Iberian Inspiration

Pace of tour excellent, liked the 2 night says. Not long time on the bus. Hotels good and very central. Size of group smaller max 18. Tour leader excellent very informative and kept things fun while being professional. Liked back roads off the freeways.

I cannot respond as I was unwell & cancelled my trip. So I did not do this tour. Please stop requesting my feedback!

We really enjoyed our time with Mercedes, Javier and our group of 16. This was our first group tour and we are looking forward to touring with Back Roads again. The mix of hotels , activities and excursions was well balanced with enough free time to explore for ourselves. Mercedes successfully ensured we all were able to experience and become experts in sherry , jamone and olive oil.

Having done our 1st enjoyable tour with Blue-Roads through Tuscany in 2016, my sister-in-law & I had high expectations for Iberian Inspiration. Unfortunately, we felt a bit let down for several reasons. We quickly discovered that only the 1st couple of seat rows seemed to receive A/C making travel uncomfortable any further back when the temp was 35°C. Swopping seats was not followed, so never given opportunity to sit at the front. Our 2nd bus had a substantial crack across the windscreen which was dangerous & maybe unroadworthy? Charging €1 for small bottle of water from bus fridge was a surprise. This was not done on Tuscan tour or my current Discover Portugal tour. Considering the tour cost, I think this additional charge was a bit rude. On the plus side, our tour guide, Chiara was very knowledgeable & friendly. She always posted times for meals, departures etc on the Whatsapp site which I found very helpful. Photo sharing was also great. Chiara took us on tapas evenings for those who wanted to participate - an excellent way to get to know everyone. One idea from another tour was to post a group photo with everyone's names alongside - a quick & easy way to get to know each other. A suggestion for future tour guides? We enjoyed visiting many interesting places in line with the tour notes. Also, found the local guides in certain places very good. Hotels were generally of a high standard esp Pousada Castelo de Estremoz, our last night. Unfortunately, on balance, I do not think the substantial cost equally balanced with the tour as described.

Our Iberian tour was an enjoyable, easy and fantastic way to see highlights of Spain and Portugal in a limited time. Our tour leader Patrizia was the best - she is fun, organised and super helpful to ensure everyone had the best travel experience possible. The hotels we stayed in were a very high standard and included an old convent and castle. The itinerary ensured we saw the top highlights of each town visited but there was also sufficient spare time to do your own thing. I would definitely travel with Blue-Roads in the future..

We had a wonderful time on the tour. Organised sections of the tour were great with enough self time to discover the joys of each town/city we stayed Patrizia our tour leader was amazing. Full of local knowledge and caring for everyone on the trip. I have food intolerances and Patrizia ensured that I was included in all tastings and meals. A shout out to our driver Augustine who not only was a brilliant drive navigating the narrow streets but shared his local knowledge with enthusiasm. Whether travelling with family and friends or a solo traveller I highly recommend this trip.

The tour itinerary was excellent, the pacing was well balanced between organised activities such as wine tasting, sherry tasting, olive oil tasting and ham tasting, and free time to allow you to do your own thing. Accommodation was very good and in a couple of cases, exceptional. The tour leader was positive, knowlegable, helpful and tuned in to the needs of individuals on the tour. We never had a bad recommendation from the tour leader.

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour through Spain. Lots of castles and churches! Was the very best when we were able to get off the highways and onto true Blue-Roads

Great tour with the best guide ever & drive.

Great tour made even better by our guide Patrizia who was amazing. Accommodation was excellent during the entire trip.

This tour is amazing! Our tour guide, Roccio, is what made the whole tour extra special. We had a fado performance with our first dinner, painted tiles, cooking lesson, wine tasting, saw beautiful cathedrals, churches, castles, palaces, etc. we were treated to a traditional Portugal dance at our last dinner. The balance between local tours and time to explore on our own was perfect. I highly recommend this tour.

We really enjoyed this trip through Spain. Sonia was the ultimate tour leader, always looking after our every need and constantly surprising us with unexpected views and special treats! She was there every evening to ensure we tried all the local food and helped us with our selections. We couldn’t have asked for more! The hotels we stayed in were a constant surprise, from convents to castles! The group of 18 were all of a similar age and interest and we all fitted together well. We would highly recommend this tour.

Great tour, saw some amazing places. Tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable and always went out of her way to give us assistance,

Great tour, lots of history. Sonya, our tour guide was brilliant, knowledgeable and kept us safe. Even though it was extremely hot, we did all the tours on offer. We had a fun loving group on our tour.

It was the best tour we have gone on. As the group was only 18 people, we all became very good friends, something we have never experienced before. Our tour guide Sonia Bugarin was absolutely wonderful. Her knowledge of every place was amazing. She was always happy and very caring on a personal level for each person on the tour. The whole tour was perfect.

