 Wonderful
Spain!
October
8-18, 2008
Download Itinerary
Including Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, The Rock of Gibraltar, and 4
nights in the South of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea in
Torremolinos (Costa del Sol)!
Come
join us on this wonderful adventure to Spain and the Costa del Sol
with an optional side trip to Morocco! This trip includes so much
with a lot of sightseeing but also free time to explore other
interests with new friends from the group! You’ll feel like you have
really gotten a true flavor of this wonderful country by the end of
the trip! Also the itinerary dates allow you the opportunity to
join our popular Mediterranean cruise by easily flying a short
flight to Barcelona to get on your cruise ship at the end of the
trip.
We’ll fly into Madrid, where we’ll spend 3 nights
enjoying the city with an included city tour. Maybe take an
optional tour to Toledo or the very interesting Segovia and Avila
before we head to Cordoba for an included visit of the Mezquita on
our way to Seville for 2 nights to explore this wonderful city.
Next we
head to the elegant Costa del Sol on the Mediterranean, via the rock
fortress of Gibraltar (see the famous apes and caves), to our hotel
on the beachfront in Torremolinos for 4 nights. Our 4 nights here
gives us time to take some optional trips -maybe to Tangier,
Morocco, or visit the picturesque hillside village of Mijas or visit
Granada and its main attraction- The Alhambra. Or relax at this
seaside town at the beach, go shopping, jog on the beach, or maybe a
round of golf! You’ll have 3 full days in this paradise for leisure
activities and sightseeing before flying home or to Barcelona for
our Mediterranean cruise.
This wonderful trip includes a professional tour
guide, 9 meals, moderate hotels, and lots of sightseeing! After
the trip why not extend your vacation for 7 nights on our very
popular Mediterranean Cruise!
Don’t miss out on this fun adventure to a country that everyone
agrees
is a delight to visit and explore! You’ll love this trip!
Price Includes
-
9 nights accommodations in
moderate class hotels in twin bedded rooms with private bath or
shower
-
Hotel taxes, service charges,
tips for baggage handling; all local taxes
-
All transportation by motorcoach
as per itinerary
-
English speaking guide from
Madrid to Costa del Sol
-
9 meals
-
Tours included:
-
Madrid- 1/2 Day Panoramic
City Tour of Madrid
-
Cordoba- Tour of the
Mezquita- see the
world-famous Mezquita,
the Moorish mosque
-
Seville- City Tour-
the
cathedral, Giralda Tower, Tower of Gold, Santa Cruz Quarter
(former Jewish quarter), Plaza de España, and Maria Luisa
Park.
-
Gilbralter Tour- see the
famous
Barbary 'Apes' and
the caves
-
Free roommate matching services
if desired
-
Other singles to travel with and
meet
-
Singles Travel Company
representative
Itinerary
Day 1 Wed. Oct 8
Depart USA
Fly transatlantic overnight to Madrid,
Spain to begin your vacation in this wonderful country!
Day 2
Thurs, Oct. 9
Arrive in Madrid, Spain
Welcome to Madrid; Spain’s capital
city! Upon arrival, you’ll transfer to our hotel, the Hotel
Catalonia
Moratin.
Depending on your arrival time you can begin exploring or rest
until our late afternoon/early evening
meeting
of your fellow single travelers at our welcome get together! Dinner
is at leisure to enjoy some tapas and
wine
maybe!
Madrid is the capital of
Spain and the third most populous city in the European Union. Its
effect on world history and politics, as well as its major cultural
influence, has ranked Madrid one of the main global cities of the
world. Madrid is also the largest city in Spain and is located on
the river Manzanares in the center of the country.
As the
capital of the Spanish Empire, Madrid is a city of great cultural
and political importance. While Madrid possesses a modern
infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its
historic neighborhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the huge
Royal Palace of Madrid; a restored 1850 opera house; the Buen Retiro
Park, opened in 1631; the imposing 19th-century building containing
the Spanish National Library (founded 1712); the national archives;
an archaeological museum of international reputation; and three
superb art museums: one of which is the Prado Museum, which houses
one of the finest art collections in the world.
