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Grand Tour of Portugal & Spain -
Day 1
-
(Fri.) Make your way to Lisbon to join the tour on day
2.
Day 2
- Arrival in Lisbon, Portugal
(Sat.) Free time to rest or start exploring the Portuguese
capital. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and travelling
companions and have a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 3
- Lisbon
(Sun.) Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide of Portugal's
capital features Belem Tower guarding the estuary of the Tagus
River and JERONIMOS MONASTERY with the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Drive
past the bull ring to Pombal Statue and along the grand Avenida da
Liberdade. Then enjoy a walk through the cobbled alleys of the
ALFAMA, the quarter of the seamen. An optional excursion to Sintra
and optional dinner with Fado-style entertainment are available.
(BB)
Day 4
- Lisbon-Fatima-Oporto
(Mon.) A scenic drive through the Serra do Aire hills. Step back
in time as you pass through the main gate in the medieval perimeter
wall of Obidos. Next visit the magnificent Dominican BATALHA
MONASTERY, before arriving in Fatima. Of course there is time to
join the pilgrims to visit the SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY.
In the afternoon, drive to the valley of the Douro River and visit
the prestigious HOUSE OF SANDEMAN at Vila Nova de Gaia. Hear how
port, the country's premier export, is made and taste the strong,
sweet wine. Overnight in Oporto. (BB,D)
Day 5
- Oporto-Santiago de Compostela, Spain
(Tue.) Orientation of Oporto includes a panoramic drive and a
visit to the lavish 19th-century STOCK EXCHANGE, whose claim to
fame is an ARABIAN HALL inspired by Granada's Alhambra. Then drive
through an area where the rural population still lives off small
patches of land tended with traditional farming methods. Enjoy a
leisurely lunch break in Viana do Castelo before crossing the Rio
Miño towards Santiago de Compostela. (BB,D)
Day 6
- Santiago de Compostela
(Wed.) Santiago grew around the tomb of St. James, the apostle
who converted Spain to Christianity and, according to legend,
delivered the country from Moorish occupation. Today's pilgrims
still pray at St. James' tomb in the huge 11th-century CATHEDRAL
VIEJA. Sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the beautiful Old
Town with its Plaza de la Quintana with the Holy Door and Plaza
Obradoiro with its Hospital of the Catholic Monarchs. The afternoon
is free, and tonight you may wish to try typical Galician fare.
(BB)
Day 7
- Santiago de Compostela-Leon
(Thu.) Two days of scenic eastbound travel along the ancient
"Way of St. James." First stop is in Lugo, whose perfectly
preserved massive schist wall, dating back to Roman times, did not
protect it from conquest by Moors, Norsemen, and Napoleon's
revolutionary troops. Then head for Ponferrada where Knights
Templars gave shelter to medieval pilgrims. Their massive castle
now lies in ruins, except for the superb gate where you stop for
pictures. Guided sightseeing in Leon focuses on the GOTHIC
CATHEDRAL, with its no less than 12,017 square feet of stained
glass windows. Also visit the MUSEUM with priceless works of art
and a complete 17th-century chemist's shop. (BB,D)
Day 8
- Leon-Madrid
(Fri.) Drive through the Tierra de Campos to the university town
of Salamanca. Time for lunch and a stroll in its baroque Plaza
Mayor. On the way to Madrid, stop for pictures of the walled town
of Avila where St. Theresa founded the Order of the Carmelites.
(BB)
Day 9
- Madrid
(Sat.) A Local Guide takes you to the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de
España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament,
Cibeles Fountain, and a highlight visit to the PRADO MUSEUM. In the
afternoon an optional excursion to El Escorial and the Valley of
the Fallen is available. (BB)
Day 10
- Madrid-Toledo-Granada
(Sun.) Toledo, the ancient Castilian capital, is spectacularly
situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River.
