and I am so happy we made the decision to book with Queenslander. I’ll be happy to answer any questions about our trip.
Itinerary
Transatlantic Flight to Madrid
Day 1: Trans-Atlantic flight to Europe.
Depart Your Home Airport on your Transatlantic flight to Madrid.
Your international flight is not included. Inquire for special fare and service from our Air Service department.
NOTE: Please Note: "Day 1" is the published tour date and is the date you will arrange your air travel to depart your home airport. Your Small Group Tour will commence on Itinerary Day 2 upon arrival in Madrid, Spain.
Can we help you with your Airfare? Yes, we can arrange your air travel from the Story Land & Sea® air department. We'll work with you to get the absolutely lowest fare available based on your travel preferences. We utilize both our own air department and online agencies to find the best rate. At the end of the tour you should set your flight to return from Madrid (MAD). Or if you are extending to Barcelona, then you should set your flight to return from there (BAR).
Remember, airfare is a completely separate arrangement from your land tour. It is your responsibility to arrive at the point of tour origination (Madrid, Spain) on time regardless of whether Story Land & Sea® has arranged your air.
Protect Your Vacation: We very much encourage trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Day 2: Madrid 
Story Way® Dining: Enjoy our Included Welcome Dinner
One of Story Land & Sea®'s most popular True Small-Group® tour vacations commences at 3:00PM at our Deluxe hotel in Madrid.
Located in the heart of the city is our deluxe hotel where your Tour Captain meets you for the included Orientation Walkabout. After you orientation there will be time to freshen up before the included welcome reception and dinner in the heart of Spain's Capital City, Madrid.
Walking Level: Light, Leisurely Pace. Volume: Light
Your Small Group Tour Vacation to Europe is underway!
Your flights will likely be set up to arrive today. After transferring to the hotel (see optional arrival transfer option or make your own way to the hotel), check-in, freshen up and explore your surroundings.
Story Land & Sea® Exclusive: Tonight, join in a Story Land & Sea® original experience with our reception & welcome from the Tour Captain from one of our classic perspectives: a unique vantage point to survey Madrid in the company of your fellow travelers.
Your Small Group Tour Vacation to Spain is underway! After our reception, we'll walk to our Welcome Dinner in Madrid.
Included Story Way® Dining: The Story Land & Sea® Way of Dining debuts as you join your Tour Captain for the Welcome Dinner in Madrid. Experience what can only be described as a night of the best cuisine and vino from the region.
About The Story Land & Sea® Way of Dining
Our approach to dining is truly unique: Our favorites dishes represent the region we're traveling through. We call this 'speaking the language of your food.' From our unique, off-the-beaten-path restaurants we visit for each included dinner to the variety of hand-crafted dishes, it's truly an immersion into authentic Spanish cuisine paired with Spanish wine. Your Tour Captain is there to make sure your dining experience goes smoothly and will help you interpret any menu item. For the 5 total included dinners, your Tour Captain will select a variety of appetizers, featuring regional cuisine, and will select your wine for the evening ~ a variety of red and white wine from the region in which you're traveling ~ and yes, "the wine does flow." It's an intentionally slow evening of delight so you can savor the experience in the local culture. Bienvenidos!
BACK TO TOP
Day 3: All Things Madrid
Today, you will experience our adventure through Madrid with our local expert guide. It's a comprehensive look at Spain's political, intellectual, and cultural center that is Madrid.
The capital of Spain since 1561, Madrid is a beautifully modern city with a truly old heart. On this privately guided walking tour, we'll enjoy the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and enjoy the sights, smells and flavors of the wonderfully unique San Miguel Market.
The balance of the day is at your leisure.
The afternoon is designed to allow you the freedom to explore more of this fascinating city on your own. A day to discover the amazing art museums such as the Prado, the Theissen, or the Reina Sofia with Picasso's Guernica as its main feature. You could visit the Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian Temple rebuilt in Madrid, or stroll in the beautiful Parque del Ritiro, Madrid's gorgeous city park. Your Tour Captain is ready, willing and able to assist you with anything you might have in mind to insure that this day is uniquely your own.
