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SPANISH FIESTA
FEATURING VIP VIEWING BALCONIES FOR THE FAMED RUNNING OF THE BULLS
PLUS
BARCELONA, MADRID
AND
THE SCINTILLATING ISLAND OF IBIZA
JULY 7-18, 2011
Live the excitement this summer !
Travel with us to Spain where we will be treated as VIPs to view the finale of the famed Running of the Bulls with two days and nights to savor the pulse of this world famous event. We will also enjoy two 1st class days of sights, sounds and Tapas in Madrid, two days and nights in Barcelona, the exotic home of the 1992 Summer Olympics and four 1st class days to savor the gorgeous beaches, scintillating nightlife an exciting jeep safari and beautiful sunset sailing excursion on the island of Ibiza
ITINERARY
July 07, Thursday: JFK AIRPORT TO MADRID SPAIN
Depart with your All Singles Travel representative from New York JFK at 6pm on an overnight trans-Atlantic flight on Iberia Airlines. Your AST rep will be with you for the entire trip, including all flights, hotels and tours and is always available to you for any questions or needs during your tour. He will be joined by a local bi-lingual guide in each city and our group will enjoy a panoramic tour of each city’s unique sights, led by the local guide, offering historical commentary of the sights.
Our group and its AST trip escort will also be joined, for our 3 day/2 night visit to Pamplona July 12-14, by a local bi-lingual tour manager who will provide expert leadership of our visit to the famed Running of the Bulls and our VIP balcony viewing of the event on July 13th
July 8, Friday: MADRID
Flight arrival at Madrid airport. After claiming bags and proceeding through local customs, we will meet our local bi-lingual tour guide outside the luggage claim area and we will be escorted to our awaiting chartered coach where our bags will be loaded for us and we will depart for our tour of the city.
We will enjoy an escorted panoramic tour with our local bi-lingual guide. We will observe some of Madrid's most outstanding attractions, like the Puerta del Sol, the magnificent fountains of Neptune and Cibeles, the stately Alcala Gate, the busy Gran Via, the Plaza de España and the Plaza de Oriente.
At the end of our tour, we will be transferred to our First Class hotel, The Hotel Santo Domingo, centrally located close to the major attractions of the city, enabling easy access and transport.
We will be assisted with our bags and check in to our rooms.
The rest of the day is free to enjoy the culture of Madrid and the local cuisine.
It is suggested that you take advantage of the free time to enjoy one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan and lively cities. In the evening, choose from a wide variety of fabulous restaurants, featuring Spanish Tapas (local specialties served in appetizer portions) and other local cuisine. You may wish to dine at the Pueblo Español, featuring architectural replicas from all of Spain’s regions.
July 9 Saturday – Madrid
Today is a full free day to explore Madrid at your leisure. Visit the fabulous Prado museum, or many of the other vibrant sights of Madrid.
July 10th –Sunday - Today we will be transferred to the airport for our nonstop mid day flight to Barcelona
Upon arrival, we will again be met by a local bi-lingual guide that will escort us to our chartered coach, assist with baggage and enjoy a panoramic city tour of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. See the ancient Gothic Quarter with its magnificent cathedral. Stop to admire the exterior of Gaudi’s masterwork, the Basilica of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia).
Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
Gaudi initially designed 18 towers for this basilica, representing the Twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ (at 170 meters- its, over 500 feet!). The tallest tower is one meter smaller than a nearby hill, since Gaudi thought that his work should not outdo God’s work.
After our tour we will be transferred to our hotel the 4 star
Hotel Catalonia Ramblas ****
This magnificent modernist-style hotel is situated in the historical centre of Barcelona, near Las Ramblas and a few meters from Plaza Cataluña. An emblematic building from the beginning of the 20th century, with its own personality and completely refurbished to modern-day standards. Its privileged location allows guests to enjoy the varied cultural and commercial options on offer in the city to the full. It also has a restaurant and swimming pool
Rooms have air conditioning, marble bathrooms, hairdryers, safe deposit box, minbar and free wifi
The hotel’s location is ideal, just a short walk from the famed las Ramblas, the tree lined boulevard where you may stroll past delightful mimes in the most unique and creative array of costumes and themes, plus open air cafes and shops.
The hotel is also a short walk from Cataluniya Plaza and the metro station, offering easy access to most anything in this fabulous city.
Also inside our first class hotel, After an intense day in Barcelona, reserve part of your free time to enjoy and relax in the hotel’s sauna, the Turkish bath or the soothing Jacuzzi. Or if you prefer, you can choose a full work over and make an appointment for the cyclonic and aromatherapy showers or massage cabins. You are in the hands of the best professionals.
