Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid Vacations & Tours

The custom trip and itinerary were developed by Zicasso’s travel company and they made numerous recommendations for exploring, starting in Spain, in Madrid, and continuing down to numerous Andalusian cities, including Seville, Granada, Gibraltar, Málaga, and Córdoba.

Not only was the itinerary prepared with great detail and consideration, but every effort was taken to ensure the lodging requested met five-star requirements. Drivers and guides were assigned to us at all of our destinations, and this included airport arrivals and departures. Drivers and guides were not only punctual, they were personable and extremely knowledgeable, with decades of experience.

Our trip continued to Morocco, where we flew into Casablanca from Málaga. Again, airport connections were perfect and we had VIP arrival service on landing. Our driver and guide were aligned with us for the week we spent between Oualidia and Marrakech. Lodging was exceptional and our expectations were certainly exceeded.

Furthermore, the travel company made it a point to communicate with us openly over WhatsApp, answering the few questions we had in a prompt manner and checking in with us throughout the trip.

This is the first time I have 100% used a travel company and I could not have been more pleased with the delivery of the trip and the overall cost.

Our trip to northern Spain (Basque Country and Asturias) was a spectacular success, and our work with Zicasso’s travel specialist and the travel company were a huge part in making that a reality. The travel specialist was easy to work with, flexible, and efficient in the planning process. She did a wonderful job of listening and responding as we finalized our itinerary. She was also an awesome resource when we were in Spain, communicating with us proactively to check in and also responding promptly to any questions that arose.

Zicasso’s travel specialist was amazing; so patient with me as I asked silly questions, and when blizzards snarled our departure plans four times (!), she rolled with the punches and made adjustments quickly and easily so we didn't miss out on any of the fun and memories! Thank you, I can't wait for our next trip!

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.

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!