Our recent two week trip to Northern Spain and Portugal was a great mix of history, culture, beauty, and wine. Joanna handled most of the details and all of our drivers, guides, and experiences were great. In San Sebastian, our food tasting tour was a perfect way to kick off the trip. On our tour of the Guggenheim, we learned so much about the art and the requirements to be part of the Guggenheim family. We had our WOW Moment in Porto. Thanks Wendy. The light show was entertaining but the private trolley ride made us feel so special and was the envy of others riding on the packed trolleys. The boat rides we did in the Douro Valley and seeing the sunset on Lisbon were magical. In Porto, at Joanna’s recommendation, we went on our own to World of Wine, which we highly recommend.

Lisbon was our favorite for learning more about the history of Portugal, and we could not have had a better instructor than Tiago. Our 3 days with him touring were so educational. Highlights included the tile and carriage museums, the monastery, and the palace on the way to Sintra. We also enjoyed a Fado show and yummy pastries.

We ended our trip with the beauty of Ponta Delgado and surrounding area in the Azores. The flowers were blooming and everything was so green, and the views breathtaking. We had such a unique experience eating a meal steamed in the ground.

We had great benefits at a very reasonable trip price with all our hotels being in great locations with good views. We were upgraded, received bottles of wine, and even a free massage. The lunch bookings were all not just great food but awesome experiences due to the views and service.

Prior to our trip I injured my foot. I toughed it out and was put in a boot upon return. I want to thank all the guides for assisting me and making accommodations so I still could enjoy the trip and all the special experiences. Portugal is very easy to travel for English speakers and going before Easter, which was recommended by Goncalo as he planned our overall travel path and timing, was a great way to miss the crowds.

Peter, Mary, Mark and Cat dive into cooking at a members-only gastronomic society after picking up ingredients at the local market.

I’ll cut to the chase—our trip to Spain exceeded our expectations and it was all due to our trip planner, Pablo. We are typically DIY vacation planners focused on photography, but for this trip we decided to put our cameras away and concentrate on learning about the history and the culture of Spain. I had been following Wendy Perrin’s newsletters for years, and thought this would be a great opportunity to try out a recommended trip planner.

We typically plan our trips a year in advance, and found Pablo to be responsive and flexible to our needs and timing. Instead of spending weeks and months doing the detailed planning, we spent less than 3 hours with him and loved the hotels we stayed at, and the guides and activities he arranged. We had experiences and access to activities we would not have had if we planned the trip on our own. One of the highlights was the day we spent learning how to cook traditional Basque country dishes. This was not a typical cooking class in a commercial kitchen. We had a rare opportunity to spend the day at a gastronomic society. These are member-only societies in which you must be invited, and they are typically used for family and friend gatherings. We appreciated the unique view into San Sebastian cultural life. He added the additional peace of mind to know he was there to support us when my husband, Peter, injured his foot and we needed to seek medical care. He had a doctor to the hotel within 30 minutes who expedited our hospital visit.

In Wendy’s newsletters, she often talks about value versus cost, and we experienced that firsthand. The impressive cadre of guides provided unique experiences and information, and we felt the hotels were superior and better located than what we would have selected on our own.

A rainy, foggy day atop Montserrat: The guide’s deft scheduling avoided the worst of the rain.

My husband and I were travelling to Barcelona on business and wanted to extend our stay to see the sites around the city.

I contacted Pablo early in the year to let him know that we were coming to Spain but weren’t entirely sure of our timing. He was super helpful and provided us a list of suggested ideas for the surrounding area.

With just a few weeks before departure, Pablo put together a fantastic itinerary for us. We spent three days with our marvelous guide Jordi. Jordi was super friendly, incredibly knowledgeable and just a pleasure to spend time with. Sadly, it rained for most our time together and Jordi manipulated the schedule so that we could be indoors during the downpours. One of the gems that he inserted at the last minute was the Gala Dali Castle—this was not a museum but rather the home of Dali’s wife. The architecture, furniture and photos there helped us to understand the eccentric lives of Gala and Salvador Dali—would highly recommend! In addition, Jordi took us on a tapas tour around Barcelona. We ate our way through some sensational local restaurants and enjoyed every bite.

Thank you to Pablo, Jordi, and our driver John who really made our stay in Barcelona a special one.

Pablo’s expertise as a travel specialist for Spain is evident in the impeccable planning and execution of this trip to Madrid and surrounding areas. His attention to detail and ability to curate exceptional experiences make him a worthy addition to Wendy Perrin’s WOW List.

Itinerary and Guides
Pablo’s selection of guides was outstanding, each bringing unique knowledge and passion to the tours:

– Yolanda expertly led walking tours of Madrid and Toledo, showcasing highlights such as the Royal Palace and Prado Museum in Madrid.
– In Toledo, the ancient Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and El Greco’s “The Burial of Count Orgaz” were standout experiences.
– Alfonso Santos, a knowledgeable and personable guide, provided an immersive historical experience during the day trip to El Escorial Monastery and Alcázar.
– Gustavo, a local resident of Alcalá de Henares, offered exclusive access and deep insights into his hometown’s art and history, particularly at the Paranymph of the University of Alcalá and the Monastery of San Juan de la Penitencia.

Accommodations and Experiences
While Pablo’s hotel choices were very good, we recommended and Pablo expertly booked the Hotel Urso, demonstrating his flexibility and responsiveness to client preferences.

The Flamenco Show at Corral de la Moreria was a highlight, showcasing Pablo’s ability to incorporate high-quality cultural experiences into the itinerary. We only wish that the venue was not as crowded as it was. The restaurant there is a Michelin Star Restaurant which definitely added to the intimate experience.

Transportation
Luis, the driver, provided safe transportation and added a personal touch to the journey with his friendliness and thoughtful gift of Venezuelan chocolate products.

Overall Assessment
Pablo’s meticulous planning, selection of exceptional guides, and ability to create a diverse and engaging itinerary showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of Spain solidify his status as a WOW List local fixer. His expertise in blending historical sites, art, and cultural experiences, along with his responsiveness to client preferences, make him an invaluable resource for travelers seeking an authentic and memorable Spanish adventure.

We started off with just a broad concept—we wanted to tour castles in Europe to celebrate a 70th birthday. From there, Goncalo and Joana were able to put together a fabulous itinerary that included castles, palaces, cathedrals, churches, historical locations and wine of all kinds. In 15 days we switched locations six times, and Joana planned all of the transportation and accommodation details without a hitch. While in each location, we had different day trips and tours planned. Joana was in contact with us throughout the trip and had even set up welcome snacks at the hotels and for a special birthday cake and sparkling wine as a surprise. Each of the hotels had historical interest and were in a great location.

In Porto, Joana and Joao took us on a city tour, a visit to the Stock Exchange Palace, other significant monuments and the train station and then we toured Taylor’s where we learned about and tasted Port wine. We were able to enjoy a day trip to the Douro Valley and visited a winery and had a cruise on the Douro River. The day trip to the Minho region included stops in Guimaraes, Braga and Bom Jesus.

We then transferred to Lisbon where we toured the city in a tuk-tuk, visited the Castle of Sao Jorge, and watched the sunset from a high viewing location. The following day we enjoyed a walking food tour with Claudia and visited the Cristo Rey with our driver Claudio. Tiago, our guide for most of the Lisbon stay, was able to chat about so many topics from ancient castle design to current topics. We visited Cascais, Queluz, and Sintra where we had an amazing after hours visit to the Pena Palace.

On our way to Crato, we stopped at the amazing walled town of Marvao and the castle. We visited Estremoz where the buildings and church are made of marble on our way to a winery for a tour and lunch. Pousada Mosteiro do Crato was the perfect hotel to celebrate a birthday.
We then went to Seville where we stayed at the Hotel Alfonso XIII, enjoyed a flamenco show and tapas with Blanca. The next day we walked the historical city center and visited the Royal Alcazar with Joanie and visited the Seville Cathedral. In the evening we took the train to Granada where we stayed at the Parador de Granada on the grounds of the Alhambra complex.
In Granada, Maria, our guide, walked us through the Jewish and Islamic quarters and taught us about the meanings of symbols in the coats of arms we saw. We enjoyed a hammam experience, and the following day Maria toured us through the Alhambra and Generalife, where she interpreted the Islamic writings and art in a way that made us understand the meaning and intent of ancient civilizations.

