A tale of two cities; Madrid & Seville
8 Days
from
$ 2,159*
Highlights:
Spain
(Madrid)
,
Andalusia
(Seville)
Trip Start/End:
Madrid
/
Seville
Madrid, home of the Royal Palace, the enormous city center public garden known as El Retiro, the Prado gallery and the Plaza Major (one of the finest squares in Spain) has something for everyone. Spend a few days immersing yourself in one of the oldest cities in Europe. Then head south to magical Seville to experience a more laid-back, youthful vibe in this warm Andalusian city. The imposing Gothic Cathedral is the largest in the world, yet Seville offers so much more! Learn about the cities diverse history on a private walking tour with an expert local guide. Sit on one of the many patios and sip sangria while you take in the local color on a warm evening.
Overview
| Day | Activities | Hotel |
- Day 1
- Madrid
| - Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
- Spain - Welcome Package
- Welcome Gift
- Optional Activities
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| De Las Letras (4*) (B) (Standard ) |
- Day 2
- Madrid
| - Shared - 1/2 Day City Sights with Royal Palace (4 hrs) - Coach/Guide
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| De Las Letras (4*) (B) (Standard ) |
- Day 3
- Madrid - Toledo
| - Local taxi (not included)
- Train - Madrid - Toledo [33 mins] - 2nd Class Train Ticket
- Private - 1/2 Day Walking Tour (3hrs) - Guide/Taxi
- Lunch (not included)
- Local taxi (not included)
- Dinner (included)
| De Las Letras (4*) (B) (Standard ) |
- Day 4
- Madrid - Seville
| - Transfer - Private - Train Station - Vehicle/Driver
- Lunch (not included)
- Train - Madrid - Seville [3 hrs] - 2nd Class Train Ticket
- Transfer - Private - Train Station - Vehicle/Driver
- Dinner (not included)
| Las Casas de la Judería (4*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 5
- Seville
| - Self-Guided - Hop on Hop off - Bus ticket
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| Las Casas de la Judería (4*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 6
- Seville
| - Private - 1/2 Day Walking Tour (2.5 hrs) - Guide
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| Las Casas de la Judería (4*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 7
- Seville
| - Optional Activities
- Lunch (not included)
- Unescorted: Dinner & Flamenco Show El Arenal (2.5 hrs) - Show & Dinner
| Las Casas de la Judería (4*)
Standard (B)1 DBL (2 Adults)
|
- Day 8
- Seville
| - Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
- Lunch (not included)
- Dinner (not included)
| Depart (Int`l Airport)
|
| B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive |
Trip Itinerary
El Escorial
Las Letras
Day 1: Madrid
Meet your driver for a private airport transfer in Madrid.
A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, train tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.
Upon your arrival, you will receive a special Welcome Gift along with your Welcome Package. Enjoy your time in Spain!
There are so many things to see ad do in and around Madrid that you will be spoit for choice! Consider any of the following (most available on a private or shared basis); See the main sights of the city of a guided tour, enjoy a guided tour of the El Prado museum and the Royal Palace, take in a guided walking tour, enjoy an afternoon shopping with an expert and visiting some of the great boutiques in the city. Further afield, consider an excursion to Avila, Segovia (with its impressive aquaduct which is still intact), El Escorial (a magnificent cathedral and where the King spent a number of years under Franco's thumb as he was educated), The valley of the Fallen (where Franco is buried in a cavernous tomb, and the pretty town of Toledo. For some self exploring, consider getting a Madrid card which allows you access to numerous museums across the city. At night time, consider a dinner and Flamenco show. Please speak to your Sales Advisor if you are interested in any of these optional activities.
Accommodation: De Las Letras (4*) Las Letras Hotel (4*) is located in Madrid,and is a focal point for the world of culture, literature and the Arts. The refurbished building, built in 1917, has 109 rooms designed in comtemporary style, using original colours and decorated with art. The hotel features an exquisite combination of the building's original glazed tiles, stone sculptures, an old elevator, and a noble staircase coupled with the latest in interior design. The restaurant is another highlight, with delicious cuisine, and located on the ground floor where you can enjoy the city of Madrid.
Royal Palace
Day 2: Madrid
Enjoy half day shared tour of the city with a guide and admire the principal sights of the city. Discover the Madrid of different historical periods: drive through the Madrid of the Habsburg epoch, going past the squares Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Continue to drive through Madrid of the Bourbon period, the Teatro Real (Madrid’s opera house), the Museo del Prado, Atocha railway station, the Puerta de Alcalá (triumphal arch) and the city’s beautiful fountains of Neptuno and Cibeles. Drive past squares such as Plaza de Colón, Plaza de Castilla and Plaza de España, with its unmistakable monument of Cervantes. Visit the aristocratic quarter of Salamanca, where distinguished designers have their boutiques in Madrid and drive along the elegant avenue of La Castellana, which leads to the city’s financial quarter. You will see the Torre Picasso, the Estadio del Bernabéu (Real Madrid’s stadium) as well as the Plaza de Las Ventas (Madrid’s most important bullring) and the beautiful Parque del Retiro. Includes a tour of the Royal Palace with entrance fee.
Accommodation: De Las Letras (4*) Day 3: Madrid - Toledo
Enjoy your day trip to Toledo by train. The train ride takes only 33 minutes one-way.
Enjoy a half day walking tour through the streets of Toledo and learn the history of this UNESCO heritage site.
"Holy Toledo" isn't just an expression! A unique and richly diverse city, Toledo features Arab, Jewish, Christian, and even Roman and Visigothic elements. A beloved national landmark, the Toledo that so inspired El Greco in the 16th century has remained relatively unchanged since his time. Old churches and houses fill the city, where you can still stroll through streets barely wide enough for a man and his donkey, let alone an automobile. (No entrance fees included.)
