Totally Spain…
Belen put together an absolute ***-kickin' trip for us particularly in light of the short notice that we gave her. That is, spouse Irene and I discovered that we were suddenly committed in late February to meeting family in Palma, then Barcelona in only 26 days. Tours, language, and attractions were covered while in both those towns, but we needed someone to react fast to extend our trip alone from Barcelona to Madrid, to Seville, to Lisbon, to Fatima, and finally home to Michigan. By the way, considering the timeliness of this trip, a group tour was out of the question......but we're not real excited about the confinement of group tours anyway, maybe not that social, and prefer flexibility. In fact, we've never been on a group tour, not a private one either, for that matter....until now.
Imagine our apprehension as non-Spanish speakers in the wake of a recent trip to Bogota, Colombia where literally nobody spoke English (exaggerating here, but almost true) and our Spanish-fluent son was our only lifeline. Language-wise we were shell-shocked from that trip and wondering if we could really trust the axiom..."Well you can get by in Europe. Plenty of people know English." Then top that with the stress of picking the right attractions to visit, train transport, transfers to hotels...and, by the way, which hotels should we book? Totally Spain came to our rescue.
Yes. the other reviews are indeed true. The drivers were prompt and very courteous, picking us up and attentively guiding us to wherever we needed to be. The hotels were excellent with friendly personnel and great amenities without extravagance. The daily tour guides were delightful and instructive. It was very obvious to us that Belen knows the cities, the people, and the accommodations providing the best bang for your buck (uh, Euro, that is). We really loved the itinerary she put together for us.
Most importantly:
1. We worked with a few other travel agencies and found them somewhat unresponsive and sometimes difficult to reach. Belen, on the other hand, stayed right with us.....and bugged me to get movin' and decidin' else our window would close for reservations, etc. Whenever, I called she was there. Imagine a warm body to speak with ALWAYS. Whenever I e-mailed she was there. Thanks much for your tenacity, Belen!
2. Our private day trip from Lisbon to Fatima and back was very memorable. The travel provider (Amiroad) was top-notch and the driver was a kind and considerate man. He allowed us to walk and reflect privately as desired. Even bought us a gift that he knew would touch me personally.
3. Finally, the price was right.......very competitive. If you're looking for a private tour package, this is the place. Considering all the above, when it comes to Spain and Portugal, I would highly recommend you refrain from spending time with anyone else but Totally Spain. 5-star review all the way.
Dan and Irene Emeott, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
27 March 2025
Unprompted review