2009 Itinerary

Day 1 – Bienvenido a Madrid – let the Spain tours begin!

Tour begins: 6:00 PM at The Westin Palace, Madrid. A transfer is included from Madrid Barajas Airport to The Westin Palace, Madrid, your palatial hotel in the heart of the wonderful Spanish capital. After settling in, please join us for our welcome reception and dinner, during which you'll be entertained by Castilian music and meet your Tauck Director and the other explorers who will share this most magical of family Spain tours with you.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain

Day 2 – Museo del Prado masterpieces and..."Holy Toledo!"
On Tauck’s Spain tours there’s something magical about Madrid that reaches right out and grabs you – like the Museo del Prado. Did you know that this remarkable museum has so many famous works of art in its collection, that they have to take turns appearing -- because only about a third of them can be displayed at any one time? See which ones are having their turn when you visit with a local guide. This most interesting of Spain tours continues with an excursion to the centuries-old city of Toledo, which takes you back in time to the Middle Ages. One of the most important centers of European medieval history, the town still has its monumental city walls and lots of neat Gothic architecture, and was a great inspiration to the famous artist, El Greco; explore it on a walking tour from the Alcázar to the historic Jewish quarter. Your family might like to try the incredibly life-like confections made with marzipan, an almond and powdered-sugar paste often sculpted into shapes such as a variety of fruits, animals and flowers, before heading back to Madrid for dinner on your own this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain

Day 3 – Royal digs, Real Madrid and a fast train to Seville
Discover more of Madrid on a sightseeing tour this morning before this most intriguing of Spain tours moves on to Seville. Although Spain’s Royal Family have moved on to actually live in a cozier, more comfortable home, the Royal Palace is the official residence of the King of Spain, now used for state occasions; take a look inside. Then a visit to Real Madrid Stadium, one of the world's best-loved football (soccer) stadiums, will especially delight the soccer fans among your group; it has hosted, among other important matches, the European Cup finals and the World Cup. Later, hop aboard a high-speed AVE train to Seville – the joyous capital of Andalucía, famous for flowers, flamenco dancing and bull fighting – for a three-night stay in one of Spain's most opulent hotels, named for the king who commissioned it.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain

Day 4 – Airs above the ground and tasty tapas, too
If you’re a horse lover, you’re in for a treat today as you visit the Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art and Museum in Jerez de la Frontera. Here Andalucían horses, an ancient and treasured breed, learn to perform the classic art of dressage, which seems almost like a graceful ballet as they show the skills known as “airs above the ground.” It takes horses and riders years to learn to do it right and it’s an amazing thing to see. Tour the Equestrian Art Museum and the Carriage Museum to learn more than you ever dreamed there was to know about horses. After lunch, the afternoon is free to explore more of Seville with your family as you choose. For dinner this evening, we'll introduce you to the favorite Spanish tradition of tapas at a local restaurant, where you'll sample a tasty selection of Andalucían specialties.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain

Day 5 – Say goodbye, Columbus and learn the flamenco
Following a morning sightseeing tour of Seville's whitewashed houses, Moorish towers and tiny squares, take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage to visit the gigantic Cathedral of Seville, the largest cathedral in Europe, built on the former site of a great mosque in the 12th century. It was recently proven in the scientific community that Christopher Columbus is buried here. After lunch on your own sampling some of Seville's diverse cuisine, take it away at a family flamenco dancing class before exploring more of the city at your leisure this evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain

Day 6 – Moorish magnificence in Córdoba and Granada
Most Spain tours reveal that there is much to discover about the ancient city of Córdoba, dating back to Roman times, which over the centuries has been a real melting pot for many different cultures. When the Romans left town, it became part of the Byzantine Empire during the Visigoth period. When the Goths moved on, Córdoba became one of the largest cities in world as the Muslims arrived in 711 AD and made the city the capital of Islamic Spain. Take a walking tour of gigantic La Mezquita de Córdoba, a mosque-turned-cathedral, built over 1,200 years ago; all this history prompted UNESCO to name Córdoba a World Heritage Site. Then this most extraordinary of family Spain tours continues as you travel to Granada, in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Your hotel is a short distance away from the spectacular Alhambra Palace, where Spain's Moorish rulers lived for more than 700 years.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Alhambra Palace Hotel, Granada, Spain

Day 7 – Secrets of the Alhambra & the beaches of Marbella
If there was ever a residence totally fit for a Moorish sultan or an emperor, the Alhambra is it! The huge Alhambra is such a special place that it was nominated as one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” – and exploring it is a real highlight of Tauck’s Spain tours. During a guided visit with a local expert today, you’ll see how the rich and powerful lived in the royal palace, and you’ll wander through the gardens of the Generalife just as the sultans did when they took time off. Then, it’s off to the Costa del Sol, Spain's Mediterranean playground for the rich and famous – and you – as your family spends a night at an oceanfront resort, where you'll wrap up this most excellent of Spain tours with a farewell beachfront barbecue tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Fuerte Miramar-SPA, Marbella, Spain

Day 8 – Adios, amigos!
Tour ends: Marbella. Sadly, all Spain tours must end, but you’ll take so many wonderful family memories home with you! If you'd like to spend more time at your beachfront resort, ask us at booking about additional resort nights. A transfer from Hotel Fuerte Miramar-SPA to Málaga Airport is included. Please allow 2 ½ hours for check-in formalities at the airport. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
Meals: Breakfast

Spain tours are in great demand so make reservations now to share the spell of Spain with your family in 2009!

