Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1: Thursday, May 2, 2019: Overnight Flight
We will depart on our overnight flight to Madrid, Spain. (IF)

Day 2: Friday, May 3, 2019: Madrid
Upon our arrival in Madrid, we will clear customs and meet our guide and driver. We will begin our adventure with a panoramic bus tour of Spain’s capital and largest city. After checking into our hotel, we will stroll around Old Madrid to see other highlights such as Spain’s historic Plaza Mayor in the heart of the city and the Plaza de España where a statue of writer Miguel de Cervantes looks down on his two famous characters, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. We will end our walk at Plaza de Cibeles, where the distinctive Banco de España and Madrid’s Town Hall are located. (IF/D)

Day 3: Saturday, May 4, 2019: Madrid
This morning a local guide will join us on a visit of the Prado Museum, Spain’s most famous art museum. We have a chance to view paintings and other artwork done by numerous Spanish artists, including Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. After some time for lunch, we will tour the spectacular Palacio Real, Europe’s third-greatest palace. Built in the 18th century and used now only for official engagements, the palace has 2,800 rooms filled with luxurious tapestries, magnificent chandeliers, mosaics, priceless porcelain and gilded works of art. The remainder of the afternoon is free for shopping or perhaps visiting Reine Sofía, a museum with a superb collection of modern art done by Picasso, Dalí, Miró and Kandinsky.  Tonight, we will enjoy a Tapas dinner.  (B/D)

Day 4: Sunday, May 5, 2019: Córdoba
Today’s destination is Andalusia, a region in southern Spain. Our first stop is in Toledo, Spain’s capital city until 1561. Our guided tour will include Toledo Cathedral, considered one of the most magnificent cathedrals in Europe. The structure features 500-year-old stained glass windows, lavish wood carvings and a sacristy with a superb collection of El Grecos and works by other famous painters. We will also stop at the Sinagoga del Tránsito, a synagogue from 1361 that today serves as Spain’s national Jewish museum. Another gem is Santo Tomé, which houses The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, one of El Greco’s masterpieces. After our tour, we will have some free time before continuing on to Córdoba for our overnight.  (B/D)

Day 5: Monday, May 6, 2019: Sevilla
This morning in Córdoba we will tour the Mezquita, the great mosque that was begun in 785 and took two centuries to complete. With around 850 columns inside, it is considered one of the best examples of Muslim architecture in the West. The structure is also unique because set inside the labyrinth of horseshoe arches and beautiful mosaics is a cathedral that was added in the 16th century. Our guide will also take us through the Jewish quarter that is lined with towering walls, narrow streets and buildings with ornate wrought ironwork. Afterwards, there will be time to enjoy lunch and explore the cobbled alleyways before our short drive to Sevilla. This evening we will experience a traditional Flamenco program with guitar playing, singing and dancing. (B/D) 

Day 6: Tuesday, May 7, 2019: Sevilla
We will enjoy a locally guided tour of Sevilla this morning. After strolling through María Luisa Park, we will visit the nearby Plaza de España and other pavilions built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition. The city also boasts the Alcázar, the oldest royal palace in Europe that’s still in use. The highlight of the tour will be the Sevilla Cathedral, the third-largest church in Europe and the largest Gothic church anywhere. The immense cathedral took over a century to build and is the burial site for Christopher Columbus. The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore the Barrio Santa Cruz, the former Jewish Quarter that is filled with narrow lanes, cafés and small shops. (B)

Day 7: Wednesday, May 8, 2019: Granada
We will drive east today to visit the world-famous Alhambra, a magnificent Moorish palace and one of Europe’s top tourist sights. Designed to be a paradise on earth, the palace is filled with intricate patios, pools, arches and ceilings extravagantly decorated with geometric patterns and lacelike stucco. We will also visit the nearby Generalife Gardens that were used by the sultans as a summer palace. After the tour, there will be plenty of time to explore the grounds. Later, we will visit the Capilla Real, a mausoleum where the Spanish monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, are buried. (B/D)

