Escorted Holidays Collection 2019 to March 2020 Preferred ...
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Escorted Holidays Collection
2019 to March 2020
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ESCORTED HOLIDAYS answer you straight away! We really hope you will become (if you aren’t already!) one of
Welcome to our collection of Escorted Holidays for 2019 to March 2020! our ever-growing band of loyal customers who travel with us time and time again.
This is our 19th anniversary and, as always, our aim is to design interesting and unusual We also offer Walking Holidays throughout Europe – many of them in the areas included in
group programmes which provide a truly rewarding travel experience. Our touring holidays this brochure. If you would like details of these and other walking holidays call us on 0116
are planned to include fascinating visits travelling between hotels as well as pleasurable 279 3929 or visit www.preferredts.com.
excursions from each base. Our single-centre holidays also have a range of included EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY: Holidays are of 7 nights’ duration, but if you would like to spend
excursions allowing you to discover the diverse character of the region you are visiting. But longer in warmer climes there is the option of an extra week’s relaxation in Crete, Cyprus,
we strike a balance, and you will always have plenty of free time to explore further on your Andalucia, Catalonia, the Algarve and Tenerife.
own. To help with this, throughout your holiday you’ll be well looked after by one of our very
FLY DIRECT FROM LOCAL AIRPORTS: We offer holidays flying from over 20 airports
popular Tour Directors or Resort Representatives. Most of them live and work in the area
across the UK – the vast majority are direct flights. More and more of our customers are
and are able to impart those titbits of knowledge and background that only a local can.
using our range of regional flights to meet up with friends and relatives from other parts of
The majority of our holidays are half board in the hotels, and this, together with included the UK on our holidays – if you would like us to send a brochure to a friend, just ask... or
excursions, keeps the overall holiday cost down. With departures from local airports you they can download one at www.preferredts.com.
can also avoid the cost and hassle of travelling to one of the major hubs. And we guarantee
that the price of your holiday will not change after we have confirmed your booking. Your GROUPS: Group discounts are available from as few as 10 paying passengers. Larger
money is safe with us as all our holidays are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. groups can have exclusive departures with bespoke programmes to any destination in
this Collection or elsewhere. Please contact us on 0116 279 3929 or e-mail groups@
We are very grateful and proud of the level of repeat custom we enjoy – many of customers
preferredts.com for further details.
are well into double figures for the number of holidays they have taken! You can see some
comments from customers who have travelled with us recently on the back page of this SIGN UP online for our occasional e-mailshots – just select e-mail sign up at www.
brochure. preferredts.com and add your e-mail address!
We hope you will find at least one, if not several, holidays of appeal. If you do – give us a call READING LIST: Our website www.preferredts.com has a reading list, mostly light reading,
on 0116 279 3929 – this will also be a different experience. No hanging around listening suggested by previous travellers and related to the destinations we offer. Please e-mail
to a series of options, no ‘please wait for the next available operator’ – a real person will tony@preferredts.com if there is something you think we should add to it.
Index
3 Carcassonne, Cathar Country & Catalonia 20 The Tuscan Coast, Lucca & Florence
4 Jaca, Pamplona & the Spanish Pyrenees 21 Isle of Elba, Siena & the Medieval Cities of Tuscany
5 Montserrat, Roman Tarragona & Gaudi's Reus 22 Apulia & Royal Caserta
6 The Costa Blanca, Valencia & Guadalest 23 A Week in Crete - No Single Supplement
7 Mallorca's North East Coast 24 Highlights of Crete - from Mirabello to Chania
8 Andalucia's Eastern Coast, Granada & Almeria 25 Crete's Beautiful West
9 The Orange Blossom Coast, Peniscola & the High Villages 26 The Slovenian Alps, Lake Bled, Trieste & Venice
10 The Costa de la Luz & Sherry Country 27 Best of the Baltics
11 Western Andalucia - Isla Canela, Rio Tinto & the Guadiana River 28 A Week on Evia - No Single Supplement
12 Seville, Cordoba, Granada & Ronda 29 Krakow, Zakopane & the High Tatras
13 A Week on the Algarve 30 Bucharest & Transylvania
14 A Week on the Lisbon Coast 31 Lithuania - Vilnius, Kaunas & Klaipeda
15 Provence - Arles, Avignon & the Camargue 32 Cyprus - Aphrodite's Ancient Isle
16 The Cinque Terre, Portofino & the Italian Lakes 33 Tenerife - Islands of Contrasts
17 Bordighera - the Italian Riviera & Monte Carlo 34 General Information
18 The Islands & Gardens of Lake Maggiore 35 Booking form
19 Lake Iseo & the Camonica Valley 36 About Us
We have negotiated no single supplements with hotels on selected dates for some holidays.
But make your booking quickly as availability is limited and rooms sell out very quickly.
HOW TO BOOK MADE EASY
RESERVATIONS HOTLINE: 0116 279 3929
(Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri & 9am-1pm Sat)
You can request a booking online at www.preferredts.com. Or make a provisional booking by calling our reservations
hotline on 0116 279 3929 or e-mail sales@preferredts.com and then complete a booking form and return it with the
deposit payment of £125 per person (or full balance if applicable) to Preferred Travel Services, 41 High Street, Kibworth,
Leicester, LE8 0HS. Please make cheques payable to Preferred Travel Services.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
NO SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT
IN APRIL &
OCTOBER
8 days from £699 April, June, September & October
Carcassonne, Cathar Country & Catalonia
The ramparts of Carcassonne, the mystery of Rennes-le-Château, the surrealism of Dalì’s Theatre Museum, combined
with a visit to modernist Barcelona, and stays in unspoilt locations on the Catalan coast and in a pleasant spa town in
the hills of Roussillon - this is a holiday to one of the most scenic parts of the Mediterranean. The area is also fabulously
rich in history, legend and stunning castles. Discover the land of the heretical Cathars and solve the mystery of Rennes le
Chateau – inspiration for Dan Brown’s da Vinci Code.
• 3 nights hb in Spanish Catalonia, 4 nights hb in the Roussillon area of France • Visits to Rennes-le-
Château, Carcassonne, The Dalì Museum in Figueres, and Barcelona
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Catalonia. On arrival, transfer to your hotel on the since Roman times, many crusades to the Holy Land set off from here, and
Catalan coast for two nights half board accommodation. Transfer time 50 reproductions of works by artists who painted in Collioure (Matisse and
minutes. Dérain in particular) will be found on the quaysides.
