Escorted Holidays Collection November 2015 - to August 2016
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Escorted Holidays
Collection November 2015
to August 2016
ive
Distinct an
s from
holiday ar you!
ne
airport
ESCORTED HOLIDAYS brochure and are sure you will find something that will appeal to you. If
you do – give us a call on 0116 279 3929 – this will also be a different
As one of our customers told us recently ‘I hope you will continue to experience. No hanging around listening to a series of options, no
provide holidays for customers who are looking for something that little ‘please wait for the next available operator’ – a real person will answer
bit different, away from the usual tourist trails.’ 2016 sees our sixteenth you straight away! Once you have made your booking you will have
anniversary and we have always tried to provide really interesting peace of mind in knowing that your money is safe as all our holidays
holidays from regional airports at value for money prices to places are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority.
other tour operators do not go. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we
ignore great cities, landmarks and heritage sites - we combine them EXTEND YOUR HOLIDAY: Holidays are of a 7 night duration, but if you
with other elements which really reveal the true character and beauty would like to spend longer in warmer climes there is the option of
of the area. So, when we take our customers to Rome, we also show an extra week’s relaxation in Crete, Cyprus, Andalucia, Catalonia, the
them the Gran Sasso National Park and the medieval villages of the Algarve, Tenerife and Lanzarote.
Abruzzo and le Marche; from Prague, you visit Queen Victoria’s beloved FLY DIRECT FROM LOCAL AIRPORTS: We offer holidays flying from
German castle and Edward VII’s favourite spa resort; after Athens over 20 airports across the UK – the vast majority are direct flights.
you tour around the Gulf of Corinth and take a train ride through the More and more of our customers are using our range of regional flights
Vouraikos Gorge; combine Barcelona with a trip high into the Pyrenees to meet up with friends and relatives from other parts of the UK on our
or a visit to mysterious Rennes-le Chateau. And when our holidays are holidays – if you would like us to send a brochure to a friend, just ask
not touring around, we still make sure there are included visits which ... or they can download one at www.preferredts.com.
add that extra touch. From the sand dunes of Isla Canela, you visit the
martian landscape of the Rio Tinto Mines; during a stay on the Italian GROUP TRAVEL: Group discounts are available from as few as 10
Riviera, of course we’ll take you to Monte Carlo, but you’re also just a paying passengers. Exclusive departures are also available. Please
short drive away from the fascinating, hillside village of Dolceacqua; on contact us on 0116 279 3929 or e-mail groups@preferredts.com for
Spain’s Costa Dorada you can visit the beautiful wetlands of the Ebro further details.
Delta and the Gaudi Centre museum in Reus.
SIGN UP online for our occasional e-mailshots – just select e-mail sign
Our multi-centre touring holidays are fully escorted by our up at www.preferredts.com and add your e-mail address!
knowledgeable Tour Directors who live and work in the countries
visited and are, we believe, the best in the business. On our single READING LIST: Our website www.preferredts.com has a reading list,
centre holidays you will be well cared for by equally knowledgeable mostly light reading, suggested by previous travellers and related to
local resort representatives. We hope you enjoy browsing through our the destinations we offer. Please e-mail tony@preferredts.com if there
is something you think we should add to it.
Index
3 Cyprus - Aphrodite's Ancient Isle 18 The Tuscan Coast, Lucca & Florence
4 Tenerife - Islands of Contrasts 19 Bordighera - the Italian Riviera & Monte Carlo
5 Lanzarote & Fuerteventura 20 Isle of Elba, Siena & the Medieval Cities of Tuscany
6 Roman Tarragona, Gaudi's Reus & the Ebro Delta 21 Apulia & Royal Caserta
7 Carcassonne, Cathar Country & Catalonia 22 La Bella Italia - le Marche, Abruzzo & Rome
8 Bordeaux, San Sebastian & the Basque Country 23 The Slovenian Alps, Lake Bled, Trieste & Venice
9 France, Spain, Andorra & the Pyrenees 24 Krakow, Zakopane & the High Tatras
10 Western Andalucia - Isla Canela, Rio Tinto & the Guadiana River 25 Best of the Baltics
11 Seville, Mijas & Ronda 26 Berlin, Potsdam & the Harz Mountains
12 Salamanca, Madrid, Avila & Segovia 27 Weimar, Royal Germany & Prague
13 Andalucia's Eastern Coast, Granada & Almeria 28 Athens, Delphi & the Vouraikos Gorge
14 A Week on the Algarve 29 A Week in Crete - No Single Supplement
15 The Islands & Gardens of Lake Maggiore 30 Landscapes of the Ancient Isle of Crete
16 Lake Iseo & the Camonica Valley 31 General information
17 The Cinque Terre, Portofino & the Italian Lakes 32 About Us
We have negotiated no single supplements on selected dates for some holidays.
But make your booking quickly as availability is limited and spaces always sell out very fast.
HOW TO BOOK MADE EASY
RESERVATIONS HOTLINE: 0116 279 3929
(Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri & 9am-1pm Sat)
We suggest you check availability and make a provisional booking before sending your booking form. Call our reservations hotline on 0116 279 3929 or e-mail
sales@preferredts.com. Then complete the booking form and return it with the deposit payment of £125 per person (or full balance if applicable) plus insurance
premium if required to Preferred Travel Services, 41 High Street, Kibworth, Leicester, LE8 0HS. Please make cheques payable to Preferred Travel Services.
2 | www.preferredts.com Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
No single
supplement
November &
February
8 days from £749 November, February & March
Cyprus - Aphrodite’s Ancient Isle
An ancient land of mystery, legend, beauty, and love: especially in and around Paphos, your holiday base. On the west coast
of the Akamas Peninsula, Paphos was the island’s capital for 600 years and its visible archaeological legacy has led to the
whole town being placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Effectively parts of the town serve as an open-air museum, with
remarkable mosaics, vaults and caves, the Pillar of St. Paul, the ancient theatre, the Tombs of the Kings and a Roman Agora
are all amongst the sights to see. The area is steeped in Greek myth and legend. The goddess Aphrodite rose from the sea
foam near Paphos and took pity on Pygmalion by bringing to life his statue of the beautiful Galatea – their son was Paphos.
• 7 nights hb in Paphos • Paphos orientation walk • Excursion to Nicosia
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Paphos, transfer to your hotel in Kato Paphos (20 Bowls rinks (there are 20 rinks, indoor and outdoor, all on synthetic
minutes away) where seven nights half board accommodation has surfaces). A charge (currently 5 euros) is made per session (includes
been reserved for you. equipment).
Cyprus has a long and varied history. At the crossroads of three Day Eight: Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return
continents, Cyprus was a stopping off point for Crusaders and has been flight.
ruled by the Greeks, Romans, Franks, Venetians, Turks and British.