July 11th –Monday
Today is a full free day to explore Barcelona at your leisure. Visit the Picasso museum to witness works of the amazing artist and learn about his fascinating life. Visit the funky Dali museum to learn about the quirky life and works of artist Salvador Dali or take a stroll through scenic Guell park.
July 12, Tuesday: BARCELONA - PAMPLONA
Buffet breakfast included at our hotel. At mid day we will be met by our local bilingual tour manager that will accompany our allsinglestravel tour escort and the group on our thrilling 3 day/2 night visit to the famed Running of the Bulls in Pamplona Spain.
We will be transported aboard a chartered air conditioned coach to Pamplona.
Enroute, we will stop in the town of Zaragosa and visit its fascinating cathedral.
On arrival in Pamplona in the late afternoon we will be transferred to our 4 star hotel, the AC Ciudad De Pamplona.
Ideally situated, our hotel is within easy walking distance of the main festival area of the San Fermin Festival of which we will be enjoying many festive activities during our stay in Pamplona, while also being just far enough away from the festival’s heart, that when you have enjoyed a full day (and night’s) activity and are ready to relax, you can enjoy a pleasant and quiet night’s sleep.
Also, because of its ideal location just outside of the hub of the city center, the hotel is also walking distance from a few establishments favored by locals, including a couple of great restaurants/cafes and even an Irish pub just around the corner, that is popular amongst the locals (and was a great hit amongst our passengers on our 2010 ROB trip..
ROOMS
When you enter your room, you will feel like you have entered into a place deigned to help you rest, like the four pillows on your bed. Exclusive details, such as the special reading lamps on the bed head, non-smoking rooms, room service and personal climate control. Designed to make you feel that your room is always how you want it.
Our hotel also has complimentary internet access, its own fitness center with complimentary access and a selection of complimentary mineral waters to enjoy before, in the middle of, or after a long day of fun and festivity.
Our guests will enjoy 24 hour room service, to sooth those late night munchies after a long day or night of fun.
Guests can also avail themselves of safety deposit boxes, hair dryers and mini bar service in their rooms. (the mini bar offers complimentary snacks and beverages provided by the hotel featuring waters, soft drinks and even local beers)
One online reviewer summed up the appeal of our hotel best as:
“Excellent hotel”
AC Ciudad de Pamplona
Hoboken Traveller 27 contributions
Hoboken
Jul 21, 2004
What a great find. We booked this only a month before we arrived for San Fermin
The beds were some of the most comfortable, the bathrooms were lovely, the gym was functional, the free mini bar was much appreciated and the restaurant in the hotel was very nice.
The hotel is located in the South of town in a residential area which has loads of local bars and restaurants including a fabulous Irish bar located across the street (our 2010 group loved this Irish pub as a gathering place each night for fun, music and spirits.).
Click or paste the link below to read the write up in the popular expedi.com website
http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll/qscr=dspv/htid=912655/crti=2/hotel-information
July 13, Wednesday: PAMPLONA
. This morning, we will be taken to our reserved VIP balcony, right above the street where the Running of the Bulls takes place. From here we will have the best vantage point to witness the sights and sounds, the spectacle and the pageantry that make the Running of the Bulls such an amazing event to witness. We will enjoy watching the event from a safe distance above the course, where we can have an ideal opportunity to photograph all the action and excitement.
We will be served fresh pastries and juices from our VIP balcony while we enjoy all the action unfolding on the street below us.
In Spanish, the event is called The "Encierro.
Three rockets announce that the bulls are running and it takes them just minutes to travel the entire ½ mile course.
The Running of the Bulls is actually a daily part of the annual Festival of San Fermin, a 9 day festival, full of parties, music, dancing and much more.
Following the conclusion of today’s Running of the Bulls, we will enjoy a breakfast buffet and then we will enjoy a guided walking tour of Pamplona with our local bi-lingual tour manager, who will point out the highlights of this fabulous and historic old city. Our guide will also point out the best places to enjoy the many other activities that take place during the Festival of San Fermin, which continues all week and of which the Running of the Bulls is merely the most famous element.
The balance of the day is at leisure to enjoy the many other activities of the San Fermin Festival.
The festival features a range of concerts, street parties and dancing,
Music - During The San Fermin Festival you can enjoy a real abundance of all kinds of music in the streets of Pamplona
Local regional music, txistularis and gaiteros, the brass bands of the "Peñas", The municipal brass band - The Pamplonesa. Then there are buskers in the street of all kinds - Peruvians, Rockers or Jazz.
Then there are the official shows - open- air concerts with salsas and a wide variety of musical performances.
Then there are the open-air dances in several places around the town. And of course, in practically all the bars there is music from all sorts of contemporary music. You'll see and pick the music and the atmosphere that you enjoy to your tastes.
