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To book this trip, call 1-800-648-4856 or 972-233-3300

DATES

April 7 - 14, 2010

PRICE

$1783 + $215 tax = $1998 per person double/triple occupancy
$2233 + $215 tax = $2448 per person single occupancy
*Taxes & fuel surcharges subject to change. (Tickets are issued 30 days prior to departure and fuel surcharges are subject to increase). Triple rooms are on a request basis only. Maximum singles - 3

PRICE INCLUDES:

• Roundtrip airfare from DFW to Madrid on AA
• Roundtrip transfers between airport and hotel
• 6-night hotel accommodations
• Hotel service charges, and taxes
• Buffet breakfast each morning/ 1 dinner
• Porterage for one suitcase per person

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• All personal expenses i.e. telephone, laundry, etc.
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Optional excursions
• Gratuities to guide and drivers
• Meals other than specified
• Airline baggage charges

Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.

ITINERARY

Day 1
Depart USA for Madrid, Spain

Day 2
Arrival in Madrid
Upon arrival this morning at Madrid’s impressive Barajas Airport, we’ll be welcomed by Trafalgar’s in-country representative and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to stroll and explore the streets of this exciting, thriving capital which we’ll get to know better at the end of the tour! Please consider joining your fellow travel companions and our Tour Director for a welcome drink later this evening. It’s a great way to get to know your travel companions! (Note: Rooms are typically ready between 3-4PM)

Day 3
Madrid - Toledo - Granada
After checkout and buffet breakfast, we’ll bid a brief farewell to Madrid, to which we’ll return on Monday. For now, though, our course is set for the short trip southwest to the ancient capital of Castile: Toledo – Spain’s capital until the mid-16th Century. Standing on a hill high above the River Tajo, its Alcazar (fortress) overlooks Castile’s eastern plains and dates from the 10th Century. Accompanied by our local guide, a walking tour of Toledo will take us through its maze of cobblestone streets and a fascinating mix of Jewish, Moorish and Christian buildings, a historical reminder of a time when these three religions amicably co-existed. Among the important places we’ll view is the 13th century Cathedral, ranked among the greatest Gothic structures in all of Europe. We’ll also see the 14th Century Santo Tome Church, in which El Greco’s greatest masterpiece The Burial of the Count of Orgaz has hung since 1586 and also get a look at the Sinagoga del Tránsito (or Synagogue of Samuel ha-Levi), once an important house of worship for Toledo's large Jewish population. We’ll also have time to see a Damascene steel workshop, where almost all the swords in Spain were forged, before continuing our journey to history-steeped Granada. Here we’ll spend the night.

Day 4
Granada - Seville
After a buffet breakfast and checkout, our English-speaking guide will accompany us on our visit to one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in the world: the Alhambra, the hilltop palace and fortress complex of the Moorish rulers of Spain and the most perfect work of Moorish art in its final stage of development in Europe. We’ll go inside and get a close look at the splendid arabesques and architectural wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage site! Then, we’re off to the great city of Seville, where we spend the next two nights.

Day 5
Seville
After a buffet breakfast, our local guide joins us for a half day of sightseeing in exotically beautiful Seville. On our walking tour we’ll see the 12th century Alcázar (or Fortress) of Seville, rebuilt in the 14th century for the Christian ruler Pedro I ("The Cruel"). Not to be missed is the immense Gothic Cathedral, one of the largest and most impressive in the world, built on the site of Muslim Seville’s main mosque at the beginning of the 15th Century. We’ll also see Maria Luisa Park (with its famous white pigeons), named after the Infanta Maria Luisa. The park’s buildings, the work of the architect Hannibal Gonzales, were constructed for the 1929 Spanish-American Exposition. Seeing the old Jewish Quarter makes one feel as if he’s in a movie set of a picturesque Andalusian village, right in the center of the city. The narrow, winding streets and whitewashed houses with their balconies and profusion of geraniums, bougainvillea and jasmine are a delightful assault on the senses! But this is not a movie set; people actually live in these elegant homes, whose architecture so reflects Seville’s history: the Roman atrium turned into a patio, the Arabic tiles, wrought iron grillwork, fountains, gardens and decorative motifs incorporated into the homes and courtyards. The Jews have played a prominent part in Seville’s history since the 4th century and, after the Christian re-conquest, their community was concentrated in this part of the city and enjoyed a period of great prosperity. Want to add a bit of sensuous elegance to your dancing? Then don’t miss this afternoon’s flamenco lesson! With the remainder of your day at leisure, soak up as much of the history and unique atmosphere of Seville as possible. A visit to the Cathedral is well worth your time. Its lavish interior is filled with major art treasures and is unforgettable in its immensity and grandeur. The tower adjoining the Cathedral is La Giralda, the former mosque’s minaret, dating from the 12th Century and a climb to the top affords spectacular views!
Whatever you decide to do, Sevilla is steeped in Moorish history and culture, its streets adorned with orange trees, lively bars and cafes and fiery Flamenco shows.

