Barcelona - Madrid - Lisbon
Spain to Portugal Singles Vacation
October 13 - October 23
$2,690*

From palaces to tapas... Walk through the historic quarter of Barcelona, visit the museums in Madrid and ride the trams in Lisbon. Explore 3 great cities as we travel by highspeed rail from Barcelona to Madrid then board our overnight train to Lisbon on this wonderful Spain to Portugal Singles Vacation.

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Spain to Portugal Singles Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Thursday - Depart from Hometown

Depart from home town on flight to Barcelona, Spain. Rembember you are flying home from Lisbon. (Airfare on own - Best Single Travel will be glad to assist).

Day 2: Friday - Barcelona, Spain 

Today you will land at the Barcelona airport and be transferred to our hotel. After check-in you will recieve a 2 day Hop On Hop Off pass. The double-decker open-top bus is the most convenient way to discover the museums and attractive sights of this exciting city. You can get on and off as many times as you wish at any of the 44 stops. A brief explanation at each stop will be given by a guide who is travelling on board. You will also be provided with a guide book. So arrive early and enjoy the day.

We will meet for an optional dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Day 3: Saturday - Barcelona

Discover the exuberance and beauty of Barcelona on our morning private guided tour of this exquisite Catalan city. Enjoy an overview of the main highlights of the old city centre and see some hidden spots that reveal the origins of Barcelona. In the afternoon continue to see the sights of the city with your Hop On Hop Off pass or shop in the numerous stores in and around the city centre.
 

Tonight experience our Welcome Dinner - Not only are you eating... you are being taught how to cook it by a local chef as well as learning about Spanish history and culture at the same time!

Day 4: Sunday - Wine and Cava outside Barcelona 

The Spanish alternative to Champaign is produced only 25 miles from Barcelona. Admire the beautiful views as we travel to this interesting region at mountain Montserrat and visit 3 "bodegas" where wine and/or Cava is produced.

Today we drive to the Spanish countryside to visit a Spanish Chapanagne (Cava) Cellar. Our guide will give us a complete overview of the region and the producers. Of course we will partake in a wine tasting at the Cava.. Before we reach the city enjoy lunch in a typical Catalan restaurant. 

Upon arriving back in Barcelona there will be time to relax before an optional dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Monday - Barcelon to Madrid 

Check out and transfer to our morning train to Madrid. Enjoy a leisurely ride and beautiful courtryside as we speed towards our next destination. Upon arrival in Madrid our local guide will meet us at the train station and immediately begin our city tour.

Once an Arabian Fortress, Madrid is now a thriving cultural centre bursting with monuments, galleries and museums. Highlights of our tour will include a photo stop at the Basilica San Francisco El Gran and a view of Plaza Espana. 

Over dinner (optional) at a local restaurant we will discuss our tour plans for the next day.

Day 6: Tuesday - Madrid

Today we explore Madrid with our Madrid Cards. We have access to the entire cultural offerings in and around Madrid. Free entry to more than 4 of the major museums, As many journeys as we wish on the Visión hop on-hop off tour bus. With the Madrid Card we receive information on the museums and establishments associated with the program, as well as a city map. 

Just a few of your choices...

	Madrid Vision is the open-top double-deckers sightseeing buses, with maximum comfort and visibility. With three different routes you will see, Modern Madrid, Monumental Madrid and Historic Madrid. All the routes are inter-connected.
	The Prado Museum, considered to be one of the world´s best art galleries, houses famous masterpieces of paintings, with the outstanding presence of Velázquez, Goya, Titian and Rubens, amongst others.
	The Reina Sofía National Museum, located in an 18th century building, houses the most important collection of contemporary art in the Spanish State.
	Villahermosa Palace houses the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, considered to be the top 20th century private collection. Durero, Titian, Goya, Degas, Renoir, Kandinsky or Rothko are some of the highlights included in this tour of Western art.
	Royal Palace of Madrid - Philip V commissioned Sacchetti, an Italian architect, one of Juvarra's followers, with its construction. Its armoury is considered to be one of the most important in the world. The gardens stretch down towards the river.
	A World Heritage Site, the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was the political centre of Philip II. The Royal Palace, a monks monastery, a magnificent library, a large basilica with cenotaphs of the king and his father, Charles I. Most kings of Spain are buried in the Kings' Pantheon.
	The Royal Palace of Aranjuez, 18th century, is surrounded by magnificent gardens, The Farmer's House, an 18th century mansion, is located in the Prince's garden. The Boat museum has vessels that were used to sail the Tagus river.
	The Benedictine Abbey of the Sacred Cross Valley of the Fallen's granite cross rises up in the middle of a pine forest on the Cuelgamuros crag. It was built as a mausoleum in the years following the civil war.
	The CABLE RAILWAY is a modern and ecological form of transport, enjoy an exciting journey, 40 metres up, observing the most emblematic monuments and buildings and the most incredible view of the capital.
	Faunia, Madrid's nature theme park, enjoy the 140,000 m2 complex where some of the world's most incredible ecosystems have been faithfully recreated. Faunia also boasts the largest polar ecosystem in Europe.