We took another train to Madrid where we stayed at the only hotel on the Plaza Mayor. We walked through historic parts of Madrid and visited the Prado museum with Alfonso, who was able to explain the art and artists’ lives. The next day we went to Toledo, which is a wonderful city. We saw so much of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish quarters and monuments, visited one of the remaining Talavera pottery stores with its underground tunnels, and a sword / knife store.

On our last day, we visited El Escorial and Segovia with Abel. The artwork and royal tombs in El Escorial are breath-taking. In Segovia we enjoyed a roasted suckling pig lunch at Meson de Candido, which was opened in 1786. We saw the Roman aqueduct built during the first century AD to transport water from 10 miles away to Segovia. We walked through parts of the town and visited the Fortress of Alcazar.

This was an amazing trip. I cannot say enough about each of the guides and drivers—every one of them was so knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. Day after day we were astounded by all that we learned. Every one of them knew so much about the history of the area we were visiting and seemed to enjoy telling us as much as they could. They each had a way of bringing history to life.

We visited Barcelona, Montserrat, Madrid, and Toledo from January 11-21. Pablo planned a terrific trip for us. The Relais & Chateaux hotel he picked in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona was perfect. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and fun. They made the history and culture come alive. The drivers were all very professional and punctual. Highlights included the tapas tour in Barcelona, our day trip to Montserrat, and our day trip to Toledo. Thanks for a wonderful trip!

Our trip to Spain at the end of October was arranged by Pablo Calvo. It was a short lead-up time to arrange the trip and Pablo did a fabulous job! He has wonderful guides that looked after us from start to finish. The special events he arranged were great and we enjoyed every event and every guide. We started in Madrid and visited the Prado Museum with a guide who was marvelous. She clearly loves the Prado and this added to our enjoyment of the Museum. Other trips included Toledo and El Escorial, which where both amazing. We spent several days in Seville and enjoyed a Flamenco Show, Evening Tapas Tour, and Market and Cooking Class. A day trip to Cordoba was very enjoyable. We then were driven to Granada and on the way visited Ronda and experienced a private visit with wine tasting and a traditional lunch in a local winery. Our final destination was Granada and the Alhambra. It was a wonderful visit and one which we will never forget. The trip was top notch and we would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to see these three areas in Spain.

The “magnificent” highlight of Cordoba: “We had a remarkable guide, who spoke Arabic and Hebrew, which made the translations on the huge pillars come to life.” Photo: Traveler Nancy Schrank

Our WOW trip to Spain was amazing. We chose Pablo to be our trip planner, and it was the correct decision. He arranged the most terrific two weeks in Spain for us. We had a grandson in Salamanca, Spain for a semester, so that was the impetus for the trip. Beyond that and Madrid, we were open to Pablo’s excellent suggestions, and he arranged a spectacular trip. Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and great companions. We saw the great art museums of Madrid, the fabulous monastery/ palace/ basilica at El Escorial, Segovia, Toledo, Seville, Cordoba, and the beautiful Andalusian School of Equestrian Art at Jerez de la Frontera. There were many other experiences, as well, including: a flamenco performance; a tapas tour; a small, rarely visited Templar church; and the best churros dipped in chocolate ever! Pablo arranged super drivers for us, which made the trip so enjoyable and easy, as well as great train journeys between our major stops. Our hotels were perfect. Pablo gave us suggestions from which to choose. They were first class with helpful staff and excellent locations.

One of the highlights of the trip was unexpected. We had time to visit the Valley of the Fallen with our guide Alfonso, and driver, Miguel. It is now a wildlife preserve, but features a huge basilica built by Franco, excavated into the heart of a mountain. The size of it has to be seen to be believed. It was empty of tourists, during our visit, which made it a bit eerie, but it was very interesting to learn about this traumatic era of Spanish history. We were grateful that Alfonso included it. The other highlight, which should not be missed, is the huge mosque/cathedral of Cordoba. It was magnificent, and something I had always wanted to see. We had a remarkable guide, who spoke Arabic and Hebrew, which made the translations on the huge pillars come to life.

We cannot speak highly enough of our first trip with Wendy Perrin and her connection to our outstanding trip planner, Pablo. The guides and drivers he chose could not have been kinder and were always on time (or early!) for us to start our explorations or to meet us at the train station. It was most reassuring. Be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to be WOWed by Spain and all of its splendor!

We had a very relaxing, but fun-filled trip, thanks to Pablo and team! From start to finish, they did not disappoint!

Trip planning was seamless. Pablo took our direction easily and created an itinerary that fit all of our requirements (food, wine, culture). It was my second time in the San Sebastian area, but first in Rioja. There were some hiccups with our travel plans into San Sebastian due to flight delays, but Pablo’s team was with us the entire way. They rescheduled drivers as needed and had to reschedule a tour that we had planned. It was a breeze to work with them on any last-minute changes needed.

We made San Sebastian our home base, but traveled around to the nearby village areas for the week, which was lovely and relaxing. Our tour guides/drivers were excellent—we had so much fun with Vicki and Eli!—and they were on time, friendly, and made our trip enjoyable.

Rioja was fantastic (we will be back!) and Pablo’s team’s access to independent family wineries was exactly what we were looking for. We definitely wouldn’t have found these on our own. Everything about this part was perfect.

Overall, incredible trip and we look forward to planning another Spain (and potentially Portugal) trip with Pablo in the future!

We’re just back from a marvelous trip to Spain, which included Barcelona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, and the Basque Country. We worked with Pablo, who helped us to design a truly memorable experience. Our initial discussion with Pablo focused on what we wanted to see, and who we are as travelers. Barcelona and Bilbao were already on our list, and Pablo encouraged us to check out San Sebastian, which hadn’t been on our radar screen. That bit of advice added immeasurable value to our trip, as it afforded us a unique opportunity to explore the Basque country and culture.

Within a few days of our initial discussion, Pablo sent us a proposal that included detailed information about various activities and excursions, along with lists of hotel recommendations for both Barcelona and San Sebastian. We pared down the itinerary to include a bit more leisure time—we’re both in our 70s, and reasonably fit, but not marathon runners! We divided our trip into three segments—four nights in the Eixample in Barcelona, five in San Sebastian, and our last three in Barcelona’s Gothic district. We easily chose hotels in Barcelona, but were undecided between two in San Sebastian. Pablo weighed in, and we will be eternally grateful that we took his advice!

Highlights of Barcelona included guided visits to Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces—Park Güell, and Sagrada Familia—at the advice of our guide, we toured Casa Milà on our own, and visited the Amatller chocolate shop around the corner—a great source of gifts for the folks back home. We also enjoyed two tapas walks—the first was part of our WOW Moment, which culminated in an authentic and spirited flamenco performance. (Thanks, Wendy!) Then, after our return from San Sebastian, our hotel in the Gothic district was convenient to the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Picasso Museum, both of which were fabulous and easy to tour on our own, but our crowning experience was an excursion to the Pinedés wine country where we toured a cava cellar and vineyards—in a Land Rover, accompanied by a sommelier!

San Sebastian was absolutely glorious! The view from our room was positively jaw-dropping, and every activity and excursion that Pablo planned was so outstanding that it would be difficult to decide which we liked best. All of the pintxos—in San Sebastian, Hondarribia, and Bilbao—were perfectly delectable, with some resembling tiny works of art. Pablo also arranged a market visit and hands-on cooking experience with the chef at one of San Sebastian’s gastronomic societies. We had a wonderful time tasting samples at the market, learning to prepare classic Basque recipes, including the Gilda pintxo, and feasting on the results of our efforts. Our visits to a sheep farm, where we sampled idiazabal cheese, and to a centuries-old Basque pig farm illustrated the care and dedication of small-batch farmers who strive for and attain excellence in their products.

Our day trip from San Sebastian to Bilbao focused on a private tour of the Guggenheim Museum with a local guide whose knowledge of the museum’s history and its collection were encyclopedic. Despite the fact that we visited on a crowded Saturday, she made the entire experience personal and stress-free, and we rounded out the day with a motor trip around Bilbao and a pintxo lunch at one of the city’s squares.

Throughout our trip, all of the guides and transportation services were top notch. Eskerrik asko (“thank you very much” in Basque) to Pablo and his team!

Jon and Nina Schurz walking the Camino Del Norte in Getaria.

We will never plan our own travel again! Working with Pablo for our two-week adventure in Spain this September was a pleasure and we wouldn’t change a thing. In fact, we’ll certainly enlist him again for a future trip to Portugal. We would never have had personal, in depth experience an in-country travel expert offers. We learned so much about Spain, its history and people.