Accommodation: De Las Letras (4*) 
Seville
Las Casas De La Juderia, Seville
Day 4: Madrid - Seville
Meet your driver for a private train station transfer.
Enjoy your train ride from Madrid to Seville on the high speed train. The train ride takes approximately three hours.
Meet your driver for a private train station transfer.
Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería (4*) Hotel Las Casas de la Judería (4*) is located in the barrio Santa Cruz in the historical centre of Seville, a very short walk from the Cathedral and the royal palace of the Alcázar. The hotel is a complex of houses and palaces, interconnected through a series of patios and walkways. Offering 118 rooms, each is unique in it's design and layout. Guests will enjoy an authentic Andalusian style house with flowers, courtyards, fountains and wrought iron gates, blending perfectly with Seville and the historical Santa Cruz neighbourhood.
Day 5: Seville
Seville is the artistic, cultural and financial capital of Southern Spain. A historical masterpiece full of monuments, gardens and flamenco. Enjoy exploring the city at your own pace with your hop on hop off tour.
Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería (4*) 
Calle Mateos Gago, Sevilla
Day 6: Seville
Embark on a Seville walking tour with your own private guide to check out the most important landmarks of the city. You will see La Torre del Oro (The Golden Tower), a Moorish-built tower dating from 1222, which formed part of the old defensive wall that protected the old city. You will also see Triana (this Gypsy district is the home of flamenco), Santa Cruz (the Old Jewish Quarter and a labyrinth of tiny alleys with white houses with traditional Moorish courtyards), Reales Alcazares (a Moorish palace-fortress which originally dates back to 913AD and has been the residence of various kings and boasts impressive gardens and fountains) and The Cathedral and Giralda, originally a 12th Century mosque, of which only the minaret (La Giralda) and the orange tree courtyard now remain. The cathedral is also Europe's second largest. If you have a particular interest in bullfighting, we can substitute some of the above for a visit to the Real Maestranza (The Maestranza Bullring). Built between 1767 and 1880 this famous bullring houses a museum dedicated to the world of bull fighting.
Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería (4*) 
Flamenco dancer
Day 7: Seville
Choose from many optional activities in Seville such as: a guided, half day city highlights tour or a guided walking tour. If you feel like doing some independent cultural exploration in the city, consider getting a culture card which allows you entrance into 20 different museums in the city. A trip down the Guadalquivir river which runs through the heart of the city is an enjoyable way to see some of the cityscape and learn about the histroy of the city. For options outside of Seville, consider a day trip to Jerez to see an equestrain show before going to the coastal city of Cadiz. At night time, consider going to a dinner and flamenco show - after all, this is where it all began!
Enjoy a breathtaking evening at El Arenal watching a fantastic performance of Flamenco. Located in the center of Seville (next door to the Bullring La Maestranza), El Arenal offers both regulars and tourists a unique and friendly atmosphere. Singers, Guitarists and Dancers share the experience to make you feel the art of "Flamenco". They will introduce you to various flamenco styles through song, guitar and dance. You will also have the opportunity to taste the Spanish and local cuisine for dinner while you enjoy a glass of wine and mineral water.
Accommodation: Las Casas de la Judería (4*) Day 8: Seville
Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.
Accommodation: Depart (Int`l Airport)
Accommodations
De Las Letras (4*)
Las Letras Hotel (4*) is located in Madrid,and is a focal point for the world of culture, literature and the Arts. The refurbished building, built in 1917, has 109 rooms designed in comtemporary style, using original colours and decorated with art. The hotel features an exquisite combination of the building's original glazed tiles, stone sculptures, an old elevator, and a noble staircase coupled with the latest in interior design. The restaurant is another highlight, with delicious cuisine, and located on the ground floor where you can enjoy the city of Madrid.
- Las Casas De La Juderia, Seville
Las Casas de la Judería (4*) - Seville
Hotel Las Casas de la Judería (4*) is located in the barrio Santa Cruz in the historical centre of Seville, a very short walk from the Cathedral and the royal palace of the Alcázar. The hotel is a complex of houses and palaces, interconnected through a series of patios and walkways. Offering 118 rooms, each is unique in it's design and layout. Guests will enjoy an authentic Andalusian style house with flowers, courtyards, fountains and wrought iron gates, blending perfectly with Seville and the historical Santa Cruz neighbourhood.
Travel Info
Travel tips of Spain
VISA/PASSPORT
Spain is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As such, U.S. and Canadian citizens may enter for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.
Citizens of other countries may require a visa. Please ask your Sales Advisor. These requirements change often and therefore it is best that you check with the Embassy of Spain for the most up to date visa information.
HEALTH
Health insurance is recommended. Medical facilities are good quality. We recommend that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. The doctor or health-care provider will determine what vaccinations and medication you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. For more information on travel requirements, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/spain.aspx
COUNTRY INFO
Capital: Madrid.
Government: Parliamentary monarchy since 1978.
Language: The principal language is Spanish (Castilian or castillano). Catalan (in the northeast, with variations spoken in Valencia and The Balearics), Galician (in the northwest) and Basque (in the north, bordering France) are also spoken.
Religion: There is no official religion, but the majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
Time: Mainland Spain/Balearics: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 or 225 volts AC, 50Hz. Generally, round two-pin plugs and screw-type lamp fittings are in use.
Telephone: Country code +34.
Mobile Telephone: Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good throughout most of the country.
Internet: There is a variety of Internet cafes in most urban areas.
What's Included:
- Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services
What's not Included:
- Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance
Trip Terms & Conditions
- Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $350). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.
- Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of 30% of program price. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to loss of 100% of program price.
- Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
- Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client. Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes. Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
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