Excursion program 'Three Kingdoms'

When we went out to the airport lounge El Prat (Barcelona), we did not see the promised meeting with a sign "Novovira" / our names. At first, they did not panic, since the plane arrived 20 minutes earlier. After waiting half an hour, we decided to still call the Latvian number. They promised to find out and call back. After waiting another 15 minutes, they called themselves again. We were told that we had arrived at the wrong terminal (T1) and that the manager Vladimir and other arrivals were waiting for us in another terminal (T2), chaotically and not quite consistently explained how to get to the other terminal (T2) and sent Vladimir's number, to whom we called. He also chaotically and inconsistently said the same thing, and later stopped picking up the phone altogether. We got to another terminal, where it turned out that Vladimir had already left and we had to wait another 10 minutes for Alexander. After 15 minutes, Alexander came up, we went with him to another room, where we remained to wait for other arrivals.

As a result, we reached the hotel after 2 hours, as we arrived. We received the following answers to our questions: "if no one meets you, then yes, you need to call and find out", this is a group transfer", "if you yourself did not get to another terminal, then you would have to wait another hour for other tourists arriving later". From other tourists, we later learned that because they were also waiting for someone, and because of this they did not have time for the tour. Alexander, on the way to the hotel, offered to buy front seats on the bus for 30 euros per person It turned out that the hotel is located 10 km from the center of Barcelona, ​​and if we want to take an additional excursion to the "Spanish Village", then he can throw us there, but we will have to get back after the fantasies show (at 11 pm?) by yourself (taxi or metro+tram).

The next day, already on the bus, the front seats were offered for 20 euros, and headphones - for 10 euros per person, and the guide Larisa warned everyone to set aside 5 euros to thank the driver. Only we were indignant, probably, for Russians this is the norm, but in our country the tax service arranged a trial for such a thing. Of all 4 hotels, only 2 really corresponded to 4 * (in Valencia and Lloret de Mar). In Madrid, we were more fortunate than those who lived in 3 *, because we could get to the center or to the hotel after dinner at the restaurant on foot, but they had to get to the general public for their money. transport (bought a bus ticket or used a guide's metro pass, and then they gave her money). Flamenco evening with a drink (not sangria, sour compote) is clearly not worth the money (40 euros per person). An excursion to Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen cost 70 euros, to Montserrat - 20.

It is strange that a guided visit to the Prado Museum cost 35 euros, although usually group tours are cheaper (for comparison, if you buy a ticket on the Internet yourself, it's 15 euros, with a personal guide - 40). For additional excursions, as well as for everything else, the guide did not issue checks. For Russians, this is probably a normal practice, but in our country such an action could have unpleasant consequences. The program itself is very rich, we did not think that there would be no rest at sea at all. For the sake of at least one day, they refused a trip to Girona and a visit to the Dali Theater. Although it would be better if there was no trip to Toledo. We had a return flight at 17:00, but the transfer to the airport was at 10:30, while the room had to be vacated by 10. For an additional 30 euros, it was possible to vacate the room at 14:00, but then who would take us to the airport?

In general, the main 3 points that spoiled the overall impression were the transfer from the airport to the hotel, the location of the hotel in Barcelona and additional fees (without checks). Before leaving the hotel in Madrid, the guide (so you understand, an experienced aunt, originally from Ukraine, living for 17 years in Spain) from a bus full of us stole one of her bags, which allegedly contained 3,000 euros of "working" money, which she left in the front seat and went to count us. Opinions were divided on this. It is strange and incomprehensible: either, as they say, there is a hole in the head of an old woman, and a thief is completely frostbitten to take such risks (a parked car was waiting for him right in front of the bus), or ... pity 44 people and cut down more dough. I hope she doesn't have to work 3 months for free.

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