Nearly every day (Check the official program) at the same open-air venue, there is a performance of traditional Basque rural sports on show. There are "aizkolariak"(lumber-jacks), "harrijasotzaileak"(a contest of weight-lifting with heavy stone boulders), "Txingas" and other such local contests and events.
In the Media Luna Park there are performances in the afternoon, all related to the basque culture. Some of these feature traditional basque singing -"bertsolariak" - where songs are spontaneously invented and sung on contemporary social themes of the day.
Others will have "txistus" - where there is a concert with the characteristic traditional basque flute.
At that time in the Paseo Sarasate there will be "jotas" some days -popular traditional songs from the south of Navarra-.
Every evening at 8:30 other regions are represented in “El Bosquecillo” music and dances from Andalucía, Galicia, Extremadura, etc
EATING DURING THE FESTIVAL
The classic eating hours in Pamplona are from 2 until about 3.30 in the afternoon. Dinner is usually served between 9.00 and 11.00 at night. However, during the days of the Fiesta, you can sit down to eat at lunch as late as 5 in the afternoon and likewise, sit down for dinner any time, even as late as midnight and get served without problem.
July 14, Thursday: PAMPLONA
Buffet breakfast included at our hotel.
After breakfast, this morning is at your leisure to relax at the hotel or If you wish, you may return by the public transit system to take the easy 10 minute ride back into the center of town to again witness the Running of the Bulls from public viewing platforms, on this the final day of the festival (the ROB takes place at 8am each day of the 9 day festival) or for the adventurous, you may wish to join in the running (its free and open to the public. In our 2010 group, 3 of our 25 passengers choose to run with the bulls on the final day of the festival and afterward, shared with the rest of the group, exciting stories of their run!)
The event is different every morning, as it is always unpredictable what you will see the magnificent bulls do as they charge through the streets after a frenetic rush of both locals and visitors that have chosen to “Run with the Bulls”
Note: Although participation in the actual Running of the Bulls is free and open to anyone, passengers should exercise great caution if choosing to do so, due to the inherent risks and dangers and only do so on the 14th after viewing the event as part of the group’s VIP balcony viewing on the 13th.(Participation waiver of liability is required for passengers choosing to run with the bulls)
Passengers not wishing to return to view the ROB this morning, or to stroll through the shops in the center of town one more time for last minute memorabilia, or run in this morning’s event, may relax at the hotel and just enjoy the morning at leisure.
At mid day we will be transferred from the hotel to the airport for our flight to the island of Ibiza (with one connection in Madrid).
Arriving at 5:45pm, we will be transferred to our 4 star hotel for the final 4 nights, the Hotel Garbi and Spa, along stunning Playa Den Bossa ( Den Bossa Beach)
Beautifully located on the front line of Ibiza’s Playa Den Bossa beach the Hotel Garbi offers every facility imaginable to make your stay at the resort unforgettable. This newly renovated, 4-star hotel is right along the superb Playa d’en Bossa beach, within walking distance of the island’s best bars and clubs.
The impressive facilities include a pool bar, a chill-out bar and restaurant in front of the beach, a disco, a tennis court, a Jacuzzi, a supermarket and a souvenir shop
All of the rooms are fully-equipped with modern facilities, Air Conditioned, Mini fridge, hair dryer, WI-FI (free), Lateral sea views and a balcony with a side sea view.
There are plenty of sporting and leisure facilities on offer in the area immediately surrounding the hotel. All kinds of water sports are available at the beach, including windsurfing, water skiing, catamarans, sailing, jet skiing and diving, with a dive school offering lessons for the beginner.
All of the island’s best bars and clubs are within easy reach of the hotel, with plenty of discos, music bars, cafes and bars just a short walk away. The legendary Space nightclub, the most popular of all night clubs in Europe and Bora Bora beach club are just 5 minutes walk from the hotel.
The resort itself has adapted well to this phenomena with the famous Bora Bora bar on the beach being the most well known of the many pre-club dance bars Playa den Bossa has to offer.
Take a walk down the main street at night and the atmosphere is as amazing as the choice is varied, encompassing Spanish cafes and restaurants, disco bars, Irish and English bars, cocktail bars and an international mix of clubbers and holiday makers.
Ibiza town is just 2 miles away and there is a regular bus service running from the hotel to and from the town every half an hour.
This evening is free to enjoy this vacationer’s paradise.
July 15, Friday: - IBIZA
Buffet breakfast included at our hotel. Today is a free day to relax on the beach, or take optional excursions.
In the late afternoon, we will be picked up at our hotel and taken to the marina where we will enjoy an included sunset cruise . We will enjoy the sights of the scenic coastline of the island with its impressive cliffs.
Refreshments will be provided on board and a fabulous sunset at sea will be enjoyed.
