Magical Barcelona!

Barcelona, Spain

AE
Annie Emanuelli
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24 reviews
Apr 18 - 22, 2023
Group size: 3 - 15
Magical Barcelona!
Barcelona, Spain

Annie Emanuelli
  • Email address verified
  • Facebook verified
  • LinkedIn verified
24 reviews

Apr 18 - 22, 2023
Group size: 3 - 15

About this trip

Explore the mind-blowing architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi; savor the famous Spanish food and wines during a lively tapas crawl; and feel the passion of flamenco! 

This four-night, five-day tour allows you to experience the true richness of  intoxicating Barcelona - famous for its stunning architecture, lively nightlife, world-class cuisine, and  vibrant cultural heritage.


In three days of perfectly planned tours, you will really get to know Barcelona. We'll visit the city's most famous attractions: La Segrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, El Palau de la Musica, Parc Güell, Casa Amatller and the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site. And we'll visit the nearby mountaintop Monserrat Monastery, and the beautiful beach town Sitges, the Saint Tropez of Spain.

The Best Time to Visit Barcelona!!

Barcelona in the spring is perfect for a visit! High season begins In April, when the weather is delightfully warm and sunny. Daytime temperatures average 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and it seldom rains. 

The mild climate explains why people in Barcelona spend so much time outside; eating al fresco at open-air bars and restaurants, walking or cycling in the surrounding hillsides, relaxing with friends on the beach. 

What to Expect

This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. 

The best things you can bring with you are flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor!

Cost and Payment

This 5-day, 4-night adventure is priced $1,749 per person double occupancy (not including airfare to and from Spain). There is a single supplement ($375) for those who want a single room to themselves. 

Your space will be secured when we receive a deposit of $250. 

Upon receipt, your deposit will be nonrefundable.

We have a payment plan which allows the entire cost of the trip to be paid in 12 equal installments of about $125. (You are welcome to make larger payments at less frequent intervals if you choose.)

Cancellation and Refunds

In the event that you need to cancel your trip, these fees will be applied:

• Between 150-101 days before your arrival date, $375.

• Between 100-61 days before your arrival date, 25% of the entire tour price.

• Between 60 and 46 days before your arrival date, 50% of the entire tour price.

• Between 45 and 31 days before your arrival date, 75% of the entire tour price.

• Between 30 and 1 days before your arrival date, 100% of the entire tour price.

Arrival Flights

Please plan to fly into and out of Barcelona Airport–El Prat (BCN) in Barcelona, Spain. 

Please ASK US if you have any questions before you purchase your airfare!

You need to be in Barcelona on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, which means you will need to depart the USA on Monday, April 17, 2023. 

Plan to depart from Barcelona in the morning on Saturday, April 22, 2023. 


NOTE: We have a tour to Sicily planned shortly after this tour ends (Apr 27 - May 8, 2023). Some guests may choose to book both trips and stay in Europe for the duration. Please let us know if you are interested in this option.

Passports

U.S. citizens may enter Spain for up to 90 days for tourism without a visa. 

Your passport should be valid for at least three months (six months preferred) beyond the period of stay. 

Immunizations

PLEASE NOTE: We request that all our guests be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. If this is a problem for you, please let us know.


No vaccines are required to enter Spain.


All travelers should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination, including  varicella (chickenpox), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis,  flu, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), polio, and shingles.


Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all unvaccinated travelers to Spain.


Safety

As in many major cities, pickpocketing incidents are sadly common in Barcelona.

Use common sense and the same personal security measures you would normally use in a large U.S. city or tourist destination. Exercise the same caution as you would in any unfamiliar area or with unfamiliar people.

Optional Excursions: Gaudi Houses

Antoni Gaudí was Barcelona's most famous architect. He created two spectacular residences for clients in the city - Casa Batlló and Casa Mila - that are open to the public for visits. 

As part of the tour, we will view the exteriors of these two magnificent buildings. This optional tour enables you to visit the interiors of these most important Gaudi houses.

Casa Batlló

Visit the UNESCO-recognised Casa Batlló, one of Barcelona’s most eye-catching edifices. Now a museum, it ihas delights for you to discover in every nook and cranny. Take in the Noble Floor, where the Batlló family once lived; visit the loft, which acted as the family’s vast store cupboard and laundry room, and step out onto the roof terrace to see Gaudi’s mythical-looking chimneys and the famous ‘Dragon’s Back’ depicting the fabled dragon that was slain by St George. 

Casa Mila

Casa Mila (La Pedrera) is regarded as Antoni Gaudi's most iconic work of civic architecture due its constructional and functional innovations, as well as its ornamental and decorative solutions, which broke with the architectural styles of his day. After many years of neglect, Casa Mila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, was restored and opened to the public in 1996. Casa Mila was Gaudi's last project before he embarked on working on Sagrada Familia. It took him six years to complete this building.


