Customer Reviews for Go Ahead Tours Barcelona & Northern Spain
Go Ahead Tours Barcelona & Northern Spain
Discover the personality and charm of Barcelona and Spain's Basque Country.
Average Customer Rating:
(28 Reviews) 28
19 out of 19 100% of customers would recommend this tour.
Customer Reviews for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Review 1 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by clairv |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:9/29/2011 12:00:00 AM
Location:CA
Age:60+
Gender:Male
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by clairv |
November 3, 2011
another part of Spain
We had traveled through much of Spain, but not the northern area. If you want to see a different Spain, this is the trip for you. This trip encompasses climatic zones from the Mediterranean to the brown arid rain shadows of the Pyrenees to a green along the coast that will match Ireland. The trip is well paced and leaves just enough time for those with some energy and who like to explore a bit on their own via foot. The "old towns" in each city are unique and show another world centuries past.
Go Ahead Tours made flight arrangements for us a week early so we spent a week before the tour in a Barcelona apartment we rented and were glad we did it. It is an amazing city, and also walkable. It takes time to really soak in the flavor and ambiance.
The hotels on the tour were all located within or within walking distance of the old towns.
We were lucky to have the knowledgeable and humorous Jesus Martin as tour guide. Exceptionally nice were the night foot explorations he led of the cities we visited. They were not part of the planned activities, just something he did for those who wanted to work off the dinner calories! This gave us a very different feel for the cities from daylight exploration. Jesus also arranged an unplanned optional to Biarritz, France for an afternoon out of San Sebastion and it was an added bonus. And how many travelers can say they had a tour guide who ran with the bulls in Pamplona - and lived to tell us about it?
A surprise was that wine was provided with dinners. I also found wine incredibly inexpensive and available everywhere. Take a corkscrew! Some of the dinners needed wine, as the quality of them was a bit uneven. The bread and olive oil was sometimes the best thing! Don't count on butter, but who needs it? Breakfasts were good. Meals purchased on our own were all good! I didn't lose any weight.
If you don't take the optional to Picos de Europa, there is little to do in the quaint Santillana del Mar. But, don't miss this optional.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
+19points
20out of 21found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MKENNEDY |
Number of past tours:7
Traveled on:03/22/2012
Location:NC
Age:Under 30
Gender:Female
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by MKENNEDY |
April 14, 2012
Thorough Tour
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This was my 8th trip with Go Ahead and was not disappointed. I enjoyed every town, stop, museum, and guide. The only recommendation would be to incorporate the Tower of Hercules while in Galacia. Otherwise, thanks again Go Ahead, it was money well spent.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Food & Wine, Honeymoons, Experienced Travelers
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by BRAWLS |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:03/22/2012
Location:GA
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by BRAWLS |
April 6, 2012
A Trip Full of Wonderful Sights
My husband and I enjoyed our recent trip to Northern Spain. We saw a lot of sights that had been on my wish list for quite a while.One of the things that impressed me most about our tour was that so many of the rest of the fellow tourists had been on many other Go Ahead trips and spoke very highly of them. This was very reassuring and, indeed, we found our tour to be very well run with very nice hotels and an excellent guide. We were worried that the pace of the tour would be too demanding for my husband, but he was well catered for. Brenda Rawls
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Family Vacations, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Food & Wine, Honeymoons, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by JHARE15 |
Number of past tours:4
Traveled on:12/03/2011
Location:MA
Age:60+
Gender:Male
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by JHARE15 |
December 26, 2011
Northern Spain and Madrid Extension
My wife and I greatly enjoyed this trip. On a few occasions we chose not to go on included (Barcelona city tour) or optional offers (Picos de Europa) in order to have extra free time on our own. Because of the distance covered, stays are necessarily short. The schedule also necessitated evening (in the dark) or late day walking tours in Zaragoza and Oviedo after a full day on the bus. How about dropping some stops (perhaps Camillas and Lugo) to increase daylight time in other cities? Could you then eliminate one night stays in favor of all two (or even three) night stops? You can't see it all, so why not edit to allow more time in selected stops? Riu offered an unscheduled walk on the Madrid extension, which we all did, and we put together a farewell dinner with her.