We were travelling to a friend’s son’s wedding in San Sebastian and decided to create a vacation around it. In speaking with Pablo, he understood our desire to have both guided experiences and enough time to venture out on our own. We didn’t want to be too museum-intensive either and he understood the assignment.

From our arrival at the airport in Madrid, we were whisked away to our hotel seamlessly. Day 1 set the foundation for a terrific experience. Our guide in Madrid was so incredibly versed about art (at The Prada) and the history of Madrid and Spain—we wish we’d listened to Pablo’s suggestion of a full day tour. We were THRILLED to learn he’d be our guide for the full day adventure to Toledo the following day. In Toledo, we toured the city in its entirety and focused on the Jewish Quarter. His knowledge was extraordinary and we truly felt like a personal friend.

We took the train to San Sebastian for the wedding—the hotel selected by Pablo was first class, charming and welcoming. Our magical vacation resumed with a guided tour to Biarritz and St. Jean de Luc. Following that, we had another extraordinary guide, Maria, who took us to her home town of Zarautz—invited us into the private dining club she and her husband belong to (!) and hiked with us along a section of the Camino del Norte to the charming town of Getaria. I’ve never experienced such beauty. (For this, you should be in decent physical shape!)

The following morning, we were picked up by our driver and journeyed to Rioja to experience the wine country. The hotel here was the only SLIGHT disappointment of the trip—a hotel too modern for its surroundings that left us feeling cold. It just didn’t fit with the medieval towns. There was nowhere to eat nearby and the hotel’s restaurant was only open for dinner. Our tour of two unique vineyards the following day by an experienced guide—and the special meal she prepared for us—more than made up for the disappointing accommodations.

We then went on to Bilbao for a quick one day stopover and to catch the flight to Barcelona. The hotel was perfect and our guide allowed us to appreciate the Guggenheim more deeply. We finished up with 4 nights in Barcelona—and again had extraordinary experiences cultivated by Pablo. All of our guides throughout the two weeks in Spain were fabulous, easy to be with and eager to please. Our transfers and transportation were seamless and first class. Do not hesitate to enlist Pablo to craft a world class adventure. We can’t wait for our next adventure!

My girlfriend and I had 3 days at the end of another trip. We needed to get from Lisbon to Madrid. We came to “Wendy Perrin” to complete our holiday! Boy was it amazing!
We were picked up in Cascais by Sandro and he drove us to Évora where we met Andre who gave us a very good tour of the Cathedral and Bone Chapel! I was amazed as was my friend Mardi Silva. That night we stayed at the Torre de Palma Wine Hotel! Fabulous. We also did a jeep tour at Herdade Winery. It was lovely, but I think not worth the long drive to get there. Sandro was always on time and very helpful!

Day 2 we drove to Merida and were met by Joaquín. We were again amazed by the Roman Ruins and he was a wonderful guide. Our lunch was perfect all three days. Since we had been with a large group for 2 weeks prior we opted out of 3 hour walking tours and had a lovely lunch instead. That night the Hotel was lovely as well and the breakfast so wonderful!

Day 3 was a long drive to Toledo, but Sandro was so informative! Toledo—oh my so beautiful! Celia was lovely and we drove mostly because we were so tired. Up the Mountain to view the city from a fabulous hotel. We had another wonderful lunch and headed down to the city. Our request was to go visit one place that was important and scenic! Celia did not disappoint. The Cathedral was the perfect end to our 3-day extension! Probably the most beautiful of all the cathedrals we visited. Plus the art of “El Greco.” We were both very happy. Thanks to Gonçalo and Joana for their expertise and excellent planning.

A Lisbon highlight: Ending the day with sightseeing and refreshments on the river.

We recently returned from a fabulous trip that Gonçalo and his associate, Joana, crafted for us and our two nieces to Lisbon and Barcelona. This trip was a college graduation gift from us for our nieces, who opted to defer the trip until they had completed their post college training and were about to start their first full-time jobs.

Our nieces were amazed at all the sites that we were able to see and experience in the 6 short days that we had for the trip. In planning our trip, I assumed that we would be staying in hotels, but thanks to Joana, we stayed in amazing 2-bedroom apartments in perfect neighborhoods that allowed us to experience true local living in each city. Joana did a great job in taking all of our interests, including day trips out of Lisbon and Barcelona, and arranging an almost seamless trip.

Highlights of our Lisbon portion was hearing Fado, taking a private sunset cruise on the Tagus River, and staying in the bohemian old town section of Lisbon, while in Barcelona the standouts were the tapas crawl in the Gothic Quarter, experiencing an amazing Flamenco show in one of the highly rated venues, seeing several of Gaudi’s magnificent structural creations, and participating in a multi-course cooking class. All of our guides and drivers were wonderful, especially when they learned that one of our nieces was suffering from terrible motion sickness on one of our longer and windy-road day trips. Our guide gave up her front seat for our niece so that she was less affected, and our niece was thus able to enjoy the day. It’s reasons like this that we always use Wendy’s WOW List for all of our international trips.

Praia do Carvalho, Portugal. Photo: Bill MacKenzie

My wife & I worked with Goncalo and Catarina for a 3-week vacation to Spain & Portugal from May 24 to June 15th. We filled out Wendy’s initial introduction form and Goncalo scheduled a Zoom video call with us a couple of days later. The call lasted about an hour and we covered everything we felt we wanted to do and then some. The team put together an initial itinerary for 7 days in Spain and 14 days in Portugal. After a few tweaks to the itinerary we were ready to experience a trip of a lifetime. We were scheduled to leave FL on May 24th but our outbound flight to Philadelphia got delayed and we were going to miss our connection flight out of PHL to LIS. American could not get us out until 2 days later. We notified Goncalo’s team and they adjusted the missed days along with the Lisbon & Sintra all-day private tour we had scheduled. They were able to reschedule 2 half-day tours, one on the front end and one on the backend. The communication was amazing during the entire process and during the trip, especially when we asked for restaurant recommendations :) Our trip consisted an average of 3 to 4 days in Lisbon, Seville, Granada, Tavira, Vilamoura, Lagos and finally Cascais. We had 4 half-day private tours with a driver and tour guide in Lisbon, Seville, Granada and Cascais. The tour drivers and guides were always on time, friendly and informative. The hotels were beautiful and the supporting staff were very attentive. Becky & I would highly recommend Goncalo’s office for your travel needs and we are looking forward to our next adventure with Wendy and her amazing network of travel planners.

We were hesitant to use a planner for our trip to Spain for the first time because we were leery of the cost. After our initial zoom meeting with Pablo, we felt reassured by his connections and relationships with local businesses, which in turn actually resulted in some discounts. There is no way we could have come close to duplicating the same experience simply from lack of knowledge. I can’t imagine the time we would have needed to invest researching and probably would still not have come close. The itinerary was very clear about what steps to follow, private car services were so convenient and although we probably could have managed taking taxis and the subway, there was zero stress involved.

I would absolutely recommend Pablo — we had a magnificent time in Barcelona and Madrid. One of our favorite things was a paella-making class with Chef Josh, also our day trips to Toledo. There wasn’t a single activity that I would not recommend or would have removed from our itinerary. We had a very minor issue that involved contacting Pablo with a question and he immediately responded. His expertise was highly appreciated and I would absolutely recommend his planning services.

We just returned from a trip to Barcelona, Spain from March 17-21, 2024. Pablo was FANTASTIC to work with in planning our trip. He helped with all aspects of our trip, including dinner reservations ranging from 3 people at a high-end restaurant, 6 people at a mid-range restaurant and a reasonable restaurant for 10+ diners. I was able to easily reach Pablo while I was in Spain when I had questions. Pablo was also able to accommodate us when my son jumped into our plans at the last minute. Mateo was our guide for a Tapas Food Tour and also for a day outing to Montserrat. He was GREAT! I would highly recommend requesting Mateo to be your guide. Matteo graciously offered to be a resource for our son (who is studying in Barcelona) once my husband and I left the country! We would insist on having Matteo as our guide when we return to Barcelona!

Pablo did a lovely job of arranging fantastic experiences for my husband and me in Barcelona and San Sebastian. Our guides were wonderful — so personable, kind, and professional. We particularly loved our time with Eli in San Sebastian tasting pintxos and txakoli, and exploring the coast. It felt like spending time with an old friend. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the Madrid portion of our trip — which included our WOW Moment :( — due to airline strikes, but Pablo and his team worked quickly to help us adjust our plans, offering full refunds, and even making a valiant effort to try and pull together a WOW Moment for us with less than 24 hrs’ notice in San Sebastian.

