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 Situated as the gateway between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, the Iberian Peninsula has been a coveted territory for more than 2,000 years. A diverse range of colonial settlers and invaders has contributed to a rich heritage in Spain that makes it one of Europe's most popular travel destinations. The centrally-located capital, Madrid, and coastal Barcelona are Spain's two largest cities and most important cultural centers. Madrid feels like a fairytale with so many of its Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque buildings looking like castles on every corner. Barcelona seems like surrealist art, appropriately, since Salvador Dali (painter of melting clocks) and Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi (builder of curlicue buildings) lived and worked here.
Take advantage of the Euro's current low rates (best exchange with the Dollar in years) and Europe's last-minute, off-season specials for an affordable opportunity to see two of the continent's most vibrant cities – Madrid and Barcelona – as winter starts to wane and the promise of spring looms near. We also fly on Tuesdays, the day of the week when airfares are most discounted. Enjoy three nights in Madrid plus three nights in Barcelona, a guided tour in each city, train travel between them, and special Welcome and Farewell Dinners. Join us for this very special Spanish Duet at the outset of Toto Tours 25th anniversary year.
Madrid Top Sites:
• Palacio Real, Baroque royal residence
• Plaza Mayor
• Medieval Bridge of Toledo
• Monastery and Site of the Escorial *
• Egyptian Temple of Debod
• Plaza de Oriente, with 20 marble statues of Spanish monarchs
• Teatro Real Opera House
• Puerta del Sol, absolute center of Madrid
• Mediterranean forest of Monte de El Pardo
Barcelona Top Sites:
• Works of Gaudi's architecture, including Sagrada Familia *
• Art Nouveau Palau de la Música Catalana & Hospital de Sant Pau *
• Pedestrian street, Las Ramblas
• Picasso Museum
• Gothic quarter Barrio Gotico
• Montjuic Hill and Castle
• Tibidabo Vintage Amusement Park
• Ciutadella Park and Port
• Gran Teatre del Liceu
* UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Day 0 - Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Book an overnight international flight from your home city to Madrid, Spain. When searching for flights online use the airport code MAD for Madrid, and BCN for your Barcelona departure. Please time your arrival for no later than mid-afternoon on February 18 in order to participate in the welcome festivities. If you are not able to arrive by 4:00pm at the latest, we suggest that you plan to depart a day early (leave on February 16, and arrive on February 17). For those who wish to arrive a day early, please indicate this on your reservation form so that we can reserve a room for you at our Madrid hotel.
Day 1 - Wednesday, February 18, 2015
 Upon arrival, clear customs and make your way to our hotel. We provide tour participants with information on the best way to get from the airport to our downtown hotel via public transportation with final documents prior to departure. After checking in, you have the remainder of the afternoon free to explore on your own, or rest up from jet lag. This evening our group gathers for the first time in our hotel lobby for a cocktail and introductions all around. Afterwards we walk to a nearby restaurant to enjoy a Welcome Dinner. Overnight in Madrid.
Meals: Welcome Dinner
Hotel: Tryp Menfis Hotel, Madrid, 4*
Day 2 - Thursday, February 19, 2015
 After breakfast at our hotel, enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Madrid. Our half-day panoramic tour provides views of the city's main sites. It is a perfect orientation to the city, introducing you to places you may want to visit in more depth during your free time. We see the heart of Old Madrid, the Plaza Mayor, where bullfights, beheadings and coronations took place in the 17th Century, and the Royal Palace. Gorgeous Buen Retiro Park (Madrid's Central Park) and the Royal Palace are both within walking distance of our hotel. Today is a generous taste of Madrid that will leave you wanting more!
We finish our sightseeing by lunchtime and the afternoon and evening are free to do with as you please. Whenever the evening meal is not already provided as a part of the tour, your Toto Tours host will organize an outing to a nearby restaurant for those who would like to dine together with other members of the group. Overnight in Madrid.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Tryp Menfis Hotel, Madrid, 4*
Day 3 - Friday, February 20, 2015
 Today is entirely free to explore on your own or together with other group members. Your tour leader will propose an itinerary which you can join if you wish. Options include all the places mentioned in the tour highlights, or perhaps the Prado Museum or one of the city's many other fine museums. This evening you might wish to take in a dinner / flamenco show, or some other cultural event. Overnight in Madrid.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Tryp Menfis Hotel, Madrid, 4*
Day 4 - Saturday, February 21, 2015
 After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and transfer to Madrid's Atocha Central Train Station, to board our mid-morning high-speed train to Barcelona. We depart at roughly 9:30 am, arriving at the Barcelona-Sants Station around 12:30 pm. We will be met by our driver and transferred to our hotel for check-in. The afternoon is free to relax. In the early evening we walk the Ramblas and go together into the historic center to explore and find a nice place for dinner. Overnight in Barcelona.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Ayre Gran Via Hotel , Barcelona, 4*
Day 5 - Sunday, February 22, 2015
 After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a half-day guided panoramic sightseeing tour of this fantastic city's highlights. Barcelona is the largest Spanish city on the Mediterranean, and at the forefront of Europe's modern architecture, fashion and design. It received an enormous facelift for the 1992 Summer Olympics, with many medieval buildings renovated and restored, and the waterfront districts largely overhauled. The afternoon and evening are free to enjoy a concert, experience the nightlife, or further explore the city's historical center. Overnight in Barcelona.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Ayre Gran Via Hotel , Barcelona, 4*
Day 6 - Monday, February 23, 2015
 Today is completely free to explore on your own or as part of a spontaneous group outing. You could make a plan to see all seven of the Gaudi buildings that make up the combined UNESCO World Heritage Site, or travel by tram up to a vintage amusement park (seen in the movie Vicki Cristina Barcelona), or stroll along Las Ramblas. This evening, we will meet in the hotel lobby for cocktail hour, followed by our Farewell Dinner at a nearby restaurant. Overnight in Barcelona.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Ayre Gran Via Hotel , Barcelona, 4*
Day 7 - Tuesday, February 24, 2015
The tour officially ends after breakfast this morning. We will inform tour participants about their public transportation options for airport transfers. If you would like to extend your stay in Barcelona, please let us know on the reservation form so that we can keep your room available for another night.