Day 7 - Wednesday - Madrid - Toledo - Lisbon

Check Out before we drive to Toledo, one of the oldest cities in Europe, to see it's most important monuments. It was once the capital of the country and is now one of the oldest cities in Europe. During a walking tour of the city centre, we visit the city's most famous monuments such as St Tome Church, Santa Maria la Blanca Synanogue, the Victorio Macho Museum and San Juan de Los Reyes Church.

The Monastery of Escorial was built by order of King Phillip II and it is a Palace, a Church and a Royal Pantheon. The Valley of the Fallen is a memorial monument of those who died during the Spanish Civil War. We’ll see the large cross and the impressive church excaved in the rock.

Before we board our overnight train to Lisbon let's enjoy dinner at Museo Jamon Jeronimo (Museum of Ham), a local Madrad tapas.

Day 8 - Thursday - Lisbon, Portugal

After breakfast our train pulls into LIsbon, we are met by our local guide and our Lisbon tour begins. Discover the magic of Lisbon as we drive through one of the main avenues of the city till Rossio square, the heart of the city; visit Belem, the historical section of Lisbon; walk through Alfama, the oldest and most picturesque area and see Praca do Comercio, the largest and most beautiful square in Lisbon.

After our tour we check into to our hotel and everyone will receive their Lisboa Card - Your Password to the City. The card allows free and unlimited travel on pubic transport including the Carris buses, trams and funiculars. It also includes free admission to 26 museums, historic buildings and many other places of interest.

Just a few of your choices...

Today we continue to explore Lisbon using our Lisboa Card. We can take a trip through history with a visit to the sensational Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower, two monuments dating from the time of Vasco da Gama, Magellan, and all the other great Portuguese explorers. Let's find out why the fascinating Coaches Museum is one of Lisbon's most popular attractions, and if you are an art lover don't miss seeing the masterpieces inside the Gulbenkian Museum.

Getting around Lisbon is part of the fun, as the charming clanking old trams are still the best way to reach the top of the steepest hills. We can take tram number 28 that passes through the oldest quarters, while the colorful funiculars are a fun way to reach Bairro Alto. Best of all is reaching the top of Santa Justa Elevator and finding Lisbon standing below.

Day 10 - Saturday - Lisbon - Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is an extraordinary place with a surreal mixture of history and fantasy, protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Today we take the local train to visit it's fairytale palaces, incredible vistas, and notable museum collections.

The Romans made Sintra a place of cult moon worshiping, then the Moors built a hilltop castle, a palace, and several fountains around the town. Later it became the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family and attracted a number of wealthy aristocrats who built huge mansions and villas. We will visit the National Palace located in the main square and dating from the 14th century and the most famous building in Sintra, the Pena Palace.

Tonight enjoy a local folklore show as we have our Farewell Dinner together.

Day 11 - Sunday - Depart Portugal

After a final breakfast we have to say "adeus" to all our new single travel friends as we are transferred to the airport and our flights home. 

Spain to Portugal Singles Tour October 13 - 23 '11 Price $2,690* Includes * 8 Nights Accomodations * Overnight train Madrid to Lisbon * Breakfast Daily - 3 Dinners    Cooking Class Welcome Dinner    Farewell Show and Dinner * Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon Passes * Guided Tours per itinerary * Best Single Travel Representative * Airport/Hotel Transfers on Tour Dates * Train Transfers * All Taxes and Surcharges *The price per person is for a double room. Best Single Travel provides roommate matching so there is never a need to pay a "single supplement". If you wish to room alone it is an additional $750 (not including train) Not Included * International Airfare * Tips $12 per day collected on first day

Deposit - $400 Balance Due September 1, 2011