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, First Class accommodations on the AVE train from Madrid to Seville, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of the local guides and drivers, and of the Tauck Director are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Madrid Barajas Airport and provide transportation to The Westin Palace, Madrid, regardless of the day and time of your arrival, provided Tauck has received accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour. Tauck will also provide transportation from The Westin Palace, Madrid, to Madrid Barajas Airport on whatever day you choose to depart.

Child Discount – Children 11 years of age and under may receive a discount of $200 USD on the tour price. To qualify for a child discount, the child’s birth date must be provided at time of booking. No child discount is offered on the Tauck Travel Protection plans.

Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed, when available. Quadruples on this tour may be accommodated in a two-bedded room with rollaway cots or two adjoining rooms, when available. Quadruple accommodations are not available for four persons 18 years of age and older rooming together. For safety and security purposes, children 18 years of age and under must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult.

Please note that we cannot guarantee adjacent, adjoining or connecting rooms. We will do all that we can to secure rooms next to one another or connecting when possible. A hotel may consider 'adjacent' to be across the hall. You should also note that connecting rooms are often not available in many hotels. In addition, connecting rooms may be of a lower category; however, all in-room amenities would remain the same.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Dining - Due to local culinary customs, this tour may offer more limited menus than typically experienced on other Tauck itineraries. In addition, please note that dinner in Spain is customarily served after 10:00 PM. We have arranged for special availability as early as 7:30 PM in most restaurants.

Tauck Director – ‘Spanish Adventure: Explorers & Conquistadors’ is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff, local guides and drivers, and the Tauck Director are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

Not Included

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to Tauck Travel Protection for more information.

Personal Expenses – Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral waters and soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, individual airport transfers (where applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, and aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration Internet website by clicking here.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Holiday and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of printing.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at The Westin Palace, Madrid, on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Please allow sufficient time to claim your luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends when you check out of the hotel on the fourth and last day of the tour. We suggest you allow at least 2½ hours for flight check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, we will use photograph taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Preparing To Go

Air Conditioning – All the hotels and motor coaches used on this tour are air-conditioned for your comfort. European air conditioning in hotels should be considered as a climate-control system; most have three settings for the fan, plus a ‘cool’ setting. Very few of the European systems actually have a temperature setting. In general, the amount of cool air that is produced from a European air-conditioning system may be less than what you may have in your own home.

ATM and Credit Cards – We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be ‘suspicious’ charges. We also recommend that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – The weather in Spain is generally temperate in the north and warm in the south. Mid summer in Spain is very hot. We suggest that you dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A light sweater or jacket will provide warmth on a chilly early morning walk or a late night stroll. In Seville and Madrid, rainfall is infrequent. In spring and fall, the heat and humidity in Seville is moderate to medium in intensity, in summer, all of the cities visited experience a higher heat index.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is generally customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts for dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but certainly be comfortable.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are not usually available, so guests may have to give their garment to the hotel to be ironed for a fee. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription (or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you), a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Children may want to consider bringing along pocket toys and games with a ‘sound off’ button or portable radio/CDs with headphones for use on longer travel days. Journals, binoculars and cameras are also great for children to have with them to make the most of their adventure.

Each child will be sent a complimentary backpack from Tauck Bridges! If the child resides in the United States, the backpack will be sent to his or her home approximately two weeks prior to the departure for Spain. If the child resides outside of the U.S, the backpack will be waiting on arrival at the hotel in Rome because customs regulations prohibit the easy delivery of the backpacks in advance.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Spain:

• Sports jacket for men
• Casually-elegant outfits for women
• Short and long sleeve shirts
• Shorts, slacks and jeans
• Tee shirts
• Socks
• Light-weight sweater
• Light-weight jacket
• Comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
• Raincoat and rain hat
• Collapsible umbrella
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
• Insect repellent
• Wash cloth – not all European hotels provide washcloths, so you may want to bring one along if you prefer them; a package of reusable cloth wipes is an excellent alternative
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and plenty of film
• Alarm clock
• Travel Iron
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

Elevation – The maximum elevation on this tour is approximately 3,200 ft (975 m).

Health – This journey is paced to accommodate all our guests, but is, nonetheless, an active and extensive tour. You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Spain is home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, some dating from antiquity. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical limitations. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.

