I recently returned from the Camiño de Santiago Walk with Bold Spirit Travel. My experience was exceptional with many wonderful memories made and this trip was an opportunity of a lifetime. Regina and Kelley from Bold Spirit Travel were detailed, organized and advised me on all aspects from the outset as plans were made. During the trip, all arrangements (hotels, flights, meals) went as planned. The hotels our group stayed in and the cuisine we consumed provided us with the uniqueness of the local culture. Our group had a local guide, Clara, who proved to be exceptionally knowledgeable, supportive, and made this journey so special. Our group facilitator, Caroline, was exceedingly attentive, positive, and resourceful while handling any situation that arose. They both made this experience unforgettable. I am definitely planning on joining Bold Spirit Travel on other excursions as they have earned my trust as a high quality organization.

OK. I loved this trip and my review is way too long, but bear with me, because we did so much and there was so much to write about! This was a truly great trip. The tour leader, Sandra was phenomenal and knowledgeable. The other tour guides were also exceptional. Sonya was well-versed in the arts and our cooking and shopping experience was also outstanding. I really liked the trip to the big market in Barcelona (I believe it was called Mercat de Santa Caterina) was something I really enjoyed. It was not only about the food (I did buy some spices for gifts for family members who love to cook); it was also about the history of the market and learning about the history of the city of Barcelona, which is so very rich. We also visited the Palau Musica which is like the Barcelona Opera House in a way but all genres of music have played here. We learned quite a bit about the architecture of Gaudi and the art of Picasso, as well as the art of Dali, as we travelled up the Costa Brava. Again, on the Costa Brava we learned so much about the deep history of this area from our tour leader. This was a highlight for me. I just soak in all the information. The hotels were quite nice. I probably liked the first hotel, the Colon the best, but they were all very comfortable and modern with all the amenities you'd want. Most rooms had coffee makers in them for those of us who need our coffee as soon as we open our eyes. Two hotels had swimming pools, but the water was a bit too chilly for me. Same for the Mediterranean beaches. Many of by trip mates took a long swim but I just got me feet wet. There was no pressure either way. I'm a wimp when it comes to being cold. And Holy Moley all the food we ate. Each meal was a feast of 3 or 4 courses (I counted the toasted bread with olive oil and rubbed tomatoes as a course :-) For my American habits eating dinner from 8 to 10 pm was a little bit of a challenge but thanks to the time change, it was more manageable than I thought it would be. Also, the busses were very comfortable as we shuttled up and down the Costa Brava to Giron, to Begur, to Pals, and Aigua Blava. I liked the free time. Shopping was something we did quite a bit of. I am a bit of an independent soul and challenged myself to walk the "escalera" path from our hotel over to the Aigua Blava hotel. It was quite a challenge but at least coming back I was able to stick to standard roads - there were often protected foot paths inside the guardrails on the roads. I was also able to practice my horrible Spanish but I'm afraid that Catalan was just too much for me. But everyone, and I mean every single person anywhere I went around Catalonia, was so patient with my learning to practice my limited Spanish. As I frequently, said, "hablame como si fuera una niña de 2 o 3 años." The people were so friendly and warm. I must have posted several hundred photos on my Facebook page - it became a way to clear my phone and make space for more; now my task is to download the best ones I posted and save them in a google drive album for myself, so I can remember everything. There was so much happening it was a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. The free time helped because we could just chill and relax. My fellow travelers were all very nice and respectful of one another. There was so much kindness and grace from them. In the end, I believe that our tour operator, Sandra, really set the tone and the stage for this, starting with the Zoom call about week before the trip. Once I met Sandra on Zoom, I knew I would be OK because I was very nervous to do this. I have never travelled with a tour group and not at all since before Covid, but now that I am a bit older, it seemed important to have people around who could tell me what I was seeing and the history of it all. For example, I took lots of photos in the Picasso museum not just of Picasso's works (who knew that at age 14 he was an accomplished portrait artist? I did not!), but of the building in which the collection was housed - built again, upon old Roman ruins with many gothic elements. I have never in such a short time been in so many Iglesias, Catedrals, Basilicas! So many photos of the wonderful art. La Sagrada Familia was also outstanding, as were all of the explanations from Sandra and the tour guides. Catalonia was on my bucket list for a long time. I felt drawn to the people who wanted their own history to never be lost - their language, their customs. The trip was everything I expected and more. If you have never been, do it! Or, if you have been but without the guidance of an expert tour operator, GO! Don't wait. Also, if they recommend some books or videos, do try to read/watch some! It really helped to have read Cathedral by the Sea and now I need to re-read it since I can put things into place. Added postscript: I am a Pokemon go player and was able to catch several of the two regionals in Spain and I caught a French regional in Figueres!

I give Bold Spirit Travel top marks for facilitating a great tour! The accommodations were amazing (especially in the Costa Brava), the food---so much and so good!. The tour director was wonderful--very knowledgeable and fun. It was an amazing experience!

We had a great time! A very informative tour guide all along the way. Even gave details about the local areas across the river. Food was delicious and plentiful.

This trip was a fantastic day! Chris was a wonderful tour guide: transporting us safely, knowing all the best places to go, spoiling us with treats while also being able to explain everything we saw in clear and engaging ways. We saw beautiful waterfalls and enjoyed tasting wines and learning about Oregon wine history. I had a wonderful day and highly recommend the excursion.