We will be transferred back to our hotel after our sunset cruise and we will enjoy the balance of the evening and night to enjoy the hopping, legendary nightlife of Ibiza, featuring some of the largest nightclubs in the world.
July 16, Saturday: IBIZA
Buffet breakfast included at our hotel.
This morning we will enjoy an included jeep safari. It’s a fun way to explore the island with a professional driver and guide in each jeep to point of scenic sights of interest.
We will be returned to our hotel after the hotel and we will enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Ibiza is famous for both its beach life, as well as its nightlife. It has been termed” The Entertainment island of the world”
It's the undisputed dance Mecca of Europe. - Ibiza boasts some of the biggest and best night clubs in the world attracting the rich and famous, the young, trendy & the beautiful.
Nightlife in Ibiza is something that you have to experience to truly appreciate. Arguably nowhere else on the planet comes close to matching Ibiza’s great variety of bars, its implausible clubs, the flamboyant dress-sense and the overall mindset for the night oriented lifestyle. This is the party isle. Whether it be a relaxed drink on the famous sun-set strip in San Antonio, an extravagant cocktail in the trendy setting of Ibiza Town’s Sa Marina district or a rave in one of the island’s super-clubs, the island has it all…and much, much more. Las Vegas might have trademarked the phrase, ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’; but a similar idiom could be used for Ibiza.
The nightclub Space, located along Playa (Beach) d'en Bossa has twice received the International Dance Music Award as Club as best Night Club in the World. 
In the evenings, enjoy dinner at one of Ibiza's many great restaurants. Those on the portside strips of Ibiza Town and San Antonio are particularly atmospheric, and are ideally located for the clubs and bars. Many of the island's restaurants specialize in traditional Ibicenco food - mainly fish - and are excellent value for money.
July 17, Sunday: IBIZA
Buffet breakfast included at our hotel.
Today is a full Free day to enjoy at your leisure.
July 18, Monday: IBIZA – MADRID - JFK
Buffet breakfast included at our hotel. This morning we will have a Pre-arranged group transfer to Ibiza airport to check-in for our flight at 11:30 this morning to Madrid.
Arrival at Madrid airport and then connect to our nonstop flight to NY-JFK airport arriving at 4:05pm
OUR SPANISH FIESTA INCLUDES:
- ROUND TRIP AIR ON IBERIA AIRLINES FROM NY-JFK AIRPORT
- 2 NIGHTS 1ST CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS IN MADRID SPAIN
- 2 NIGHTS 1ST CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS IN BARCELONA SPAIN
- 2 NTS. 1ST CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS IN PAMPLONA SPAIN
- 4 NTS. 1ST CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS ON THE ISLAND OF IBIZA SPAIN
- CITY HIGHLIGHTS SIGHTSEEING TOUR IN MADRID SPAIN
- CITY HIGHLIGHTS SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF BARCELONA
- VIP BALCONY VIEWING FOR ONE DAY AT THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS IN PAMPLONA SPAIN ON JULY 13TH
- JEEP SAFARI ISLAND TOUR ON IBIZA
- SUNSET SAILING CRUISE ON IBIZA
- BREAKFAST DAILY AT EACH HOTEL EVERY DAY OF THE TRIP (and at a local restaurant in Pamplona on July 13th)
- ALL AIRPORT/HOTEL TRANSFERS IN SPAIN
- TRANSPORTATION ON CHARTERED AIR CONDITIONED COACHES FOR ALL SIGHTSEEING TOURS AND FOR THE DAY TRIP FROM BARCELONA TO PAMPLONA JULY 12th
- ALLSINGLESTRAVEL.COM TRIP ESCORT FROM START TO FINISH OVER THE ENTIRE TRIP JULY 7-18
- LOCAL BI-LINGUAL GUIDANCE ON ALL SIGHTSEEING TOURS
- LOCAL BI-LINGUAL TOUR MANAGER ON OUR 3 DAY/2NIGHT VISIT TO THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS IN PAMPLONA
- FREE ROOMMATE MATCHING BASED ON AGE, SEX AND SMOKING OR NON SMOKING PREFERENCE
TRIP COST: $3499 + TAXES OF $159 (TAXES SUBJECT TO CHANGE )
Optional single supplement for anyone not wishing our free roommate matching service: $1099
A DEPOSIT OF $200 IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS OR BOOKING, DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDABLE IF CANCELLED BY FEBRUARY 20TH AND NON REFUNDABLE THEREAFTER.
A SECOND DEPOSIT OF $400 IS DUE MARCH 1st AND IS NON REFUNDABLE UPON RECEIPT.
BALANCE PAYMENTS ARE DUE APRIL 26TH AND ARE NON REFUNDABLE.
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