EXCURSIONS

Browse the links to the web page of each hotel and city you are visiting to learn about them before you go. 

If you miss the bus or you have an emergency call the Forspro tour escort at the number given to you before departure. For routine and non-urgent inquiries while on your visit away from Madrid, Ask the hotel's front desk personnel or call/visit the local tourist office.  To contact the emergency services in any EU country, dial 112.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Most of the accommodations are based on double occupancy with some triple rooms. The number of triple rooms will depend on the circumstance and the number of rooms available in the hotel at the time of arrival. Distributions of double and triple rooms are done randomly. Single accommodations are available at a surcharge. The number of single rooms available may be limited.

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City tours
Cultural Activities
Excursions
HOTEL BEHAVIOR - Participants are expected to behave properly and follow norms of behavior. Participants are responsible to the hotel for the condition of the rooms and for all of their personal expenses.

NOTE:  Forspro reserves the right to change the schedule/visits without prior notice.  Breakfast provided daily.

Barcelona (July 14 - 17) $435

In a privileged position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian peninsula and the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in both size and population. It is also the capital of Catalonia.

  • Day 1: 08:30 - Depart for Barcelona in air-conditioned motorcoach transportation.  Arrive at hotel approximately at 18:00. Time to rest or to start exploring Barcelona. We suggest you take L3 metro to the centre of town where you can explore La Rambla, Barrio Gotico, and Port Vell.
  • Day 2: Depart at 09:30 for sightseeing tour of Barcelona.  Tour takes you to places such as La Rambla, Barrio Gotico, La Sagrada Familia, Parc Vell, and Montjuic.  Rest of the day free.
  • Day 3: Free day to explore Barcelona on your own.
  • Day 4:  Depart Barcelona at 08:30 for Madrid.

Getting Around: There are generally no shortages of taxis available to and from the centre of town and it's approximately a 20 min. ride. The metro is the easiest and cheapest way to get around the city. You can buy multiple-trip city tickets that offer worthwhile savings. Line 3 takes you to the area of La Rambla and Paseo de Gracias, the centre of town.

What to see:
La Rambla:
Five separate streets strung end to end, La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jewelry. The noisy bird market on the second block of La Rambla is worth a stop, as is the nearby Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, with arts and entertainment information and a ticket office. Next door is La Rambla's most colorful market, the Mercat de la Boqueria. Just south of the Boqueria the Mosaic de Miró punctuates the pavement, with one tile signed by the artist. The next section of La Rambla boasts the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house. Below the Plaça Reial, La Rambla becomes decidedly seedy, with strip clubs and peep shows. La Rambla terminates at the lofty Monument a Colon (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. You can ascend the monument by lift. Just west of the monument, on Avinguda de les Drassanes, stand the Reials Drassanes (Royal Shipyards), which house the fascinating Museu Marítim. It has more seafaring paraphernalia than you'd care to wag a sextant at - boats, models, maps, paintings, ships' figureheads and 16th-century galleys.

Must See: La Rambla, Barrio Gotico, Museo Picasso, La Sagrada Familia, and Montjuic.

Lisbon (July 14 - 17) $435

Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History. The Alfama is one of the oldest quarters in Lisboa.  Adjacent to the Alfama are the likewise old quarters of Castelo and Mouraria, and the stylish summer resort of Cascais.  Nearby is Sintra with its lush wooded height and verdant charm.

  • Day 1: 08:30 - Depart for Lisbon. Stop in Mérida for lunch and visit the Roman ruins there. Mérida was the capital of Lusitania during Roman times and it is now one of the best preserved Roman ruins in the world. Continue on to Lisbon. Arrival around 18:00.  Rest of the evening free.
  • Day 2: 09:00 - Tour of Lisbon and nearby towns of Sintra and Cascais with professional tour guide.  Some places included in the tour are: the Christian and the Arab neighborhoods, St. George's Castle, and below it, the Alfama neighborhood, the Monument to the Discoverers, Praca do Comercio and the Rocio. Continue to nearby beac resrt of Cascais & the area of Sintra. Rest of the day free.
  • Day 3: Free day to explore Lisbon on your own.
  • Day 4: 09:00 Depart for Madrid.

Getting Around: Carris is the transportation company that runs buses, trams and funiculars in Lisbon. It is advisable to buy the tickets in advance as they will be MUCH cheaper and more convenient. The most favorable way to get around in Lisbon is by Metro. Metro trains run every day from 6.00 a.m. until 1.00 a.m. Single journey  tickets are costlier than to buy a book of 10 tickets.

What to see:
Alfama - Alfama is a village within a city still made up of narrow streets, tiny squares, churches, and whitewashed. The top 3 sights: Saint George's Castle, The Tile Museum, São Vicente de Fora Church
Baixa - Baixa, or downtown Lisbon, is the heart of the city. It is the main shopping and banking district that stretches from the riverfront to the main. The top 3 sights: Comercio Square, Rossio Square, Santa Justa Elevator
Bairro - Bairro is a picturesque quarter dating from the 16th century that has traditionally been the city's bohemian haunt of artists and writers. Its grid of streets is transformed at night into the city's vibrant nightlife quarter.
Belem – Belem is Lisbon's most monumental and historical area. The top 3 sights: Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, Berardo Museum
Cascais – Cascais is a picturesque spot and still a traditional fishing harbour. The beaches of Cascais have names like the "Pescadores", "Marchioness" and the "Queen", reminding us of the time when it was the "Land of Kings and fishermen".
Sintra – Sintra is a tourist region par excellence and is one of the most delightful places to be found in Portugal. With its extensive range of green bills with its crags - the Serra de Sintra - so picturesquely situated and ostupendous views of the coastline with its impressive beauty, Sintra is indeed "a garden of the earthly paradise".


C/ Caspe, 103
08013 Barcelona, Spain
+34 93 246 7000

 

Ayre Hotel Caspe

Where is it located?  Situated in the central Eixample area between Barcelona's two busiest business areas, Plaza Catalunya and Las Glorias, it is 5 minutes from the city centre and 20 minutes from the airport. Near the hotel are the Tetuán metro station (Line 2) and Arc de Triomf (Line 1) and the bus stops of many urban routes, allowing rapid access to any part of the city.


Av 5 de Outubro, 160
1050 Lisbon, Portugal
+351 217 906 110

 

Turim Iberia Hotel

Where is it located?  It is situated near one of Lisbon's most important streets, “Av. da República” and walking distance from the Campo Pequeno Arena. It is 5 minutes walking distance from Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, a business district, and is easily accessible to anywhere in town.