Day Two: Paphos orientation walk: your morning walk starts and YOUR HOTEL
finishes at the hotel, and will give you your bearings not only in the
ATHENA BEACH HOTEL HHHH Superior, Paphos (seven nights)
geography of Paphos, but also its history. You will walk along the sea
front, and pass the ruins of an early Christian basilica en route to the The Athena Beach Hotel has recently been fully refurbished and provides
harbour. Here you will be able to visit the archaeological area (entrance superb accommodation right on the beach, in Kato Paphos, with good
access to the town centre. There are lovely spacious gardens, 2 freshwater
fee included) with its Roman mosaics. You return to the hotel via the
outdoor swimming pools, 1 indoor heated pool, 3 restaurants offering buffet
lighthouse and the Christian catacomb of Solomoni. and a la carte options (half-board includes dining in the buffet restaurant),
Days Three to Seven: In resort in Paphos, with free time to explore bars, and spacious lounges and terraces. Bedrooms have bath, shower and
the town and its historic sites and also time to relax and enjoy the wc, satellite tv, fridge, tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer, and private
hotel’s facilities. One day is dedicated to the included excursion to balcony or terrace. There is also a spa and health club with gym offering a
Nicosia, the full day giving you a real taste of this fascinating and full range of treatments (charges apply). The hotel also provides resident
dance leaders with complimentary dance classes, 18 outdoor and 6 indoor
charming city.
bowls rinks, floodlit tennis courts and mini golf – charges apply to rental of
In the heart of Nicosia is the old city surrounded by walls dating back to equipment and some facilities. (www.athena-cbh.com)
the 16th century. Enclosed in this are countless museums, churches,
monuments, sites of historic interest, narrow streets overlooked by
the balconies of old houses and squares surrounded by cafes, shops Extend your holiday – extra week available in our hotel in Cyprus.
and tavernas. The included tour of the city will take you along the A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
dividing Green Line and allow you to see the major sights including the of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
Famagusta Gate and the Archbishop’s Palace. Also whilst in Nicosia
there will be visits to St. John’s Cathedral and the Byzantine Museum,
and time in the picturesque old quarter and shopping centre of Laiki
Yitonia.
There are other excursions available, into the Troodos Mountains and
to the Bath of Aphrodite (a grotto pool where the goddess is said to
have bathed before her marriage).
Dancing and Bowls: together with the sister hotels nearby, the hotel
has dance leaders and bowling coordinators who will assist with
tuition and, on request, organise events for guests of all abilities. Lawn
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights. www.preferredts.com | 3
8 days from £669
£549 November & March
Tenerife - Islands of Contrasts
There are a host of reasons for visiting Tenerife – the largest of the Canaries, which the classicists rightly called ‘the Fortunate
Isles’. Fortunate, too, in having such a wonderful winter and spring climate for visitors from the freezing north! An island of
contrasts – the miles of sun-drenched coastline surround Spain’s highest mountain (over 12000 ft), Mount Teide. Accessible
by cable car and often snow-capped, the desolate volcanic slopes within Teide’s National Park are a world away from the
tropical vegetation of the green Orotava valley, and the botanical gardens below. You stay in the north part of the island where
the traditional villages and the University town of La Laguna have a totally different feel to the commercial concreted resorts
of the south – and the lush, tropical landscape with banana plantations also contrasts with the arid terrain of the south.
• 7 nights hb on Tenerife • Excursions to La Laguna, the Botanic Garden and Orotava Valley, and Mount Teide
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Tenerife, transfer to your hotel (about one hour trial ground for plants and trees that would be of important medical or
away) for seven nights half board accommodation. economic benefit to Spain as a whole. Designed to a geometric plan, it
Your holiday base is close to Puerto de la Cruz (with its agreeable has a particularly impressive collection of trees, including date palms
and historical maritime area) and to the verdant Orotava valley, whose and fig trees, as well as an enormous oriental plane tree (platanus
eponymous town boasts the attractive mansions of families who made orientalis), at the base of which the garden’s founder planted a box
their fortune trading with the New World – and then spent fortunes of coins and documents. There are also good collections of agave,
building fine houses and churches in their home town to show how hibiscus, orchids, poinsettia and jacaranda. This day will also include a
successful they were! visit to Orotava town and an orientation of Puerto de la Cruz.
Tenerife still has undiscovered corners, like Garachico, out to the west. A further, optional excursion will also be available to Santa Cruz de
Garachico is a typical Canarian village, whose harbour was filled in by Tenerife.
a lava flow in the 18th century – since when, as you stroll the shady Day Eight: Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return
square, you get the impression that, frankly, not a lot has changed! Also flight.
within easy reach is Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with Calatrava’s futuristic
new ship-shaped auditorium and a pleasant old quarter: beyond the YOUR HOTEL
town lie the spectacular Anaga mountains. DIVERHOTEL TENERIFE SPA AND GARDEN HHHH,
Days Two to Seven: In resort with three included excursions. Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (seven nights)
Mount Teide: you will have a scenic drive on Mount Teide, with a stop The hotel stands on the edge of Puerto de la Cruz, a 25 minute walk to
to explore the volcanic landscape of the Ucanca plain, and the chance the seaside promenade (free courtesy bus 6 days a week during the day).
to take the cable car up the mountain (cost of cable car approx. 22E). There are views to Mount Teide, the sea, and the Orotava valley from the
hotel’s extensive tropical gardens (1500sqm). Rooms have bath/shower,
La Laguna: an included excursion will take you to San Cristobal de la wc, hairdryer, satellite tv, safety deposit box (charge applies), minibar, and
Laguna (to give it its full name). The fine Canarian Mansions scattered balcony or terrace. There is an outdoor pool, spa (charges apply), lounge
through the town offer the visitor their bright facades and impressive area, poolside bar, entertainment programme, buffet restaurant, and lounge
woodwork, which conceal cool patios and shady gardens. One of them area (limited free wifi). Prices are based on standard rooms. Rooms with a
houses the “Museum of the History of Tenerife” – well worth a look. view of Mount Teide are available at a supplement.
This university town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since (www.playasenator.com/en/hoteles/playacanaria)
1999; its layout, that of the first non-fortified Spanish colonial town,
served as a model for many towns in the Americas. Please note: this is a new itinerary and a different hotel for 2016. For
The Botanic Garden, with Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava and details regarding the departure in November 2015 please enquire or
its valley. You will see, with a knowledgeable guide, the “Jardin de view www.preferredts.com/pdfs/xbte.pdf.