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features an early SYNAGOGUE, the
Church of SANTO TOMÉ with one of El Greco's most famous
paintings, and the Moorish bridge. Visit a DAMASCENE STEEL WORKSHOP
before continuing through Don Quixote's La Mancha and the
Andalusian hills to history-steeped Granada at the foot of the
Sierra Nevada. (BB,D)
Day 11
- Granada-Cordoba-Seville
(Mon.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on its main
attraction, the ALHAMBRA. The mighty yet graceful citadel was
planned by the 13th-century Moorish ruler Al Ahamar. Also amble
through the exotic WATER GARDENS OF THE GENERALIFE, the royal
summer residence. Later drive to Cordoba and join your Local Guide
for a walk through the magnificent 8th-century MOSQUE OF THE
CALIPHS, before continuing to Seville. (BB,D)
Day 12
- Seville
(Tue.) Admire MARIA LUISA PARK with a Local Guide; drive to the
Plaza de España, the Gold Tower on the Guadalquivir River,
and the university that used to be the tobacco factory of Carmen
fame. Visit the CATHEDRAL with Columbus' tomb and stroll through
the narrow lanes of the charming SANTA CRUZ QUARTER. For a truly
Andalusian night out, reserve a seat at our optional flamenco show.
(BB)
Day 13
- Seville-Algarve, Portugal
(Wed.) Across the Guadiana River to Lagos for a lunch break.
History comes alive as you reach the PROMONTORY OF SAGRES where
Henry the Navigator lived and planned his overseas expansion. Then
on to Cape St. Vincent, the southernmost corner of continental
Europe, and to your hotel. Tonight you may wish to try a local
seafood restaurant. (BB)
Day 14
- At Leisure at the Algarve
(Thu.) Enjoy a leisurely day at your sea front hotel. Stroll to
the marina or shop in the fancy boutiques. (BB,D)
Day 15
- Algarve-Lisbon
(Fri.) Head north to Setúbal, a major port and industrial
center, and continue over the Serra da Arrábida with
sweeping views of the Tróia Peninsula. After crossing the
Bridge of April 25th, you're back in Lisbon and end your exciting
touring adventure. (BB)
Day 16
-
(Sat.) Leave the tour to make your way home.
Other Information -
Every
Journey Tells a Story
A Globus Journey. When you travel with Globus, you get more
than the sights. You get the stories behind them that bring a
destination to life, creating unforgettable journeys.
Let Globus take you to places that expand your horizons and
encourage personal discovery. Experience a destination in a deeper,
more memorable way-the Globus way.
The
Globus Difference
Globus vacations are designed to offer you flexibility and choice,
plus a pace that best fits the way you want to travel. Globus
offers MORE included features, MORE quality hotels, and MORE
experience with more than 75 years of taking travellers on
unforgettable journeys. In addition, Globus offers MORE value with
an average price less per day than our nearest competitor. The
safety of our travellers and the richness of our vacations is a
priority, and it is what has made Globus the worldwide leader in
travel and a name you can trust.
With Globus, you visit the key sights, but, more importantly, you
learn the stories behind the sights-from the Sistine Chapel, the
Colosseum and the Forum in Rome, to the Prado Museum in Madrid and
Michelangelo's David in the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, your
journey is filled with insider's information unique to your Globus
vacation. You'll also enjoy many inclusions such as cruises,
high-speed trains, and Local Guides. We offer over twice the number
of included features as our nearest competitor, without any
additional cost to you.
Globus not only brings you the experiences that others simply don't
offer, we also ensure that you end up with more free time to enjoy
your destination on your own. Most competitors require you to take
extra optional excursions to see these important sights, costing
you additional time and money. And, if you don't join their
excursion, you'll spend most of your time waiting in line. But with
Globus, these sights are already included, freeing up the remainder
of your time to enjoy independent activities.
Leave all the details to us. We provide a Tour Director,
comfortable transportation, many meals, a rich sightseeing
programme and much more!
Accurate,
detailed tour descriptions -
Read our tour descriptions and you'll understand the true value
of our tours. The agenda for each day is spelled out so that you
know exactly what is included in the price. Inside visits are
spelled out in UPPERCASE. With Globus you don't have to guess.