DAY TWO: Optional half day excursion to the Roman city of Tarragona DAY SEVEN: Today you return to the Costa Dorada for your last night, again
where you can see the amphitheatre, port and beach and stroll through on a half board basis. En route there is a short tour of, and free time to
the medieval centre. Under the Romans, Tarragona was the capital of the explore, the exciting city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia. Distance today
Province of Northern Spain and home to the Emperor Augustus – a Temple is similar to Day Three, approx 160 miles.
in his honour stood on the site of the current Cathedral. Your excursion DAY EIGHT: Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return flight.
includes a walk with expert guide.
DAY THREE: Today you depart for France. En route you will stop in Dalì’s YOUR HOTELS
home town of Figueras with its surreal (in the truest sense!) theatre- NUBAHOTEL HHHH, Coma-Ruga, (first two and last nights)
museum (entrance included). The Dalì Museum, with its luminous-egg
façade, seems to want to stretch your mind even before you enter! From The hotel stands close to the broad sandy beach. This unspoilt resort is
there you proceed to your hotel in Amelie-les-Bains, for four nights half quiet out of season, rather busier at weekends. A reasonable selection of
shops, bars and restaurants is about 10 minutes’ walk (700m) away, and
board accommodation. Distance today is 156 miles, mainly motorway.
the railway station with half-hourly departures to Barcelona is about 15
DAY FOUR: Full-day included excursion to Carcassonne and Rennes-le-
minutes’ walk away. In Coma-Ruga itself is Pablo Casals’ villa, now an
Château. Although a longish day, it is packed with interest. You start with interesting museum. The hotel has a spa centre (a reasonable extra charge
a scenic drive past two spectacular Cathar castles – Puilaurens, perched applies), restaurant, bar, lounge, and outdoor pool. Rooms, which all have
high above the valley, and Quéribus, whose rocky spur saw the last stand balcony, also have 2 queen size beds, bathroom with hairdryer, phone,
of the Cathars in 1255. In Rennes-le-Château you will see the church, air-conditioning/heating, satellite LCD tv, and safety deposit box (charge
presbytery, villa, tower and grounds built by the priest, Abbé Sauniere, at applies). Free wifi in public areas. (www. nubahotelcomarruga.com)
the end of the 19th century. You will discover the true extent of the mystery
HOTEL DE LA REINE AMELIE HHH, Amélie-les-Bains (four nights)
that has spawned so many books and several tv programmes. You will not
be the first to try and solve the mystery – a byelaw had to be passed to Four nights are spent in the Hotel de la Reine Amélie in the Vallespir
stop unauthorised digging in the village by treasure-hunters! Valley. Situated close to the River Tech, Amélie is a spa town 19 miles
You continue to Carcassonne for lunch (not included), and a free afternoon from the coast and surrounded by pleasant mountain scenery. The hotel
in the most spectacular walled city on earth. A UNESCO Heritage site, the has a bar, lounge area, restaurant, free wifi, and comfortable bedrooms
with private bath/shower, wc, tv and phone. Some have a balcony too.
cité is a remarkable defensive structure with barbican, dry moat, outer and
(www.reineamelie.com)
inner walls, inaccessible watch-towers, posterns, loopholes and arrow
slits. The last part of your circular route is motorway, and you arrive back We have prepared some brief historical notes about Rennes-le-Chateau
at the hotel at approx 1830. Total today is just under 200 miles. and Carcassonne. These are available online at www.preferredts.com/
DAYS FIVE AND SIX: There is an optional half day excursion to the walled pdfs/camhist.pdf or on request.
village of Prats de Mollo, just 12 miles up the Vallespir valley, on the side
of Mount Canigou. There is also an optional excursion to nearby Perpignan, A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from these hotels. Please ask for a
the capital of the Roussillon, and to the artists’ resort of Collioure. A port copy of our Walking Holidays brochure or visit preferredts.com.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
8 days from £729 May & September
Jaca, Pamplona & the Spanish Pyrenees
The highest peaks of the Pyrenees are on the Spanish side in Aragon. This holiday takes you off the beaten tourist track into these
magnificent mountains, with a host of things to see along the way! You will see a bodega on the Barbastro wine road, medieval
stone villages, Canfranc’s huge ‘ghost’ train station, Hemingway’s Pamplona, and an imposing 11th-century Romanesque castle.
You spend four nights in Jaca, ‘Pearl of the Pyrenees’, and three nights on the coast, including one in historic Tarragona.
• 2 nights hb Costa Dorada, 4 nights hb in Jaca, 1 night bb Tarragona • Visits to a Somontano winery and to the walled
town of Ainsa • Excursion to Canfranc and Candanchu mountain resort • Excursion to Pamplona • Visit to Loarre Castle
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Reus or Barcelona. Transfer to your hotel on the Costa Dorada, under The optional excursion is to the French side of the mighty Pyrenees. The first stop is
an hour away, for two nights’ half-board accommodation. in the pretty village of Biescas. From there you drive – as ever - through impressive
DAY TWO: Free day in resort. mountain scenery, skirting two reservoirs and reaching the French border at Portelet
DAY THREE: Today you leave the coast and head north through the hilly wine-country of and on to Artouste, on Fabreges Lake. A cable car takes you up to the ‘Petit Train’-
Catalonia and then into the Aragonese Pyrenees. You make a short stop at a Somontano a 55-minute narrow-gauge run of spectacular views at an altitude of over 6000ft.
winery for a tasting in one of Spain’s oldest wine regions, magnificently set against a The line was built to aid the construction of another dam and reservoir, and opened
spectacular Pyrenean backdrop. From here you climb into the Pyrenees proper towards to tourism in the 1930s. The road journey, again on good roads through impressive
the unspoilt and historic walled town of Ainsa. At the confluence of two rivers, and at an mountains, is 43 miles each way.
altitude of nearly 2000ft, Ainsa nestles between three different protected natural park DAY SEVEN: Today you bid farewell to the mountains, passing the impressive 1000ft
areas. From the 11th-century castle, you can stroll the short distance to the arcaded high rock formations of Los Mallos de Riglos, and stopping at the equally impressive
medieval town square, lined with old stone houses, the church of Santa Maria – and castle of Loarre – the best preserved Romanesque castle in Europe, and set on a rocky
welcoming bars and restaurants! There are impressive views down to the two rivers outcrop offering great views. You continue on to Tarragona, where your last night is on
and up to the (often) snow-streaked 7500ft. crag of Peña Montañesa. You continue a bed and breakfast basis.
on your dramatic route to Jaca, where you spend 4 nights on a half-board basis. 200 Tarragona’s walled town centre is a UNESCO world heritage site. It boasts a fine
miles today, mainly on excellent new highways, and always through wonderful scenery: medieval cathedral as well as Roman remains: these include a stunning 2nd-century
towering mountains, rocky outcrops and sparkling waters are all in evidence. amphitheatre, Circus Maximus, and two forums. 190 miles today.