Aclimatisación” of La Orotava – the Botanic Garden founded by Royal
Decree in 1788 to house the plants being brought from the New World Extend your holiday – extra week available in our hotel in Tenerife.
by the ‘Discoverers’ who (Columbus included) used Tenerife as a A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
jumping-off point for their epic voyages. The garden’s role was as a of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
4 | www.preferredts.com Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
8 days from £779
£549 November, March & May
Lanzarote & Fuerteventura
The entire island of Lanzarote is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and it contains no less than 13 ‘protected areas’ including a Spanish
National Park - Timanfaya, where Raquel Welch was memorably filmed in ‘One Million Years BC’. As your base we have chosen Playa
Blanca, a quieter resort in the extreme south of the island, close to the Papagayo nature reserve. The artist Cesar Manrique left an
indelible mark on the island, not just in the artistic heritage, but in his (and his followers’) dedication to maintaining the unique
landscapes of his island and opposition to tasteless over-development. As you explore Lanzarote, you will see that hi-rise building
has been avoided, that the traditional rural architecture with its white buildings and striking green paintwork has been respected, and
above all that the island’s extraordinary landscapes have been maintained unblemished. And all of this in a year round warm climate.
• 7 (or 14) nights hb in the H10 Lanzarote Princess in Playa Blanca • Included excursion to Fuerteventura •
Included sightseeing excursion around Manrique’s Lanzarote • Excursion to southern Lanzarote
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Lanzarote, transfer to your hotel for seven nights across the island is stunning.
half board accommodation. Transfer time 40 minutes.
Day Eight: Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return
Days Two to Seven: In Playa Blanca, with three included flight.
excursions, two within Lanzarote and one to the neighbouring island
of Fuerteventura. YOUR HOTEL
Our chosen resort of Playa Blanca is quieter than most of the island’s H10 LANZAROTE PRINCESS HHHH, Playa Blanca (seven nights)
resorts, yet has every amenity. A particular feature is the long Located in Playa Blanca just a short walk to the promenade, the hotel has
promenade which runs close to the harbour, passing the stunning new been recently refurbished. It has two restaurants, two bars and a coffee
upmarket development of Marina Rubicon and continuing out towards bar. There are two swimming pools, minigolf and tennis court. Free wifi in
Papagayo. There are good island bus services, allowing you to get the lobby. Bedrooms have bath, hairdryer, terrace or balcony, fridge and flat
around by public transport if you wish. screen tv. Standard rooms have garden or mountain view; superior rooms
with pool or sea view are available at a supplement. (www.h10hotels.com)
Manrique’s Lanzarote: your included excursion takes you to see
different aspects of Manrique’s Isle, such as Teguise - the old inland
capital, Bateria del Rio, and the artist’s stunning Cactus Garden. Cacti Extend your holiday – extra week available in Playa Blanca.
were important to the island: to this day there are fields of prickly pear A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
cactus – this was grown to harvest cochineal beetles and the brilliant of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
red dye they produce, one of the main industries of the island until the
19th century.
The excursion in the south of Lanzarote includes a range of unlikely
scenery. You will see the pretty white painted village of Yaiza, the
coastal salt-pans of Janubio, and the cliffs near El Golfo. Then you
drive amid the unique scenery of the Volcanoes Natural Park, and
finish in the unusual vineyards of La Geria, where man’s ingenuity has
made vines thrive in a hostile setting.
Fuerteventura: your third excursion begins with a 20 minute walk
(taxis are available) to the harbour where you catch the ferry to
Corralejo, Fuerteventura. It is a 35 minute crossing, please keep an
eye out for pods of dolphins which are frequently seen here. Just south
of Corralejo is the natural park area of Las Dunas, an enormous sandy
area similar to the Sahara Desert. Amongst other stops, you will also
visit the island’s former capital, Betancuria. The scenery as you travel
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights. www.preferredts.com | 5
No single
supplement
March
8 days from £619 March & May
Roman Tarragona, Gaudi’s Reus & the Ebro Delta
A week in a four-star hotel on the Catalan coast, with three varied and interesting excursions to show you different aspects
of Catalonia from your comfortable holiday base – this is the recipe for this holiday. Catalonia has an incredibly rich
variety of landscapes. As well as sandy beaches, such as the wide, sandy one in front of your hotel, there are mountains,
vineyards, rivers and amazing wetlands all waiting to be discovered. As is one of the world’s great cities, Barcelona -
easily accessible by train, with half-hourly departures.
• 7 nights hb on the Catalan coast, wine included with dinner • Excursion to Montserrat and Sitges
• Excursion to the Ebro Delta and Gaudi’s Reus • Full day excursion to Roman Tarragona • Entrance fees to
the Ebro Ecomuseum, the Reus Gaudi Centre and the Tarragona Archaeology Museum
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Reus or Barcelona. Transfer to your hotel, just under the circus maximus, the forum, and pretty streets and squares as you
an hour away. Seven nights half board accommodation is reserved for stroll through the medieval centre. You will also have free time for
you. lunch, and to explore the market area and new Rambla area with its
Days Two to Seven: In resort with three included excursions. statue of the ‘Castell’, the ‘Human Tower’.
The Ebro Delta and Gaudi’s Reus: the Ebro Delta, an hour and a half Day Eight: Departure to the airport for your flight home.
away, is one of Europe’s most attractive and delicately balanced wild-
life sanctuaries. The day begins with a short presentation at the Eco YOUR HOTEL
Museum in Deltebre, with an explanation of the relationship between NUBAHOTEL HHHH, Coma-Ruga (seven nights)
man, agriculture and wildlife of the area. The Delta covers an area
The hotel has been completely refurbished and stands close to the broad
of 123.5 square miles. The area around Deltebre is totally flat and in
sandy beach. This unspoilt resort is quiet out of season, rather busier at
stark contrast to the rest of hilly Catalonia. Much of the marshy area weekends. A reasonable selection of shops, bars and restaurants is about
is covered by waterlogged rice fields which support the local fauna. 10 minutes walk (700m) away, and the railway station with half-hourly
There are vast areas of beaches, dunes, reeded lagoons and riverside departures to Barcelona is about 15 minutes walk. There is also a local bus
woods. Over the year, between 50,000 and 100,000 birds of 300 service to the nearby county town of El Vendrell, birthplace of Pablo Casals:
species (more than half the species in Europe) visit the Delta including his villa, now an interesting museum, is within walking distance of the hotel.
a variety of ducks and herons, grebe, short-eared owls and flamingos. The hotel has a spa centre (a reasonable extra charge applies), restaurant,
bar, lounge, and outdoor pool. Rooms, which all have balcony, also have 2
On the return journey we will make a stop in Gaudi’s home city of
queen size beds, bathroom with hairdryer, phone, air-conditioning/heating,
Reus, with an included visit to the Gaudi Centre where you will learn satellite LCD tv, and safety deposit box (charge applies). Free wifi in public
something of the great modernist architect’s work. 150 miles today. areas. (www.nubahotelcomarruga.com)
Montserrat: just an hour away, Montserrat is one of Spain’s most
spectacular sights, with its astonishing rock formations, monastery, Extend your holiday - extra week available in Catalonia.
and fabulous views of the Llobregat Valley: Montserrat has been a A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
major destination for pilgrims through the centuries. The basilica, of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
home of the famous ‘Black Madonna’, dates from the 16th century and
(subject to confirmation) you will be able to hear the boys’ choir sing
in the church. You could also go up to the nature area on the funicular
railway to explore the walking trails. On the return journey we make a
stop in the modernist resort of Sitges. 110 miles today.