Meals: Breakfast
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• 6 nights hotel accommodations:
3 nights at Tryp Menfis Hotel, Madrid, Spain;
3 nights at Ayre Gran Via Hotel , Barcelona, Spain
• Two guided sightseeing tours via motorcoach;
• Train ticket (in second class seats) from Madrid to Barcelona;
• All excursions except those listed as "optional";
• Meals and accommodations as listed in the itinerary;
• Guided and escorted tour.
• Round-trip air transportation to Madrid (MAD) and returning from Barcelona (BCN);
• Public transportation between airports and hotels at start and end of tour;
• Meals and activities not specifically included in the itinerary;
• Insurance;
• All alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes; any other expenses of a personal nature.
• Tips to our drivers / guides are not included; we will provide suggested group tipping guidelines prior to departure.
Tryp Menfis Hotel, Madrid
Take in everything from our TRYP Madrid Menfis hotel, from centuries-old history to glitzy skyscrapers right outside your door. With a perfect location on Gran Via, the main avenue, our hotel in Madrid is steps from world-famous museums, chic shops, gourmet tapas cuisine and vibrant night life. You can find all the must-see spots thanks to the hip staff at our Madrid, Spain, hotel.
Tryp Madrid Menfis Hotel offers elegant design in a central location, surrounded by shops and theaters. Plaza Mayor is a 12-minute walk away, and you can reach El Retiro Park and the Art Triangle, including the famous Prado and Reina Sofía museums, in less than 10 minutes by Metro.
 The hotel has a stylish dining room, where a varied buffet breakfast is served. Public parking is available behind the hotel, and guests have free access to a well-equipped gym.
Grab a refreshing cocktail in any of theal fresco bars in the colorful Calle Argumasa district and savor the aroma of tapas wafting through the streets. For unforgettable views, wash down tapas delights with sangria on the roof top terrace at Restaurante Casa Granada. Dive into the madness on the dance floor at Cool or snake through the crowd at Teatro Joy Eslava. No trip to Madrid would be complete without a taste of late-night flamenco at Casa Patas.
The air-conditioned rooms at the Tryp Madrid Menfis Hotel feature free internet access and a TV. Each one has a private bathroom with toiletries.
Ayre Gran Via Hotel , Barcelona
 The Ayre Hotel Gran Via is a modern designer hotel with a bright central courtyard. It offers free Wi-Fi and a convenient location, next to Barcelona's Plaça Espanya.
The modern rooms feature a private bathroom, and free mineral water for the first night. They are all soundproof with flat-screen TVs and air conditioning.
 The Ayre Gran Vía is set next to the Fira Exhibition Center, at the bottom of Montjuic. This hill is home to a castle, the National Art Museum and the Magic Fountain.
Espanya Metro Station is 167 yards from the hotel. The historic center of Barcelona and the famous Ramblas are just a few stops away. A direct bus service to the airport stops in Plaça Espanya, near the hotel.
Entry Requirements
For EU & U.S. Citizens, a valid passport is the only document required to enter the Spain for stays of less than 90 days.
Immunizations
No immunizations are currently required for travel to the countries visited on this tour, but it is wise to have your inoculations up-to-date. Is your tetanus booster current?
Exit Requirements
No departure taxes required other than those already included in the cost of your airline ticket.
What to Bring
In February, average daily temperatures in Madrid and Barcelona range from a low of 40 degrees at night to a high of 60 to 65 degrees during the day. You won't need a suit jacket or tie, as the tour is informal and dinner attire will be casual. We'll be touring and outdoors for extended periods of time, so a jacket is essential. Try to pack light and bring only one piece of luggage plus your carry-on. You should be able to carry whatever you bring, as we won't have porters getting on and off the train. Create mix and match outfits, and think about layering! Pack any medications you require in a carry-on bag and leave expensive jewelry at home!
Money Matters
The Spanish currency is the Euro (EUR). On October 21, 2014, it cost about US $1.27 to purchase one Euro. Bank debit cards, Visa & Mastercard work for Euro cash withdrawals in ATMs which are widely available throughout Spain. We recommend that you obtain local currency after you arrive in each country, as doing so in advance can only be done at an unfavorable exchange rate. It is wise to carry some cash with you, however, in case you get caught in a situation where an ATM is not available. All international hotels and most restaurants and shops accept major credit cards. Make sure your ATM card is linked to one of the worldwide networks (like Plus, Novus or Cirrus), and call your banks before departure to let them know you will be traveling abroad.
Tipping in Spain: Unlike some other countries, service staff is always paid by the hour (albeit not always that well). A tip is therefore mainly a matter of politeness and shows your appreciation. We will give group tips to guides and drivers at appropriate times throughout the tour, and guidelines concerning this will be sent to you prior to departure.
Liabilities/Disclaimers
Making a reservation with a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All tour participants are required to sign a standard liability form.
The tour operators reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 10 participants. Toto Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure.
We strongly encourage you purchase Travel Insurance to cover all aspects of your travel in Europe.
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