I travel solo so I'm always seeking out an escorted tour. Found one for 8 nights in May through Petrabax. It begins in Barcelona and continues to Madrid, Seville, Granada, and fly back out of Madrid. Anyone have experience with this tour company? I'm looking for a quick "taste" of Spain and thought this might work on my budget.

I’m familiar with Petrabax. Their Escorted Tours will probably suit you fine when it comes to getting a quick glance, or taste of Spain, but don't expect too much when changing locations so often in only eight days.

Author; Colom
Date;05/03/2008,12;00p.m.

I traveled with Petrabax[out of N.Y. with a company under the name of Traspertours] back in July of 2006
to Northern Spain and it was a nightmare.We had a tour guide who flubbed his way through and you could tell he knew nothing. At every destination,whether it was Santiago DeCompostelo or Fatima,We were on our own
to figure out what was what.The bus driver and Tour guide went off on their own to sit in a cafe until it was
time to get back on the bus. The worse was when, I had to find a bank to get some Euros,since I was out of cash.Unfortunately,I got lost and could not find the bus or a policeman, I was terrified that they would leave without me.I finally found a policeman an hour later, who knew about the situation and escorted me back to where the bus was waiting.
The Tour guide proceeded to chew me out in front of
everyone about how I had held everyone up for an hour .He had no regard for the terrifying experience, I had just gone through being stranded in a strange country with no clothing or anything.When,I got back to my seat,he came and sat next to me and continued
his tirade.I was in tears by then.Other tour members came back to console me and said he was a jerk,to just ignore him. As God would have it,when we proceeded on the trip that day,we were held up for over an hour by the police at a checkpoint checking the driver's log and how many hours, he had been driving.Of course,this coincidence completely escaped him.Everyone of us on that trip gave it a bad review and we all vowed never to travel with them again. I am a seasoned traveler,having gone to Spain[southern].Italy.France,Israel etc. and I have never experienced anything like this.Every time, I think about that trip,I shudder with disgust.

Although we really prefer independent travel if you must travel with an organized tour, I would suggest an "at leisure" tour with a company like Globus, it's pretty good in that you get to be in one place for a while not just racing around every minute of the day.

You DO have to be up & at em pretty early most days, but there is quite a bit more free time.

We did this one a while back when my mom was alive and then added some independent travel to it.
It is a whole different experience though in a tour group, pros & cons.

By the way there are several good trip reports on this forum of solo travelers you might just decide to go alone after all after you read them.

ams

I used to see lots of ads for Petrabax, but the last few years they seem to have quit advertising. I haven't ever used them, but was interested in the Spanish speaking tours they offered for my daughter.

Kybourbon I know my folks had a good time on Petrabax on the 80s because they met other (older) Spanish Speaking tourists and that was frankly more fun for them brcause they knew the same songs and so forth.

Gin maybe someone knows of a a particular custom group you can join? A club or something?

When are you wanting to travel anyway?

ams