The visit to Alhambra Palace in Granada requires two hours of walking. During the first hour you will visit the palace and during the second hour, the gardens. You have the option of returning to the motor coach after the tour of the palace.

While all of the hotels on this program have elevators, please note that many of the sites visited do not. Airports and train stations have limited access to elevators. Additionally, many of the museums visited will have elevators, but they are not always conveniently located, therefore some walking is required.

We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Spain. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website by clicking here.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Spain to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.


Luggage Restrictions:

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common that airlines allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not be accessible during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a valid passport to enter Spain; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Spain to determine what travel documentation is required.

We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. In addition, we recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children

Age Recommendations – Children 3 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck Bridges journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. We recommend that children be 8 years of age or older to participate fully in all activities planned for this tour. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck Bridges journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.



Special Travel Documentation for Children

Authorization for Travel

All children traveling abroad must have a valid passport.

If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Destination Information

Cell Phones – We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel and group functions, as well as when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Spain.

Currency and Exchange Rates – The official currency in Spain is the Euro.

While it is not necessary to exchange currency prior to joining your tour, we do suggest having a small amount of local currency when traveling in Spain. Currency exchange is generally available at most major airports, and all the hotels listed on this itinerary can exchange small amounts. Many foreign banks are able to provide local currency using a credit card, ATM card or travelers’ checks. For the best exchange rate, we suggest using major credit cards for purchases, or ATM cards for cash.

To obtain the most recent currency exchange rates, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to ‘oanda.com – The Currency Site’ by clicking here.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled “Know Before You Go”, by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, you should refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Currently, Spain levies a 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most consumer goods and services. (The tax may be higher on luxury items and lower on basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in Spain is 220 V, 50 Hz, AC. If your electrical devices do not conform to this standard, you will need to bring the appropriate converters and adapters.

Internet Access – The hotels on this itinerary provide Internet access as indicated:

Hotel Alfonso XIII - Access in rooms for a fee
Hotel Alhambra Palace - Access in rooms
The Westin Palace - High-speed access in rooms for a fee

Time Zones – Spain is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through October, Spain switches to Daylight Savings Time and is 2 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, ‘timeanddate.com’, by clicking here.

Weather – Spain is extremely hot during mid-summer, in July and August. The rest of the year the climate is generally temperate in the north, but warm in the south. August is the busiest month, while May and October are the best times for both ideal weather and fewer crowds. The climate of Madrid is dry, warm and pleasant. It's high altitude and proximity to mountains causes some wide variations in winter and summer temperatures. In summer, the heat at midday can be intense, with pleasantly cool evenings. Rain in Madrid is a rarity, with a short rainy season in late October and some showers in spring.

	Average Temperature
	Madrid, Spain		Seville, Spain
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	48 / 36	9 / 2	59 / 43	15 / 6
February	52 / 36	11 / 2	63 / 45	17 / 7
March	59 / 41	15 / 5	68 / 48	20 / 9
April	64 / 45	18 / 7	75 / 52	24 / 11
May	70 / 50	21 / 10	81 / 55	27 / 13
June	81 / 59	27 / 15	90 / 63	32 / 17
July	88 / 63	31 / 17	97 / 68	36 / 20
August	86 / 63	30 / 17	97 / 68	36 / 20
September	77 / 57	25 / 14	90 / 64	32 / 18
October	66 / 50	19 / 10	79 / 57	26 / 14
November	55 / 41	13 / 15	68 / 50	20 / 10
December	48 / 36	9 / 2	61 / 45	16 / 7
	Granada, Spain
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	56 / 34	13 / 1
February	66 / 36	19 / 2
March	66 / 40	19 / 4
April	69 / 43	21 / 6
May	77 / 49	25 / 9
June	88 / 56	31 / 13
July	94 / 60	34 / 16
August	94 / 60	34 / 16
September	85 / 56	29 / 13
October	73 / 49	23 / 9
November	62 / 41	17 / 5
December	56 / 37	13 / 3

	Average Rainfall
	Madrid, Spain		Seville, Spain
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	1.5	39	2.6	66
February	1.3	34	2.4	61
March	1.7	43	3.5	90
April	1.9	48	2.2	57
May	1.9	47	1.6	41
June	1.1	27	0.3	8
July	0.4	11	0.0	1
August	0.6	15	0.2	5
September	1.3	32	0.7	19
October	2.1	53	2.8	70
November	1.9	47	2.6	67
December	1.9	48	3.1	79
	Granada, Spain
Month	Inches	Millimeters
January	1.3	32
February	0.9	23
March	1.0	24
April	1.0	25
May	0.9	22
June	0.3	7
July	0.1	3
August	0.1	3
September	0.6	16
October	1.4	35
November	1.4	34
December	1.6	41

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in its Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties waived. Please click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck Travel Protection, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

60 days or more before departure
$600 per person (the amount of the deposit)

59-8 days before departure
$900 per person

7-1 days before departure
$1,500 per person

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.

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