Roman Tarragona: just 20 miles away, Tarragona was the capital of
the Province of Northern Spain and home to the Emperor Augustus – a
temple in his honour stood on the site of the current cathedral. You
will spend the morning in the old city in the company of an expert
guide, visit the archaeology museum, and see the amphitheatre,
6 | www.preferredts.com Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
No single
supplement
APRIL
8 days from £689 April, May & June
Carcassonne, Cathar Country & Catalonia
The ramparts of Carcassonne, the mystery of Rennes-le-Château, the surrealism of Dalì’s Theatre Museum, combined
with a visit to modernist Barcelona, and stays in unspoilt locations on the Catalan coast and in a pleasant spa town in
the hills of Roussillon - this is a holiday to one of the most scenic parts of the Mediterranean. The area is also fabulously
rich in history, legend and stunning castles. Discover the land of the heretical Cathars and solve the mystery of Rennes le
Chateau – inspiration for Dan Brown’s da Vinci Code.
• 3 nights hb in Spanish Catalonia, 4 nights hb in the Roussillon area of France • Visits to Rennes-le-
Château, Carcassonne, The Dalì Museum in Figueres, and Barcelona
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Catalonia. On arrival, transfer to your hotel on the Days Five and Six: There is an optional half day excursion to the
Catalan coast for two nights half board accommodation. Transfer time walled village of Prats de Mollo, just 12 miles up the Vallespir valley,
50 minutes. on the side of Mount Canigou. There is also an optional excursion to
Day TWO: Optional half day excursion to the Roman city of Tarragona nearby Perpignan, the capital of the Roussillon, and to the artists’
where you can see the amphitheatre, port and beach and stroll through resort of Collioure. A port since Roman times, many crusades to the
the medieval centre. Under the Romans, Tarragona was the capital of Holy Land set off from here, and reproductions of works by artists who
the Province of Northern Spain and home to the Emperor Augustus – a painted in Collioure (Matisse and Dérain in particular) will be found on
Temple in his honour stood on the site of the current Cathedral. Your the quaysides.
excursion includes a walk with expert guide. Day Seven: Today you return to the Costa Dorada for your last night,
Day Three: Today you depart for France. En route you will stop in again on a half board basis. En route there is a short tour of, and free
Dalì’s home town of Figueras with its surreal (in the truest sense!) time to explore, the exciting city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia.
theatre-museum (entrance included). The Dalì Museum, with its Distance today is similar to Day Three, approx 160 miles..
luminous-egg façade, seems to want to stretch your mind even before Day Eight: Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return
you enter! From there you proceed to your hotel in Amelie-les-Bains, flight.
for four nights half board accommodation. Distance today is 156 miles,
mainly motorway. YOUR HOTELS
Day Four: Full-day included excursion to Carcassonne and Rennes- NUBAHOTEL HHHH, Coma-Ruga, Costa Dorada (first two and last nights)
le- Château. Although a longish day, it is packed with interest. You start
See page 6 for hotel description.
with a scenic drive past two spectacular Cathar castles – Puilaurens,
perched high above the valley, and Quéribus, whose rocky spur saw HOTEL DE LA REINE AMELIE HHH, Amélie-les-Bains (four nights)
the last stand of the Cathars in 1255. In Rennes-le-Château you will
Four nights are spent in the Hotel de la Reine Amélie in the Vallespir
see the church, presbytery, villa, tower and grounds built by the priest, Valley. Situated close to the River Tech, Amélie is a spa town 19 miles
Abbé Sauniere, at the end of the 19th century. You will discover the true from the coast and surrounded by pleasant mountain scenery. The hotel
extent of the mystery that has spawned so many books and several tv has a bar, lounge area, restaurant, free wifi, and comfortable bedrooms
programmes. You will not be the first to try and solve the mystery – a with private bath/shower, wc, tv and phone. Some have a balcony too.
byelaw had to be passed to stop unauthorised digging in the village by (www.reineamelie.com)
treasure-hunters! We have prepared some brief historical notes about Rennes-le-Chateau
You continue to Carcassonne for lunch (not included), and a free and Carcassonne. These are available online at www.preferredts.com/
brochures/camhist.pdf or on request.
afternoon in the most spectacular walled city on earth. A UNESCO
Heritage site, the cité is a remarkable defensive structure with
barbican, dry moat, outer and inner walls, inaccessible watch-towers, A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from these hotels. Please ask for a
posterns, loopholes and arrow slits. The last part of your circular route copy of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
is motorway, and you arrive back at the hotel at approx 1830. Total
today is just under 200 miles.
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights. www.preferredts.com | 7
8 days from £829 May & July
Bordeaux, San Sebastian & the Basque Country
The vineyards of Bordeaux, the rich scenery and geology of the Basque coastline, the gorgeous beaches of San Sebastian,
a scenic rail trip on the historic Rhune railway, a visit to the Pyrenean town of St Jean Pied du Port, starting point for many
of the Pilgrims on the Way to Santiago de Compostela: these are just some of the treats in store.
• 3 nights bb in or near Bordeaux • 4 nights hb in the Basque country • Visits to San Sebastian, Hendaye,
St Jean de Luz • Trip on the Rhune Pyrenean Train
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Bordeaux, transfer to your hotel for two nights bed and breakfast Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, is famed worldwide for the ‘Running of the Bulls’,
accommodation. featured by Hemingway in ‘The Sun Also Rises.’ You will be able to walk the bulls’
Bordeaux: long a mercantile city, Bordeaux has on three brief occasions been route to the bullring, but the town’s focal point is the Plaza del Castillo, near to which
France’s capital. Over the past 15 years it has been impressively restored, and the lies the former Jewish Quarter and the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria. Part of the
city now shows off its classical and neoclassical architecture to good effect – so old city wall is still intact, and the Museum of Navarre is worth a visit too. Pamplona
much so that most of the city centre is now on the UNESCO World Heritage list. is 54 motorway miles away.