Ann Wilkinson and Wayne Amedee at the Serralves Foundation in Porto.

We had a wonderful trip to Spain and Portugal, 3 weeks in late September into October, thanks to Pablo Calvo and his colleague Catarina. Pablo engaged us promptly and was very responsive through the planning and the trip itself.

Right off the bat, I want to acknowledge Wendy’s oft-repeated mantra. Having the right fixer for the unexpected is invaluable. On my first day of the trip, I had a dental emergency. I asked Pablo for help in finding a dentist. Within a few minutes, he had made an appointment for me with a reputable clinic in Barcelona. Everything was in order and my situation was resolved!

Our hotels in Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián, Porto and Lisbon were top tier. The guides and drivers in various locations were exceptional. We made day trips to Toledo, Figueres, Basque Country (both in Spain and France), Bilbao, Sintra. We loved visits to palaces and art museums, particularly enjoyed gardens and sculpture of the Serralves Foundation in Porto, thrilled with Gaudi architecture in Barcelona. Visiting the Guggenheim in Bilbao was a treat. We took a “urban street art” tour and visited many contemporary art museums, our area of interest. We also loved the Fado performance in Lisbon as well as a Jorge Palma concert at the Casa da Musica in Porto. Needless to say, the food was divine everywhere we went.

An exceptional day was a visit to a family-owned Iberian pig farm in the Basque Highlands. The family was delightful. The farm was beautiful and we were treated to the many types of pork products produced by the farm. The owners were 13th generation of the family on this land, literally spanning hundreds of years. Amazing.

A rare disappointment was our hotel in Marialva in the Douro Valley. Though highly recommended, the hotel was understaffed and poorly maintained.

We so looked forward to our WOW Moment, scheduled for the last day of the trip. However because it was an outdoor activity and there was a terrible storm that day, the WOW Moment was cancelled.

I was particularly grateful for the very efficient 24/7 line that we could call or text. That staff was very responsive and took care of issues like changing dinner reservations, adjusting pick-up times, sending us duplicate digital tickets to some venues which required tickets. They were terrific!

A couple of hiccups but, all considered, a marvelous trip.

Our family is a pretty well-travelled bunch but none of us had ever been to a Spanish-speaking country. So it was with much excitement that we arrived in Madrid in early September and fell in love with Spain.

With the help of Travel Expert Pablo Calvo, we fashioned a two-week itinerary that was jam packed, staying in Madrid, Sevilla, Granada and Barcelona with multiple stops in between. We clocked, on average, anywhere from 12,000 to 30,000+ steps per day. I think even Pablo thought we were a little over-ambitious but he crafted an itinerary that balanced time together as a family with time for everyone to explore on their own that gave us a much better than basic appreciation for each stop’s special history, culture and feel.

Our guides were excellent, from the “force of nature” Beatrix who welcomed us to Spain in Madrid and also showed us magical Toledo, to Martin at The Alhambra in Granada, to Faco, our host for a mouth-watering gourmet tapas tour in Barcelona. Tapas isn’t just gazpacho and Spanish tortillas—it’s veal cheeks and snails and honeyed eggplant and fried artichokes and pan con tomate and everything you can imagine.

Special thanks to Lily in Jerez who saw us through an ambitious day that ended with a delightful surprise in Cadiz—a visit to the tall ships in port for the celebration of Magellan’s circumnavigation of the world in the 16th century, to Pepe who showed us the enduring charm of Sevilla and its spectacular cathedral, to lovely Marta who schooled us in history and bullfighting in dramatically perched Ronda, to Lores who guided us, wide-eyed, through Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. In Cordoba, if you close your eyes and wish the modern world away, you can see the sultan coming out of the Great Mosque after prayer and families preparing for the sabbath in the Jewish Quarter up to almost the end of the 15th century.

The Alhambra, the Grand Mosque in Cordoba, the Cathedrals in Toledo and Seville, the Prado, the Dali Museum in Figueres, Sagrada Familia and Park Guell in Barcelona—these are all fabulous things to experience but it’s also some of the “smaller” experiences that make a trip memorable and for us, some of them were:

A day trip to Alcala de Henares, home of the University of Alcala, founded in 1293 and birthplace of Cervantes—a delightful “off the beaten path” day.

A river cruise in Sevilla followed, later that evening, by dinner at an excellent riverfront restaurant.

An open-air evening concert in Sevilla at the Real Alcazar.

A sherry tasting and tour in Jerez and a tour and tasting at a small, award-winning eco-winery between Ronda and Granada where we, as the only guests, were joined by the resident dogs and cat.

Watching the sun go down over The Alhambra and, following that, its illumination, from the patio of the Parador de Granada.

The over 2000-year-old city of Girona, one of the most charming places we’ve ever visited.

And don’t forget flamenco!!!

Our trip was excellent and we were very happy with Pablo’s suggestions! The best part of our trip were the private food tours and the cooking class, which I had never thought to do before, and we covered so much ground in every way. I’d highly recommend these experiences, which felt very personal and not touristy. Our only negative was that I’d think twice about a bike tour in Barcelona for an 8 year old. But half of us continued with that same bike tour and loved it. The trip planner absolutely added value by booking fantastic, charming, perfectly located hotels and booking such incredible unique experiences like our cooking class and our tapas and pintxos tours that make a short trip feel SO full of culture, new experiences, new tastes, new friends. Bravo!!

We completed a two-week vacation to northern Spain in June/July 2023 including time in Barcelona, Rioja, and San Sebastian. Pablo did an excellent job selecting guides to help us explore the regions, including historical sights, hiking, wine tasting, and general sightseeing. Our lodging met (and sometimes exceeded) the expectations we had before arrival. We had an excellent trip with no problems.

Pablo Calvo was extraordinarily helpful in planning our trip to Spain in March 2023! He is a pleasure to work with and was very accommodating about having a few Zoom calls to work out some of the details in a virtual face-to-face. Our small group was very pleased with his hotel choices and bookings, which were exactly what we were looking for (basically four-star boutique hotels). He also facilitated a food tour and other guides in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. I would highly recommend using Pablo to make your trip planning easier and seamless.

We planned our trip to Spain with Pablo Calvo and team. Pablo was very responsive throughout the planning cycle, and his recommendations on hotels and guided tours were excellent. He provided a good selection of hotels and had good backups when we were not quite satisfied with first recommendations. Pablo’s tour guides made the trip for us. They were both knowledgeable AND personable. The best thing I can say is that we would definitely use Pablo again……

The only hotel that was less than excellent was our Madrid hotel, “Only You” at the train station. Too much like a business hotel, and very crowded intersection which made pick-ups and drop-offs difficult. Might look at the same chain, but quieter location.

During our first contact with Wendy Perrin we had a far-reaching conversation about possible destinations and activities. We were put in touch with Pablo, the country specialist for Spain. Pablo is masterful at listening and finding the best match and experiences for his clients. He is focused on logistics and details. He planned a fabulous trip for us based on our interest in long walks, culinary experiences and individual attention. Other than one minor hiccup the trip was executed flawlessly. We cannot say enough good things about our trip and Pablo’s level of service. He was thoughtful, detail-oriented and incredibly communicative in the planning process. Even going above and beyond to help with dinner reservations. Additionally, the local guides he connected us with were at the highest level of service. We would plan another trip with him in a heartbeat.

My wife and I (age 70) recently spent two weeks in Spain with another couple on a trip planned by Pablo. All four of us have done a good amount of world travel, and definitely recommend him. He was very responsive, even after we postponed the trip three times due to Covid and a medical issue. His itinerary delivered what we asked for, and covered a lot of ground in our limited time. Highlights: Sagrada Familia, Alhambra, White Villages, Mesquita, Prado, and the cathedrals in Granada and Seville. He was also helpful about timing our trip.

The hotel choices he offered were in line with our parameters (generally 4-star); the Parador at the Alhambra probably our favorite. The guides he arranged were all very good (e.g., at the Picasso Museum, our guide quickly adjusted to the visit by the Obamas, which led to an early close) and the drivers were all on time. Pablo worked hard to meet our request for a Spanish wine lesson and a photography tour in Barcelona.

My husband, 26-year old daughter and I recently returned from a 10-day trip through the Andalusian region of Spain, with a few days in Madrid tacked on at the end. The trip was planned by Pablo Calvo. He planned a wonderful trip for our party of three. His selections of hotels and hotel rooms were spot-on. I was afraid trying to accommodate three adults in one hotel room would be tight, but the rooms he chose were very spacious and beautiful. The private guides and drivers were always punctual and very informative. The little extras, like the boat ride with bottle of cava in Sevilla, and the winery tour and tapas lunch in Madrid, were special treats.