Jaca is an interesting town with a pleasant pedestrianised main street, medieval town DAY EIGHT: Free time until your departure transfer to the airport for your flight home.
wall, Romanesque 11th-century cathedral and 16th-century citadel as well as other Transfer time: 15 minutes to Reus, just over one hour to Barcelona.
notable historic buildings. Jaca has bid three times to host the winter Olympics, and is
on the Aragonese Way of St James - pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela YOUR HOTELS
are regular visitors in the historic town centre. NUBAHOTEL HHHH, Coma-Ruga (two nights)
DAY FOUR: In the morning, you have a brief orientation walk in the old centre of Jaca. The hotel stands close to the broad sandy beach. This unspoilt resort is quiet out
In the afternoon, there is a short, but fascinating, included excursion to Canfranc- of season, rather busier at weekends. A reasonable selection of shops, bars and
Estacion. Following the River Aragon up the mountain, you arrive at the enormous, restaurants is about 10 minutes’ walk (700m) away, and the railway station with
mainly disused, former international railway station at the exit of the Somport Tunnel on half-hourly departures to Barcelona is about 15 minutes’ walk away. In Coma-
the Spanish side. Its size (more than twice the width of Buckingham Palace and with no Ruga itself is Pablo Casals’ villa, now an interesting museum. The hotel has a spa
less than 156 doors!) is explained by the necessity to handle the transit of passengers, centre (a reasonable extra charge applies), restaurant, bar, lounge, and outdoor
luggage and freight switching to and from the different gauges of French and Spanish pool. Rooms, which all have balcony, also have 2 queen size beds, bathroom with
tracks: though national pride must have had something to do with it as well! On a short hairdryer, phone, air-conditioning/heating, satellite LCD tv, and safety deposit box
tour of the station you will hear about its construction, stories of Nazi gold passing (charge applies). Free wifi in public areas. (www. nubahotelcomarruga.com)
through, of the exodus during the Spanish Civil War, and about its final closure in 1970. HOTEL EUROSTARS REINA FELICIA HHHH, Jaca (four nights)
Afterwards, you take the short scenic drive up to the nearby French border and through The modern and comfortable Hotel Reina Felicia is situated in a quiet residential
the ski resort of Candanchu. 18 miles each way. area, yet just a 20-minute stroll (less than a mile) from the old centre of Jaca. The
DAYS FIVE AND SIX: In Jaca with one included and one optional excursion. The included spacious rooms have satellite TV, air-conditioning, terrace and bath or shower and
excursion is to Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, famed worldwide for the ‘Running of WC. There is lounge, bar, coffee shop, restaurant and indoor and outdoor pools. Spa
the Bulls’, featured by Hemingway in ‘The Sun Also Rises.’ Your local guide will walk treatments may be available at extra cost (www.eurostarshotels.com).
you along the bulls’ route to the bullring and show you the town’s focal point, the Plaza HOTEL ASTARI HHH, Tarragona (one night)
del Castillo, near to which lies the former Jewish Quarter and the Gothic Cathedral of Just a 10-minute walk (half a mile) from the amphitheatre and cathedral, this
Santa Maria. Part of the old city wall is still intact. The city centre is pleasantly compact comfortable modern hotel offers bedrooms with full facilities, lounge area with free
and there are myriad places for tapas, lunch, strolling or hunting for souvenirs. 70 wifi, garden and outdoor pool. (www.hotelastari.com)
miles each way.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
NO SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT
IN MARCH,
APRIL & OCT
8 days from £659 March to October 2019, March 2020
Montserrat, Roman Tarragona & Gaudi’s Reus
A week in a four-star hotel on the Catalan coast, with three varied and interesting excursions to show you different
aspects of Catalonia from your comfortable holiday base – this is the recipe for this holiday. Catalonia has an incredibly
rich variety of landscapes. As well as sandy beaches, such as the wide, sandy one in front of your hotel, there are
mountains, vineyards, rivers and picturesque villages all waiting to be discovered. As is one of the world’s great cities,
Barcelona - easily accessible by train, with half-hourly departures.
• 7 nights hb on the Catalan coast, wine included with dinner • Excursion to Montserrat and Sitges
• Excursion to Roman Tarragona & Reus • Entrance to the Gaudi Centre in Reus • Excursion into the Alt
Camp Countryside • Entrances to the Espluga wine cellar and Santes Creus Monastery
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Reus or Barcelona. Transfer to your hotel, just under an founded in the 12th century and housing two royal tombs. From Santes
hour away. Seven nights half board accommodation is reserved for you. Creus you transfer back to your hotel, with an en-route photo stop at
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: In resort with three included excursions. the unusual modernist Sanctuary at Montferri. 86 miles today.
Montserrat & Sitges: just an hour away, Montserrat is one of Spain’s DAY EIGHT: Departure to the airport for your flight home.
most spectacular sights, with its astonishing rock formations,
monastery, and fabulous views of the Llobregat Valley: Montserrat
has been a major destination for pilgrims through the centuries. The YOUR HOTEL
basilica, home of the famous ‘Black Madonna’, dates from the 16th NUBAHOTEL HHHH, Coma-Ruga (seven nights)
century and (subject to confirmation) you will be able to hear the boys’
choir sing in the church. You could also go up to the nature area on the The hotel stands close to the broad sandy beach. This unspoilt resort is
funicular railway to explore the walking trails. 110 miles today. quiet out of season, rather busier at weekends. A reasonable selection of
shops, bars and restaurants is about 10 minutes’ walk (700m) away, and
Roman Tarragona & Gaudi’s Reus: just 20 miles away, Tarragona
the railway station with half-hourly departures to Barcelona is about 15
was the capital of the Province of Northern Spain and home to
minutes’ walk away. In Coma-Ruga itself is Pablo Casals’ villa, now an
the Emperor Augustus – a temple in his honour stood on the site
interesting museum. The hotel has a spa centre (a reasonable extra charge
of the current cathedral. You will spend the morning in the old
applies), restaurant, bar, lounge, and outdoor pool. Rooms, which all have
city in the company of an expert guide, take the view from the
balcony, also have 2 queen size beds, bathroom with hairdryer, phone,
Pretorium (entrance fee included), and see the amphitheatre,
air-conditioning/heating, satellite LCD tv, and safety deposit box (charge
the Circus Maximus, the forum, and pretty streets and squares as you
applies). Free wifi in public areas. (www. nubahotelcomarruga.com)
stroll through the medieval centre. You will also have free time for
lunch, and to explore the market area and new Rambla area with its
statue of the ‘Castell’, the ‘Human Tower’. On the return journey we will Extend your holiday - extra week available in Catalonia.
make a short detour to make a stop in Gaudi’s home city of Reus, with A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
a visit to the Gaudi Centre where you will learn something of the great of our Walking Holidays brochure or visit preferredts.com.
modernist architect’s work. 57 miles today.