Recommended for: Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
+7points
7out of 7found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by Harryshao |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:12/03/2011
Location:CA
Age:60+
Gender:Male
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by Harryshao |
December 26, 2011
Barcelona and Northern Spain
We have done about 20 tours in the last 4 to 5 years but this was our first tour with Goahead and we are pleased. Hotels are mostly centrally located and food was much better than we expected. Tour director , Riu Wakai is first rate and really took care of us. We are really impressed with everything from customer service, online accounting, and tour design and operation.
On this tour we did not have to get up earlier than 730 am, we had plenty of time to explore in depth each city we visited. Lots of walking tours.
Best part of the tour was the two night stay at the village of Santenella Del Mar.
This is exclusive with Goahead. Very quaint indeed. The restaurant of this hotel was where we had the included dinner is recommended by Michellin. The tour also included unlimited wine and bottled water with each meal. This is highly unusual especially for a tour at this price level.
The cobbled stone village and the trip to Tipo de Europa and Potes are unforgtable. I have already booked another two tours with Goahead.
On this tour we did not have to get up earlier than 730 am, we had plenty of time to explore in depth each city we visited. Lots of walking tours.
Best part of the tour was the two night stay at the village of Santenella Del Mar.
This is exclusive with Goahead. Very quaint indeed. The restaurant of this hotel was where we had the included dinner is recommended by Michellin. The tour also included unlimited wine and bottled water with each meal. This is highly unusual especially for a tour at this price level.
The cobbled stone village and the trip to Tipo de Europa and Potes are unforgtable. I have already booked another two tours with Goahead.
I do think Goahead should consider including in the itinerary the Barcelona cathedral and El Escoril Monastery in Madrid.
Before the tour, I did not believe the high star ratings on this reviews. Now I do. I rate this tour 5 stars.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Family Vacations, Art, History, & Culture, Honeymoons, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MSCHWARTZ42 |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:11/05/2011
Location:NY
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by MSCHWARTZ42 |
December 4, 2011
Barcelona and Northern Spain
an unusual itinerary with excellent tour director and local guides and good
choice of optional excursions with the one to the Picos of Europa a must.
choice of optional excursions with the one to the Picos of Europa a must.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 7 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by JDINA1 |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:11/05/2011
Location:NY
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by JDINA1 |
November 28, 2011
Nice Experience
My overall opinion of the trip was more than I anticipated. Northern Spain was beautiful and I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the places and cities visited.. There was more to see and do than time allowed. The tour director made the trip special and was knowledgeable of facts and history. My only negative was the choice of restaurants for group dinners. Food was sparing and not good.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture
+12points
12out of 12found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MKOUIDIS1 |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:11/05/2011
Location:AL
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by MKOUIDIS1 |
November 28, 2011
A worthwhile tour
Fran Valle , the tour director, made the tour. He was helpful and patient, combining knowledge of the area's history and landscape with an ironic sense of humor. The tour was well organized to provide a mixture of nature scenery, Roman ruins and Medieval towns, a general history of northern Spain, cathedrals (if that's your interest), and modern and contemporary architecture. I especially enjoyed the variety of towns, large and small. San Sebastian was a favorite, and Oviedo a delightful surprise. Two nights in the Medieval villlage of Santillana del Mar was a pleasant change of pace. A highlight was the day trip to Potes and Picos de Europa. Spectacular scenery. The excursion to the Rias Baixas and the mussel farm was interesting but marred by significant rain. We didn't get much sense of what was supposed to be lovely coastal scenery. But, then, this excursion came with a weather warning. We were fortunate overall that in an area that receives a lot of rain, we had clear skies most days. The hotels, conveniently located, and buffet breatksfasts were uniformly good, The big negative of the trip was the poor quality of the included dinners. The entrees were badly prepared and there was little sign of the wonderful vegetables we saw in the markets. There was copious wine, a plus for many of us. On the nights we were on our own for dinner we found excellent food. It pays to do some pre-trip research on restaurants. Given that this trip was rated a 4 in level of challenge, I expected a bit more walking.We were given time to explore on our own in most locations. All in all, it was a fine trip.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Nature & Wildlife, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+12points
12out of 12found this review helpful.
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Review 9 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by FALVERGUE19 |
Number of past tours:2
Traveled on:11/05/2011
Location:OR
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:solo
by FALVERGUE19 |
November 28, 2011
Barcelona and Northern Spain
Our tour met all expectations and many more! Our tour director, Fran,
was most informative and entertaining. His walking tours were very
enjoyable, and he showed great flexibility in planning add-ons to our itinerary,
We all loved the visit to the 14th-century castle and wine museum in Olite.
