In order to remove the review, please report on the original platform as well!
Paula McHugh
2023.11.05
We are two artist friends who have wanted to see the Paleolithic cave paintings in Northern Spain for many years and Gaudi’s buildings in Barcelona. We decided to take the trip and combine it with some other experiences. Having found Belen and Totally Spain online we really lucked out.
Barcelona
Hotel Granvia in Barcelona is a beautifully restored historical hotel with the best breakfast of the entire trip! We were entirely comfortable, and it provided a place to unwind with fellow travelers during several busy days of walking in Barcelona. Belen had provided us with valuable information for museums, restaurants, tours, and shopping recommendations. We felt completely at home in this friendly city.
Cantabria
The car service was always prompt and reliable with friendly drivers. We flew to Santander after 5 days in Barcelona. Our hotel in Santillana del Mar was charming, and a country experience that was forever memorable. Our host at the hotel, Raffa, became a friend, and the medieval town was picturesque, built around a 9th century monastery, and the perfect home base to travel from. Belen lined up a rental car for us, so we could drive to the six caves, all scheduled for us by Belen with English speaking guides. These were fabulous experiences that go beyond words and we felt as if we had special treatment with these guides who were knowledgeable and proud of their history and heritage. The caves were wonderful and so was driving around in the countryside.
Bilbao
We left Santillana to drive to Bilbao for one night, and stayed in a hotel that was right next door to the huge football stadium. On that night Madrid and Bilbao played and we could hear and feel the roar of excitement coming from the stadium, making us feel a part of the crowd. At first we weren’t sure about staying next to the stadium, but Spain loves their football and so do we! (2 to 2 with no tiebreaker that night). Belen also booked our Guggenheim tickets ahead of time making the experience as smooth and complete as ever.
San Sebastian
In San Sebastian our hotel was conveniently located in a chic shopping district which definitely invited us to great shopping and taste pintxos, Basque tapas. Belen set up an evening tasting tour. It was all delicious! She also recommended Diego, a Basque tour guide who spent the day with us taking us to three wonderful French Basque towns along the coast. It was wow! And we will never forget it!
We were welcomed everywhere we went with friendly good manners and kind helpful people.Thank you, Belen, for such a wonderful trip! We would not hesitate to recommend Totally Spain to all of our friends; and our next stop with you is Portugal!
Dear Paula, Thank you so much for this glowing review of your custom trip to Barcelona and Northern Spain with Totally Spain. I'm delighted that everything went so well and that you enjoyed all of the different places that you visited, as well as the various experiences that we planned for you. May I say that it was a pleasure to deal with you and, should you decide to proceed with your trip to Portugal (and you should, it's fabulous!), it would be our honour to help arrange it for you. Take care, Belén