Your third included excursion may be the one that surprises you most.
You go off the beaten tourist track to visit the nearby ‘Alt Camp’ area
– home to some lesser-known but no less impressive attractions - the
jewel that is the medieval, walled town of Montblanc where you have
a short orientation walk and free time to explore, sightsee, and have
lunch; the unspoilt market town of l’Espluga de Francoli, which boasts
what they call the ‘Wine Cathedral’ - the modernist building that
houses the oldest wine co-operative in Catalonia; and the Cistercian
Monastery of Santes Creus, one of the three great Catalan monasteries,
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
NO SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT
NOV ‘19
8 days from £729 March to November 2019, March 2020
The Costa Blanca, Valencia & Guadalest
The popular Costa Blanca resort of Calpe has a bit of everything – beautiful beaches, a lively and picturesque old town,
stunning scenery in the shape of the immense Rock of Ifach and varied wildlife, both on the Rock and on the saltpans.
Inland from Calpe, the mountainous countryside is spectacular and gentle at the same time and contains the spectacular,
historic village of Guadalest and the mediaeval city of Alcoy. Thriving Valencia is Spain’s third city, behind Madrid and
Barcelona, but is at least their equal in terms of history and cultural diversity.
• 7 nights hb Calpe • Excursion to Valencia • Excursion to Guadalest and Alcoy • Excursion to Denia • One
free spa circuit in the hotel
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Alicante, transfer to your hotel (one hour depending Denia. On this pleasant half-day trip to Denia you can stroll down the
on traffic) for seven nights half board accommodation. tree-lined Avenida del Marques de Campo, walk up to the castle or
down to the harbour and snack on some famous Denia gambas.
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: In Calpe. Your hotel is situated in the Levante
Beach area from where it is a pleasant stroll along the beach and DAY EIGHT: Free time until departure for the airport and your flight home.
promenade to the Rock of Ifach, the working harbour or a longer walk
up to the picturesque old quarter. The Rock of Ifach rises Gibraltar-like YOUR HOTEL
1,100ft from the sea and is a haven for wildlife. A marked trail through
and around the Rock will take about 2 ½ hours to complete. As well as DIAMANTE BEACH HOTEL HHHH, Calpe (seven nights)
the old quarter you should visit the Roman Queen’s Baths and the old The hotel is located just a few metres from the Levante Beach promenade.
walls built to protect Calpe from pirates. The hotel’s modern style is characterised by its spectacular glass façade.
Rooms are equipped with a full bathroom with hairdryer, air-conditioning,
There are three included excursions during your stay in Calpe. safety deposit box, mini-bar, telephone, satellite tv, wifi and internet
connection, and large balcony. There are three outdoor pools, cafeteria,
Serra Aitana Hills, Guadalest and Alcoy. This drive is as scenic as you
piano bar, and the Mediterranean cuisine buffet restaurant with “Show
will find anywhere in Spain. You pass through lemon groves and vast Cooking”. The spa centre offers a large heated pool with a vast range of
swathes of fine netting which cover the hillsides, underneath which are spa amenities. Our guests receive one free circuit of the spa consisting of
‘nispero’ trees whose sweet fruit is protected from the winter hailstorms 16 elements including hydromassage, turkish bath, ice fountain, thermal
in the mountains. The mountains themselves are a haven for wildlife bath, jacuzzi, sauna and 5 different sorts of shower. (www.diamantebeach.
including wild cats and genets, badgers and weasels and even golden com)
eagles. Guadalest, an ancient Moorish stronghold, is in a spectacular
setting with fantastic views from the remains of the Muslim fortress. A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
Further along the valley is the town of Alcoy where five rivers meet. of our Walking Holidays brochure or visit preferredts.com.
Around the Plaza de Espana is the medieval quarter but you’ll also find a
modernist and industrial heritage in the town. 95 miles today.
Valencia. 75 motorway miles from Calpe is the historic, but also
trendy city of Valencia. Valencia’s historic buildings cluster around the
14th-century cathedral in the Plaza de la Reina. Your search for the Holy
Grail is over - the gold chalice is in the cathedral museum! A short walk
away is the so-called ‘real’ Valencia in the Barrio del Carmen where
you’ll find a host of cafes, bars and restaurants in the captivating narrow
streets. The Central Market, one of the oldest food markets in Europe,
houses a thousand stalls under its decorated iron and glass dome. Food
is very important in Valencia, the home of paella, and you should find
time to call in at one of the ‘horchaterias’ and sip on a nutty ‘milkshake’.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
8 days from £699 March & October
Mallorca’s North East Coast
Majorca – Mallorca, Majorca – Mallorca, which is it? In English, it has a j and conjures images of tourist hordes sizzling
in the hot sun. Whereas the Spanish spelling and much more refined pronunciation of Mallorca reflect the beautiful island
much loved by the likes of Chopin, Grace Kelly, Princess Diana, and the Spanish Royal Family. The area around the resort
of Cala Ratjada in the northeast of the island falls very much into the latter category. You won’t find high-rise hotel blocks
here, but golden beaches, azure seas, quiet coves and the tranquil pine forest.
• 7 nights hb in the Bella Playa Hotel in Cala Ratjada • Walking tour of Sa Torre Cega • Excursion to Palma
• Excursion to the Drach Caves
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Palma. On arrival, you will be met at the airport and Drach Caves: A short 18-mile trip to the famous caves where you
transferred to your hotel, the Bella Playa, for seven nights half-board have a tour of the deep caves including the blue waters of the Baths
accommodation. Transfer time one hour. of Diana, incredible stalactites and stalagmites, and a boat trip and
Cala Ratjada is an old fishing port on the north-east coast of the island classical concert on one the world’s largest underground lakes.
which has developed into a pleasant resort with a busy harbour, craggy In your spare time you can enjoy the facilities of the hotel, or maybe
coves and pretty beaches. As well as a host of shops, cafes, bars and hire a bike and visit the market town of Arta.
restaurants, Cala Ratjada has attractive natural areas right on its DAY EIGHT: Free time until your departure transfer to the airport for
doorstep. A variety of bird species thrives in the protected area of Cala your flight home.
Agulla beach close to your hotel. While a pleasant walk through the
pine forest will take you to the lighthouse at Capdepera from where, on
YOUR HOTEL
a clear day, you can see across to the neighbouring island of Menorca.