Hotel:
The Hotel
Catalonia Moratin is a modern complex located in the very
centre of Madrid, close to famous Puerta del Sol and Plaza
Mayor, offering an ideal starting point for your visits in the
Spanish capital. The Hotel's ornate
entrance hall features classical stucco-work, original wooden
stairs, and a coffered ceiling, leading to a typical Madrid-style
corrala (interior patio) adorned with wrought-iron railings and
flowers. There is also a library, and a lounge area, where guests
can unwind with a book and a coffee.
Inaugurated in August 2002, the property offers top
quality services and extremely comfortable accommodation. On-site
facilities include a restaurant, bar, meeting room, Internet point
and laundry service. It features 63 guestrooms, all of which have a
bright modern decor with parquet floors, and includes wireless
Internet access, cable television, air conditioning, minibars,
safes, and hair dryers.
The multilingual staff
can help book any restaurants or shows around Madrid, as well as
providing information on local sightseeing hotspots.
Day 3 Fri, Oct. 10
Madrid
Today enjoy a morning
half day panoramic city tour of Madrid which includes
Paseo Castellana, Gran
Via, Cibeles and Neptune Fountains, Alcala Gate, Retiro Park, Plaza
de España, Modern Madrid and the University.
The
afternoon is free for you to pursue sightseeing on your own or with
others from the group. Maybe go shopping or visit the world-renowned
Prado Museum, or visit the the Royal Palace of Madrid, which is the
official residence of His Majesty, the King of Spain, who makes use
of it for official ceremonies, though not residing there.
Or take
an optional excursion to Toledo, the medieval city of narrow winding
streets that sits on a small hill and is enclosed on three sides by
the river Tagus. Looking out into the narrow canyon of the river one
can see the impressive panoramic view of the city that was painted
by El Greco. It
was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, due to its
extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former
capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of
Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures. Many famous people and
artists were born or lived in Toledo.
You’ll see the cathedral, St. Tome Church (El Greco masterpiece
painting), medieval synagogue, and an artisan workshop.
Dinner is
at leisure at a local restaurant of your choice-maybe some tapas and
sangria tonight! (BB)
Day 4
Sat, Oct. 11
Madrid at Leisure
After breakfast a free day is yours’ to do as you please.
Suggestions will be offered or you can do research beforehand to
make sure you see what you want to see today. Maybe one of the
suggestions from yesterday might interest you (the Prado Museum,
Toledo, explore the parks, or go shopping).
We are offering
a very interesting and impressive optional all day tour today, for
those of you interested, to Segovia and Avila. Segovia,
located an hours drive from Madrid, is a beautiful city with some of
the most impressive palaces in all of Spain and it offers so much
for the visitor with its
twisting alleyways, the highest concentration of Romanesque churches
in all of Europe, and pedestrian streets where no cars are allowed.
Only a short hours drive from Madrid, and surrounded by a medieval
wall, this city is well-known for its’ Alcazar Castle perched on the
rocks (and was the source of the inspiration to Walt Disney with
its’ fairytale appearance). The Alcazar and the Roman Aqueduct- the
largest and best preserved of its kind anywhere, are just two of
many great sights to be seen wherever you look in this city.
Avila
is well-known for the amazingly intact wall surrounding the city,
for being the birthplace and home of Santa Teresa of Jesus, and for
sweetmeats made by local nuns and sold in small shops throughout the
city. Especially "yemas" made with egg yolks and sugar.
Day 5 Sun, Oct. 12
Madrid - Cordoba
– Seville
Today we head to Cordoba on our way to Seville for a
2 night stay. Cordoba is a captivating city with many attractive
monuments and is famous for its’ Mosque-the third largest in the
world and one of the most impressive buildings in Spain, now a
Catholic Cathedral, that was converted when the Christians conquered
Cordoba in 1236.
We’ll see the Mesquita- the former Great Mosque (not the cathedral),
and the old quarter.
We then continue on to
Seville. Tonight anyone interested in an optional Flamenco Show!
(BB)
Hotel:
The Tryp Macarena Hotel is located right alongside the
Guadalquivir River. Its proximity to the historical city center of
Seville, the isle of la Cartuja and the airport make it the ideal
place to stay on your leisure trips to the city. The hotel offers a
buffet breakfast each morning and the property's amenities include a
restaurant, piano bar, outdoor swimming pool, and solarium. There
are 331 rooms at this hotel. Rooms have modern decor and
furnishings. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, dataports,
hairdryer, satellite TV, minibar, private bathroom, and telephone.