Optional Dinner: Tapas Crawl

Tuck into tasty tapas and traditional wines on this gastronomic tour of Barcelona on the first evening of the tour. Get the inside scoop on Barcelona’s renowned foodie scene from a local guide and stop along the way to dine at the city’s best tapas bars. At each restaurant, sample an array of delicious Catalan cuisine, taste local specialties like Iberian ham, ‘’ or ‘pan con tomate’ (spicy potatoes, bread, and tomato), and choose from a selection of fine regional wines. 

This is a great way to dive into the Catalonian culture and enjoy authentic cuisine of the area. 

Vegetarian option is available.

We Recommend This Travel Insurance

Bucket List Travel recommends travel insurance for all of our guests. Travel insurance provides financial protection for unexpected events that affect a trip, such as a cancellation, illness, or an injury that occurs during the trip, and may include coverage for trip expenses, medical emergencies, travel delays, and luggage.

We have partnered with a company called Travel Insurance Master, which works with 11 of the country’s best travel insurance providers to find the best plan and value for you so you don’t have to figure it out yourself. 

They take into account your age, trip cost, and the features you want, and present you with what they think is your best option, as well as several alternatives. You only pay the premium amount; there is no additional cost to you.

Take a look at Travel Insurance Master, and rest assured they’ll find you the best trip insurance for your needs.  https://travelinsurancemaster.com/a?5cc9488b-808d-4077-a31f-c22a7c47abd2 

Unforeseen Circumstances

As in all travel, we may find some of the destinations, restaurants or hotels we expect to visit on this tour may not be available. If this happens, we will substitute an alternative location this is equal to or better than what was originally planned.

No refunds will be given for any portion of the tour that you  do not attend.

Our Travel Partner: LiveBarcelona

Our guide will be Cristina Sanjuan, general manager of LiveBarcelona, and one of the owners of the company.  She is a Local Official Guide of Barcelona.


She is recommended by Rick Steves’ in his tour books of Barcelona and Spain, and leads his private tours.


LiveBarcelona opened in 1997 and managed by a professional staff working in the travel industry for more than 16 years. 

What’s included

  • Hotel
    Four nights at El Avenida Palace or similar
  • Airport transfers
  • Guided tours
    Licensed English speaking guide, with headsets for the tours
  • Meals
    Four breakfasts, three lunches, two dinners
  • Transportation
    Luxury tour bus
  • Admissions
    Entry fees to all locations in the itinerary: Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, St. Pau Hospital, Cathedral, Montserrat, Aeri de Montserrat
  • Flamenco Show
    Flamenco Show with buffet dinner
  • Winery visit
    Winery visit with wine tasting
  • Local taxes

What’s not included

  • Airfare
    Air into and out of Barcelona
  • Meals
    One dinner
  • Tips
    Tips for guides and service personnel

Available Packages

Trip Price
$1,749
Deposit: $250

Available options

Itinerary

DAY 1 - April 18, 2023
Arrive in Magical Barcelona!

Upon arrival at Barcelona Airport, you will be met by a Bucket List Travel representative and transferred to your hotel, the incomparable El Avenida Palace.

https://youtu.be/vc91v2_-hTw  

Your Organizer


AE
Annie Emanuelli
24 reviews
Hi - I'm Annie, the founder of Bucket List Travel! Travel is my life! I left a 30+ year career as a corporate marketing exec to start my own travel business, taking people to Bucket List locations! I'd like to take you somewhere you've always dreamed of going. Stop dreaming, start packing!