The riverside quays are pleasant places to stroll. Bordeaux has longstanding links The Coast West of Zarautz, towards Bilbao, is spectacular. You pass the txakoli
with our history too – Aquitaine was under English control for 300 years, until 1453. vineyards and fishing villages such as Getaria, sheltered by El Raton (Mouse Island).
Large quantities of wine were exported to Britain – a trade which continues to this You travel as far as Guernica (40 miles from Zarautz), where the Basque Parliament
day! used to meet under the Tree of Gernika. The town was heavily bombed during the
Days Two: Included half day walking tour of old Bordeaux. The rest of the day is Civil War – Picasso’s painting immortalised the suffering caused by war. The original
free. now hangs in Madrid, but a tapestry copy adorns the walls of the UN HQ in New York.
Day Three: Today you travel south across the Landes towards the spectacular Day Seven: You leave Zarautz and travel into the Pyrenees, firstly to catch the
coastline of the Basque Country. You make a stop in St Jean de Luz, and then take pretty wood-panelled ‘Petit Train de la Rhune’ - a rack railway which takes you up to
the fine coast road to Hendaye – geologists find this coast fascinating. You cross an altitude of 900m, with great views towards the coast. If for any reason the train
into Spain by boat (weather permitting), over the Bidassoa River to Hondarribia, is not operating, an alternative visit will be provided. You continue to the old walled
with its picturesque old town. You then continue to Zarautz, just outside San town of St Jean Pied de Port, the starting point for many pilgrims on their way to
Sebastian, where you spend four nights on a half board basis (163 miles today, Santiago de Compostela. After your time here, you rejoin the coach to travel towards
mainly motorway). Bordeaux for one night’s bed and breakfast accommodation. 217 miles today.
The Basque Country, straddling France and Spain, offers mountains, cliffs, beaches, Day Eight: Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return flight.
and a unique culture, ranging across sport (pelota has various forms, including jai
alai, reputedly the fastest sport in the world), music, cuisine, religion, clothing and YOUR HOTELS
language (supposedly Europe’s oldest, and certainly its most distinct): in short, all QUALITY HOTEL HHH, Bordeaux Ste Catherine, Bordeaux (first two
aspects of a Basque’s life are Basque rather than Spanish or French. and last nights)
Zarautz: just 12 miles outside San Sebastian lies Zarautz, a pleasant seaside resort The hotel is situated in the pedestrian centre. The hotel has a bar/lounge,
with a fine old quarter and good narrow-gauge train line to San Sebastian. There are complimentary wi-fi and is air conditioned. Bedrooms have bathroom, flat
two museums, and a good range of shops, bars, and restaurants - both in town and screen tv, telephone and minibar. (www.qualityhotelbordeauxcentre.com).
close to what is the the Basque country’s largest beach. There is a pleasant coastal
walk to the west of town. HOTEL ZARAUZ HHH, Zarautz (four nights)
Days Four to Six: Free in Zarautz. There is an included day’s visit to nearby The centrally-situated and comfortably-appointed Hotel Zarauz is close to
the beach (150m) and railway station (250m). The 75 bedrooms have bath
San Sebastian, and there are also optional excursions to Pamplona, and along the
and wc, telephone, heating, hairdryer, and free wifi. There is a restaurant,
spectacular Basque coastline west of your resort. bar, lift and lounge. (www.hotelzarauz.com)
San Sebastian or Donostia in the Basque language, enjoys a truly privileged situation.
Dominated by Monte Urgull, the superb old town and the three fine beaches offer the A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from these hotels. Please ask for a
visitor every amenity including chic shops and welcoming sidrerias – cider houses. copy of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
The local txakoli white wine is pleasant too.
8 | www.preferredts.com Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.
8 days from £679 May & June
France, Spain, Andorra & the Pyrenees
This holiday is a magical cocktail of stunning mountain scenery in three countries, with a never-to-be-forgotten ride on
the Little Yellow Train through the French Pyrenees. You spend four nights in Andorra, close to the French border of this
picturesque principality, set high amid the peaks of the Pyrenees.
• 2 nights hb Costa Dorada, 4 nights hb in the High Pyrenees, 1 night bb in Barcelona • Scenic Journey on
the Little Yellow Train • Orientation tour of Barcelona • Visit to Montserrat
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Reus or Barcelona, transfer to your hotel on the Costa Vella, the Principality’s capital; and to the wooded Ariège Valley of France,
Dorada for two nights half board accommodation. Transfer time is just taking in the pretty spa town of Ax-les-Thermes and historic Foix, whose
under an hour. spectacular castle was never conquered. We also visit Labouiche, just
Day Two: Free day in resort. outside Foix, to take a boat trip on Europe’s longest navigable underground
Day Three: Today you travel into the mountains towards Andorra, stopping river, which has hewn a spectacular course through the hills. There are
en route at Montserrat with its spectacular rock formations, and monastery, quite a few steps in the access to the river. Foix is 53 miles from Soldeu.
founded in the 10th century. From there you travel through the Catalan Day Seven: Today, we leave Andorra to journey south to Barcelona, Spain’s
countryside via the little towns of Calaf and Ponts, into the High Pyrenees second largest city and the capital of Catalonia for one night’s bed and
and your hotel in the mountain village of Soldeu, where you have four nights breakfast accommodation. See Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Church and Park
half board accommodation. Soldeu is a scenic mountain village, with a few Guell, wander down Las Ramblas, or explore the attractive squares and
shops, bars and restaurants. There is a cable car, which normally operates narrow lanes with their speciality shops.
from July to September, and serves Europe’s highest golf course (9 holes, Day Eight: Free time until you depart for the airport for your flight home.
2590 metres up, cable car access only). Guest tickets and club hire are
available to members of golf clubs who are visiting from elsewhere.
YOUR HOTELS
Days Four to Six: At leisure in resort with an included excursion on the
NUBAHOTEL HHHH, Coma-Ruga (first two nights)
Petit Train Jaune, and the chance to join two further optional excursions.
See page 6 for hotel description.
The Little Yellow Train was built to link the upper valley of the Têt and
the pretty Cerdanya plateau with France - the area only became French SPORT HOTEL HHHH, Soldeu (four nights)
following the 17th century ‘Treaty of the Pyrenees.’ Indeed, its colours are Four nights are spent in the Sport Hotel in the village of Soldeu, Andorra. This
this of the Catalan flag. attractive hotel is built in the local style, featuring natural wood and local stone.