Day 6
Cordoba - Madrid
It’s the beginning of a brand new week, and after buffet breakfast, we’ll say a fond farewell to Sevilla as our motor coach heads northeast to Córdoba, where we’ll meet up with our local guide for an orientation tour leading us to two very special places: The Cathedral known as La Mezquita, the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the Moors in Spain, standing right in the center of the city and whose 9th century beauty so overwhelmed the Conquistadores in the 13th century that they built their Cathedral right within it.
The Synogogue, one of the few remaining in Spain, is in the heart of the tiny streets which make up Cordoba’s old Jewish Quarter. Then it’s back to our coach for the drive north through Don Quixote country, by way of the low tablelands of the La Mancha region, back to Madrid, where we’ll spend our remaining two nights in Spain!

Day 7
Madrid
We’re back in Madrid, and this time we’ll join our local guide for a visit to some of the special places in this, one of Europe’s most vibrant, pulsating and cosmopolitan capitals. After buffet breakfast, our half day of sightseeing begins with seeing the famous Cibeles Fountain, depicting the Greek Goddess of Fertility sitting on a chariot pulled by two lions. It was built in the reign of Charles III, between 1777 and 1782. Soon we’ll find ourselves in an oasis of green amidst a forest of skyscrapers, the Plaza de Espana and its Cervantes Memorial, where the statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza watch over the reflecting pool - at once a restful retreat and a celebration of Spanish culture. It is connected to Plaza de Cibeles by one of Madrid’s oldest and grandest avenues, Gran Via, with its souvenir shops, hotels, and cinemas. Also on the itinerary to see are the magnificent Palacio Reál (Royal Palace) and Puerta del Sol, the bustling 19th Century square in the heart of Madrid’s historic center, famous for its crowds of shoppers and, by night, its Tio Pepe sign shining high above the square. Not to be missed is a visit to Plaza Mayor, the grand arcaded square in the center of Madrid which was, during the middle ages, a market place just outside the city walls. In 1617, during the reign of King Philips III (whose equestrian statue graces the square), construction of the new Plaza Mayor was completed in just two years.
The rest of the day is at leisure, and you might want to make time for a Madrid treat in the mid-afternoon: a slice of Spain’s world-famous ham (Jamon) on a roll, with a cold beer (cerveza). Don’t over-indulge, because tonight’s farewell dinner is not to be missed!

Day 8
Madrid – USA
After a buffet breakfast, we board our motor coach for the transfer to Barajas Airport and our flight home to the USA. Have a safe journey!

AIR SCHEDULE

Destination	Depart	Arrive
Dallas-Madrid	5:55PM	9:55AM
Madrid-Dallas	1:10PM	4:55PM

HOTELS

All hotel rooms are rated superior tourist class or higher and have private baths. Please remember that hotel check-in time is 3:00PM, thus rooms may not be ready immediately upon arrival in each city. Hotel names and addresses will be provided in final tour documents.

OPTIONAL TOURS

TRAFALGAR TOURS WILL OFFER OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS FOR THIS TOUR. SCT DOES NOT ALWAYS RECEIVE INFORMATION OR PRICES ON THESE TOURS BEFORE THE GROUP DEPARTS. THESE TOURS ARE STRICTLY OPTIONAL.

ABBREVIATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS

A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TOUR AND MUST BE VALID 6 MONTHS AFTER YOU RETURN FROM THIS TOUR

Sharon Carr Travel is not responsible for weather-related or mechanical delays.

A $900 deposit is due with booking. Final payment is due Feb 1, 2010.

If cancelled before Feb 1, 2010, a fee of $400 per person is assessed. If cancelled on or after Feb. 1, 2010, package is non-refundable.

Insurance information will be given with confirmation.

Prices represent a 5% discount for payment by check or money order. Rates are 5% higher if using a credit card and require an authorized signature. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, & Discover.

Legal first and last names (NO NICKNAMES) must be given as shown on your driver's license. Name changes are $200 per name change and may be made up to 90 days prior to departure.

Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.