Day 6
Mon, Oct. 13
Seville
This
morning we see the main sights in Seville such as the
cathedral, Giralda
Tower, Tower of Gold, Santa Cruz Quarter (former Jewish quarter),
Plaza de España, and Maria Luisa Park.
Then your afternoon is free to pursue exploring this historic city
on your own or with friends from the group. (BB)
For
many, Andalucia means just one thing- Seville, a city with so much
charm you’ll fall in love with it! It is now a very prosperous
center of commercial and industrial activity and the hub of the
agricultural region. Its beauty and impressive monuments date back
many centuries. The Moors are to thank for many marvelous examples
of architecture including the gothic Cathedral with the Giralda, an
Arabic minaret transformed into a Christian bell tower.
The Cathedral of Seville,
formally Catedral de Santa María de la Sede (Cathedral of
Saint Mary of the See) was begun in 1402, with construction
continuing into the 16th century. It is the largest of all Roman
Catholic cathedrals (Saint Peter's Basilica not being a cathedral)
and also the largest Medieval Gothic religious building, in terms of
both area and volume. Its main altarpiece is the largest in the
Christian world. The Cathedral also has a large collection of
religious jewelry items, paintings and sculptures, along with the
tomb of Christopher Columbus.
Located on the edge of Parque Maria Luisa, the Plaza
de España was designed and constructed under the direction of Anibal
Gonzalez, perhaps Seville's best known architect, for the 1929 Ibero-American
Expo. Now used as government offices and still undergoing
renovations, it is a pleasant visit during the day and at night to
see the fountain illuminated. Wander around the semi-circular
grounds and see the paintings over ceramic tiles, representing an
historical event in each province of Spain.
Day 7 Tues,
Oct. 14
Seville – Gibraltar - Costa del Sol
This
morning after breakfast we depart Seville and head towards the south
of Spain to see Gibraltar and then onto the Costa del Sol for 3
nights.
In Gibraltar you cross
the border from Spain into British territory, where you can see
British policemen, spend British money and enjoy the duty free
shopping. Enjoy a tour of this famous Rock of Gibraltar, see the
Spanish and Moroccan coastlines and enjoy the playful semi wild
troop of Barbary 'Apes' (they are actually Barbary macaque monkeys).
It is said the British will not leave Gibraltar until the apes have
left. Hang on to your belongings though, they are cheeky little
monkeys! Our
tour includes a panoramic drive around the Rock, the WW II gun
emplacements, as well as the Barbary Apes.
After
descending from the Rock, there
will also be a little free time for shopping in the main area
of the town. After our visit to Gibraltar we continue to the Costa
del Sol on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. (BB)
Hotel:
The
Meliá Costa del Sol hotel is situated on the privileged
landmark of Playa de Bajondillo, right on the sea front. 10 minutes
walking distance from the shopping area of Torremolinos and 5
minutes using the lift. Hotel amenities include: restaurant, bar,
outdoor pool, mini-bar, safe and room service.
Day
8 Wed,
Oct. 15
Costa del Sol
After breakfast is a free day to enjoy the beach
resort town of Torremolinos on the beautiful Costa del Sol of Spain
or sign up for an optional excursion.
The
Costa del Sol stretches along just over 150 kilometres of Málaga
province and is one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations.
The area's mild climate is the attraction that makes it possible to
enjoy the beaches and a wide variety of outdoor activities year
round.
Maybe
take an optional tour to Tangier.
Tangier is an ancient
Phoenician town and is at
the crossroads of Africa
and Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, and it has a
very individual character. It is also one of the oldest cities in
Morocco. Although it has lost a little of its glamorous image from
yesteryear, it is still a bustling city with an air of mystery
surrounding it. For most visitors that arrive in Morocco by sea, it
is their first point of contact with the country and it is very much
a tourist town.
After a period of effective Spanish control from 1940 to 1945 during
World War II, Tangier was reunited with the rest of Morocco
following the country's independence in 1956. The optional tour to
Tangier will include ferry and transportation
and a panoramic tour including Pillars of Hercules, beautiful
mansions, Casbah with lunch with belly dancing, and time for some
shopping. (BB)
Day 9 Thur, Oct. 16
Costa del Sol
Another free day on the Costa del Sol. Lots still
to see and do. Maybe take an optional trip to The Alhambra in
Granada and/or take a short trip (taxi) to the quaint hillside
village of Mijas for dinner or a great view of the coastline; the
shopping is fun here too! You can also spend the day enjoying the
beach, golf, or shop-it’s right near our hotel. Dinner at one of the
beach side restaurants might be your choice for this evening’s meal.