Rooms have bath/shower and wc, hairdryer, satellite tv, and phone. There is a
From the pretty resort of Font Romeu you will climb towards France’s highest comfortable bar, lounge with free wifi, and restaurant serving excellent food, as
conventional railway Station (Bolquère, 5310ft) before, during the 25 mile well as an outdoor pool (weather dependent). Soldeu village has a few shops
trip along the metric gauge track, dropping 4000ft down to the picturesque and bars, a reasonable bus service to town, and excellent walking right from
ramparted town of Villefranche de Conflent. En route you will travel over the hotel. The Sport and Sport Village Hotels are on opposite sides of the road,
the spectacular Sejourné viaduct, and the Gisclard suspension bridge, 260ft with a tunnel link between them. The hotels have separate reception and bars
above the river below. The journey is timed to take 1 hour 40 minutes, but but on some dates only one restaurant may be open. There is a spa within the
that might depend on how many request stops the driver makes! complex, available at extra cost. (www.sporthotels.ad – click on Sport Hotel).
You will also stop in Montlouis, France’s highest fortified town and, like HOTEL PERE IV HHHH, Barcelona (last night)
Villefranche, on the UNESCO World Heritage List for works of Louis XIV’s The hotel is situated in the Poble Nou district, midway between the lively
engineer, Sebastien de Vauban. Olympic port area and the Sagrada Familia. It is a 25 minute walk to the old
quarter or 3 stops on the Metro. The hotel has a spa area, lounge bar and
Villefranche is 57 miles from Soldeu; depending on operating schedules, restaurant - other bars and restaurants are close by. Bedrooms have bath/
you may have an earlyish start this morning, but it’s well worth it! If for shower and wc, tv with satellite channels, free wifi, and safety deposit box.
any reason the train is not operating, we shall travel to Montlouis and (www.salleshotels.com).
Villefranche by road.
Our optional excursions are to ‘The Three Valleys of Andorra’, taking in A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from these hotels. Please ask for a
the nature area of the North Valley, the village of Ordino, and Andorra-la- copy of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights. www.preferredts.com | 9
8 days from £709 May
Western Andalucia - Isla Canela, Rio Tinto & the Guadiana River
This holiday has the perfect balance of relaxation beside the dunes along Spain’s Atlantic coast and on the banks of the
Guadiana river and scenic sightseeing jam-packed with historical and cultural interest. Your holiday base is the 4* Playamarina
Hotel on Punta del Moral on Isla Canela in Spain, just over the Portuguese border. From here you visit the beautiful coastline
of the Donana Natural Park, enjoy the fascinating Columbus sites and the stunning scenery of the British Rio Tinto mines and
have a lazy day on a boat sailing up the River Guadiana which marks the border between Spain and Portugal.
• 7 nights hb in a 4* hotel on Isla Canela • One included spa entrance • Full day excursion to the Rio Tinto mines
with train ride • Full day excursion to the Columbus sites and El Rocio • Boat cruise on the Guadiana River
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Faro in Portugal and transfer to your hotel on Isla Canela in Andalucia. The pinnacle of mining in the area began in 1873 with the arrival of
Spain for seven nights half board accommodation. The transfer takes around an the British Rio Tinto Mining Company Ltd who paid £3.68 million for the rights to
hour, but you have to put your watches on an hour when you cross the Guadiana exploit the disused copper mines. The company employed up to 20,000 men, laid
which is the border. 300km of rail track, built houses for employees and management, a protestant
Days Two to Seven: In resort with three included excursions. There is plenty church and a Social Club which had a cricket team and introduced football to
to do in your free time. The front of the hotel looks across to the thriving fishing Spain. The museum is housed in the company’s hospital and its offices are now
village and marina of Punta del Moral. You can have a pleasant stroll around the the town hall. Highlight of the tour is the rail journey through the open cast mines
harbour or take a little ferry ride across to Isla Cristina. The rear of the hotel backs where you’ll see an amazing ‘Martian’ landscape with the red (bright red!) Rio
on to the promenade from where there are wooden boardwalks across the dunes Tinto river running through it. (NB the train is accessed down a long flight of
to the beach and the sea. Walking past the inviting chiringuito (beach bar) might steps – no ramp).
be difficult! There is a frequent bus service which makes the 5 mile journey to You really chill out and relax on your third excursion – a boat ride up the Guadiana
Ayamonte on the Guadiana river. Ayamonte is a bustling ‘frontier’ town with a river. The boat leaves from Ayamonte and poodles upstream through the soporific
compact old centre, marina and port. The ‘frontier’ is the river and for under 3 scenery of the gentle hills of the Guadiana valley. The captain might stop in
euros you can get a return ferry across to the pretty town of Vila Real de San Portugal on the left – then again, it might be Spain on the right – either way, you’ll
Antonio in Portugal. If you can find the time, a complimentary 1 ½ hour circuit of have the chance to enjoy the hospitality of one of the riparian communities. The
the hotel’s extensive spa facilities is included for you! return to your hotel will be by coach.
The first included excursion is to La Rabida Monastery, Caravelle Wharf and El
Day Eight: Transfer back to Faro Airport for your flight home. You can put your
Rocio. Just over an hour to the east of your hotel lies the monastery of La Rabida,
watch back an hour after crossing the river.
where Columbus stayed with the monks before his voyage to the New World in
1492. The King and Queen of Spain had rejected his request for funding to seek a
westward route to China, but with the intercession of the monks (who were to get YOUR HOTEL
a percentage!), funding was granted…and the rest, as they say, is history. Nearby HOTEL PLAYAMARINA SPA HHHH, Punta del Moral, Isla Canela
lies Caravelle Wharf, with full size replicas of Columbus’ three ships – the Pinto, (seven nights)
the Nina, and the Santa Maria (entrance fee included). All are much smaller than
An excellent hotel in a quiet position located between the beach and the
you might expect – but they actually travelled across the Atlantic in 1992, for the
marina on Punta del Moral. The hotel has a buffet restaurant with show
500th anniversary. You then travel to the strange town of El Rocio, which seems cooking, indoor and outdoor pool. There is also a spa (a free 1 ½ circuit
like something out of the Tex-Mex West, with clapboard houses, sand covered is included for you), bar and entertainment on most evenings. Rooms
squares and avenues and rails to tie your horse to! But this is no tourist movie set have bath with shower over and separate shower and wc, hairdryer,
- in fact it is a major pilgrimage site, and lies at the edge of the Donana Natural LCD tv, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and safe (chargeable), terrace
Park. There is free time for a late lunch here before returning to your hotel. or balcony. Free Wi-Fi in reception (30 mins) – chargeable in room.