HOTEL BELLA PLAYA HHHH, Cala Ratjada (seven nights)
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: In Cala Ratjada with three included activities
during your stay. The hotel, on the edge of the resort, adjoins the Levante Natural Park area.
The hotel offers plenty of sporting activities (tennis courts, swimming pool,
Walking Tour of Sa Torre Cega: A twenty-minute walk from your gymnasium and discounts for the nearby golf course among others) as
hotel is Sa Torre Cega, an early 20th-century villa built for the March well as well-furnished rooms (satellite tv, telephone and full bathroom).
banking family. In an ideal spot overlooking the tiny bay of Cala Gat, Prices are based on standard rooms. Superior rooms are available at a
the gardens at Sa Torre Cega were landscaped by Russell Page, the supplement. The hotel has an outdoor pool and a wellness centre with
English designer whose clients included the Duke of Windsor, King sauna, 2 Turkish baths and relaxation room – free of charge for hotel
Leopold of Belgium, and the Frick Art Collection in New York. And art guests - and free wifi access on the Terrace Bar and in Reception. There
is an integral feature of the Sa Torre Cega gardens where you will is a buffet meal each night with a huge selection of food, including local
see forty sculptures of the March collection. The gardens were closed specialities (www. bellaplaya.com).
after being severely damaged in a storm in 2001, and, after extensive
restoration, were reopened by King Juan Carlos in 2015. Extend your holiday – extra week available in Cala Ratjada.
Palma: On a day trip to Palma fifty miles away, you’ll have plenty of A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
time to explore the delights of the island’s capital. A short orientation of our Walking Holidays brochure or visit preferredts.com.
tour on arrival will show you where things are, after which you can
choose how you will spend your free time. Many will make a beeline
for the ultra-impressive Gothic Cathedral. Dating from the 13th
century, the building has been modified through the ages right up to
the changes made in the early 1900’s by Antoni Gaudi. Or you could
make your way to the Palau March Museum which houses the rest of
the March sculpture collection including works by Rodin, Henry Moore
and Barbara Hepworth. Don’t forget to leave time for a delicious tapas
lunch in the narrow streets of the old centre.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
8 days from £599 February to November 2019, February & March 2020
Andalucia’s Eastern Coast, Granada & Almeria
Granada was the last city to be re-conquered by the Catholic Kings in 1492 and Spain’s Moorish legacy is nowhere more
evident than in Granada and its province. On this holiday, not only will you visit the Alhambra complex in Granada, but also
the city of Almeria. Your base is the coastal city of Almunecar. This is a city whose Phoenician, Roman and Moorish past is
still much in evidence. The wonderful sub-tropical climate will help you enjoy the city’s rich artistic and cultural heritage
as well as the pretty historic centre. In and around Almunecar the sierras plunge spectacularly into the sea and you will
find no less than 25 beaches and coves within the boundary of the municipality.
• 7 nights hb in Almunecar • Visit to Granada and the Alhambra • Tour along the Costa Tropical to Almeria
• 1 entrance free of charge to the hotel’s spa centre
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Malaga and transfer to your hotel (55 miles) in Almunecar DAY EIGHT: Free time until your transfer to the airport and your return flight.
on the beach east of the city for seven nights half board accommodation.
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: During your stay there are two included full day YOUR HOTEL
excursions. The first is to the wonderful city of Granada just 45 miles
HOTEL BAHIA TROPICAL HHHH, Taramay, Almunecar (seven nights)
away. There is surely no more spectacular setting than Granada whose
extraordinary Alhambra complex is dominated by the snow-capped peaks The hotel is situated on the small Pozuelo beach in Taramay on the eastern
of the Sierra Nevada. A local guide will ensure you make the most of your edge of Almunecar, 3 km from the city centre. There is a frequent, cheap
visit of the Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens. (Please note that, due to bus service to town if you do not want to take the extremely pleasant
walk along the seafront. Its spacious rooms all have bath and wc, minibar,
restrictions on group visits, the Nasrid Palaces part of the complex may not
satellite tv, safe (chargeable) and hairdryer - most have balcony or
be included in the visit.) As well as visiting the complex, you will also have terrace. The restaurant serves buffet style food and there is a bar with
plenty of time to see some of the city’s other attractions such as the cathedral entertainment on some nights. The hotel has a large outdoor pool and a
and the old Moorish quarter of Albaicin, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site spa. One entrance to the spa is included during your stay (one hour use to
together with the Alhambra and the Generalife. The second excursion is a include active pool with water massages, sauna, Turkish bath, pediluvium
trip along the east coast to see the ancient city of Almeria and (80 miles away and sensation shower). Health and body treatments are also available at
by motorway). Almeria also has Phoenician and Roman origins and one of extra cost. (www.hotelbahiatropical.es)
the greatest citadels ever built by the Moors as well as an unusual fortified
cathedral constructed as defence against pirate attacks. The whitewashed Extend your holiday – extra week available in Taramay.
walls of the old town have the unmistakable Al-Andalus atmosphere. A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
The rest of your time is free to enjoy Almunecar. You can visit the Arab of our Walking Holidays brochure or visit preferredts.com.
fortress built on top of a Roman castle or stroll through the delightful
botanical gardens of Majuelo Park where there is a huge collection of
tropical and subtropical plants, bushes and trees as well as the remains
of the Roman fish-salting pits. Other attractions include the exotic bird
park and the network of defensive towers built by the Moors and later
strengthened in the 18th century as defence against British raids. Or just
stroll through the busy commercial district in the old centre where you can
admire the city’s monuments – look out for the plaque dedicated to Laurie
Lee who spent time here during and after the Civil War. There will also
be the chance to join an optional excursion to Nerja with its magnificent
Balcon de Europa and its nearby famous caves - an enormous cavern
reminiscent of an underground cathedral featuring stalactites, stalagmites
and wonderful rock formations and the white-painted, hill-top village of
Frigiliana.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
8 days from £699 September & October
The Orange Blossom Coast, Peniscola & the High Villages of the Maestrazgo
Just to the north of Valencia is the Costa del Azahar, the ‘Orange Blossom Coast’, so-called because of the abundance of orange
groves in the area. The coast is speckled with watchtowers and lighthouses, while inland there are fortified castles and villages
- especially in the inland Sierra del Maestrazgo, where white villages cling precariously to rocky outcrops – spectacular indeed!
You will also see the unusual landscapes of the Ebro Delta, complete with the paddy-fields where rice for paella is grown.