We were greeted at the Madrid airport by a very nice and informative driver, who drove us directly to the Madrid train station. We took a high-speed train to Sevilla. While there, we stayed at the King Alfonso XIII Hotel, which is pricy, but well worth the expense because of its beautiful decor, large rooms and perfect location. The next day we took a walking tour with Rachel through the old town, with stops at the Alcazar and Cathedral. We loved walking to the top of the bell tower and looking out over the city. That evening Pablo arranged a private boat ride with bottle of cava, and a flamenco show. The next day, we took a day trip to Jerez de la Frontera and Cadiz. We attended a show at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez. The dancing horses and their riders in traditional costumes were amazing to watch. Our driver and guide, Lucy, then took us further south to Cadiz. The weather was not great, but I did enjoy seeing a beach on the other side of the Atlantic. Lucy was so fun and enthusiastic.

Next we headed to Ronda, which is jaw-droppingly beautiful! My husband loved touring the first bull ring of Spain. And our guide, Antonio Jesus, was fantastic! We loved his jaunty attitude and fashionable attire. The trip to the family-run winery was one of the highlights of the trip. We were amazed at how much love and effort went into producing the delicious wine. It was so tasty that we ordered a case to be shipped back home. Our driver, Eduardo, then delivered us to our beautiful hotel, Palacio de los Patos in Granada.

The next morning we toured the Alhambra Palace complex. Wow! The gardens were gorgeous and the moorish architecture that dates back to the 1200s was unbelievable. No wonder the Alhambra is the most-visited tourist attraction in Spain. We ate lunch in a darling restaurant near St. Nicholas Square, overlooking the Alhambra.

The next morning a driver drove us about 2 hours to Cordoba. Our room at the Palacio del Baillio was a private junior suite with its own private patio. Ooo la la! My daughter and I enjoyed the complimentary use of the Roman baths in the hotel spa. We had an afternoon tour of Cordoba’s Old Town, walking the pretty, winding streets, and a private tour of the Great Mosque. The Mosque is a must-see! The thousands of beautiful red and white moorish arches, combined with the Christian baroque and renaissance architecture, was unbelievable!

We timed our visit to Cordoba perfectly, because we were there two weeks after the Tour of the Patios. The crowds had gone, but the flowers on the six patios we saw were still beautiful. I cannot believe it takes about 3-4 hours per day to water all the flowers on those patios. The annual festival/fair was also going on, so we saw numerous ladies walking around town in beautiful flamenco dresses. We also walked over to the fairgrounds and peeked into a few of the party tents. What a fun celebration to witness!

The next day we took a high-speed train back to Madrid. We stayed in a junior suite in the ME Madrid Reina Victoria, which had fabulous views and balconies overlooking the Plaza de Santa Ana. It was a perfect location, near many restaurants, bars and quick walks to Plaza de Sol and the Prado. We loved wandering the streets, and walking through the El Retiro Park. We had a private tour of Madrid’s Old Town the next day. We really enjoyed touring the Royal Palace and eating a traditional tapas lunch with our guide, Ana.

Our final day in Spain was a day trip to Toledo. What a beautiful town! They were preparing for the Corpus Christi celebration to be held the next week, so there were banners on all the balconies and an atmosphere of excitement and preparation. The artwork in the Cathedral was unbelievable! Original works by El Greco, Goya and Caravaggio to name just a few. Walking through the Jewish Quarter, synagogue and the monastery was the perfect way to end our cultural trip of Spain.

I would highly recommend a trip to Andalusia and using Pablo to make all the arrangements!

Patricia and Joana planned a wonderful two-week trip through southern Portugal and Spain. Joana also planned a trip to Portugal and Spain for us a couple of years ago. At every hotel, we encountered friendly and helpful employees. Our guides were uniformly excellent and provided in-depth historical perspectives, and our driver, Sandro, in Portugal was exceptional. He came to our rescue when things did not go as planned, such as a canceled lunch reservation, pottery workshop, and cork factory tour. He introduced us to off-the-beaten track restaurants where we were the only tourists. We especially enjoyed a private wine tasting and lunch at Quinta Dona Maria that was led by the matriarch of the family that owned the winery. A cooking class in Faro, where we learned to make cataplana, was excellent. Our driver, Miguel, in Spain showed us some beautiful villages between Seville and Granada.

We recently had the pleasure of working with Pablo Calvo as our trip planner for a 7-day family vacation in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. From our initial teleconference via Zoom, Pablo displayed exceptional professionalism and attentiveness to our needs. He took the time to understand our budget, expectations, and interests, ensuring that our trip would be tailored to our preferences.

Pablo’s expertise became evident as he meticulously arranged every aspect of our trip. He secured hotel reservations for us at the exquisite Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona and the luxurious The Principal Madrid hotel, providing us with unforgettable accommodations. Additionally, he organized our high-speed rail tickets from Barcelona to Madrid, ensuring a seamless and convenient travel experience.

One of the highlights of our trip was the selection of private tours and guides that Pablo arranged for us. We had a fantastic time exploring Barcelona’s Gaudi monuments, savoring an evening tapas tour in Madrid, and embarking on a memorable day trip to Montserrat. Our favorite experience in Barcelona was the paella experience where chef Josh helped us and our kids create a beautiful meal.

In Madrid, we were fortunate to have Alfonso as our guide for three days, and he truly exceeded our expectations. His knowledge, enthusiasm, and attention to detail made each excursion an enriching experience. We particularly enjoyed his guidance during our visit to the Prado museum and the captivating side trip to the beautiful city of Toledo.

Throughout our journey, Pablo remained highly responsive and available. He promptly addressed any questions or concerns that arose, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience for our family. His dedication was exemplified when he coordinated with our hotel concierge to provide crutches for my wife when she unexpectedly injured her foot. This level of care and attention truly went above and beyond our expectations.

In summary, Pablo Calvo’s expertise and meticulous planning made our trip to Spain an unforgettable experience. His attention to detail, selection of exceptional accommodations, and organization of private tours and transportation were outstanding. We wholeheartedly recommend Pablo and his company, and Wendy Perrin, to anyone seeking an exceptional travel planning experience. Thanks to Pablo, our family created cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Pablo created a great trip to Spain. We had 3 nights in Seville, 2 nights in Madrid, and 3 in Barcelona. Pablo set up our drivers to and from all of our locations. The drivers were professional and always on time. We had private tours in all our cities and side tours to nearby areas. The guides were all very good and spoke English well.

We would use Pablo again for any future trip to Spain.

I recently took my grandson to Barcelona to celebrate his 13th birthday. It was a ton of fun. Pablo and Patricia were so helpful in the planning process. His recommendation for our hotel was great—we had an apartment at the Neri. Our guides—Paco, Cristina, Cynthia, Marcos and Ellie—were fun, knowledgable and flexible! The street-art walk was a highlight. We took a day trip to San Sebastian to explore the Basque country a bit. Gorgeous! My grandson is an avid skateboarder so he chose Barcelona because it is one of the most skate-friendly cities in the world. He skated all over! A most memorable 10 days!

We just returned from a lovely 2-week trip to Andalusia, planned by Pablo. We took Pablo’s advice and flew into Madrid and traveled to Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada by train, which was very easy and pleasant. We then rented a car in Granada and drove to Ronda, where we stayed in a small, lovely, family-run hotel which I found and booked myself, as Pablo was unfamiliar with it. We then flew home from Malaga.

The hotels Pablo booked for us were terrific and the tour guides that he arranged were outstanding. In particular, our guide in Granada, a lovely guy originally from the Netherlands named Martin, was truly an expert in the history, art and architecture of the area and provided fascinating details with regard to the Alhambra which really enriched the experience. We took a day trip to Ubeda and Baeza which exceeded our expectations. Our guide there, Andrea, is the manager of the Sinagoga del Agua, a medieval synagogue which was accidentally discovered in 2006 and restored and opened to the public in 2010. We had a private tour with him of this beautiful place and he gave us a fascinating account of its history, development and current uses. This was a highlight of our trip. On the other hand, our day trip to the white villages in the Alpujarras mountain area was picturesque and mildly interesting, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it unless one is interested in hiking.