Optional dining tonight: Join our Tour Captain for an optional dinner in Madrid or explore at leisure.
BACK TO TOP
Day 4: Unhurried Beauty
Story Way® Dining: Join our Tour Captain for a dinner in Cordoba.
Train to Cordoba
Enjoy a hearty breakfast and we're off for our leisurely train ride to Cordoba. We arrive Cordoba around the noon hour and enjoy a walking tour with time for lunch on your own built in.
Experience Story Land & Sea®'s Magic Portage as your portaged bags 'meet you' in your hotel in Avignon.
Cordoba is an unhurried city, known for its abundant courtyards (or patios as they are called locally), flowers dangling from balconies and narrow winding streets. There will be plenty of time at leisure this afternoon to explore this amazing city at your own pace. We check-in to our luxury hotel before meeting for our welcome dinner.
Included Story Way® Dining: Join the Tour Captain for dinner in Cordoba tonight.
BACK TO TOP
Day 5: Cordoba
This morning we are set to explore Cordoba with our Tour Captain.
Enjoy a tour of the La Mezquita (Spanish for the word, mosque), and discover the building's 1200 year history. It has served as a meeting place for Christians, a Moorish mosque, and since the 1500s, a Roman Catholic cathedral.
Your afternoon will be at leisure designed intentionally for you to enjoy more of this amazing city. Choose to indulge yourself with some of the wonderful Spa treatments offered by our luxurious 5-Star hotel. Enjoy!
Optional dining tonight with the Tour Captain.
BACK TO TOP
Day 6: Granada
Story Way® Dining: Join the Tour Captain for a delightful dinner in one of the most amazing places in all of Granada.
This morning are bound for Granada. Boasting one of the most magnificently positioned palaces in the world, the Alhambra.
It is as wondrous to behold from across the gorge, with the white peaks of the Sierra Nevada glinting behind in the sun, as it is to examine close at hand, with its elaborate symbolic designs. The city has a fascinating history, which can still be seen today in Granada´s carmens and Arab baths.
Upon arrival into the city we will set out for a wonderful orientation walk and take time for lunch, at guest expense, in the city center before checking into our centrally located hotel.
Story Exclusive®: Tonight, enjoy our Unique Perspectives Experience with your Tour Captain at our welcome dinner in Granada.
Walking Level: Light, Leisurely Pace; Volume: Light
BACK TO TOP
Day 7: Granada Sightseeing Immersion
This morning we slow the pace allowing for you to relax and enjoy the morning at leisure.
After lunch we set out to explore Granada and the Alhambra.
We start with a look around town culminating in the magnificent fortress that crowns the city where we'll meet our local expert guide for our tour.
We enjoy a walking tour of the Palace, the massive grounds, and the spectacular water gardens of the Generalife. The grounds were used in the 1300's as the Islamic Sultan's vacation retreat. Soak in impressive views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by Gypsy cave dwellers, and other notables on the skyline.
Join our Tour Captain for an optional dinner in Granada.
Day 8: Rhonda & on to Seville
Today, we'll take the road less traveled, making our way eventually to Seville. Our route today will take us for a nice stop in the town of Ronda, the birthplace of modern bullfighting and one of the last beacons of the Muslim world. This fairytale setting dating back to Roman times, has attracted the likes of Ernest Hemingway, who based For Whom the Bell Tolls on this city, as well as Orson Welles, whose ashes are buried on a bull farm just outside of town. The interior of the Andalucía provides for memorable images we have as we continue our journey through Spain.
Hemingway called Ronda the most romantic city in Spain. Its location above the surrounding countryside above steep cliffs is dramatic. We will travel through the sunbaked watershed of the Rio Guadalquivar Basin, the same river that Columbus and Magellan sailed from. The rolling hills are punctuated by old farming estates. Some have viewing towers, and others are even outlined in tiles or mosaics in the colors of ochre, blue and brick red.
