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FULL RETAIL VALUE: $7,435pp. YOU PAY FROM $5,799, SAVE UP TO $1,636pp.
View Inclusions & Itinerary | Introduction for New Members | 4 Ways we Can Benefit You
G'day, ready to go? Request a travel plan and pricing for your preferred dates. Send a booking enquiry or call 1800 669 579.
Take in the sights of Spain and Portugal where the past meets the present and each stop offers a mesmerizing mix of culinary delights, ancient buildings and unforgettable local experiences. Each day is guaranteed to create memories to last a lifetime.
* Two packages are available. See Inclusions for details.
In the style of most Global Escapes Independent Traveler itineraries, this is a perfect blend of self-guided adventure and forward-planning to ensure that the main elements are organised in advance allowing for plenty of time to relax and take in each place you visit.
We guarantee to beat any competitor accommodation-only quote or travel package price and/or value by a minimum of 15%. Conditions.
We guarantee to beat any competitor accommodation-only quote or travel package price or value by a minimum of 15% ("price-beat") on the following conditions:
Note: By requesting a price-beat you are under no obligation to place a booking with us or proceed with the final travel package as the case may be. A non-refundable deposit is required in the case of a tour/travel package price-beat (see below).
The following terms and conditions apply to travel plans and accommodation quotes requested from and supplied by Travel Directions Pty. Ltd. trading as Global Escapes Travel, Australian Escapes Holiday & Travel Club (Australian Escapes) and Kiwi Escapes (the company) and are subject to change without notice. These conditions are to be read in conjunction with our standard booking conditions and conditions applicable to Australian Escapes Holiday & Travel Club membership as defined in website FAQs.
There are two main scenarios:
(1) You request a price-beat on a specific property. Our objective is to provide at least 15% more total value or a price that is 15% lower than a competitor quote supplied to us for the same accommodation property, on the same conditions and with the same inclusions, provided we have access to be able to book the accommodation through our normal supplier channels.
If we do not have access to member rates that property we will offer an alternative that is of the same or higher standard, as per our hotel rating system and that meets the stated requirements, subject to availability, and subject to the following:
(2) We propose a property with member pricing: If the "you pay" price we submit is already discounted using GCash travel credits and the lowest available price at the time it was submitted, it does not qualify. Otherwise our objective is to provide at least 15% more total value or a price that is 15% lower than a competitor quote supplied to us for the same accommodation property, on the same conditions and with the same inclusions.
A price-beat will be deemed successful and this guarantee is therefore met when the applicable objective is achieved.
Inclusions in travel and tour packages assembled by competitor travel agents, tour companies, wholesalers, online travel promoters ("competitors") will all be different in some way. Packages will typically vary by inclusions, validity, suppliers, component type, standard, terms and conditions, travel date, etc ("package components").
Our objective in this type of price-beat situation is to assemble a package containing similar and/or higher value package components to that which you present to us. We guarantee to offer at least 15% more total value (through added value) or a price that is 15% lower than the competitor quote ("successful price-beat") subject to the following:
A price-beat will be deemed successful and this guarantee is therefore met when the above objective is achieved.
The price-beat must be requested before you place a booking with any other travel agent, online booking agent or property direct in relation to the subject accommodation or package.
A price-beat may be requested by providing clear, written evidence of the competitor quote as well as your requirements to an employee of the company who performs a reservations or travel consultant role ("company contact") as follows:
A competitor quote presented under this guarantee must be genuine (not contrived) and must be a final, fixed price, backed by verifiable evidence. A competitor quote that we determine is not genuine or final is excluded. The requested date range(s) for travel/tour commencement as well as for individual package components must be realistic and flexible.
This condition applies to travel/tour packages only. We require up to $900 deposit per person (amount depending on package complexity) as a guarantee that you will proceed with the travel plan after we are successful with the price/value beat. This requirement exists because of the amount of travel consultant time required to price according to a competitor quote.
Your Australian Escapes Holiday & Travel Club membership must be Gold level or above and active and paid up at the time of requesting the price beat.
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* All prices are per-person on a twin-share basis and bookings are subject to availability. The final price and deposit amount varies according to travel date. All prices are estimates only. A firm quote (travel plan) with payment terms will be submitted for consideration prior to agreement to proceed. Full booking terms and conditions are available HERE...
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This is a great opportunity for you to explore the very best of Spain and Portugal with a combination of touring, free time and guided tours. Your included Lonely Planet guide provides you with lots of information to help plan your free time.
This is a first-class travel itinerary that's fully flexible. Want more or fewer days or you want to include a special destination or activity? No problem, we’ll customise a travel plan for you.
Silver-star (standard) package:
Gold-star package:
Same as the silver-star packgages with the following differences:
All packages include:
Read about our accommodation rating standards and the methods used to assess quality.