We did have a few mishaps. The driver who was supposed to pick us up at the Madrid airport never showed up, so after waiting 30 minutes we took a taxi. There was also a problem with our car rental in Granada. They didn’t have a record of the prepayment for the rental and so we spent quite a bit of time in the office and on the phone to straighten it out. Adding to the frustration of this experience was the fact that we were told that the rental office was at the train station when, in fact, it was a block away and it took us some time to find it. Then locating the car, which was in a very large subterranean lot a few blocks from the office, was also difficult. So we wasted well over an hour on the entire rental process.

However, overall, the trip was a great success and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

We took two weeks through southern and central Spain, thanks to Pablo Calvo and his team. My wife and my daughter about to graduate from college spent the first week hitting Seville, Cordoba, Jerez de la Frontera, Ronda and Granada. It would be hard to pick a favorite, but the highlights were the bull ring and views in Ronda, the equestrian show and mini food tour in Jerez, the old town in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada. The tour guides were excellent, the hotels we stayed in were just what we asked for — small, boutique hotels with charm to spare.

Or second week saw us drop our oldest at the airport and meet our youngest, who is studying in Madrid for the spring. The highlight was being able to work with Alfonso, who guided us through the Prado and on all-day tours hitting Toledo, the El Escorial and Segovia. Alfonso was incredibly accommodating, super-knowledgable and set us up with reservations at incredible restaurants for lunch in both Toledo and Segovia. We stayed at the Totem Hotel in Madrid, which was absolutely fabulous. A sneaky favorite for us in Madrid was an unplanned visit to Alfredo di Stéfano stadium to see the Real Madrid Femeninos play a match. The best double-secret favorite was the impromptu visit to an Arab bath in the lower part of a privately owned building in Toledo. This was only possible because of the incredible connections of Alfonso.

Pablo and Patricia were great to work with, extremely accommodating, very well connected and really delivered on what we asked for and more.

Perfect trip with Pablo!! We had an awesome trip in Madrid, Rioja, and the Basque country. This is our third trip with Pablo and he has proven to be invaluable for our trips in Spain.

We have requested everything from last-minute reservations on restaurants, on-the-go changes to the itinerary, and Pablo has always exceeded our expectations, delivering every time!!

Don´t go to Spain without him!

Río Guadalquivir, Seville. Photo: Gina Melton

Pablo and his team planned a wonderful 11-day itinerary for our family’s Thanksgiving trip to Southern Spain. This was a labor of love after nearly five different iterations due to Covid, and Pablo and his team were very patient with us during the planning process and delivered a trip we will always remember. We spent a significant amount of time in Madrid and then headed to Seville and Granada. Without a doubt, the success of this trip was largely attributable to the wonderful guides who showed us a little of their world. Not only were they incredibly flexible with our sons, aged 10 and 8, they found ways to bring the Spanish culture to life for them. In Madrid, that meant trying the city’s best Tortilla in one of the city’s vibrant markets, stopping for churros, going to rooftops to teach the boys about the landmarks in a fun and interesting way and finding tapas restaurants that were authentic and family-friendly. Alfonso, our Madrid guide, was so kind and generous with his time, he really made us feel welcomed. In Seville, I was pleasantly surprised to see the boys connecting with the Flamenco show Pablo arranged for us; it was an authentic experience that the adults enjoyed too! We loved our day trip to Jerez de la Frontera to see the dancing white horses at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. And, our tour of Alhambra Palace and Generalife was perfectly timed for the family—we were able to see the entire complex without rushing, but also held the kids’ interest. The details were seamless throughout the entire trip and I appreciated Pablo’s office working on a last-minute change to our itinerary when we decided to call an audible on the final days of our trip. Spain is a wonderful place for children and this was one of our very best family vacations to date.

Sao Pedro do Corval, Portugal. Photo: Traveler Michelle Bodine

Our family just returned from the most magical and well-planned trip to Portugal and Spain for Christmas and New Year’s! We were thrilled to have traveled at this time of year, and especially in Europe where the Christmas lights, trees and markets made it even better. We took our four children and their spouses and four grandchildren, so fourteen all together. Wendy lined us up with the perfect people to help us plan and then succeed on a 14-day excursion with 14 people, big and small, in Portugal and Spain. Gonçalo Correia and Patrícia Gomes were phenomenal with their hotel accommodations, food and restaurant recommendations, tour guides that fit our needs of grandchildren ages 6, 3, 1 1/2 and 3 months, and activities that enriched our trip. The itinerary was just what we wanted! It truly was perfect in every way. There was even flexibility, so if we needed to cancel a restaurant because we were going on a food tour and would not be hungry, we could. The amount of scheduled activities and free time to explore more was perfect. Gonçalo and Patricia are experts in what they do, and I would trust them again to plan the most satisfying travel experience for my family! They both took the precautions necessary to help us feel safe with Covid and continued to help us along our journey with lost luggage and further restaurant recommendations. We could not have done this trip without our trip planners, Gonçalo and Patricia. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for planning a Christmas to remember forever and ever!

Our trip to Spain, planned by Pablo Calvo, was fabulous. Our planner helped us select cities visited, tours/excursions, etc. We started in Madrid for a destination wedding, then went to Seville and Barcelona. We loved it all and were especially appreciative of his flexibility and responsiveness given weather-related issues (Hurricane Ian).

PANDEMIC TRAVEL  Excellent all the way, this is our second trip with Pablo Calvo to Spain, the choice of hotels was perfect to our needs as we requested one bedroom for 3 persons, always big suites in beautiful small hotels.
He even managed to get us a table in Celler Can Roca with less than 2 months notice, when usually they are sold out almost a year in advance.
He has all the right connections with the guides, drivers and tours to make an exceptional trip.
Would not go back to Spain without Pablo.
Thank you!!!

PANDEMIC TRAVEL  Barcelona was fabulous—we loved every minute of it. Since this was our first trip to BCN, Pablo Calvo’s curated trip highlighted the quintessential places and experiences for mid-July. Fabulous guides (Suzi, Miquel, Pol, Lores), amazing food, and a terrific mix of city/country (Montserrat, Girona, Figueres-Dali) and Old Town (Santa Caterina Market, Picasso Museum, Jewish Quarter/Modernism, Gaudi, Sagrada Familia, Park Guell). We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, which has an ideal location for shopping and central to all our day trips. Stellar service.

Pablo was easy to work with, responded promptly to emails, and pivoted quickly when I expressed interest in other activities. We enjoyed every place we visited and only wish we had more time. I wouldn’t visit the city without a daily guide—makes all the difference—and he provided a great lineup. We truly enjoyed their company and deep knowledge of the city, historical sites and museums.

With respect to Covid: we wore our masks whenever we were indoors with exception of many of the restaurants. Drivers wore masks and guides always asked our preference. Returned home and have continued to test negative.

PANDEMIC TRAVEL  We travelled to Seville and Granada, Spain to visit our daughter who was working there. Pablo was amazing. He put together an incredible trip and it was amazingly personal. From the hotel accommodations, to tour guides, to overall services he provided. He also quickly accommodated changes as our daughter joined us for part of the trip. I would highly recommend Pablo.

PANDEMIC TRAVEL Outstanding two-week trip to 5 cities in Spain. Entire trip was planned by Pablo Calvo. All planes, trains, and automobiles were coordinated flawlessly. The highlights of the trip were the guides he picked to take us through each city. Knowledgeable, experienced, easygoing, flexible. They brought an entirely new level of understanding to our travel experiences. Interesting anecdotes, stories, historical context, an understanding of art, architecture, culture, and even horticulture. COVID was a non-issue, by the way. Each city was 90+% vaccinated and everything was clean. Didn’t wear a mask except for a few small places. Testing prior to US return just ended, but that was a pain.

Madrid was fabulous. Next time we will spend more time there to see all 3 major art museums. Our itinerary: Madrid, Granada, Ronda (day), Sienna, Cordoba (day), San Sebastian, Barcelona.
Staying on site in the former monastery at the Alhambra was a unique experience. The gardens are stunning and the place is lush compared to how it looks in photos (like a desert). The nearby Sierra Nevada white-capped mountains were gorgeous. Barcelona was small and crowded, but Gaudi cathedral and park were not to be missed. Cordoba was rather touristy, so we should have allocated less time to there and more to Madrid and Seville. San Sebastian had the best food by far. I hadn’t heard of it before, but it was amazingly different from the rest of Spain. We even went to Southern France, which was only 20 minutes away.

Pablo arranged full-day tours and tapas food tours with local experts for us to sample the sites and food of each area. From flamenco dancing to scenic views, he made sure we didn’t miss anything. We didn’t have to navigate or get frustrated with travel schedules because he did all the planning. All 5 hotels (small, non-chains) were exceptional, centrally located yet away from tourists, with amazing amenities, location, views and service. Including breakfast was a nice way to start each day.