(www.playasenator.com/en/hoteles/playamarina/)
Another included excursion takes you to the unique landscape and ecosystem
that are the Rio Tinto mines. There has been mining in the hills 80 miles north-
Extend your holiday – extra week available in Isla Canela
east of Isla Canela for over 5000 years. In the museum in the town of Rio Tinto
there is an excellent re-creation of the Roman mine. There is British influence in A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
many parts of Spain but nowhere as pronounced than in this remote corner of of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
10 | www.preferredts.com Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.8 days from £599 March, April, May & June
Seville, Mijas & Ronda
This superb value holiday gives you the chance to relax in a pretty white-painted village overlooking the Costa del Sol and
enjoy some of the wonders of Andalucia. Five nights are spent in delightful Mijas Pueblo, and two in magical Seville. In
winter, spring and early summer, southern Spain is warm and sunny, though the stifling temperatures of high summer are
still some time away – this is the perfect time to take in some of the remarkable sights of Andalucia.
• 5 nights hb Mijas, 2 nights bb Seville • Visits to Ronda, Marbella and glitzy Puerto Banus
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Malaga. On arrival transfer to your hotel in Mijas (approx. 30 is a morning walking tour with a local guide, with entrance to the cathedral,
minutes) for four nights half board accommodation. Columbus’ last resting place. The other excursion features an evening trip to a
Mijas: The white painted centre of Mijas still has the look of an old Andalucian Flamenco show.
village. The old village has now grown into a small town with all facilities Day Seven: Today you leave Seville and drive to Ronda. The spectacular 600ft
and good transport connections. Why not stroll and enjoy the views from the deep Tajo Gorge is spanned by the spectacular Puente Nuevo (new bridge).
Muralla Gardens at the top of the village where there are superb views over The city’s bull ring in the ‘’new’’ town is 230 years old, about the same age
the Mediterranean, linger over a quiet drink on one of the old town squares, or as the new bridge! You will have free time for sightseeing in this interesting,
browse in the artists’ studios and craft shops? The folk museum is well worth a atmospheric and dramatic city. After lunch (not included), you continue through
visit as is the new Contemporary Arts Centre showcasing Picasso’s ceramics as the scenic Sierra to Mijas for your last night’s accommodation, again on a half
well as some of his paintings and works by Dali, Braque and Miro. board basis. 140 miles today.
Days Two to Four: Free in Mijas, with an included half day excursion just Day Eight: Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
down the road to see the plush resort of Marbella and the billionaire’s marina of
Puerto Banus. Marbella, although one of Europe’s most chic resorts, retains an YOUR HOTEL
attractive 15th century old-town with narrow streets leading off its picturesque
HOTEL TRH HHHH, Mijas (first four and last nights)
plazas. Puerto Banus on the other hand is unapologetically brash where the
gliteratti park their Ferraris next to their yachts and then do a little shopping in This hotel enjoys an excellent location close to town (5 minutes walk away),
the designer stores. At least window shopping is free! but set amid palms and pines in the rolling landscapes of the Sierra as well.
Built in Andalucian style, the hotel has a bar, buffet restaurant, outdoor pool
There is also the chance to join an optional excursion to the ‘British Corner’, and spacious gardens and terraces. Rooms have bath/shower, wc, satellite
Gibraltar, one of the ‘Pillars of Hercules’. British since 1704, ‘Gib’ has a TV, direct dial phone, safety deposit box, internet connection and hairdryer.
fascinating history, to which the Siege Tunnels bear witness. The rock is home (www.trhhoteles.com)
to the natural site of St Michael’s Cave, and to the Barbary apes who are the
TRYP SEVILLA MACARENA HHHH, Seville (two nights)
colony’s symbol of freedom. Also easily accessible is Picasso’s home city of
Malaga, with an impressive new museum featuring the work of its most famous The hotel is next to the old city walls opposite the Parliament and close
son. to the river and the historic centre. Bedrooms have bath/shower and wc,
hairdryer, tv with satellite channels, free wifi, and safety deposit box. There
Day Five: Today the transfer to Seville is just under three hours. There will be is a restaurant and a sports-themed bar offering snacks. (www.melia.com)
an included orientation tour of the city on arrival, with a stop in the pretty Triana
district, the traditional cradle of Flamenco, prior to check-in to your hotel for two
nights bed and breakfast accommodation. 146 miles today.
Seville, in a splendid location on the Guadalquivir River, is a lively city and
the capital of Flamenco. Wandering through the narrow streets you will soon
understand how Seville inspired Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro.
Be sure to sample the excellent tapas in Seville - the tour is accompanied by a
bilingual Tour Director, who will assist with booking nearby reasonably priced
restaurants, if required.
Day Six: There are two optional excursions during your stay in Seville. The first
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights. www.preferredts.com | 118 days from £739 May
Salamanca, Madrid, Avila & Segovia
This fascinating holiday in western Spain is topped and tailed by a stay in Spain’s vibrant capital – Madrid. In between
you stay in one of the most beautiful cities in Spain - Salamanca whose magnificent 18th century Plaza Mayor takes the
breath away. From here you visit Ciudad Rodrigo, a fortified city whose old walls still bear the scars of Wellington’s siege
in 1812. Over the border in Portugal, you will find Almeida – a walled garrison town in a time warp from the Peninsular
War. But city walls do not come any bigger or better than the 11th century ramparts of Avila – 1½ miles in circumference,
90 towers and nearly 2500 battlements! All this and a trip to the World Heritage City of Segovia too!
• 3 nights bb in Madrid • 4 nights bb in Salamanca • Visits to Avila and Segovia • Visit to Almeida in
Portugal • Walking tours of Ciudad Rodrigo and Salamanca
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Madrid and transfer to your hotel for two nights bed preserved garrison in the shape of a 12-pointed star with bastions, a huge
and breakfast accommodation. moat and false doors to trick attackers. As well as the intact barracks and
Day Two: Free in Madrid with its Puerta del Sol, Royal Palace, Cibeles billets there are huge underground casemates which are being restored.
Fountain and Plaza Mayor. Your Tour Director will take those who wish The French were only able to capture it in 1810 when a lucky shell ignited
for an orientation walk in the old town. Others may wish to visit one of the magazine killing 500 soldiers. A year later the British could only take
Madrid’s major art galleries, such as the Prado. it by a month-long blockade, and then only after the French soldiers had
Day Three: Depart for Salamanca stopping en route in Avila. The city already slipped away in the night. Today’s mileage is 163.
walls of Avila are 40 ft high and 10 ft thick and are made to look all the There will also be an optional excursion to the historic city of Zamora, just
more dramatic by the high sierras in the background. At over 3,500 ft, 40 miles north of Salamanca on the banks of the River Douro.
Avila is Spain’s highest provincial capital. The largest round turret in the Day Seven: Today you return to Madrid via Segovia – UNESCO listed along
wall forms part of its cathedral. Inside the walls you will find a mixture with its magnificent Roman aqueduct. An enormous Gothic Cathedral,
of medieval squares and fine 18th century buildings and plenty of cafes Romanesque Alcazar and enthralling Jewish quarter await you! After free
and restaurants. Arrival in Salamanca will be in the afternoon and today’s time in Segovia it is time to return to Madrid for your last night on a bed
mileage is 128. Four nights bed and breakfast are spent in Salamanca. and breakfast basis. 156 miles today.