This itinerary is fully customisable to suit your requirements. Your personal travel consultant is available to discuss changes and additions that will enhance your travel experience.
Lonely Planet is renowned for its first-hand approach, up-to-date maps and commitment to providing the best information for travelers. Lonely Planet authors are experienced, insightful travel experts. They personally research the places they write about - both in the first and in subsequent editions - and provide essential travel details along with a wealth of insider information and first-hand tips.
You will receive these guides to help you gain the most out of your holiday. Recommendation: Take the time to read suggestions for things to see and do before you leave home. Take your Lonely Planet guides with you in your luggage.
* All prices are per-person on a twin-share basis and bookings are subject to availability. Price and deposit amount varies according to travel date. If flights are shown as included then a flight cost provision (allowance) applies and is based on travel from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Travel can be arranged from any other major centre and for any number of people. All prices shown are estimates only. A firm quote (travel plan) with payment terms will be submitted for consideration prior to agreement to proceed. Total price after member discount (using Getaway Cash travel credits and Australian Escapes Free Flights Vouchers if applicable) is generally payable as follows: Deposit on booking, balance 120 days prior to departure. Packages can be priced for families and groups on request. Standard price and full retail value comparisons are with similar packages offered elsewhere or what we estimate would be payable by a non-member for the same or similar package and may include a value we define for specialty travel agency services. Travel insurance if included is a provision only and may be declined on requestTravel insurance pricing if stated is based on comprehensive travel insurance for two travellers aged 69 years or less as at the date of departure from Australia. No recommendations or advice are given in regard to travel insurance suitability. Travel Directions Pty Ltd (t/as Australian Escapes Holiday & Travel Club) standard booking terms and conditions apply to all booking enquiries and bookings and are available here to view (or visit our website and go to either the "Booking Enquiry" or "About Us" menu item.)
Explore the enticing trail of delicious tapas, avant-garde art, architectural triumphs and centuries-old culture through Spain and Portugal. Travel the scenic route from Madrid to Barcelona, visiting cosmopolitan metropolises, sleepy seaside villages, quaint towns set amid rolling green hills and atmospheric medieval citadels along the way. Experience the passion of flamenco, taste world-renowned port and be greeted with style and sophistication by Madrilenos, Lisboetas and Barcelonians.
This holiday has been meticulously prepared from first-hand experience to make sure you take in all of the highlights. It's a part self-guided, part tour-guided travel itinerary that's fully flexible. Want more or fewer days or you want to include a special activity? No problem, we’ll customise a travel plan for you.
"Better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times" - Anonymous
Welcome to Madrid! Upon arrival to the airport, you will be picked up by a private car driver who will be waiting to transfer you to your Madrid hotel where you will commence your tour and meet your fellow travellers.
Towards the end of the day, transfers to the Egyptian Debod Temple, Plaza de Es paña and Gran Via are provided.
Your morning will start with a comprehensive tour through the centre of Madrid, visiting places such as Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. You will then visit Retiro Park, an oasis in the city centre, where you will see the beautiful lake and the “Glass Palace”.
Next up, you will travel to Las Ventas Bullring, one of the most famous bullrings in the world. Here you will learn about the tradition of “corridas” in the Bullfighting Museum.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. At sunset, transfers are provided to
Plaza de Oriente, an elegant and bustling area with many restaurants serving different cuisines. Enjoy a pleasant dinner of your choice, before returning to your hotel.
In the morning travel over the lands of Castile to the region of Aragón. On a brief stop in Zaragoza you will see the Pilar Basilica before continuing to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by its walls in a beautiful site that is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world.
You will then proceed to the Monastery of Montserrat where you will go up the mountain on a rack train to experience its fantastic scenery.
Finishing in Barcelona in the late afternoon, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy.
Note: Due to the shorter days in the winter months, from November to March, you will not visit the Monastery of Poblet in order to reach Montserrat in the daylight.
Today you will explore Barcelona, an impressive city right on the Mediterranean
Sea. Starting with an informative city tour with a local expert, learn about the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighbourhood dating back to the Middle Ages. Pay a visit to the area where the Olympic Games took place before witnessing La Sagrada Fa milia Basilica; the masterpiece designed by the architect Gaudí.
Following this, enter ‘Poble Espanyol’, an open-air architectural museum situated in one
of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona. Enjoy Spanish craftsmanship and discover the
architectural styles, traditions and folklore of the different communities in Spain. Take some free time to explore the city on your own.
In the evening, transfers are provided to Las Ramblas and Plaza Cata lunya for dinner, where you can select from a great variety of restaurants.
