9 Day Northern Spain Fly & Drive 2018 Itinerary

9 days
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100+ reviews  
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Self-Guided / Independent Tour
2 Madrid, 2 Bilbao, 3 Barcelona

Overview

Trip type
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

What's this trip about?

    2 Madrid, 2 Bilbao, 3 Barcelona

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range12 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe

Attractions

  • Barcelona
  • Bilbao
  • Madrid

Trip includes

    • Flights New York-Madrid, Barcelona-New YorkOther departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
    • Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
    • 7 nights accommodations
    • 2 nights Madrid 2 nights Bilbao 3 nights Barcelona
    • 3 day car rental: Mini Manual. Upgrade to other categories available
    • Car rental includes: Unlimited Mileage, Third Party Liability Insurance, Theft Protection (T.P.), Collision Damage Waiver (C.D.W.), local taxes (VAT)
    • Breakfast daily

Itinerary

Please note that the following is a suggested itinerary. While the sites listed below may be visited independently, the package does not cover any applicable entrance or tour fees.

DAY 1, Tuesday - Depart for Spain
Depart for Spain

DAY 2, Wednesday - Arrive in Madrid
Arrive in Madrid, Spain’s energetic capital, and transfer independently to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Madrid

DAY 3, Thursday - Full Day in Madrid
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Madrid on your own or, join the half day optional Panoramic Madrid tour. View the famed Gran Via, modern buildings, the Bullring, gardens and classical and modern squares. Spend the rest of the day in Madrid on your own. Perhaps tak...
DAY 4, Friday - Drive to Bilbao
This morning, check out from your hotel, pick up you car rental in Madrid's city center, and head to Bilbao. Spend the rest of the day at leisure or visit the Guggenheim Museum. The Guggenheim Museum displays an ultra modern exterior designed by Frank Gehry and incredibl...
DAY 5, Saturday - Drive to San Sebastian
Today enjoy a full day at leisure in Bilbao or travel east towards San Sebastian, a unique city on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. Only 20 km from the French border this city offers visitors everything from the impressive architecture of the San Sebastian Cathedral to sprawling beaches and blue waters Drive Time: 1 hour Distance: 65 miles* Overnight: Bilbao Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Sunday - Drive to Zaragoza en route to Barcelona
This morning, check out of your hotel and head to Barcelona. Make a stop in the historical town of Zaragoza along the way. Here you can visit some of the city's famous landmarks, such as the Basilica del Pilar, La Seo Cathedral, and Aljaferia Palace. This evening return ...
DAY 7, Monday - Full Day in Barcelona
Spend the morning at leisure or choose to take the full day optional Barcelona Highlights tour. Experience the highlights that the beautiful city of Barcelona has to offer. Begin with the most famous works of Spanish Architect Antoni Gaudi and sense the whimsical and fan...
DAY 8, Tuesday - Full Day in Barcelona
Today explore Barcelona independently. Walk along Las Ramblas, Barcelona's most famous pedestrian walkway with its life size animators, stalls and people-watchers, explore the many galleries or, just savor the magnificent surroundings. In the afternoon perhaps, join the ...
DAY 9, Wednesday - Depart Spain
Transfer independently to the airport for your departure flight Meals: Breakfast Please note: This is a suggested itinerary. Driving times and distances are estimated and can vary due to many circumstances, such as: specific route taken, hotel location, traffic, weather, road conditions, etc. GPS devices are recommended and can be rented locally

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,329
Price per day$148
Last Updated: 8/29/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Gate 1 Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Gate 1 Travel

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Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

Company Background & Highlights

Mission: To deliver More of the World for Less by developing quality, affordable vacations for North Americans. To provide exemplary service to our customers and to earn their loyalty. To respect our partners. To invest in our employees, providing a safe and comfortable work environment. To know and understand our products and destinations. To constantly innovate and be a leader in technology.

Founded in 1981 with 3 employees; now with over 200 employees worldwide

Headquarters: Fort Washington, PA (Suburban Philadelphia)

Overseas Offices: Hungary, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Indonesia, Great Britain, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

30+ years of providing travel services to clientèle

Product Types

Escorted Tours - Group Tours

Small Group Tours

European River Cruises

Escorted Bus Tour/Sea Cruise Combinations

Independent City Stays

Independent Fly & Drive Packages

Multi-Destination Rail Packages

Customized Vacations (Vacation Builder)

Custom Groups and Individuals

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Target Consumer Market

Gate 1 Travel's target market is a traveler seeking high quality, affordable travel ranging from a superior tourist class to moderate deluxe class level of accommodations with the highest level of service.

