Barcelona, Madrid, and Lisbon: Spain’s Historical Wonders & Beyond

Thanks to Zicasso’s tour operator, we had an amazing visit to Portugal. Here are the main reasons for the visit being so exceptional.

Accommodations: The hotels recommended were outstanding. They were located in the perfect areas in the cities we visited. They were updated, the rooms were excellent, and the amenities were plentiful.

Tour Guides: This is the biggest reason for our five-star review. The tour guides did not feel like employees of the tour operator. They felt like they were our friends. Our guides were very knowledgeable about all the places we visited. They were able to provide information that allowed us to understand the history of the places we were visiting. They truly wanted to make sure we had a great experience. They consistently made recommendations around places to eat, other sights to see, etc. Superb job by these gentlemen!!!!

Communication: From our first interaction until the end of the trip, communication from the travel specialist was excellent. The planning on what we should see and the order of the trip was perfect. She communicated with us during the trip to make sure we were aware of every detail. Great customer satisfaction.

Zicasso’s travel specialist designed a wonderful trip for my husband and me. He listened to our desires and picked specific activities and tours that really fit us perfectly. Everything was fantastic. Our tour guides were amazing, hotels were in fantastic locations, and the attention to detail in planning our trip was so evident. This is a trip we will remember forever. A member of the travel company was quick to help when needed, gave us great reminders, and made sure everything ran smoothly.

We just completed our amazing trip to Marrakech and Portugal… this trip exceeded our expectations. We (six of us—three couples) have so many memories from this trip; ones we will cherish for a long time.

First, we want to especially thank our travel specialist. Thank you—you made our trip the best.

Highlights included having every transfer smooth and on time, and every guide we had during the trip was super-engaged and informative.

All six of us highly recommend the travel company and our travel specialist in particular. We will definitely utilize this travel company again!

A flawless Spanish escape–Zicasso’s travel specialist is a mastermind!

Our recent vacation, organized by Zicasso’s tour operator, was nothing short of perfection. We worked closely with the travel specialist and I cannot recommend her and her team highly enough. If you are looking for a travel planner who combines a deep personal touch with the efficiency of a world-class executive assistant, look no further.

The Logistics: Seamless and Stress-Free

From the moment we arrived, we felt completely taken care of. One of the best decisions the travel specialist suggested was booking an extra night at our first hotel. This allowed us to check in immediately upon arrival rather than waiting until the afternoon. Those extra hours of rest gave us the energy to actually enjoy our first evening in Spain rather than losing a day to jet lag.

We also loved the small, thoughtful details, like having all of our tickets fully printed and ready for us at check-in. It removed every bit of "digital friction" and let us focus entirely on the experience.

The Accommodations and Experts

The hotel selections were fantastic; not only were the properties beautiful, but they were perfectly central to all the action. This was complemented by the guides the travel specialist arranged for us. Each one was exceptional, truly knowledgeable, and brought the history and culture of Spain to life in a way we never could have discovered on our own.

The Personal Touch and Proactive Care

The standout highlight for us was the cooking class—it was an absolute blast and something we will definitely be doing again on future trips.

However, what truly sets this team apart is their proactive "watchful eye." We had a train delay during our trip and before we even realized there might be a conflict, her team was already on it. They had contacted our vendors and adjusted our pick-up and tour times before we even knew there was an issue. It felt like having a personal executive assistant watching over us 24/7.

Final Verdict

We wouldn't have changed a single item. This was a perfect vacation. Huge thanks to the travel specialist and the entire tour operator for making our dream trip a reality!

I cannot say enough about this trip, from the first contact with our travel specialist to the incredible follow-up and arrangements. Although she was my primary contact throughout, I know her partner did a lot of behind-the-scenes work with the guides and transport. I have so much to say, but it would take a lot of time to do so.

I appreciated the ongoing status updates as to contact information for the guides and drivers. I also really appreciated the extra effort for accommodations when taking the train. The Madrid train station was a mess and I experienced all three of them. There is no way I could have maneuvered on my own, especially considering my phobia of escalators, and I am very directionally challenged. Our travel specialist arranged for assistance at every stop and followed up with the different offices to ensure I was attended to.

When I was not feeling well in Alicante and needed to cancel a dinner reservation, the travel specialist called for me. I made the reservation in person, so I was not able to access it through an online portal and they did not have a cell phone contact where I could use the WhatsApp. It was the quick responses to everything that was so appreciated.

The guides were wonderful, as were the drivers. I do intend to write reviews for those that I have information for. The itinerary, after a lot of back and forth, was great and I deferred to our travel specialist on her recommendations. I tend to get carried away and, as it is, I changed my departing flight to give me extra days.

I paid a lot for this trip and it was even more so because of the value of the U.S. dollar to the euro, but it is the price you pay. I think pricing was fair overall and that I was traveling in “low season” really helped.

I like boutique tour companies and the fact that the travel company is actually based in Spain made a difference. I had used another tour company before and, after the last two trips, decided to give Zicasso a try again and was not disappointed I did.

I know that I am just another tourist paying for the expertise and that essentially the owners need to accommodate me. That being said, I felt there was a connection and do hope to keep this relationship going. It was a pleasure to have dinner with our travel specialist and her husband. I like getting to know the people I am dealing with and do so with the guides and drivers. There are guides from previous trips that I am still in touch with.

I really appreciated this connection with the travel company. Although there was another company recommended, this one was more responsive and it is hard for me to make decisions.

Yes to this travel company and yes to future trips! In fact, with my travels to Spain, I have been told I have seen more of Spain than most Spaniards and hope to explore more.

Thank you to the travel company and thank you to Zicasso for the follow-up!

Zicasso’s travel specialist was outstanding. He organized a wonderful and thoughtful trip to Spain for us, hitting all the main sites, tailored to our wishes. He was very helpful during our trip as well, helping with additional restaurant reservations and monitoring our guided tours and train trips. He was truly excellent. We highly recommend his services.