• 7 nights hb in Benicassim • Excursion to Morella and the hilltop villages of the Maestrazgo • Excursion
up the coast to Peniscola & the Ebro Delta • Visit to the Desert of Palms Natural Area, with superb views of
the coast • Orientation walk by the modernist villas of Benicassim
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Valencia or Castellon. Transfer to your hotel in Benicassim refuge here after being deposed. Part of the movie ‘El Cid’ was filmed here.
(an hour from Valencia, 30 minutes from Castellon), for seven nights’ half-board The town itself has a pleasant white painted centre and then spreads along the
accommodation. Benicassim has a pleasant town centre a mile inland from the excellent beach. 154 miles today. Morella and the Villages of the Maestrazgo.
beach, but its pride and joy are the splendid Modernista villas towards the northern Your other full-day excursion takes you inland into the spectacular Sierra mountain
end of the seaside avenue. It also has a 3 ½ -mile Via Verde Greenway linking landscapes of El Maestrazgo. The mountain scenery is wonderful; the villages
the resort with Oropesa del Mar – this is a disused coastal railway line suitable and towns, perched on rocky hilltops in unlikely fashion, even more so. Today’s
for walking or cycling and featuring spectacular sea views. Take a torch for the main stop will be at Morella, a medieval fortress town rising from the plain below,
tunnel! There are train and bus services from Benicassim to surrounding areas, and surrounded by its walls, and featuring narrow streets clustering along the contours
neighbouring Castellon has both a main line station and also frequent suburban below the apparently impregnable hilltop castle. Within the town are tapas bars,
services to Valencia. craft shops, the Gothic cloister of the monastery, the impressive Santa Maria la
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: In resort with one half-day and two full-day included Mayor church, and a 13th-century aqueduct. The hilltop fortress offers amazing
excursions. Half-day excursion to the Desert of the Palms and the Villas of views all around. The city was recovered from the Moors by King James’ steward,
Benicassim. You drive the short distance inland and up into the Palms Desert in the 13th century. The story goes that he didn’t want to return it to the crown- the
Natural Park, just behind your resort. Rising to over 2000ft. the park is a land of rich King apparently came to blows with him for possession of the city – when you see
Mediterranean vegetation and wildlife, scattered with castles and hermitages, and Morella, you’ll understand why! On the way back to the hotel, you stop in historic
offering fantastic views of the coast. You will make a stop to visit the monastery, in Sant Mateu, from where James I of Aragon, set out to take back the region from
a spectacular setting and where the monks developed a jealously-guarded recipe the Moors in the 13th century. The sturdy Gothic mansions around the main square
for a liqueur. You then return to Benicassim and alight at the edge of town, to walk bear witness to the town’s significant royal past. The Catalan Gothic church is
along the seafront promenade. In just one mile, walking towards St Vincent’s Tower, impressive – with a wide column-free vault a particular feature. 142 miles today.
you will pass 27 of the spectacular modernist/Belle Epoque Villas with wonderful On your free days, there will be the chance to join optional excursions to Valencia,
gardens. One is a hotel where Hemingway stayed. and to the St Joseph’s Caves near Vall d’Uxo for a boat trip along an underground
Full-day excursion to the Ebro Delta and Peniscola. The Ebro Delta, just over an river.
hour to the north, is one of Europe’s most attractive and delicately balanced wildlife DAY EIGHT: Depart to the airport for your flight home.
sanctuaries. The visit begins with a short presentation at the Eco-Museum in
Deltebre, with an explanation of the relationship between man, agriculture and YOUR HOTEL
wildlife of the area. Much of the marshy area is covered by watery rice fields HOTEL INTUR BONAIRE HHHH, Benicassim (seven nights)
which support the local fauna. There are vast areas of beaches, dunes, reeded
The hotel is located just 200 yards from the beach and 1 ½ miles from
lagoons and riverside woods. Over the year, between 50,000 and 100,000 birds
the town centre of Benicassim. Set in pleasant gardens, the hotel has
of 300 species (more than half the species in Europe) visit the Delta. You will a large outdoor swimming pool and a small indoor one. There is a bar
also stop in Poblenou del Delta, established under Franco as the home village and restaurant serving buffet meals. The comfortable bedrooms have bath/
for farmers, in an attempt to increase national food production. The afternoon shower, wc, tv, air-conditioning, safe, hairdryer, and small fridge, as well
is spent in Peniscola. Founded by the Phoenicians, Peniscola was an important as free wifi. Rooms with pool-view and terrace come at a supplement.
port: Hamilcar, father of Hannibal, imported his elephants through here on his Wellness facilities (charges apply) are available in a neighbouring sister
way to wage war against Rome. The town’s name is a corruption of ‘Peninsula’ hotel. (www.intur.com/hotel-bonaire-benicasim).
and the castle is indeed, almost an island. It was built by the Knights Templar
in the late 13th century, but in the 15th became the home of Papa Luna, Pope A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
Benedict XIII, the last of the Avignon Popes of the Great Schism, who took of our Walking Holidays brochure or visit preferredts.com.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.
8 days from £749 September & October
The Costa de la Luz, Sherry Country & the White Villages of Andalucia
Sanlucar de Barrameda, your holiday base, is an interesting old port with a long history, set at the northern tip of the
so-called ‘sherry triangle’, and home to the distinctive manzanilla wine. Apart from its beach and fishing port, it has a
picturesque old quarter of pleasant pedestrian streets, thronging with reasonably-priced bars and restaurants. Across the
Guadalquivir (the ‘Big River’) is the Donana National Park, a major wildlife haven. From Sanlucar, Columbus embarked on
his third voyage to the New World, Pizzaro sailed for Peru, and 2019 sees the 500th anniversary of the start of Magellan’s
unintended attempt to sail around the world. The area is the home of the majestic Andalucian thoroughbred horse, and a
visit to the state-run stud farm near Jerez is included. There is also a trip into the unique landscapes of the ‘white villages’
of Andalucia, spectacularly set on the mountain hillsides. And all of this within the pleasant climate and the stunning
‘light’ which gives the ‘Costa de la Luz’ its name.
• 7 nights in Sanlucar de Barrameda, with daily buffet breakfast, three dinners, and a tapas lunch • Sanlucar
orientation walk and bodega visit • Excursion to Grazalema and the White Villages of Andalucia • Visit to
an Andalusian Stud farm and Jerez
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Seville or to Jerez and then to your centrally-situated was once the residence of the Caliph of Seville and incorporates a mosque,
hotel in Sanlucar de Barrameda (transfer time 80 minutes from Seville, 25 later converted into a church. There are several big-name sherry houses
minutes from Jerez) for seven nights. Dinner is included on three nights. including Gonzalez Byass, Domecq, Harvey, and Sandeman. 47 miles today.