Compare what we give you in a tour with what other companies
offer-and then compare prices. You'll see why knowledgeable
travelers consider Globus vacations the best value on the market
with even more savings in the off season.
Saving Options -
Various reductions are possible: group reduction, child reduction,
triple room reduction, multiple tour reduction
Discount
for young tour members
Share the pleasure
of a Globus tour with your children and grandchildren and take
advantage of a 10 percent discount on the land-only price. For
eligibility, children must be under 18 years old on the departure
date, and must be accompanied by an adult.
On escorted tours we do not accept children under eight years old
because we've found that they are too young to enjoy these
vacations.
On Monograms-Independent Vacations there is no age
restriction.
New! For
Monograms-Independent Vacations the following land only discounts
apply:
- Free of charge: infants under 2 years of age sharing adult's
accommodation
- 50% discount: under 12 years of age when sharing accommodation
with two adults
- 10% discount: under 18 years of age
Note: We recommend that children under 12 years of age share
accommodation with an adult.
Triple room
reduction
On most Globus tours you receive a reduction when three people
travel together and share the same accommodation. Triple room
reductions are listed on the tour pages. A word of caution: Triple
rooms usually are not larger than twin rooms, and the third bed, if
there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room for the
night.
Avoid the
single room supplement
Single rooms are expensive and often are quite small. We do not
take reservations on a "share" basis because we have found that
strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of a
vacation. Sidestep the single room supplement by travelling with a
friend. It's less expensive and much more fun!
Pay less for
your second tour
We charge you list price for your first vacation in 2007, but
for every additional Globus vacation that you take in the same
year, you pay US$35 under list. It's fun to combine vacations to
make the perfect trip, or ask your travel agent for suggestions.
This discount does not apply if one of the vacations is a single
city stay Monograms vacation.
Consecutive vacations can be booked with or without transatlantic
flights. Any intra-European flights between vacations cannot be
reserved as part of the Globus package. Please ask your travel
agent to reserve and ticket such flights for you.
Save by
forming your own group
If you form your own group, you'll receive the following rebates
on the land arrangement of your tour. On vacations to Mexico and
vacations including a cruise of three or more nights, one person
travels free in a group of 32; while one person travels at half
price in a group of 16. On River Cruise Vacations, one person
travels free in a group of 16.
On all other tours, one person travels free in a group of 16; one
person travels at half price in a group of eight.
These rebates are applicable to land-only prices (not air-inclusive
prices). Free and half-price land arrangements are credited at the
twin rate; single room supplements have to be paid in full.
Tour conditions for group bookings may differ from those for
individual bookings.
Joining late
and leaving early
Many Globus land arrangements start and end in London. If you
have already spent time in the British capital, you may want to
skip one or more of the included London nights or even join at the
first overnight hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Consultant
for any reductions that apply to your vacation for joining late or
leaving early. Vacations with these reductions are sold on a
land-only basis.
It's in your
interest to book early
Plan your vacation in advance, and book your tour as soon as
possible to guard against the disappointment of not finding space.
Many Globus tours sell out months before the departure date.
And remember, the moment we receive your deposit your land price is
guaranteed.
This is valuable protection against currency fluctuations and other
cost increases. So please don't wait. Contact your travel agent now
for a vacation you'll never forget!
Help Along The Way -
Professional Tour Director while touring, Cruise Director on
river cruises, Local Host services on independent vacations, and
hosts to assist you at airports and hotels.
Hotels -
Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes,
service charges, and tips for baggage handling.
Globus
Hotels Set the Standard for First-class Touring
At the end of a busy day of sightseeing, you want to relax in
comfortable, clean, attractive accommodations. At our first-class,
conveniently located hotels, you'll always feel welcome and well
looked after.
We know that excellent accommodations are of paramount
importance to your enjoyment on tour. Our hotels--many of them
through long association with us--have mastered the art of handling
group check-ins and baggage speedily, preparing tasty and wholesome
meals, and balancing the need for efficiency with the desire of
each traveller to receive individual attention.
You won't be surprised with any hidden charges when you check
out of your Globus hotel. All hotel taxes and tips for restaurant
service and baggage handling are included in the price of your
tour.