Day 8: Thursday, May 9, 2019: Valencia
We will start early today as we travel through Spain’s amazing landscape viewing rolling hills dotted with picturesque olive groves while en route to the Mediterranean coast. The scenery is beautiful, but the roads are winding and slow going. Along the way there will be photo opportunities and a stop for lunch in a Spanish village.  We will arrive mid to late afternoon in the city of Valencia, a treasure trove of Roman and Arabic architecture, surrounded by citrus groves.  Dinner will be on our own tonight.  (B/L) 

Day 9: Friday, May 10, 2019: Valencia
This morning we will take a walking tour of historic Valencia. We will see the ornate 14th-century Serranos Tower and imposing 15th-century Quart Tower.  We will have some free time in the bustling central market.  Next we will enjoy a “Valencia paella experience” as we will have a paella-making demonstration and an authentic paella lunch. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B/L)

Day 10: Saturday, May 11, 2019: Barcelona
This morning we will drive to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. A local guide will meet us upon arrival and introduce us to Spain’s second largest city. Our first stop will be at Montjuïc, site of the 1992 Summer Olympics, which affords a wonderful view of the city and its harbor. Antonio Gaudí is Barcelona’s most renowned architect and we will tour his unfinished masterpiece: Sagrada Família (Holy Family Church). Begun in 1883, the project is still under construction. Afterwards, we will stroll through Parc Güell, a park that originally was intended to be a housing project, but is now filled with sculptures, staircases, structures and a marketplace all uniquely designed by Gaudí. (B/D) 

Day 11: Sunday, May 12: Barcelona
Our guided tour today will feature many impressive sights including the 14th-century Barcelona Cathedral, the Santa Caterina Market, the Plaça de Catalunya, the center square of Barcelona, and the Ramblas, the city’s famous boulevard that is lined with restaurants, shops, cafés and bars. Later, we will visit another Gaudí masterpiece, La Pedrera. Built between 1906 and 1912, its jagged, rocky façade is the reason for its nickname, The Quarry. The rest of the day will be free to visit the Picasso or Joan Miró art museums, the Palace of Catalan Music or simply relax along the waterfront. This afternoon we will sample some of the regions specialty wines at a wine tasting before our farewell dinner.  (B/D) 

Day 12: Monday, May 13, 2019: Return Flight
We will transfer to the Barcelona airport for our return flight to the United States.  (B) 

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

Madrid, Spain
May 3-5, 2019
Hotel Sterling
Calle San Bernardo 29 – 31
28015 Madrid

Cordoba, Spain
May 5-6, 2019
Hotel NH Califa
Lope de Hoces, 14
E-14003 Córdoba

Seville, Spain
May 6-8, 2019
Hotel Ribera de Triana
Plaza Chapina S/N
41010 – Seville

Granada, Spain
May 8-9, 2019
NH Victoria
Puerta Real de España 3
18005 Granada

Valencia, Spain
May 9-11, 2019
NH Center
Recardo Micó, 1
E-46009 Valencia

Barcelona, Spain
May 11-13, 2019
NH Hesperia Barcelona Presidente
Av Diagonal, 570
E-08021 Barcelona

Flight Information

The group flights are on Delta. We can either assist you with alternative flights, or you can book your own. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

The group flights are $1,376 per person, round trip.

What’s included in the tour price of $3,299?

Price based on a minimum of 20 travelers

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   All transfers, as a group
•   Baggage handling when available
•   All taxes and tips except as indicated below

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation (available for $1,376)
•   Single supplement ($650)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)
•   Gratuities for tour director, and driver

Payment Schedule

•   Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Final invoices will be sent in January 2019
•   Final payment is due by February 16, 2019
•   Reservations will be accepted after February 16, 2019, subject to availability

Insurance

We offer the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. The cost of the tour insurance is the tour cost (minus $500) x 6.14%. A quote will be automatically be added to your invoice.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.