One member had researched a Spanish naval hero, and we visited
the memorial in his home town that had commemorated him with a centennial.
All local guides were knowledgeable and helpful.
was most informative and entertaining. His walking tours were very
enjoyable, and he showed great flexibility in planning add-ons to our itinerary,
We all loved the visit to the 14th-century castle and wine museum in Olite.
One member had researched a Spanish naval hero, and we visited
the memorial in his home town that had commemorated him with a centennial.
All local guides were knowledgeable and helpful.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Food & Wine, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+7points
7out of 7found this review helpful.
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Review 10 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by GRAMZY |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:11/05/2011
Location:MA
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:solo
by GRAMZY |
November 20, 2011
Unexpected Delights!
The expected sights were wonderful but the unexpected made the trip special. The amazing cleanliness of Barcelona, the fairy tale Disneyland castle in Olite, the stop at the prehistoric caves, and the whimsical and charming statues in the parks and squares of Santiago were unique. Plus Fran, our leader, was not only extremely knowledgeable but also a stand up comic. Now that was really unexpected!
I suggest providing a list of tour members and their cities ahead of time. It would make learning names much easier.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
+8points
8out of 8found this review helpful.
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Review 11 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by BSTEINMETZ1 |
Number of past tours:2
Traveled on:11/05/2011
Location:NY
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by BSTEINMETZ1 |
November 20, 2011
Northern Spain
Wonderful tour, excellent tour leader and driver however, i would modify the trip as follows: an additional two full days in Barcelona, (a must); eliminate Madrid, (the flight and overnight there kills the atmosphere of the northern tour) and save it for another type of tour; and have the seafood dinner in Santiago as the celebratory final dinner. Fly from Santiago to another city with connections back to NY or to wherever anyone wishes to go.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Food & Wine, Experienced Travelers
+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 12 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by goaheadstaff1 |
Number of past tours:2
Traveled on:9/29/2011 12:00:00 AM
Location:MA
Age:Under 30
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by goaheadstaff1 |
October 27, 2011
Amazing Spain!
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This trip was truly an amazing experience! The food, the culture, the architecture, the scenery - all stunning! Each city that we visited on this tour was so different than the last that each day offered a truly unique experience.
From Guadi's architecture in Barcelona, to the beaches in San Sebastian, and the cobblestone streets and small shops in Santillana Del Mar - each destination was awe inspiring.
I highly recommend this tour for the active traveler who does not like to see the world by bus. We were able to explore each destination by foot, and really experience all that Northern Spain has to offer!
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
+7points
8out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 13 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by DDANIELSON15 |
Number of past tours:7
Traveled on:9/29/2011 12:00:00 AM
Location:IL
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by DDANIELSON15 |
October 18, 2011
Great trip!
We went on Goahead's Grand Tour of Spain two years ago. Northern Spain is different but just as interesting - it's much greener. Spain is a very clean country. We had the same guide, Jesus, for both trips - he's super! The food was great, the people are so friendly, and the history is fascinating. We went out of our comfort zone and ate octopus and squid (you don't have to try either) and enjoyed all the food so much. The picos of Europa are a must-do - they are breathtaking. Each city we went to was unique and had something to offer. We totally enjoyed the trip.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+3points
5out of 7found this review helpful.
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Review 14 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by AGREEN12 |
Number of past tours:8
Traveled on:09/16/2010
Location:NY
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by AGREEN12 |
November 13, 2010
Great trip!
Sam was an incredible tour director. Great range of experiences. The visit to the Guggenheim museum in Bilboa was the highpoint for me. Love, love Barcelona and San Sebastian. Optional tour of Picos de Europa was thrilling. Great food, excellent seafood and tapas.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Food & Wine, Experienced Travelers
+20points
23out of 26found this review helpful.
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Review 15 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by JKELLER28 |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:10/07/2010
Location:NC
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:with a group coordinator/organization
by JKELLER28 |
November 10, 2010
Barcelona and Northern Spain
Great tour! Just the right pace for active "older" adults. Good hotels, plentiful food, enough free time to make personal choices--shopping or sightseeing or resting--whatever one wants. Excellent value for the money.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Experienced Travelers
+12points
15out of 18found this review helpful.
