10-Day Family-Friendly Vacation to Spain & Portugal

I'd make this 4.5 stars if I could. We had a five-star experience with a few glitches, but they were addressed quickly and kindly.

Zicasso’s travel specialist is a gem. She goes out of her way to clearly communicate what to expect, who you'll be with, and the times for meets and activities. She made us feel special, as though we were her personal guests rather than just clients. We had a luggage issue that she went out of her way to help resolve.

We asked to stay in nice places with AC and king-size beds, and she delivered. All places were great and a bit different from what we're used to and from each other. Most of the drivers were also a lot of fun to be with and spoke at least reasonably good English.

I offer two suggestions for those who use this service. One, always verify meet times and contact info that you receive. Two, don't pre-book two meals in a day if you're staying at a place that offers breakfast. It's just too much food too close together.

We had an 11-day vacation. We chose variety rather than immersion, so went from Porto to Douro Valley to Alentejo to Lisbon to Lagos in the Algarve area, with some stops in between and drivers who brought us everywhere. Next time, we'd likely choose two or three places for a more immersive experience.

I highly recommend this travel company and the travel specialist in particular.

Zicasso’s travel specialist curated the perfect trip for our family in Portugal, with the perfect balance of guided tours and downtime. We would not have gotten such a great feel for the country on our own, and our guide was a gem!! Overall, it was an incredible vacation.

Zicasso exceeded our expectations! Our travel specialist listened to our requests, considered our lifestyle, and created the perfect 10-day itinerary through Portugal. We had amazing experiences we never could have planned on our own. While we are comfortable traveling on our own, this eliminated the stress. We cannot wait to plan our next adventure!

Logistics: We actually cleared customs and baggage claim very quickly in Lisbon upon arrival. We were able to get to the train station and change our ticket to a train two hours earlier. We were able to notify them such that our driver was waiting for us when we came in. In general, all our drivers and vehicles were top quality (especially our driver in Porto). Our only issue here is that sometimes the pick-up times were far too early for transport to rail stations, especially the one in Albufeira. We arrived well over an hour early in what is not one of the nicest train stations in Portugal.

Hotels: All of the hotels were well located. Some were a little unique, i.e., you opened the room door in Lagos and right in front of you was the toilet area, but all the rooms were adequate, with one exception. We found it somewhat frustrating there was no seating other than the bed in all three hotels, other than the desk chair, or in the case of Lisbon, the small hassock used at the desk. Yes, Lagos had a balcony, but it was not usable due to all the rain. This was especially true in Lisbon, where according to the pictures sent in our itinerary, there was a large sofa in the room for the class we picked, but there was nothing in the room we were assigned. One other little glitch is that when we changed our schedule to drop a night in Lagos and add one in Lisbon, the hotel told us we had our original four-night reservation and then a one-night reservation for the night we came in early. The desk clerk tried to tell us we could check in, but would have to check out in the morning and wait until check-in time the next day to get our new four-night reservation room. I did clear this up with the hotel supervisor the next morning, but if they would have held their position, it would have been very awkward.

Excursions: All the activities they put together were spectacular. They’ve really spoiled us to having travel that doesn’t include 20 to 30 people. The most amazing was the dinner at the winery, as we were the only ones there. The first tour in Porto was a little rough, as it was cold and rainy, and after an overnight flight the day before, we weren’t really expecting a food tour starting at 9am, but it all worked out. Also, the fado dinner was great, although I must say, I don’t usually finish dinner at 22:30.

We are so very thankful that we selected this travel company to be our go-to partner in Portugal. It was a pleasure working with them and they were able to put together a program with what we wanted, not some cookie-cutter program that we needed to comply with. I will be giving a strong recommendation to any of our friends who are considering Portugal as a destination and we’re hoping other Zicasso operators are of the same quality when we visit other destinations.

Thanks again for everything!

Just to clarify one thing, the dinner ending at 22:30 was not a complaint; it was an observation about having a new experience, especially since it was connected to the Fado dinner.

Bob F. and Conni A.

Our group of five ladies recently returned from a wonderful 10-day trip to Spain, visiting Madrid, Seville, and Málaga. From the very beginning, working with Zicasso’s travel specialists made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable.

During the planning stages, our travel specialist was outstanding. We had several phone calls and exchanged numerous emails, and he always listened carefully to my suggestions, while offering thoughtful recommendations of his own. Together, we created a customized itinerary that perfectly suited our group. Highlights included the flamenco show, guided tours of Madrid, Triana, Málaga, the Alhambra, and the Real Alcazar in Seville.

All of our tour guides were local, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing the history, culture, and culinary traditions of their cities. We particularly enjoyed our time in Triana with a local guide and our tour in Madrid with another local guide. Their insights and enthusiasm made our experiences even more memorable.

The logistics throughout the trip were excellent. Every transfer between airports, hotels, and train stations was punctual and professionally handled. Our drivers were always on time, courteous, and reliable.

The hotels selected for us were beautiful, comfortable, and conveniently located. The standout was our hotel in Málaga, which was absolutely stunning. We also appreciated the excellent breakfast options at each property. An added convenience was that every hotel allowed us to check in early, something our group greatly appreciated after traveling.

Throughout the trip, our travel specialists remained in close communication with us and were always responsive to any questions or requests. Our specialist consistently provided advance information regarding our guides and meeting locations, which made everything easy and stress-free. When our train from Málaga to Madrid was rescheduled to an earlier departure time, she promptly notified us, sent updated tickets, and arranged an earlier hotel pick-up, ensuring that everything went smoothly.

The level of stress that often accompanies international travel was significantly reduced thanks to the professionalism, organization, and attention to detail provided by the travel specialists. It was truly a pleasure working with them and their dedication ensured that every aspect of our trip ran smoothly.

We would not hesitate to recommend their services to anyone planning a trip to Spain. They helped create a memorable experience that our group will cherish for years to come.

The travel agent from Zicasso's tour company planned for my family of four the most spectacular and luxurious two-week trip around Portugal. We traveled to and enjoyed the highlights of Lisbon, the romantic architecture in Sintra, the incredible history of Évora, the beautiful coastline of the Algarve, the laid-back atmosphere and gorgeous scenery of Madeira, the beautiful, historical, bustling city of Porto, and the stunning scenery of the Douro Valley. 

The travel agent's suggestions and bookings were all perfectly aligned with what we envisioned and the accommodations booked were all beautifully appointed and family-oriented – five-star hotels that catered to the entire family, with indoor pools and kids greeted with backpacks and toys at the door, and nightly treats on pillows.

The tour guides booked were all very knowledgeable and kind. They were patient with my two- and four-year-olds, and taught us all so many new, amazing things.

Every day was a highlight, but I would say my girls really enjoyed the tile painting as well as the pastel de nata-making workshops.

My husband and I really enjoyed Évora and Sintra, and truly seeing the beauty and history of it all.

We absolutely fell in love with Portugal, the culture, and the food. My only regret is not having more time so we could’ve seen the Azores as well and stayed even longer. 

We so look forward to this travel agent planning us another perfect vacation in the near future!