This means you have time to sample the delights of the myriad tapas bars The third excursion explores the White Villages of Andalucia, featuring
and restaurants for which Sanlucar is famous. Your hotel is ideally located, Arcos de la Frontera and Grazalema. Driving inland, you arrive at Arcos de
within 200-300m of the old pedestrian streets in the centre, 450m from la Frontera, perched improbably on a crag overlooking the Guadalete River.
the bus station (regular services to Jerez, Cadiz, Seville, Chipiona), and After a stop, you continue to Grazalema, which gives its name to the whole
1km from the castle and from the attractions of the maritime quarter. The Sierra and is the centre of the Natural Park – a UNESCO-listed biosphere.
maritime area of town, at the mouth of the river at Bajo de Guia (‘Pilots’ Although now best known for the walkers and sightseers who come to
alighting place’), features a wide gastronomic range of fish and seafood the park, as early as the 17th century, Grazalema became famous for its
restaurants. Bajo de Guia is also the site of the ‘Ice Factory’ tourist office, woollen blankets and clothing. You return by a different route, passing
with displays of the Donana National Park, and the starting point of a half- through Algodonales – frequented by many hang-gliders – and Villamartin
day boat trip into the Park. The Donana is one of the chief wetland nature before rejoining the main road at Arcos. 156 miles today.
areas of Europe, particularly important for ecologists and ornithologists
Two optional excursions will also be available: to the Flamenco city of
(both for resident and migratory birdlife, and indeed for wildlife and ecology
Seville, and to the maritime city of Cadiz and pretty Puerto de Santa Maria,
in general). Also nearby the hotel is the long, flat beach renowned for its
with the trip between them by boat.
August horse-racing events.
DAY EIGHT: Departure for the airport. Depending on your flight schedule,
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: In Sanlucar with three included excursions. The
there may be time for some last-minute shopping and sightseeing en route.
first is an orientation walk of the town, with a manzanilla bodega visit and
tapas lunch.
YOUR HOTEL
Another excursion takes you to Jerez and the Cartuja National Stud Farm.
Half an hour’s drive from Sanlucar lies the ‘Yeguada de la Cartuja’ just HOTEL GUADALQUIVIR HHHH, Sanlucar de Barrameda (seven nights)
to the south of Jerez, the state-run Stud Farm for Jerezano horses. Its This centrally-situated hotel has been refurbished to offer comfortable
origins date back to the 15th century when Carthusian monks established rooms with small fridge, tv, aircon, bath/shower and wc. and free wifi.
a monastery there and later began to establish a bloodline for these There is a railway-themed bar/coffee shop serving snacks, dining area,
magnificent white horses. As well as a tour of the stud farm, you’ll see a and a rooftop bar/terrace with splendid views. There is a lounge area and
show featuring the famous horses. In Jerez, you will have an orientation 3 lifts. The pedestrianized town centre with innumerable reasonably-priced
tour of the city that gave sherry to the world. As well as a fine Gothic restaurants and bars is just a few yards away.
cathedral there is an alcazar and atmospheric gypsy quarter. The Alcazar (www.hotelguadalquivir.com/en/)
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.8 days from £749 April, May & September
Western Andalucia - Isla Canela, Rio Tinto & the Guadiana River
This holiday has the perfect balance of relaxation beside the dunes along Spain’s Atlantic coast and on the banks of the
Guadiana river and scenic sightseeing jam-packed with historical and cultural interest. Your holiday base is the 4* Playamarina
Hotel on Punta del Moral on Isla Canela in Spain, just over the Portuguese border. From here you visit the beautiful coastline
of the Donana Natural Park, enjoy the fascinating Columbus sites and the stunning scenery of the British Rio Tinto mines and
have a lazy day on a boat sailing up the River Guadiana which marks the border between Spain and Portugal.
• 7 nights hb in a 4* hotel on Isla Canela • One included spa entrance • Full day excursion to the Rio Tinto mines
with train ride • Full day excursion to the Columbus sites and El Rocio • Boat cruise on the Guadiana River
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Faro in Portugal and transfer to your hotel on Isla Canela in amazing ‘Martian’ landscape with the red (bright red!) Rio Tinto river running
Spain for seven nights half board accommodation. The transfer takes around through it. (NB the train is accessed down a long flight of steps – no ramp).
an hour, but you have to put your watches on an hour when you cross the The third included excursion is to La Rabida Monastery, Caravelle Wharf and
Guadiana which is the border. El Rocio. Just over an hour to the east of your hotel lies the monastery of La
DAYS TWO TO SEVEN: In resort with three included excursions. There Rabida, where Columbus stayed with the monks before his voyage to the
is plenty to do in your free time. The front of the hotel looks across to the New World in 1492. The King and Queen of Spain had rejected his request for
thriving fishing village and marina of Punta del Moral. You can have a pleasant funding to seek a westward route to China, but with the intercession of the
stroll around the harbour or take a little ferry ride across to Isla Cristina. The monks (who were to get a percentage!), funding was granted…and the rest,
rear of the hotel backs on to the promenade from where there are wooden as they say, is history. Nearby lies Caravelle Wharf, with full-size replicas of
boardwalks across the dunes to the beach and the sea. Walking past the Columbus’ three ships – the Pinto, the Nina, and the Santa Maria (entrance
inviting chiringuito (beach bar) might be difficult! There is a frequent bus fee included). All are much smaller than you might expect – but they actually
service which makes the 5-mile journey to Ayamonte on the Guadiana river. travelled across the Atlantic in 1992, for the 500th anniversary. You then travel
Ayamonte is a bustling ‘frontier’ town with a compact old centre, marina and to the strange town of El Rocio, which seems like something out of the Tex-
port. The ‘frontier’ is the river and for under 3 euros you can get a return ferry Mex West, with clapboard houses, sand covered squares and avenues and
across to the pretty town of Vila Real de San Antonio in Portugal. If you can rails to tie your horse to! But this is no tourist movie set – in fact it is a major
find the time, a complimentary 1 ½ hour circuit of the hotel’s extensive spa pilgrimage site, and lies at the edge of the Doñana Natural Park. There is free
facilities is included for you! time for a late lunch here before returning to your hotel.