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Review 16 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
4
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by BABBOTT19 |
Number of past tours:3
Traveled on:09/16/2010
Location:MT
Age:50-59
Gender:Male
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by BABBOTT19 |
November 9, 2010
northern spain
A great trip with a much different flavor from southern Spain. We enjoyed the Picos de Europa, a side trip well worth the expense if you enjoy spectacular mountains. San Sebastian is incredible! Being a holy year, the Way of St. James was packed with pilgrims which gave the trip a truly unique experience.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+11points
12out of 13found this review helpful.
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Review 17 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by MPERRY29 |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:10/07/2010
Location:MA
Age:60+
Gender:Female
I traveled:solo
by MPERRY29 |
November 9, 2010
Barcelona and Northern Spain
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The places we visited were interesting, historic and beautiful. Enjoyed following the route and learning of the Pilgrims to the Cathedral. Food and wine were very good. Guide was well informed, helpful and kind to me as I experienced some dehydration. Some of the hotel choices could have been better. Fast paced trip.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Food & Wine, Experienced Travelers
+5points
7out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 18 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by kjamend |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:10/07/2010
Location:MO
Age:40-49
Gender:Female
I traveled:with friend(s)
by kjamend |
November 6, 2010
Great way to see Spain
I'd never traveled with Go Ahead and didn't really know what to expect. It was such a great experience and more than I could have hoped for. We had ample free time to do what we wanted. And the time spent with the group was time well spent. I love learning the history and nuance of where I visit and that's what Go Ahead provided. We especially loved our tour leader, Luis.
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Family Vacations, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Food & Wine, First Time Travelers, Experienced Travelers
+9points
10out of 11found this review helpful.
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Review 19 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
4
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by JWATSON198 |
Number of past tours:1
Traveled on:7/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Location:CA
Gender:Female
I traveled:solo
by JWATSON198 |
October 11, 2010
Worth the wait!
I had to wait 2 1/2 years to finally take this tour but it was worth it. I was thrilled to discover this often over looked part of Spain. The scenery was breathtaking and the art and architecture were world-class. San Sebastian was my favorite city but I enjoyed everywhere that we went. In fact, I didn't want to leave! I felt I could have stayed there forever!
Our tour guide was also very helpful and fun, giving us all sorts of "trivia" as he called it. We had many engrossing discussions in the front of the tour bus comparing and contrasting Spain with the USA. It was fascinating!
I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to go below the surface and see more of Spain. I have studied Spain for years-I am a Spanish teacher-but I still learned a great deal!
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Art, History, & Culture
+13points
14out of 15found this review helpful.
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Review 20 for Barcelona & Northern Spain
Overall Rating
Tour Value
5
/
5
Tour Director
5
/
5
Leisurely
Challenging
by BMCCARTHY298 |
Number of past tours:7
Traveled on:04/22/2010
Location:MA
Gender:Female
I traveled:with my spouse/significant other
by BMCCARTHY298 |
September 3, 2010
A Dream Trip Come True
Go Ahead must have a genius on its staff who planned the Barcelona and Northern Spain tour. Once we landed and toured the Gaudi architectural sites in Barcelona, we knew this trip would be different. We traveled through three different climate zones--the Mediterranean, continental, and Atlantic--where we viewed desert-like land, the lush Pyrenees and snow-capped Picos de Europa, and the ever-present sea in the northwest tip. The variety of the art and architectural wonders also delighted us. We saw replicas of the ancient cave paintings at Altamira, walked atop the old Roman walls of the city of Lugo, and marveled at the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art in Bilboa. The knowledge of our tour director about local culture and history seemed limitless. We were intrigued by accounts of Basque history and local customs, and we walked the route of the running of the bulls in Pamplona and saw pilgrims arriving at Santiago de Compostela. At the end of the day there was always the experience of excellent Spanish food, whether it be tapas or imaginative fish dishes. This was our second trip to Spain and we thought after the first, we'd never experience anything better, but this trip to the north was indeed "A Dream Trip Come True."
Recommended for: Active Travelers, Anniversary Trips, Solo Travelers, Art, History, & Culture, Trip Of A Lifetime, Food & Wine, Honeymoons, Experienced Travelers
+19points
19out of 19found this review helpful.
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