The tour was well organised and led superbly by our Tour Leader Sonia. Our bus was very comfortable and our driver was excellent. The hotels were unique as were many of the destinations on the tour. The hotels with swimming pools were particularly welcome given the extremely high temperatures which some if us found hard to cope with. We had a lovely group on our tour - all Australian with the addition of two kiwi ladies. Our group were of similar ages and we shared an unforgettable experience that has really bonded us together.

Would definitely recommend this trip, a great way to see southern Spain. Our tour guide, Sonia, was absolutely fantastic and her knowledge and helpfulness was excellent. Our driver Jorge, always felt very safe, which helped make our trip so memorable, not to mention the great, fun group of people we travelled with. K. & M Naylor

Loved the Iberian Indpiration tour It was everything l had hoped for Tour guide Julia was fantastic & knowledgeable about each location The group of 18 was very friendly & sociableMostly couples & me & another single person We always felt included so that made for a very happy trip

The actual tour route and content was excellent, the transportation was horrible! The supposed luxury coach was NOT. My husband’s legs were so cramped up due to the seats being so close together he had to sit bent with his legs out into the isle of the coach. This resulted in lower back pain, hip pain and knee pain. Even I, a shorter person, struggled with the lack of leg room. If you placed a bottle of water or any other item in the small elastic storage bag in front of you, it meant that you couldn’t get your legs between these items and your seat to sit comfortably. Also there was no constant working fridge on the coach which meant that in days with over 38° heat we had no cold water.

The success of our Blue-Roads Tour of southern Spain was due to the high level of logistical organisation by the Blue-Roads people - this means that the route, transport arrangements, hotel accommodation, venue attractions and nominated food inclusions were of a very good standard. But, let it be said, that the real joy in the whole adventure was in our Tour Director, Patrizia Calzari - her diligence, high level of organisation, unceasing anticipation of the needs of our travelling group, personal attention to everyone's welfare and cheerful involvement with the group at all times was very special for us. She lingers in the hearts of us all and will for a long time to come.

A wonderful experience travelling from Madrid to Lisbon. A great group of people. Patrizia our tour guide went above & beyond to make our tour remarkable. An historical architectural experience visiting Mosques, Cathedrals, Churches, Synagogues & Palaces. Many steps climbed up & down for amazing vistas. Wine, olive oil, cherry, jamon & cheese tastings en route. The vista changed from dry arid ground with olive trees to rocky hills. Accommodation in interesting hotels culminating in our last night staying in a castle on the hill in Estremoz. Enjoyed tastings of speciality food in towns provided by Patrizia who also gave us good restaurant recommendations when meals were not included. Overall a great experience.

Fantastic experience travelling from Madrid to Lisbon. Patrizia was a fantastic tour leader who went above and beyond what was required of her to make the tour so enjoyable. Wine, olive oil, cherry, cheese & ham tasting to tempt our tastebuds. Interesting archaeological historical places we visited - Mosques, Cathedrals, Synagogues, Churches & Palaces. Many a step was climbed to reach these places. From rocky hills, vineyards to olive groves the terrain was variable as we drove along. The final icing on the cake was our hotel stay in a castle on a hill in Estremoz for our last night.

Tour was great. Patriza our tour leader was the best.

Our guide Chiara was excellent. Places visited were good and standard of accommodation and food was also very good

Tour was made fantastic by our coordinator “Edi” who made the trip a great experience. She coordinated all of us, difficult I know, never letting anyone to get lost and checking we all made it back at night ready to go in the morning. Such a vibrant personality

This was a tour that just got better every day. It was well balanced with cultural time, history, the most wonderful architecture, art and down time. The accommodation was niche and comfortable. The food in Spain is diverse and well presented. Well worth the money spent. Our guide Mercedes was 10 star. Thank you.

Enjoyed each day of the trip. Great accommodation and small size group

Our Iberian Experience with Blue-Roads was a truly memorable holiday. The accommodation, included meals, planned activities and small coach travel were only exceeded in quality and professional delivery by our amazing Tour Guide Georgina. She sets the new standard in professional, friendly, caring and knowledgeable tour guiding, while still having a great sense of humour and going above and beyond the normal guide’s role. We will certainly consider future tours with Blue-Roads, as this one was back to back with our Portugal tour, and it too was excellent. Highly recommend to other reasonable active, fun seeking persons.

Excellent tour which was well led by Chiara who went out of her way to assist us all. The accommodation was great and i did like not travelling for hours in a bus. The longest trip was for two hours.

The entire trip was up to and above expectations Laura our group leader was exceptional. As was our driver Marlo. The accomodation varied and very comfortable Activities fun and informative Places of interest. Also great.

The tour was amazing as were the incredible places we visited. Our tour leader Patricia was Knowledgeable and really look after us in a kind and helpful manner.

It was too hot on this trip The driver, guide and group were excellent

The places visited, along with the guidance from our tour guide, driver and other selected guides, were excellent. Spoiled by our earlier tour with your company in Italy, we became accustomed to having our bags picked up and delivered to our rooms as we stepped off at the entrance of the hotel. This was not always done on the second tour. Travelling in temperatures in the mid to high 30s (Celsius) at the end of a long day, the extra 3 to 10 blocks of walking was not well planned out. I am 80 (others much younger struggled), and I found it annoying and poorly thought out. Charging for a bottle of water onboard, even though 1 euro, should have been provided as part of the total package.