Pablo’s recommendations were perfect for us. He took the time to understand us as individuals, and was flexible as we adjusted the plan along the way. We came away with a much better understanding of how Spain really feels like several different countries and is worth exploring further. We are now thinking about scheduling a trip to Portugal with Pablo as our expert guide. Thanks to Pablo and all of our wonderful guides Alfonso, Ellie (Eli), Vicky, Paula, Marianne, Lola, Manfredo, and our numerous classy drivers including Eduardo, Francisco, Daniel, Pablo, etc.

Random advice to travelers: Carry your hotel name and address on a handy card to show to taxi drivers. Taxis were cheap within cities (~$6-12). Be sure to check whether hotels have instant coffee or Nespresso machines in the room. Makes a big difference to coffee lovers! First class on trains has 3 seats across; regular class has 4 seats. Otherwise, not worth double the price for each ticket. Take express trains when you can, and consider flying. Purchase tickets in advance (everything is online) to avoid waiting in long lines. We didn’t use cash the entire time, so no need for money changing. No place accepts dollars, but credit cards are accepted everywhere. Make sure your bank’s ATM doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

Take photos of local maps so you don’t look like a tourist if you get lost. Pickpockets were only an issue in Barcelona (be careful there).

Meal times are very different. Breakfast is an espresso. Lunch is at 2:30 or 3pm. Dinner starts at 9pm. There are separate shops to go for coffee, drinking, tapas, fine dining, quick meals, and they open and close at unpredictable times. Expect them to be closed when you are hungry. Tapas (small food plates) provide a good excuse for people to go pub hopping and socialize with different friends. We saw mostly the same food tapas menu everywhere, but some people go to 3-6 places in one night: Iberian ham, croquettes (yummy), bread with tomato topping, fried potatoes and chorizo topped with fried egg, gazpacho, tomato soup, Russian potato salad, fried calamari, garlic shrimp, fried anchovies, etc. Each tapa is ~4-5 euros (roughly $5). I recommend staying away from cheap pizza and hamburgers (most American food). Bring multiple charging adapters and USB hubs. Youll need them!

Talk with locals whenever you can. They are the best part of Spain!

PANDEMIC TRAVEL We cannot say enough good things about Pablo. Four of us took a 13 day trip to Spain in mid-May that included Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Madrid, with day trips to Toledo and Cordoba. Our hotels were superb, our guides excellent, and our transfers seamless. Pablo helped us in our initial planning to decide on how much territory to cover and the number of days in each place. We told him our interests, and he tailored the trip accordingly. We would not have seen so much, learned so much, or enjoyed it as much without his expertise.

PANDEMIC TRAVEL  We just returned from 2 weeks in Spain and Portugal planned by Pablo Calvo and Goncalo Correia. In the planning stage we had asked for the trip to include Michelin star restaurants, Foodie experiences, private experiences and Wine experiences. They certainly delivered on all of those and we were very impressed with the guides they selected for us, some of the best guides we have ever had! We loved San Sebastian and the Hotel Favorita, that was a great start to our trip. The highlight for my husband was our day spent while in Portugal at Casa de Juste where he cooked with the chef / proprietor and I got a tour of their amazing property with the chef’s husband. In retrospect we would have liked a slower pace itinerary and maybe we should have communicated that better. All in all it was a terrific 2 weeks.

PANDEMIC TRAVEL Thank you so much Pablo Calvo for creating an amazing trip for us to Madrid. Our guide Alfonso was fantastic; full of knowledge, so friendly and fun to be with. We explored Madrid and Toledo and loved every minute of our 3-day adventure. Looking forward to working with you again!

PANDEMIC TRAVEL  Pablo Calvo crafted a wonderful itinerary for my wife and me in the Ribera del Deuro and the Basque Country of Spain. We had guides take us to a couple of wonderful wineries and the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Guides also introduced us to the wonderful world of pintxos (tapas) in the Basque Country. Something we will always treasure is the morning we spent with the owner/chef of a small waterfront pintxos bar learning how to make pintxos. We and our guide got to enjoy our creations washed down with a bottle of local txakoli wine outside on the terrace. It was a truly special experience. We have a new appreciation for anchovies!

PANDEMIC TRAVEL  Pablo helped us plan an incredible trip to four different parts of Spain – we had many unique and memorable experiences and the guides were fabulous! Would highly recommend working with him.

The trip was terrific!

Hotels: All the hotels were well-located and the hotel personnel were attentive, helpful and just wonderful. Breakfasts were fine.

Meals: All our meals were terrific! Pablo made our dietary restrictions known everywhere. Lourdes in San Sebastian introduced us to loads of new tasty dishes and was fabulous! I would delightfully dine with her anywhere!

Guides and drivers: They were superb and really a pleasure! Having Alfonso for two days was a treat! His knowledge of the artists and their paintings was superb! And Gaudi! — Bernard was a treasure as well!

The wine tour? Lorraina was wonderful. I wish we had had more energy and drank more. It was a splendid day — even though the weather tried hard to not cooperate.

In total: Pablo did a fabulous job for us! He listened and responded in a timely fashion always. He gave us great ideas and executed our wishes with good cheer and helpfully! I am very grateful for all his help!!!

Thank you so much!

P.S. One more comment that you might impart to future travelers; We had some difficulties with Iberia Airlines. For one domestic flight, I thought our seats included being able to have one bag each. That was not so and we were penalized by having to pay $40/bag at the airport. That was not at all clear when I bought the seat. And, Jeff and I travelled home on Iberia, booked through AA. We were not ever allowed to select a seat and had to wait until we got to the airport to be assigned. We spoke with several people at Iberia on the phone and at the airport, and got the feeling that Iberia is not an easy airline with which to deal. We certainly would not recommend them.

Pablo (and his assistant Joana) planned our Spain trip, including Madrid, La Rioja, San Sebastian, and Barcelona. The hotels chosen were excellent for a pair of travelers experiencing those locations for the first time, with easy access to the main attractions of the city. We had asked for a focus on food and wine, so we had full guided days in La Rioja and Penedes, a cooking school and pinxtos tour in San Sebastian, and a session in an anchovy cannery in Getaria. The guides we had were prompt, informative, and really flexible (which is always the advantage of paying for a private guide rather than opting for a group day tour). I would not hesitate to contact Pablo for our next trip to the region.

Pablo helped organize a trip for me and my 3 teen/tween-aged daughters to Barcelona, Costa Brava and Costa del Sol this past summer. Initially he organized an action-packed trip for us however took feedback along the way in the planning process to accomodate for beachside/poolside days as well as fun activities like e-biking and kayaking. In the end this was a blessing as we travelled in the height of the European heat wave and this did not melt our enthusiasm for Spain!

Pablo was very responsive and flexible during the process of planning our trip. He listened well to what we wanted (an adult trip with lots of time to wander on our own), and booked us a lovely small hotel in Barcelona (The Mercer) and at the amazing Torrent del Mas in Costa Brava. All logistics went very smoothly, and Pablo was quick to answer the few questions we had during our trip. They gave us good restaurant choices in Barcelona (Bar Canete is a must go) and in Costa Brava (Pais del Mas). We can’t say enough positive things about Costa Brava – gorgeous beaches and farmland, amazing meals everywhere, not overly touristy…and Torrent del Mas was one of the most beautiful hotels we have been to. It was a bit challenging to leave each day to go sightseeing! We would go back to these parts of Spain in a heartbeat, and would definitely recommend Pablo as a travel planner.

Wendy,

I recently used Pablo to arrange a celebration trip for my son Jordan and his wife Deanna’s 2nd anniversary trip to Spain. They traveled to Barcelona, San Sebastian and Madrid and just returned a few days ago.

Overall, Pablo was a pleasure to work with throughout the trip planning process. He was very communicative – from the beginning – and was interested in crafting a personalized vacation for them. Pablo was easy to reach via email and always responded promptly and with thoughtful, intelligent answers. There was a lot of back and forth in the planning process and his insights were welcomed and helpful.

Specifically, one of our interests was to try different exclusive restaurants and wineries during the trip. Pablo was able to secure reservations at three different Michelin star restaurants in Barcelona and San Sebastian and he arranged wine tours to various boutique style wineries. In fact, one of the highlights of the trip was a special wine tour and bike ride that he recommended and arranged during the stay in Barcelona.