(BB)
Day 10 Fri, Oct. 17
Costa del Sol
Another free day on the Costa del Sol. Still lots to see and do or
just spend the day on the beach. Maybe a day trip to Rondo or see
one of the above days activities that you didn’t get to do yet. We
have offered two optional tours while you are staying here on the
Mediterranean, let us know if you are interested! (BB)
Day 11 Sat, Oct. 18
Depart for USA
Say
good-bye this morning to your new friends as you make your way to
the airport for your flight home. Or if you are going on to our
Mediterranean Cruise, take a short flight to Barcelona and transfer
to the pier. (BB)
Spain is
Tapas , Paella and Sangria! Enjoy it
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Price |
$1899.00
per person, double occupancy, land only (remember we can
assign a roommate)
$ 599.00 add to above for a room to yourself.
Very, very limited availability.
Airfare
is additional and
should be booked into Madrid arriving in time for our late
afternoon welcome get together and out of Malaga, Spain at
any time of your choice. If going on to our Mediterranean
Cruise, you’ll need to take a short flight from Malaga at
the end of the trip to Barcelona and then home from
Barcelona. If you need help with airfare, call for air
pricing from your hometown. Air prices are based on
availability at time of booking.
Airport transfers
– we will help
coordinate air flights (you can still book your own) so you
can hopefully transfer in with others to the hotel in Madrid
and back to the airport in Malaga from the Costa Del Sol, as
transfers are not included. Make sure we get your airline
schedule early so we can see who is flying on the same
flights and you can coordinate with them if possible.
Travel Insurance
is highly
recommended. Please inquire when signing up and
information will be sent to you with your deposit receipt.
Optional Tours Offered –These
are all great trips for those that want to enjoy even more
on the trip!
We need a minimum of 15 singles signed up
for each of the tours offered to make them a go. Please
advise and pay for them with final payment.
$79 Day 3-Toledo ½ day Tour- Great
medieval city,
a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
$129 Day 4-Avila & Segovia All Day Tour-
Segovia is a beautiful city with some of the most impressive
palaces, well-known for its’ Alcazar Castle perched on the
rocks.
$99 Days on Coast-Granada All Day Tour-
See The Alhambra, the
most important, but also the best conserved Arabian palace.
$135 Days on Coast-Morocco-All Day Tour with
Lunch-Very interesting day trip to Tangier, Morocco!
Price does not include
airfare, passport fees, transfers, optional tours,
gratuities to tour director and to professional guides on
tours, meals not listed in the ‘price includes’, and items
of a personal nature, i.e. telephone calls, etc.
Valid passports
are required for travel and valid up to 6 months after the
trip date. Non U.S. citizens are responsible for consulting
your local consulate regarding necessary passports/visas for
entry.
After this wonderful Spain trip, why not consider taking our
7 night Mediterranean Cruise that starts on October 18 from
Barcelona to France and Italy including the ports of
-French Riviera (Monte Carlo/
Nice)--Florence/Pisa--Rome--Naples/Capri--& Sicily!
Call for details or see our website. |
Fine
Print – Spain, October 8-18, 2008.
Your payment for a reservation on this trip constitutes consent and
acknowledgement of all the provisions in this Fine Print listed
below and in the Singles Travel Company General Terms and
Conditions. Please make sure you read both of these important pieces
of information and call us with any questions. Hotels are
subject to change.
Payments Checks
preferred (made payable to Travel Advisors) or credit cards.
Deposits
A deposit of $200.00 is due
with your reservation.
Final payments
are due 75 days prior to
trip.
Cancellation Fee and Refunds
All cancellations must be in writing. Any cancellations 91 days or
more prior to the trip-complete refund of deposit, minus a $50
cancellation fee payable to Singles Travel Company. For any
cancellations within 90 days of departure- no refund. No refund on
unused portions of the trip. After airline tickets are issued,
airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy.
Travel/Trip Cancellation insurance is highly recommended.
Download full Terms and
Conditions (PDF)
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Los Gatos, CA 95030
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Local: (408) 354-6531
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