Days Four to Six: In Salamanca. The focal point of this ancient University Day Eight: Free time until your transfer to the airport and your return
City and its thousands of students is the magnificent Plaza Mayor whose flight home.
splendid arcades are decorated with medallions of the Kings of Spain
and other dignitaries, including Wellington. Other places to look out for YOUR HOTELS
are the old cathedral dating from 1140 and the ‘new’ cathedral begun in
1513! Also the Casa de las Conchas – a 16th century palace adorned with HOTEL FLORIDA NORTE HHHH, Madrid (first two and last nights)
stone carvings of scallop shells. All the fine old buildings are intricately The first two and last night of your holiday are spent in the Hotel Florida
decorated – your task is to find the frog and the astronaut – all will be Norte, opposite the new Principe Pio Shopping centre and metro station,
explained during a guided walking tour! just a short walk from the Royal Palace and Don Quixote’s statue at Plaza
One day is devoted to an excursion to Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida. Ciudad de Espana. The hotel is quite large, with nearly 400 rooms, all of which have
bath/shower and wc, hairdryer, radio, tv with satellite channels, telephone
Rodrigo is packed with impressive Renaissance churches, convents and
and safety deposit box (chargeable). The hotel has a large lobby area/
palaces as well as older architecture built to defend the city against the lounge with free wifi, restaurant, coffee shop, shops, lifts and hairdresser.
Moors. In the Peninsular Wars it was sieged first by the French in 1810 (www.celuisma.com)
and then again by Wellington in 1812. Seemingly, little has changed since
then and Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe would recognize the little streets of its HOTEL CATALONIA PLAZA MAYOR HHH, Salamanca (four nights)
centre. Wellington was made Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo despite his soldiers’ Just 150 yards from the Plaza Mayor, the bedrooms in this refurbished hotel
sacking of the city. Our walking tour will normally include the Palacio de have bathroom, flat screen satellite tv, free internet access (WiFi), hairdryer,
los Aguila where all the top brass including Ney, Massena and Wellington direct dial telephone with direct line. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and
fitness centre. (www.hoteles-catalonia.com)
stayed there at one time or other. Almeida is an incredible place – a
12 | www.preferredts.com Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights.8 days from £579 November, February to June
Andalucia’s Eastern Coast – Granada & Almeria
Granada was the last city to be re-conquered by the Catholic Kings in 1492 and Spain’s Moorish legacy is nowhere more
evident than in Granada and its province. On this holiday, not only will you visit Spain’s greatest palace, the Alhambra in
Granada, but also the city of Almeria. Your base is the coastal city of Almunecar. This is a city whose Phoenician, Roman
and Moorish past is still much in evidence. The wonderful sub-tropical climate will help you enjoy the city’s rich artistic
and cultural heritage as well as the pretty historic centre. In and around Almunecar the sierras plunge spectacularly into
the sea and you will find no less than 25 beaches and coves within the boundary of the municipality.
• 7 nights hb in Almunecar • Visit to Granada and the Alhambra • Tour along the Costa Tropical to Almeria
• 1 entrance free of charge to the hotel’s spa centre
PROGRAMME
Day One: Flight to Malaga and transfer to your hotel (55 miles) in Almunecar reminiscent of an underground cathedral featuring stalactites, stalagmites
on the beach east of the city for seven nights half board accommodation. and wonderful rock formations and the white-painted, hill-top village of
Days Two to Seven: During your stay there are two included full day Frigiliana.
excursions. The first is to the wonderful city of Granada just 45 miles away. Day Eight: Free time until your transfer to the airport and your return flight.
From Almunecar you take the spectacular old road to Granada along the
tropical valley of the Rio Verde passing avocado, custard apple and mango YOUR HOTEL
plantations. The next section crossing the sierra is spectacular. But there
is surely no more spectacular setting than the city of Granada whose
HOTEL BAHIA TROPICAL HHHH, Taramay, Almunecar (seven nights)
extraordinary Alhambra complex is dominated by the snow-capped peaks The hotel is situated on the small Pozuelo beach in Taramay on the eastern
of the Sierra Nevada. A local guide will ensure you make the most of your edge of Almunecar, 3 km from the city centre. There is a frequent, cheap
visit of the Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens. As well as visiting the bus service to town if you do not want to take the extremely pleasant
complex with its richly decorated palaces and luxuriant gardens, you will walk along the seafront. Its spacious rooms all have bath and wc, minibar,
balcony or terrace, satellite tv, safe (chargeable) and hairdryer. The
also have plenty of time to see some of the city’s other attractions such
restaurant serves buffet style food and there is a bar with entertainment on
as the cathedral and the old Moorish quarter of Albaicin, now a UNESCO
some nights. The hotel has a large outdoor pool and a spa. One entrance
World Heritage Site together with the Alhambra and the Generalife. Return to the spa is included during your stay (one hour use to include active
to Almunecar is via the new motorway. The second excursion is a trip along pool with water massages, sauna, Turkish bath, pediluvium and sensation
the east coast to see the ancient city of Almeria and (80 miles away by shower). Health and body treatments are also available at extra cost.
motorway). Almeria also has Phoenician and Roman origins and one of the (www.hotelbahiatropical.com)
greatest citadels ever built by the Moors as well as an unusual fortified
cathedral constructed as defence against pirate attacks. The whitewashed Extend your holiday – extra week available in Taramay.
walls of the old town have the unmistakable Al-Andalus atmosphere. A WALKING HOLIDAY is also available from this hotel. Please ask for a copy
The rest of your time is free to enjoy Almunecar. You can visit the Arab of our Walking Holidays brochure or download one at preferredts.com.
fortress built on top of a Roman castle or stroll through the delightful
botanical gardens of Majuelo Park where there is a huge collection of
tropical and subtropical plants, bushes and trees as well as the remains
of the Roman fish-salting pits. Other attractions include the exotic bird
park and the network of defensive towers built by the Moors and later
strengthened in the 18th century as defence against British raids. Or just
stroll through the busy commercial district in the old centre where you can
admire the city’s monuments – look out for the plaque dedicated to Laurie
Lee who spent time here during and after the Civil War. There will also
be the chance to join an optional excursion to Nerja with its magnificent
Balcon de Europa and its nearby famous caves - an enormous cavern
Please refer to the enclosed ‘Dates and Flight Information’ for details of departure dates, prices and flights. www.preferredts.com | 13You can also read