Financial Security

Gate 1 Travel is backed by the largest, most well-respected financial institutions and insurance providers, guaranteeing the greatest level of financial security to every passenger. Gate 1 welcomes your inquiries of any of those independent offices.

Gate 1 Travel's active membership in USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), a professional organization representing the world's leading tour operators, requires that Gate 1 meet a minimum requirement of $1 million professional liability insurance (Gate 1 maintains a $5 million policy).

Additionally , Gate 1 is required to participate in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, requiring them to post $1 million in security, held by USTOA, in the unlikely event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • *Not Included:Car rental fees, one way drop-off fee, optional car rental insurance, and parking.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
12 years and up
Optional Activities
Half Day Panoramic Madrid 9:00 AM Today's panoramic tour takes you to view the classical and modern squares of the city. See the Plaza de Oriente, Plaza de España, Mayor Street, Plaza de la Villa, Puerta del Sol, Neptuno fountain, Atocha, memorial Retiro Park, the Bullring, and Plaza de Colón. Continue to view the city's newer realms, with its modern buildings, gardens, and large avenues reaching the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium (one of the largest in Europe). View Plaza de La Cibeles and the famed Gran Via.< Departs at 9:00 am. Pick-up and drop-off from terminal at Plaza de Oriente, 8. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 3 Price : $28 Half Day Toledo from Madrid 3:00 PM Today, enjoy a half day tour of Toledo, the "Museum City". Overflowing with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Toledo was once the capital, spiritual, and intellectual center of Spain and is known for the historical coexistence of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Cultures. Enjoy a walking tour which includes the exterior of the Cathedral and a visit to the Santo Tome Church, which houses the famous El Greco masterpiece, "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz". Continue to visit the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue. Also admire the city's famous handcrafted technique of "Damasquinado", the art of inlaying precious metals onto steel. Departs at 3:00 pm. Pick-up and drop-off from terminal at Plaza de Oriente, 8. Approximate tour duration is 5 hours. OnDay : 3 Price : $58 Barcelona Flamenco Show & Drink Founded in 1970, the Tablao Cordobes is considered one of the most important Flamenco venues in Spain, and has thus reached international prestige. Many talented flamenco artists have graced its scene and passed through to great careers, and that same trend continues strong today. Located right on the Ramblas, the city's landmark boulevard, El Cordobes remains today one of the best locations in Barcelona for Flamenco. Enjoy a fascinating performance featuring Barcelona's most talented flamenco artists. Evening attire is recommended. Show begins at 9:00 pm except Jan 1 – Mar 14 when it begins at 10:00 pm. Please note that transportation to & from the hotel is not included. Approximate tour duration is 2 hours. OnDay : 7 Price : $52 Full Day Barcelona Highlights Tour 10:00 AM Experience many of the best highlights that the beautiful city of Barcelona has to offer. Begin down the Passeig de Gracia, a broad and elegant avenue lined with trees, luxury shops and houses. The street is home to some of the most renowned of Gaudi's buildings - Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. Continue with a visit to the Sagrada Familia, the inspiring and still incomplete work of Gaudi. Following, head to the Barcelona Waterfront and the Old Port and continue on to view the Columbus Monument, Gothic Drassanes shipyard and the World Trade Center. Visit Montjuic hill and enjoy outstanding views of the city from the Mirador de Miramar lookout. Next, view the 1992 Olympic Ring sports complex. Finally, arrive at Poble Espanyol for some time to explore on your own. Includes entrance fees to Sagrada Familia and Poble Espanyol. *Please note that there is a dress code to enter the Sagrada Familia. Shoulders, back, and stomach must be covered and shorts and skirts should come to mid-thigh. See-through clothing will not be permitted. Hats will not be permitted except if worn for health or belief-related purposes. Departs at 10:00 am from Plaza Catalunya opposite the Tourist Office, in front of Deutsche Bank & Hotel Olivia Plaza. Drop-off to be advised locally. Approximate tour duration is 5 hours. OnDay : 7 Price : $84 Half Day Montserrat Tour 3:00 PM Begin with a picturesque drive along the Llobregat River and up to Montserrat, the mountain top Natural Park. The mountain is home to the Montserrat Benedictine Monastery, constructed nearly 1000 years ago. The monastery maintains a strong presence with its community of monks, boys' school and impressive library. Enjoy a guided orientation tour to see the monastery, basilica, and chapel of the virgin. Take some time to explore on your own before descending the mountain and returning to Barcelona. Departs at 3:00 pm from Plaza Catalunya opposite the Tourist Office, in front of Deutsche Bank & Hotel Olivia Plaza. Drop-off to be advised locally. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. OnDay : 8 Price : $62
Additional Information
Trip ID
gate1-ES-9DNESFD-S-PKG-18

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