Great trip that takes in the main highlights plus adds wonderful “off track” immersion and not so well known spots. The pace is laid back, Sonya our tour leader knew her stuff and had lots of fun with the group along the way. Accommodation was a great mix of modern and historical buildings with charm and quaintness. There is some walking to hotels and some is steep so a level of fitness is needed. Highly recommended

Without a doubt this is the best tour we have been on. From the first rate itinerary to the top class hotels it has not only met but exceeded our expectations. Our tour guide, Patrizia, was highly knowledgeable, providing advice about every stop ensuring our time was spent productively. She was extremely professional, well organised and supportive of all participants. Her empathy and connection with each tour member assured a great holiday.

A relaxed pace and in a small group this is the perfect way to visit this part of Spain. The tour also takes all the stress out of planning, booking and transport, it’s all done for you. There are off road visits you wouldn’t do that are fantastic such as visiting and doing an olive oil tasting- sound weird but fun or visiting a pig farm and doing a tour of the Iberian ham making process. But the tour also covers the big hits in the bigger cities. Couldn’t recommend it more

The entire trip was outstanding. Accomodation, distance covered each day, comfortable experience on the vehicle made the experience exceptional. Tour guide Sonia provided great insight, advice and gave us great suggestions for eating etc. The great cohesion of our tour group made our total experience wonderful. Many memorable moments. A fantastic trip all around!

Mercedes was a fantastic host!

Sophy the tour guide and Francis the driver made this tour very special because of their professionalism and their caring and friendly approach. I loved the extra little tours like ham production, wine, port and olive oil tastings. Hotels were good, the pace was fine. A little extra mini tours to get us used to some of the towns would have been good.

Sarah and Fransisco only sometimes considering my health and well being. After visiting a Spanish hospital with Sarah in an emergency department, the doctor aftet viewing my extremely red and swollen feet, instructed me to elevate and test my feet. Fransisco did not always make the bus available to me for resting. Additionally when Sarah rang him to collect us from the hospital, he said that he would pick us up only after we had tried to get a taxi and after he had finished his lunch. On another day, Sarah grabbed my arm and marched me up a very very steep incline with no rail support. His arm s negligent behaviour on behalf of our guide, Sarah. My feet took a turn for the worst. Since returning from the tour, I have had ongoing problems with my feet, limiting my ability to walk. I have mounting medical bills and the doctor considered hospitalising me. The trips organisation was wonderful, but I never want to go on a back roads tour with Sarah and Francisco again. I have not outlined all my concerns with their behaviour. Janelle

Andre was an excellent guide. He had a great sense of humour andwas attentive and to the requests from the group. He provided excellent care and support when I was not well and in hospital. The tour covered everything we wanted to see in Spain. Having a small group worked very well. Well done Back Roads. We would recommend this tour to anyone.

This tour of Southern Spain was amazing. The walking tours, with local guides were very informative too. One thing we would point out is that this tour does have a lot of walking in it and for older people that might be an issue. I am in my 60's and fit, even fitter now but walking on cobblestones up to Castles and Palaces etc. Up and down can be a bit hard for some people. The cobblestones can be slippery. Wear good walking shoes. The Natural wine trip was very informative. Wonderful lunch and of course tasting them! The extra trips like the pig farm was fascinating and learning about the Jamon etc. Sherry tasting trip was great. The Hotels were really good and staying in a Palace was super special near the end of the trip. The meals that were provided and that was not every night were great. We had the best tour leader we could get. Patrizia was AMAZING and knew her history. She spoilt us with yummy food from different parts of Spain. She went over and above with us. Nothing was a hassle. She worked to make it a very special trip for us and we are so grateful for that. We are already thinking of our next trip with Blue-Roads. Our driver Eduardo was such a good safe driver and we were thrilled to ask him to join us on our last dinner with the group. We liked the fact that it was a smaller bus and we have made some very special friends from this experience. Four of us Kiwis and the rest Australians but everyone got on. Magic. Thank you for a wonderful time in Spain and all the memories. We will be back.

Good itinerary, hotels situated in very convenient locations, very helpful and knowledgeable tour leader.

The small bus is not for large men or those with limited mobility but our guide was lovely and the hotels outstanding. Too much free time in cities we didn’t know our way around so some attractions missed unfortunately. Some of the educational activities also seemed time wasters. Fixing those issues would make Tour better value.

It was great to enjoy some of the less travelled roads to some amazing destinations. Our tour leader was superwoman - organised, knowledgeable, helpful and thoughtful. Our driver was very competent and considerate and safe. I highly recommend this tour - it was a great experience for someone who was new to travelling and for anyone looking for a friendly small group adventure.