Reviews

VD
Annie is a wonderful agent, met our every need on this amazing adventure in Finland. Hotel arrangements while visiting Helsinki were beyond my expectation, definitely 5 star accomodations. Then off to Ivalo, where again Aurora Holidays treated us like stars! Tina and all her staff, again went above and beyond. Food, accomodations and all our ventures out were amazing. Would highly recommend both if you have plans to see the Northern Lights!
By Valarie D for Northern Lights in Utsjoki, Finnish Lapland! on Dec 05, 2023
Valarie - I'm so happy you enjoyed our trip to Finland! It was a pleasure to meet you, and to travel with you. Oh, the wonders we saw! Hope to travel with you again soon! xoxo
By Annie Emanuelli on Dec 29, 2023
AE
BM
The trip was incredible and unforgettable. Annie has a passion for her work as trip organizer--she's knowledgeable, organized, and focused on each individual within the group that she leads. She makes the right connections with local hosts, in this case Tiina at Aurora Holidays, to make sure that the accommodations and meals were excellent. Daily activities were varied and fun, giving guests the option of taking part or having a day of rest. Highly, highly recommended!
By Bill M for Northern Lights in Utsjoki, Finnish Lapland! on Dec 04, 2023
Bill - it was such a joy to share Lapland with you! It delighted me to watch you discover the unique beauty of this very special place. I hope we can travel together again soon! xoxo
By Annie Emanuelli on Dec 29, 2023
AE
I don't even know where to start! This trip was jam packed with events, either included with the trip or optional, very affordable add-ons, and each was just an excellent, well managed experience! I arrived a few days early because I was coming in from a different direction; I was met at the airport by Mike Smith, who also accompanied me on some optional trips prior to the official trip beginning (Voortrekker Museum, Cullinan Diamond Mine, etc). Mike is an excellent guide and extremely knowledgeable! During the initial days I was based at the Protea Hotel, which is extremely well managed by Louise and her staff, so that too was a fantastic experience. The first phase of the trip was a flight to Zimbabwe, where we were met by Moses. I really enjoyed meeting Moses, especially since it was only a few days after the Zim elections. Our other guides were Profit and Tich, and they were also a joy to meet and hold conversations with. We were based in a lovely "lodge" which was more like a giant Air BnB in a residential neighborhood of "lodges;" it was an extremely safe environment although I'll admit I was a bit surprised as I'm more of a bush girl. We had an individual room which was gorgeous! Following a long walking tour of Victoria Falls (thrilling!), I did the optional helicopter ride of the falls. It was just 15 minutes but gave a brilliant perspective of what we had just walked. I also did the infamous "Devil's Fall," which is right where the Falls go over. It's not for the faint of heart, but I'm SO glad I did it!!! I was truly sorry to leave Zimbabwe, and would have gladly stayed a few more days. We flew out of Zimbabwe and went straight to a true bush lodge called Mziki, and it was true heaven! There were all kinds of events planned and late afternoon/evening safaris with sundowners. Morning safaris included hot coffee and/or tea plus some of the most delicious snacks I've ever had. Definitely did not want to leave Mziki; it was heaven! The staff was primarily Zola and Nathan, with Devon coming in towards the end. It was a very laid back existence, yet it also seemed like we had events planned all day, every day. I thought about planting my feet in cement when it came time to leave! From Mziki, we went to a new lodge called Candlewood, where "wild" animals roam freely. We had individual units which were simply huge, including a second bedroom for storing luggage, as well as a large veranda for sitting out and watching the wildlife. Zebra even roamed up to the guest pool to catch a quick drink of water, to the delight of children who were there! The food was fantastic, with one of the most delicious made to order omelets I've ever had. From Candlewood, we flew to Cape Town, where Amaan met us and because of the weather, reorganized the trip to something more amenable. We did wine tastings, and me, who hates red wine, ended up buying some of the most gorgeous red wine I've ever tasted! The properties we visited were very historic and Amaan was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the areas we toured. We saw two of the three baboon trips in one refuge, which was quite thrilling; another highlight was taking the funicular up to the top of Table Mountain which felt like being on top of the world! We also visited the Apartheid Museum which was very well done in terms of explaining the history of Nelson Mandela and the various political relationships he encountered in his life. I have left out so many things we did on this trip but it's already a very long review! I obviously highly recommend the trip; there was nothing that wasn't well planned and well thought out, and even if there was a hiccup (which is going to happen because "This is Africa," it was immediately correctly, seamlessly. I can't say enough good things about Annie Emmanuelli of Bucket List Travel, as well as Tim and Mike Smith of Wildside Tours and Safaris. Mike Smith was the one we primarily were with on the ground, and he was the most chillaxed person...which was the perfect personality for a trip to Africa!
By Donna M for Sept 3-14, 2023: South Africa! on Sep 24, 2023
This trip was A LIFE CHANGER! I have dreamed of going to Africa for years and thanks to Annie, it became a reality. From start to finish, she answered every question I had and prepped us all for what we needed for this trip. I felt completely safe and taken care of the whole time. Our guides along the trip were amazing and felt like friends by the end! Every day was planned to the fullest experience and you truly get the bang for your buck! The food, culture, animals, lodges were all amazing. Going on game rides is an experience I’ll never forget. Seeing the animals in their natural habitat is a true gift. I 1000% will come back to Africa with Annie and can not recommend this trip enough.
By Ximena G for May 14-25, 2023: South Africa! on Jun 07, 2023
Thank you, Annie for this wonder-filled adventure! From Victoria Falls to Johannesburg and Cape Town, the thrills never stopped. The trip was well-organized, and details managed so we just had to show up and enjoy the safaris and game drives, hikes, boat rides, helicopter and hot air balloon rides, wine-tastings, meals…. It was truly a glorious three weeks that exceeded my expectations and left me with wonderful memories and photos.
By Dena S for May 14-25, 2023: South Africa! on Jun 04, 2023
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References

NG
I just returned from a once in a lifetime trip to Cairo organized by Bucket List Travel. Annie took care of every detail of planning, and it really showed when I got off the plane and was taken care of from start to finish with the greatest care. Our guide Yasser was kind, professional, knowledgeable, and funny! He went above and beyond to ensure every need was met and we got the most out of each day in Egypt. I always felt safe and loved experiencing local life and culture. I plan to grab my friends and book again with Bucket List Travel!
By Noel G on 05 Feb, 2020