I had also asked Pablo to try and get my son Jordan a Spanish guitar lesson, since my son is a guitar enthusiast. Pablo was able to do this and that was another highlight of the vacation. Another highlight was a Flamenco show that Pablo had personally recommended.

All of the hotels were outstanding and all of the personal guides were great. In fact one of the guides helped Jordan with his guitar learning!

All of these arrangements and recommendations, allowed them to experience Spanish cuisine and culture in a way that I am sure would not have been possible otherwise. He was attentive to details and creative in his suggestions and he had the ability to secure unique, private and culturally enriching activities.

I would give my highest recommendation to Pablo and he is a deserving member of the WOW list.

Pablo proved to be of exceptional value on our trip to Spain. He has excellent connections to the best guides and upgrades at all hotels. Changes of plans during travel and special requests on the go seem to be regular for Pablo. He had all small details taken care of, and we will use him for the next trip to Spain.

Working with Pablo was a joy. I appreciate his knowledge, high level of service and fabulous attitude. He delivered exactly what we wanted. He made a great itinerary that was the perfect mix of history, culture, and physical activity. Our tour guide in Cordoba was perhaps the best guide that we have ever had. The hotels were delightful, the dining recommendations were superb! He was very conscious about staying within our budget (even more exacting than me!). He cautioned us about doing too many day trips from Seville and instead enjoying the vibe (which was the right call). He also gave me some great recommendations for when we had down time for some do-it-ourselves destinations. I was surprised that Spain is now my favorite European destination. I can’t wait to get back and will definitely book with Pablo the next trip.

In September, a group of 8 family members ranging in age from 19 to 70 spent 11 days touring Portugal and then in doing a partial walk of the Camino into Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Goncalo and Pablo did a faultless job of organizing this trip according to our interests. We wanted to see the important sights, but yet have some athletic activities. We had 3 very athletic people on this trip. I told Goncalo that having excellent, informative guides was very important to us and he delivered. Tiago, our Portuguese guide, speaks perfect English, has traveled to the US and elsewhere, has inexhaustible energy and an encyclopedic knowledge of Portugal. Teresa Oliveira, our guide for the Spanish hike, was also very knowledgeable, as well as fun and extremely accommodating to the diverse needs of our group. Most notable was the way that Teresa and Pablo accommodated a last minute schedule change at the end of our trip. Due to Hurricane Florence, 2 of our group moved their return flights up by a day, 20 hours before flight time. While driving to our hotel, Teresa et al managed to move up all the next day’s activities, ie guides & private visit into that afternoon so that the early departees wouldn’t miss out on anything. Somehow they got it done and later Pablo refunded people for the hotels/taxis they didn’t use! That afternoon’s private visit was to Pazo do Faramello. We did a few private visits during this trip, but this was exceptional. Beautiful place, fascinating history, charming host—go if in the vicinity. Without hesitation, I would recommend Goncalo and Pablo to anyone.

Great job, great trip, can’t wait to go back!

Thanks to the knowledge, experience, planning, and outstanding logistics management by Goncalo and his Spanish colleague Pablo, we had a spectacular 21-day trip to Portugal and Spain. It was everything we could have wished for. Each venue was interesting, enjoyable, different, and memorable. Highlights included Lisbon, Porto, Sevilla, Granada, and Cordoba, but we also enjoyed Coimbra, Evora, Cadiz, Ronda, and other venues.

The quality of Goncalo and Pablo’s selected guides was exceptional. All were knowledgeable, responsive, personable. The guides in Lisbon, Granada, and Seville were especially impressive. All the guides were responsive to our needs and wishes and helped us understand the surprisingly complex history and uniqueness of the sights we visited. Not surprising, the Alcazar, la Alhambra, and Mezquita will be memories for a long time to come. But less well-known venues such as the cork markets in Evora and the white-washed village of Grazalema were also enchanting.

All the drivers were well-dressed, professional, and courteous. The cars were clean and terrific. The high-speed AVE train from Cordoba to Madrid was terrific, a great choice.

We enjoyed all the recommended hotels. The Posada in Lisbon was terrific. We were so very happy we chose to stay at the Alfonso XIII in Seville. It was a highlight, wonderful in every way. The Parador in Cadiz was remarkable and our junior suite fabulous. And we were so very happy we had successfully attained reservations at the Parador de la Alhambra in Granada. It met our high expectations driven by feedback from friends. In general, the hotel breakfast buffets were outstanding… the pasteis de Natas and churros with chocolate were favorites! We were also greatly pleased by personal greeting notes at each venue.

Food and wine are highlights in Portugal and Spain. We had many wonderful meals based on Goncalo and Pablo’s recommendations. The Rabo de toro stew and various suggested soups were delicious. We also really enjoyed the chosen Fado restaurant.

In terms of special arrangements, we found the boat cruise and the winery in the Douro Valley especially enjoyable. The boat Goncalo chose for us was exceptionally nice and the winery lunch delicious.

One anticipated challenge for Bill involved the omnipresent cobblestones and sometimes steep grades. Thanks to heads-up from Goncalo and Pablo, accommodating guides and drivers, along with his walking stick, enabled Bill to walk almost everywhere.

Both Gonçalo and Pablo did an amazing job planning our trip. From the very first day when we were upgraded to the Bette Davis( they knew she was my idol)suite at the Maria Cristina hotel in San Sebastian to all the wonderful eating and drinking experiences, they set up for us. Some of the highlights were a beautiful sail down the Tagus to Lisbon, a private eating club experience in San Sebastian and another amazing suite at Reid’s Hotel in Madeira.

When a friend of ours was injured on a bike trip we took in the middle of our vacation, Goncalo switched all our reservations around so that we could stay in Porto near the hospital for a few days. He canceled several hotel and activities at the last moment and we didn’t have to pay for any of it.

Spain and Portugal, Honeymoon

We are SO happy we booked through this team.

We had Pablo Calvo and Goncalo Correia as our planning team. We did not reach out to WP / begin planning our trip until the first week of March. Pablo and Goncalo set up a conference call at a time when all four of us could connect. We spent nearly an hour on the phone discussing our wants, past experiences, tastes, and etc. I also have an email stream of 75 emails working out the details and asking questions during the process. The team was excellent with communication and making sure we were delivered a valuable experience.

The itinerary and gameplan they put together could not have been matched. We initially said we wanted to visit either Madrid or Barcelona, Spain and then Porto, Portugal. The team was able to put together a trip that included 3 days in Madrid (including a full day excursion to Toledo), 3 days in Barcelona, and 4 days in Porto (including a day excursion to the Douro Valley and a half day in Guimaraes), Tapas and tavern tours, private walking tours, personal transportation, prepaid entrance fees and reservations, cooking experience, boat cruise, wine tastings, proper hotels, train tickets, and I am sure I am leaving something special out. We hit plenty of history, culture, food, and drink.

The trip went off without a hitch. Reservations and timing of events were seamless and perfectly positioned. The local guides were so helpful to kick off each city. We would have never known to do some of the activities and excursions that were put into place for us. The rough draft bid was around 20% higher than our initial budget, but we worked together well to alter some of the activities without compromising the experience. They warned us that they would go with the full options and best experience they could provide, and then could work it down a bit if we could not swing it. This was a special trip for us, so we wanted to know what a top-level experience would cost, and we were comfortable with this approach. Like I said in the previous paragraph, they were great with communication, and did a good job of working with us through all concerns, questions, and needs.

Utilize one of these travel specialists! We cannot “stress” the lack of “stress” involved in planning the trip. We have spent time in Asia, Africa, and Europe before, along with tons of domestic travel via long weekends. The local guides were a great way to kick off each city. They gave a great “lay of the land”, with plenty of stories of both local history and current events. The team does a great job of learning about you and putting together the best layout for your tastes. They leave no stone unturned. I suggest asking for as many options as possible to find out what you would like to do. Like I mentioned in an earlier paragraph, we exchanged 75 emails and spent an hour on the phone to arrive at our final 10 days, 5 city adventure…. totally worth it!

Knowing the most important/enjoyable activities and sites, understanding the timing and effort needed at each, hotel and transfer accommodations, there are so many different points that the team performed better than we could have on our own. The drafts/proposals were easy to sort through, and we appreciated the printable version to keep on us throughout the journey. It was also very helpful to forward on to family members for their information (and flight numbers, hotel contact, etc).

Overall we were just well taken care of; it was very appropriate. The great communication did not end when we started the trip. I had multiple questions during the journey that were answered ASAP by the team. They were a great resource before and during. As you can tell, we are satisfied. We are very thankful for everyone’s efforts towards creating and maintaining a great honeymoon.