Today you will journey south along the Mediterranean. Making a special stop at Peniscola, a small walled town on the shores of the sea, you have the opportunity to stroll through the town, discovering the fishing port, the castle and the beach at your own leisure.
Afterwards, travel to Valencia where you will embark on a guided tour of the third largest Spanish city that mixes the modern with the historical. Learn about its historic centre and visit the fish market, the cathedral and the avant-garde City of Arts and Sciences. In the evening you will be transferred to the Plaza de Toros (bullring area) where you will have time to enjoy dinner.
Today you will continue to Alicante, a charming city by the sea. Here you will enjoy a delicious lunch before making your way to the Murcia region, where you will visit Caravaca De La Cruz, a town considered by the Catholic Church as one of the five holy cities. You have the opportunity to take a train ride through the city to explore the historic area.
After this, continue along the scenic roads to Andalusia. You will finish the day in
Granada.
You have a full day in Granada to explore with a local guide. You will take a tour of Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Generalife Gardens, built in Arab times before visiting the Cathedral with the Sepulcher of the Catholic Kings.
In the evening, you will be transferred to the Albaicín of Granada, a World Heritage site along with Alhambra; here you can enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in the narrow winding streets of this captivating Medieval Moorish quarter. You also have the option to attend a flamenco dance show in the traditional neighbourhood of Sacromonte.
Departing from Granada and travelling towards the Costa del Sol, you will arrive in Malaga in the late morning where you can explore the historic centre, the cathedral and the Picasso Museum. After this, you will continue along the coastal motorway, taking in its beautiful views of the Mediterranean.
You will make a quick stop in Puerto Banus, Marbella, a pretty resort known as a playground for Europe’s rich and famous, before continuing through the hills until you reach the beautiful town of Ronda.
Take in the glorious views of Ronda’s gorge before continuing to Seville, where you will arrive in the late afternoon.
After breakfast, a local expert will guide you through a scenic visit of Seville, featuring the Cathedral and its famous Giralda (bell tower), the banks of the Guadalquivir River, the popular neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz and Triana, as well as the beautiful Plaza de España.
After the tour you can enjoy a boat trip along the Guadalquivir River, taking in the panoramic views from the boat. At the end of the afternoon, head to the historic city centre area (Calle Alfonso XII) where you have many different types of restaurants to choose to have dinner at.
Leaving Seville, you will travel through the province of Huelva to Palos De La Frontera. Here, you will visit the Carabelas Museum; this is where Columbus set sail for America on 3 August 1492. You will also see the World Heritage site Rábida Monastery, a Franciscan monastery strongly linked to the Discovery of America.
After Palos De La Frontera, you will travel to Portugal where you will stop in the ancient Muslim city Mertola. Here you will have time to have some lunch before continuing your journey through white villages to Evora city. With its wide streets, its Renaissance policies and its cathedral, Evora city has also been declared a World Heritage site.
You will visit the impressive Chapel of Bones, built with 5000 skeletons, before continuing to Lisbon where you will arrive in at the end of the day.
Begin the day with a guided sightseeing tour of Lisbon city, where you will explore the traditional neighbourhoods of the Belem district and visit the Monument to the Discoveries, the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, the Belem Tower and much more.
Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore the city independently. In the late afternoon, transfers to the Restauradores Square, a public square with restaurants and cafes, are offered. Here, we suggest you ride the Elevador Da Gloria funicular that takes you to the viewpoint of San
Pedro with beautiful views over Lisbon and the Bairro Alto.
Today you will travel to the north of Portugal and visit Fatima, an important sanctuary, before continuing across green lands, passing into Spain, and crossing the North of Extremadura. Lunch is included en route at a regional food restaurant.
Your tour finishes in Madrid. Departing the bus, you will say goodbye to your fellow travellers before making your way to your central Madrid hotel where you'll stay for another two nights.
Refer to your Lonely Planet guide for things to do. There are so many things to see and do in Madrid, you can fill your days and of course there’s the option of just relaxing and doing nothing much at all.
Today is yours to explore Madrid at your own pace before your ultimate Spanish experience in the afternoon.
Take an audio-guided tour of Madrid's Las Ventas bullring, the most emblematic in the country. This 5-hour experience continues catching a private transfer to Madrid city centre, where, accompanied by an official guide, you will learn about flamenco. After the walking tour through Madrid city centre, you will start the tasting, guided by a culinary expert, consists of a special selection of Iberian products, washed down with wine. This includes paella, Iberian ham, olive oil, and Spanish cheese. A delight for gastronomy connoisseurs, gourmets and lovers! A revolution for the palate, a spectacle for your nose, an experience for your five senses.
Today you’ll receive a private car transfer to the airport where you’ll return to Australia after your unforgettable Spain and Portugal holiday.
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