Review: Luxury Spain Birthday Vacation, Barcelona, Alquezar, San Sebastian, La Rioja, Wine Tours, History, Culture, Cuisine

Barcelona: The private guided afternoon tour of the Gothic Quarter with our super knowledgeable guide. The tour of the Guadi’s Master Pieces.The private guided morning tour of the small bodega’s Ca n’ Estella for a tasting of their Cava’s. 

Alquezar: Words cannot describe how beautifully breathtaking this village is. The accommodation and view from our room was just beyond words.The hike along the walkways and gorge of Vero River Canyon. The private guided tour of the Somontano wine area and tour of the ultra-modern Sommos Bodega with our guide. She’s such very special person and made us feel like family touring the area she grew up in and around.                           

La Rioja:  Our stay in the tiny and quaint town of Brinas. Just minutes outside the small city of Haro the wine capital of Rioja which offered excellent dining options.The private guided day tour of La Rioja wine area, stopping at various towns and bodegas for wine tastings with lunch in Guardia with our outstanding and knowledgeable tour guide. He’s the best at what he does taking us to bodega’s and driving us around to the various locations and towns in the area offering showing us the breathtaking vistas of countrysides vineyards and mountains. Stopping along the way all while narrating the history and charm of each.

San Sebastian “Donostia”: A very attractive and charming city set on the crescent shape beaches of La Concha, Ondarrera and Zurriola. The old part of the city offers up some of the best culinary delights in the form of “pintxos” by bar hoping amongst the hundreds in the old city area sampling all the delicacies. The short hike up Mount Urgull to Castillo be La Mota offers sweeping views from above to the city. The cheescake at La VIna, coming from a die hard New Yorker this is hard to say but was the best we've ever had. The private guided tour of the coastal regions along the Basque coast with our tour guide. A down to earth person who takes his roots and knowledge in Basque country and offers his insight into the history and culture only a person like he can. Our stop at a local bodega Elkano sampling Txacoli in the foothills overlooking the fishing village of Getaria was so special with a tour of the winery and home by the owner himself.  The stop in the town of Zumaia to view the rock formations known as flysch. The views and walk out to the end of the cliff is unforgettable. We then stopped back in Getaria for an incredible lunch. Afterwards driving along the coast for a stop in Zarautz. Ending the tour with a short drive to Hondarribia a charming town overlooking France.      

Overall: The people, food and culture are hard to beat, their friendliness, caring attitudes and culinary delights are some of the very best we've ever encountered in our various travels.