We'll arrive into Seville mid-afternoon, plenty of time to check into our fantastic 5-Star hotel in the heart of the city to catch our breath and venture out for a walkabout before an optional dinner.
Optional dining tonight with the Tour Captain.
BACK TO TOP
Day 9: The Beautiful Colors of Seville
Story Way® Dining: Flamenco Show & Dinner TonightYou’ll have a wonderful Spanish breakfast this morning and then meet our local guide, who will accompany us to relive the drama of Carmen as we explore this historical city. Seville's city tour embraces its ancient Roman history, conquest by the Moors and contribution to the discovery of the New World. Like all old cities built haphazardly over the centuries, walking around Seville is a dream, and most probably one of Europe's most beautiful places. Its alleys twist and turn, and sometimes the tiny courtyards feature an orange or a lime tree bursting with vivid color.
As we pick through the narrow lanes of the charming city, we'll view Columbus' tomb in the Cathedral, the world's largest Gothic edifice. Then we're on to the Alcázar, the longest inhabited royal palace in Europe and a marvel of Moorish-style architecture.The variety of small palaces that make it up is amazing. The stucco work and the Mudejar ceilings are simply beautiful. The tiles on the walls are some of the most beautiful tiles ever made in Spain or anywhere. The huge gardens are marvelous and a joy to discover.
Then on to its Giralda Bell Tower, which was once the minaret of a 12th-century mosque, with views of all of Seville.
Tonight we'll take in a traditional Flamenco Show and Included Dinner.
Exclusive Flamenco Show & Dinner Included: We'll take in the passion and seduction of the art-form known as the Flamenco. A show is Included with our dinner. Flamenco is an art form that was born, and thrives, here in Spain. Spanish flamenco is the best because Spaniards start dancing when they can barely walk, and they dance everyday. The stomping of the feet, the twirling of the body, and the drama of the music are simply part of their culture.
BACK TO TOP
Day 10: Seville to Barcelona
This morning we depart for the Seville airport for the on-tour required airhop to Barcelona. Upon arrival we will we transferred to our fantastic city center hotel, check-in and set out with the Tour Captain for an informative city orientation with time for lunch as we go. The afternoon can be spent at leisure with your new found confidence to further explore this exciting city.
OPTIONAL DINNER TONIGHT ~ Join our Tour Captain for an optional dinner in Barcelona. May we suggest a Tapas Crawl tonight led by your Tour Captain.
BACK TO TOP
Day 11: Barcelona
Story Way® Dining: Tonight we invite you to join us for an equally magical evening of fun and merriment as we enjoy our Farewell feast together at a local favorite restaurant.
After breakfast, meet our guide in lobby and enjoy a sightseeing excursion of Barcelona including:
- We drive to Montjuïc Hill to take in the Olympic Site with spectacular panoramic views of the city. Enjoy our walking immersion of Barcelona with:
- We enjoy the Placa de Espanya and the 1929 World Fair grounds
- Passeig de Gràcia: Barcelona's most elegant avenue with Gaudí's Batlló and Milà Houses
- Holy Family church — Enjoy admission to the Sagrada Familia, Guell Park and highlights of Gaudi's handiwork
We are transported by vehicle but we also enjoy walking through the very heart of Barcelona.
Included Story Way® Dining: Farewell Experience tonight with your Tour Captain. Tonight we invite you to join us for an equally magical evening of fun and merriment as we enjoy our Farewell feast together at a local favorite restaurant. Celebrate new friends, our journey together and dream of the next chapter of your Story of Travel!
Day 12: Barcelona Departure
Inquire about departure transfers.
Catch your flight home from Barcelona or Extend Your Adventure. Until we meet again, may your days be full of discovery and your nights full of good friends. Or are you extending to the exciting city of Paris? or some other exotic destination...inquire with reservations for details.
### END of TOUR ### .
More information from Story Land & Sea®:
- View trip on provider's website
storylandsea.com/tours/spain-best.asp… - Company profile, experience, and history
- View all of their trips
- Email this trip page to a friend
-
Comments from Facebook