You really chill out and relax on your first excursion – a boat ride up the DAY EIGHT: Transfer back to Faro Airport for your flight home. You can put
Guadiana river. The boat leaves from Ayamonte and poodles upstream your watch back an hour after crossing the river.
through the soporific scenery of the gentle hills of the Guadiana valley. The
captain might stop in Portugal on the left – then again, it might be Spain on YOUR HOTEL
the right – either way, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the hospitality of one of
the riparian communities. The return to your hotel will be by coach. HOTEL PLAYAMARINA SPA HHHH, Punta del Moral, Isla Canela
Another included excursion takes you to the unique landscape and ecosystem (seven nights)
that are the Rio Tinto mines. There has been mining in the hills 80 miles An excellent hotel in a quiet position located between the beach and the
north-east of Isla Canela for over 5000 years. In the museum in the town marina on Punta del Moral. The hotel has a buffet restaurant with show
of Rio Tinto there is an excellent re-creation of the Roman mine. There is cooking, indoor and outdoor pool. There is also a spa (a free 1 ½ circuit
British influence in many parts of Spain but nowhere as pronounced than is included for you), bar and entertainment on most evenings. Rooms
have bath with shower over and separate shower and wc, hairdryer,
in this remote corner of Andalucia. The pinnacle of mining in the area began LCD tv, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and safe (chargeable), terrace
in 1873 with the arrival of the British Rio Tinto Mining Company Ltd who or balcony. Free Wi-Fi in reception (30 mins) – chargeable in room.
paid £3.68 million for the rights to exploit the disused copper mines. The (www.playasenator.com/en/hoteles/playamarina/)
company employed up to 20,000 men, laid 300km of rail track, built houses
for employees and management, a Protestant church and a Social Club which Extend your holiday – extra week available in Isla Canela
had a cricket team and introduced football to Spain. The museum is housed
in the company’s hospital and its offices are now the town hall. Highlight of A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
the tour is the rail journey through the open cast mines where you’ll see an of our Walking Holidays brochure or visit preferredts.com.
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.8 days from £799 May to October 2019, March 2020
Seville, Cordoba, Granada & Ronda - the Best of Andalucia
Granada’s Alhambra, Cordoba’s magnificent cathedral, spectacular Ronda, Picasso’s city of Malaga, and magical Seville -
on this superb, carefully planned holiday, you’ll see all of Andalucia’s most impressive sights. Four nights are spent in the
pleasant town of Antequera – an ideal base for visiting the region. Two nights are spent in Seville and another in Malaga.
• 4 nights hb in Antequera • 2 nights bb in Seville • 1 night bb in Malaga • Included excursions to Granada and
El Torcal • Entrances to the Alhambra complex and to the Cordoba Mezquita • Walking tour of Seville • Visits to
Ronda & Cordoba • Local guides in Seville, Cordoba, and Granada
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE: Flight to Malaga. On arrival transfer to your hotel in Antequera (approx. Wandering through the narrow streets you will soon understand how Seville
50 minutes) for four nights’ half-board accommodation. inspired Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. The afternoon is free.
You may want to visit the Cathedral, the Giralda or the Alcazar, and, in the evening,
DAYS TWO TO FOUR: At the crossroads between Malaga and Cordoba, and
take in a Flamenco show.
Seville and Granada, Antequera is ideally situated for visiting Andalucia’s main
sights. But it’s also an interesting town in its own right. Throughout the city centre DAY SEVEN: Today you leave Seville and drive through the scenic Sierra
its Spanish, Roman, and Moorish influences are ever-present. The stunning landscape to Ronda whose spectacular 600ft deep Tagus Gorge is spanned
collegiate church of Santa Maria la Mayor rises just below the Moorish fortress. by the spectacular Puente Nuevo (new bridge). The city’s bullring in the ‘’new’’
There are over thirty churches, including the impressive Spanish-Baroque Iglesia town is 230 years old, about the same age as the new bridge! You will have
del Carmen, and a network of picturesque alleys, shady squares, and tapas bars free time for sightseeing in this interesting, atmospheric and dramatic city. You
to enjoy. There are two included excursions during your stay in Antequera. then continue to Malaga, arriving in time for a short tour of Picasso’s home-town
where you spend the last night of your holiday on a bed and breakfast basis. 135
The first excursion is a short half-day excursion, to allow you to get you your
miles today.
bearings in Antequera and to visit El Torcal, a natural area of amazing limestone
rock formations. Just 23 miles total. DAY EIGHT: Transfer to the airport (25 minutes) for your return flight.
The second excursion is to Granada. Just sixty easy motorway miles away,
there is surely no more spectacular setting than Granada whose extraordinary
Alhambra complex is dominated by the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada. YOUR HOTELS
A local guide will ensure you make the most of your visit to the Alhambra and HOTEL ANTEQUERA HHHH, Antequera (four nights)
the Generalife Gardens. (Please note that, due to restrictions on group visits, the
In a quiet residential area, the hotel offers wide halls, piano bar, and modern
Nasrid Palaces part of the complex may not be included in the visit.) As well as covered heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, Turkish bath,
visiting the complex, you will also have plenty of time to see some of the city’s etc. All of the 182 rooms are fully air-conditioned and are equipped with
other attractions such as the cathedral and the old Moorish quarter of Albaicin, full bathroom, hairdryer, satellite tv, direct dial phone and minibar. A charge
now – like with the Alhambra and the Generalife - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. applies to some of the leisure facilities. Meals in the hotel are buffet style,
120 miles round trip. with an impressive range of Spanish and international cuisine. Free wifi.
The town centre is 800m walk away. (www.hotelantequera.com)
DAY FIVE: Today you travel towards Seville, but first visit Cordoba, one of the
not-to-be-missed sights of Andalucia, where, 1000 years ago, Jews, Arabs and HOTEL SEVILLA MACARENA HHHH, Seville (two nights)
Christians lived side by side in harmony. You will see a statue of Maimonides, the The hotel is next to the old city walls opposite the Parliament and close
famous Jewish philosopher and the author of Mishneh Torah. You will also visit to the river and the historic centre. Bedrooms have bath/shower and wc,
the world-famous Mezquita, accompanied by a local guide. The church/mosque hairdryer, tv with satellite channels, free wifi, and safety deposit box.
was founded in 785 by Abd ar-Rahman I, and then adapted and adopted by the There is a restaurant and a sports-themed bar offering snacks. (www.
hotelsevillamacarena.com)
Christian Kings of Spain – who built a cathedral inside it! You will also have free
time for lunch and sightseeing before continuing to Seville for two nights’ bed HOTEL MALAGA CENTRO HHHH, Malaga (one night)
and breakfast accommodation. 154 miles today. The hotel is situated close to the historic centre and business district. It has
DAY SIX: Morning walking tour of Seville with local guide. In a splendid location a formal restaurant and a cafe/bar. There is a roof-top pool (seasonal) and
on the Guadalquivir River, Seville is a lively city and the capital of Flamenco. a fitness centre. Bedrooms are modern with free minibar (no alcohol), bath/
shower and free wifi. (www.salleshotels.com)
Tel: 0116 279 3929 www.preferredts.com Flight Details and Prices are on our website, or please enquire.You can also read