Hotel
locations maximize your sightseeing time
We take extra care to select downtown locations for our
independent tours and for longer stays on escorted tours, when your
itinerary features days at leisure to explore on your own.
When your itinerary allows time only for a good night's sleep
between two busy sightseeing days, our expert contractors sometimes
sensibly opt for quiet residential areas.
And you'll be delighted with our choice of hotels in scenic
countryside locations. Wake up to the sound of cow bells, take a
morning walk in crisp mountain air, enjoy glorious panoramic views
of the majestic Alps or the Norwegian fjord country.
Superior
accommodation
Globus uses chains such as Crowne Plaza, Forte, Hilton, Holiday
Inn, Hyatt, Inter-Continental, Jolly, Queens Moat Houses, Marriott,
Mövenpick, Radisson SAS, Renaissance, Scandic, Sheraton,
Sofitel, Thistle and Westin.
The specific hotels we have selected for you are listed
separately for each tour. The vast majority of our hotels are rated
deluxe (D), superior first-class (SF), or first-class (F). In
overnight places where there is no hotel in these categories or
where our demand exceeds the supply, we choose the best available
superior tourist-class (ST) hotels.
Most hotels have amenities such as satellite TV, mini-bar, a
cocktail lounge, a restaurant, room service and concierge services.
Many also have a swimming pool, health club, shops, and dry
cleaning and laundry services.
Globus hotel ratings follow standards set by the independent
Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by national tourist boards. The
specific rating for each contract hotel is determined by our
quality controllers.
We reserve the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour
pages with hotels of equivalent standard. With your Globus travel
documents you'll receive a list of hotel addresses, telephone
numbers, and fax numbers for your tour.
Transportation -
Including private deluxe motor coach with air-conditioning and
extra leg room.
We
offer many modes of transportation, from trains and motor coaches
to cruise ships and ferries. Each is selected and designed with
comfort in mind.
Coaches
-
Each Globus motor coach has upholstered, reclining seats with
headrests and individual air-conditioning vents. A high-fidelity
sound system broadcasts your Tour Director's commentary to every
seat. Our custom of daily seat rotation gives everyone a variety of
vantage points to see the passing countryside and city scenes.
Limited group size for extra comfort
The length and width of modern motor coaches is standard,
prescribed by law. The difference among tour operators is in the
number of seats installed and actually sold. While it is customary
to install and sell 53 seats, Globus installs fewer seats for extra
leg room, and limits group size to a maximum of 46 tour members.
The extra space contributes enormously to your comfort. For airport
and port transfers in Britain we generally use motor coaches with
53 seats.
Smoke-free coaches
For non-smokers and
moderate smokers an otherwise perfect vacation can be spoiled if
they are forced to inhale other people's smoke on a motor coach. We
therefore do not allow smoking on the coach. There are plenty of
opportunities to smoke during the frequent stops.
Globus drivers are experienced professionals
Globus drivers take pride in driving and in their vehicles, keeping
them in great shape and spotlessly clean. Your driver will help you
on and off the motor coach with a smile and load your bags with
care. Our travellers consistently lavish the highest praise on the
person behind the wheel!
Trains,
Ferries, Cruises and Gondola Rides -
Many of our itineraries include cruises, river jet boat and
mountain gondola rides, whale-watching expeditions, and journeys by
train. Experience the ultra-modern Eurostar train from Rome to
Florence and the exciting high-speed AVE train from Madrid to
Seville. In the Canadian Rockies, you might take one of the sleek,
ultra-modern BC Ferries or, if travelling by railcar in Canada or
Alaska, enjoy travel operated by VIA Rail ®. Other fascinating
Globus vacations feature cruises on the Rhine or Venetian Canals to
enhance your travel experience.
Ships
and River Cruises -
Globus provides the most spacious and newest ships from Avalon
Waterways. Features include unmatched luxury, fine dining, larger
accommodations and impeccable service. Whether you're travelling
Europe, Russia or China-on a Globus river cruise, you'll always
feel well looked after.
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