Food and WIne in Spain.
Spain | Sep 28 - Oct 10, 2024

J
joan m.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2024

Our Pintxos tour in Bilbao was a great start to our Spanish adventure , then we went off to Rioja for a winery tour with Itziar - she really knew the local wineries! Reza was an amazing guide to the Prado museum in Madrid - very knowedgeable! Train tickets were ready at hand for our train trips - amazing trains in Spain. Tour of Alhambra in Grenada was very special - amazing mashup of cultures. In Seville, the market tour and cooking class were both a treat to experience. The trip planning app was very easy to use - great to have all the info and tickets in one place.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao
Bilbao, Bizkaia

great location - easy walk to the Guggenheim.

Authenticity & Character
Location
location to the Guggenheim
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Viura
Villabuena de Alava

lovely hotel - interesting artwork. .

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
7 Islas Hotel
Madrid

nice location in a nice part of Madrid - right next to a pedestrian street with shopping and tapas bars.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel U-Sense Granada Centro
Granada

located on a square - with an artisan craft market! nice surprise. Terrace on 5th floor was a quiet retreat with a lovely view of Alhambra.

Authenticity & Character
Location
artisan market in the square, nice resto's around the square
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sacristia de Santa Ana
Seville

interesting interior design

Authenticity & Character
Location
a bit far from the places we were going to - had to taxi over walking. but located on nice pedestrian street with restos. Breakfast was at a resto a few doors away rather than in the hotel.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Meninas
Madrid

ANother great location for us. Best rooms of the trip - our room had a small lounge room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
just steps from the Opera Metro station
Staff
Helpful and made us a resto reservation.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
The Best of Pintxos Gastronomy Experience
The Best of Pintxos Gastronomy Experience
Bilbao

Tour was fab - went to about 5 Pinxtos bars in a few different areas - had cidre and wine with a variety of types of pinxtos. So interesting to see the city at night with lots of families playing in the square (it was a Saturday night).

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private La Rioja Wine Day Trip
Private La Rioja Wine Day Trip
Spain

Our guide picked us up at our hotel - and led us on a fascinating tour of local vineyards, tossing in bits of history about the vintners, the families, and the grapes used. Also had lunch in a local resto with local food ( and wine!).

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

OUr guide, Reza, was exceptionally knowledgeable about the art and the artists in the Prado. He led us on a tour where we saw a sampling of Spanish ( and other) art in the Prado - we went all over the different areas!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo,  Train Toledo to Madrid
Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid
Madrid

Train ride was very pleasant. Our guide met us at the station, grabbed a taxi (eventually) and we went off for a drive around the city before doing a walking tour.

Quality of Experience
Guide did not have all of the info about what was expected to be seen during the walking tour. e.g. we were to visit a sword making workshop - it wasn't in his list. However he did contact someone and arranged for us to see the workshop (the last one in Toledo) and we enjoyed that very much.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
When we arrived, there wasn't a car waiting - it took about 20 minutes for one to be arranged.
Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Granada

Flamenco show in a cave - fabulous! Dancers, singers and a guitarist were all very talented.

Quality of Experience
very classic traditional style of Flamenco
Guided Visit:  Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Granada

Small group tour of Alhambra ( about 12 in group) - guide provided insight and history into the tour that we wouldn't have received if on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Ronda &  the White Villages
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Ronda & the White Villages
Spain

Private driver took us through a part of Spain that I didn't know much about. Scenery was magnificent - the mountains, the valleys, and the olive groves. Spent a hour in Ronda, and then 2 hours in Grazalema, and then stopped at a lookout in the mountains. Bonus: Blood and Love Festival was in Grazalema - a re-enactment of a historical event from 1832.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver didn't speak much English, so wasn't able to tell us much about the countryside we went thru, or what to see/do in either Ronda or Grazalema. He wasn't aware of the stop to see the lookout for the vultures, but we were able to direct him to it.
Transport
Van was comfortable.
Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class
Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class
Seville

Market tour took us to a selection of vendors selling traditional products - jamon, cheese, spices. Cooking class was the star of the event!

Quality of Experience
Chef was very personable and provided insights into everyday Spanish cuisine. Market tour : would have been good to have some samples ready for tasting at the different vendors.
Food
Chef showed tips for food prep, and made it seem easy to do. Definitely will try the recipes.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Guided Visit of Seville
Private Guided Visit of Seville
Seville

Walking tour of main highlights of Seville, covered a lot of areas.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Marina Courtaut
Marina
Marina Courtaut
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 17, 2024

Hi Joan, thank you so much for your kind words and wonderful review🥹
It's amazing to hear you had a wonderful time in Spain! I will pass your words on to our local guides and team who will be so thrilled to hear your feedback! It was a real pleasure working with you and I hope we will be in touch for your future adventure to Spain. Thank you for choosing the Espíritu Travel family. All the best, Marina 🥰