OUTSTANDING!
Spain | Nov 1 - Nov 15, 2022

Lisa
Lisa M.
Greenburgh, NY | Reviewed on Nov 23, 2022

From start to finish, we felt like we were in good hands. We had a wonderful experience planning and taking our trip to Spain with Kim Kim. Our local agent, Beatriz De Pablo was consistently reliable and available to us both before we left, and also the whole time we were in Spain. And if she wasn’t in, she made sure to let us know the name and contact information of a colleague who was covering for her. That greatly helped in reducing the stress of traveling with my older parents, who have some mobility issues. It was especially nice to get an upgrade to premium class on our train rides, with meals included. The hotel - train station and hotel – airport transfers were welcome, and even when there was a problem with one of them, the team worked to quickly resolve the situation to our satisfaction.

The driver who picked us up from MAD when we landed on 1 Nov was reassuring about waiting for us after we landed, as we navigated through the massive airport with my parents in wheelchairs. The driver who picked us up at the Granada train station was very nice too. Our guides in all destinations were uniformly outstanding: Alberto (Granada), Fátima (Córdoba) and Teresa (Sevilla). They had a solid knowledge base about the locations, as well as great personalities, which made spending time with them a pleasure. We appreciated that Bea arranged separate tickets to la Mezquita in Córdoba to accommodate my parents, who weren't able to accompany us on the official tour. We especially liked our driver, David, who picked us up at Atocha station on 14 Nov and brought us to our hotel in Madrid, and who also drove us to MAD on 15 Nov. He was friendly and helpful.

We loved it all, but especially the cooking class in Sevilla! Laura was a warm, kind, and patient instructor and the food was delicious (looking forward to receiving the recipes!).

Hotel Reviews
Eurostars Puerta Real Hotel
Granada

Clean, centrally located, but utilitarian and not very charming.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Las Casas de la Juderia Hotel
Córdoba

This hotel is charming. It's ideally located in the old quarter of the city, steps from la Mezquita and the Roman bridge. Reception is wonderful and they gave us a very warm welcome, which was appreciated after a long drive. Breakfast was served in a large utilitarian room, but the choices were great, and the service was responsive and friendly. The courtyards and fountains were magical, but one caution I would mention is that the various steps up and down through the garden and courtyard areas were not well-lit or marked. We were traveling with my elderly parents, and I worried about them slipping and falling. Otherwise, it's a lovely property. We didn't get a chance to partake in the "honor bar" in the lovely library, but I loved the idea of it and we definitely would have if we had had more time in the beautiful city of Córdoba.

Authenticity & Character
Charming!
Location
Centrally located in the old city.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lighting in the guest rooms could be a bit brighter.
H10 Casa de la Plata
Sevilla

Hotel H10 Casa de la Plata was our favorite hotel during our two-week stay in Spain. Front desk staff were top-notch: warm and welcoming. The lobby area is tastefully appointed with eclectic furnishings and decor. The guest rooms are wonderful: spacious but cozy. We loved the bidet and the illuminated toilet :-) There was witty and whimsical art on the walls, eye-pleasing colors and - a first for us - a pillow menu!! The breakfast buffet was lavish and delicious, with more choices than we knew what to do with. Service at breakfast was warm, friendly and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character
Location
In the middle of the old city, in the pedestrian zone - ideally situated. May be difficult to reach, though, for folks with mobility issues, as the closest taxis can come is about 500m away.
Staff
Special shout-out to Fran, who walked out to help find us when were arrived in old Sevilla, and were lost with our rental car on the narrow cobblestone streets. He graciously helped us with our luggage and guided us to the hotel.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bidet and illuminated toilet in the bathroom. Pillow menu - oh my!
Catalonia Las Cortes
Madrid

Hotel is lovely, with excellent service, comfortable rooms and beds, and great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
A nice mix of character and history, with modern amenities.
Location
Central location, near museums, Plaza Mayor, and Plaza Santa Ana
Staff
Consistently friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean. One issue is that the rooms on one floor (not sure which one) all have a substantial step up into the bathroom. This was a hazard for my elderly parents, to the point that they requested a room change, which hotel staff accommodated quickly and efficiently. There are also door stoppers affixed permanently to the floor, which are easy to walk into and stub one's toe.
Activity Reviews
Tapas Culinary Experience
Tapas Culinary Experience
Madrid

Jenk was a friendly and informative guide. We liked that it was in the Chamberi neighborhood, which has fewer tourists and so felt like an authentic experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Visit of Museo del Prado with Art Historian
Guided Visit of Museo del Prado with Art Historian
Madrid

Christina was an excellent guide, with considerable knowledge about the museum, which she presented in a lively and interesting manner.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Guided Visit of Córdoba
Private Guided Visit of Córdoba
Córdoba
Traditional Andalusian Cooking Class & Market Visit
Traditional Andalusian Cooking Class & Market Visit
Seville
Guided Visit of Seville
Guided Visit of Seville
Seville
Guided Visit of  Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Guided Visit of Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Granada

Alberto was outstanding.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 26, 2022

Hola Lisa! Thank you for taking the time to write this detailed review and for your kind words to our team and all your guides! It was a pleasure to organize this trip for both of you and your parents, and I am thrilled that you had a great and relaxed time exploring our country. Sending you my best regards, Bea.