I am interested in finding a small tour company to travel Spain with a group of nine people. Has anyone used a Different Spain? I am looking for Forum member Historytraveler who recommended them. Does anyone know how I contact a forum member?
thanks!

Yes, what would you like to know.

Wow. That was fast! I am so glad you found my post! Are you in the travel business or just an avid tourist? I am going crazy trying to find a tour for our group. I liked the Different Spain website that you recommended on my last post. I wanted to know about your tour? When, where, how long, how much? How many people in your group? Have you used different tour companies in Spain? Or elsewhere?

Sorry I went to bed shortly after I posted.

The trip was organize by a good friend for a group from Stanford that has an interest in medieval history, architecture etc. I don't know how she located this particular tour company.

A represntative came to one of the meetings and gave a talk about how we could organize the trip we wanted.The tourtaveled along the Pilgrim's route. The group met in Madrid and hen we headed to Tudela where we stayed for several days, on to Burgos for a couple of days, then Leon and finally Santigo de Compostela.
The caost was $2,520 (two weeks) not including airfare, but this was a very high end trip. We stayed in the best possible places, mostly paradors. The tour included a personal guide (excellent) through out the trip, a 40 person luxury coach (there were only about 24 of us), 13 nights in the best accomendation available, 7 lunches (with wine)all excellent and each a different kind of experience)6 evening meals, wine included (we wanted the opportunity to eat/explore on our own).

They are very willing to cater to any groups special interests, budgets etc.
They also offer a variety of pre-organized tours.I was extremely impressed with this company and don't hesitate to recommend them.

If you contact them you can tell them a member of the Sarumn group made the recommendation.

Hope this helps, if you have further questions please post.

Carol

I've done several guided tours and at one time organized my own small thematic tours. This was absolutely the best. Example: While in Astorga for a tour of the cathedral and the Episcopal Palace ( a work b A. Gaudi) we found the palace closed. Our tour guide got on the phone to the mayor and while the group meandered around the town, he managed to get a key and we ended up with a private tour on a day that the place was supposed to be closed.

This tour was in june of 2002 and we are currently planning another tour of southern Spain.

I'm very picky about tours especially since I've done my own, but this was first class.

I am so excited that you wrote me back with all this great information! My sister and I have spent so many hours researching different companies. We are exhausted and frustrated. We did a 3 week tour through Adventures Abroad several years ago and wanted to just book them again, using the same tour guide. But, they have been flakey, to say the least. I checked out the website you referred to in my last post for A Different Spain and found it impressive. But, I was really looking for someone who has actually used them before. I so much appreciate your info.

As a little background. We are taking a group of 4 girls graduating high school next year, their moms, myself and my sister. Do you work at Stanford? I am taking my daughter on a college tour this july to Northern California. We live in Huntington Beach.
Do you by some chance remember the name of your tour guide? I would love to request the same person if possible.

Hi whatakik2,

No I don't work at Stanford, but several of our members do. Most live in the San Francisco area.

Our tour guide was Javier Gomez.It was Steven Bileca (he lives in Californa) who attended our meeting and played a major part in planning our itinerary.

Steven, his wife Angela,Juan Tejeda and Javier are all part of the team/company. Javier and Steven are brother-in-laws.