Have lots of nice memories - Jewels of Spain, Winter 2016

Carolyn & George Mantell from United States traveled to Spain
4

We had a good trip. The guides were very nice and informative. Lots of history and magnificent architecture. Good experiences with food. Didn't spend enough time in each city. Next time. The weather was sunny and cool. Toledo was the coldest.. 3 degrees, otherwise, 40's, mid-50's and low 60's. We were dressed appropriately. We learned a lot about traveling in the future. Brushing up on our Spanish would be a good thing. We were grateful to our son, Josh could remember his Spanish. Next trip to Spain will be more relaxed, although, I really like the way we did it this time. Our first adventure. Getting tickets to major sites ahead of time because of the lines was a smart thing..especially during such a busy season...having English speaking native guides on each tour was a very good thing. Our drivers couldn't speak or understand English, but they were very accommodating AND everyone was on time. The only things I could say were a little off, was arriving Christmas Day. Our meal. A miscommunication. The restaurant was closed...having to search out another place to eat. And, Hotel Catalonia in Barcelona. A popular hotel, yes, in a good location, yes.. but a little rough around the edges. Needs updating, in my opinion. Floor boards were short in certain walking areas in our room. Easy to stub your toes...splinters. A big leak from the floor above that had not been repaired...left to sit...mold present. Not good, could make a person sick. After a couple days, they offered to move us to the room next door, which was a lot smaller than the room we were in...cramped, no room for Josh, or a room comparable offered for $15 Euros more each day. The breakfast was just okay, compared to the other delicious breakfasts we had in other cities.. We were spoiled early on with great food. Couldn't believe how crowded it was in Madrid and Barcelona for the holidays. People visiting from other parts of Spain. People from France and Italy. Hustle and bustle. Did not have any problems with pick pockets, since we carried our wallets and purses smart. The two bus trips in one day took a toll on George, but we worked through it. He got some much-needed rest. Not too many people spoke English, but we managed. For the most part, everyone was very nice. Oh, one more thing, the food was reasonably priced...inexpensive compared to other places, including Our city, Tucson. Our New Year's Eve dinner was not worth the price. The owner and location of the venue were great. A strange food selection. We did meet some nice people that were sitting next to us though. Meeting them was a nice highlight. We brought in the New Year! Would have been nice to know about the process of getting reimbursed as far as taxes on purchases. We will be a little more prepared next time. I took lots of pictures, so have lots of nice memories. Thank you for your efforts and providing with a nice memorable trip.

Published,
January 12, 2017
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