Art at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna
Vienna is a delightfully graceful and elegant city with some of the most spectacular palaces
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This holiday contrasts world famous cities and fuses Spanish history, tastes and cultures to create memories that you will never forget.
Explore the charismatic city of Marseille, inundated with museums, galleries, posh shops, restaurants and bars.
In addition to its famous museums, busy streets dotted with all kinds of shops, restaurants with world cuisine and unbeatable nightlife, Madrid will surprise you with its tranquil historic spots that charm everyone walking by.
Valencia is the perfect place to take a break due to the perfect mix of city location, pretty beaches and lots of sunshine and what is more this vibrant city has so much to offer. Being smaller in size than Madrid and Barcelona the city of Valencia isn’t quite as well known when it comes to top sights to see in Spain yet there are some amazing places just waiting to be explored and the opportunity to make lasting memories awaits.
Sun-kissed and lapped by the Mediterranean, Barcelona offers gastronomy, culture and vibrant nightlife to its fortunate visitors.
Take the time to discover these fantastic destinations on this superb 10 night / 11 day holiday by First Class rail, including highly-rated 4-star accommodation throughout, from £1,645 per person (based on two passengers travelling together and sharing a twin/double room).
Your holiday begins as you enter the beautifully restored London St. Pancras International Station; take the time to admire the stunning glass roof. Then sit back, relax and watch the countryside glide past as you travel by Eurostar through France and onto Paris at speeds of up to 186mph. Enjoy the light meal and drinks served on board in your Standard Premier service (Eurostar’s 1st class for leisure travellers) before arriving into Paris Gare du Nord. From here, your private taxi will transfer you to the Gare de Lyon ahead of your high-speed journey south to Marseille.
On arrival make your own way on foot or by taxi to your overnight hotel, the stylish, highly-rated Grand Hotel Beauvau (4 star), a charming and smart hotel located in the heart of Marseille just off the fabulous Vieux Port.
Today you bid farewell to Marseille as you return to the station and take the train into Spain, bound for Madrid.
On arrival at the station, you make your own way back to your hotel for the next three nights, the elegant Hotel Liabeny (4 star), ideally situated in the heart of the Spanish capital. This evening you may wish to sample one of the Madrid’s fine restaurants.
You have two full days in Madrid to explore the wealth of experiences on offer. You might like to visit Madrid’s golden triangle of art: the Prado Museum (best for El Greco), the more intimate Reina Sofía Museum and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (for 18th-20th century art), all located within striking distance of each other on the Paseo del Arte.
Perhaps head down the Carrera de San Jerónimo, past the Parliament and onto Sol, in the heart of the city. From here why not take Calle Mayor to the Plaza Mayor and the surrounding wonders of the old Madrid of the Asturias, capped by the opulent Royal Palace?
This morning after breakfast, you say goodbye to Madrid as you return to the station to continue your Spanish adventure. From here, you board your regional service and head southbound as you snake towards the Costa Del Sol before arriving in Valencia. Once at the station, you make your way to your hotel for the next three nights, the highly rated Soho Boutique Turia (4 star).
Spend the rest of the afternoon getting to know your surroundings before finishing the evening off with dinner at a local tapas bar.
Take your time to plan the next two days over a leisurely breakfast. Spend your days pondering through the Old Town and the Central Market whilst also making the most of the sights. The Central Market is a display of Valencia’s modernist architecture. With construction dating back to 1914, the building has been recently refurbished, displaying an impressive entry and colourful ceramic tiles. Take the time to visit the Plaza de la Virgin, the square is simply a pleasure to walk around or to sit down for a drink and enjoy this less frequented corner of the city. Valencia is perfect to discover on foot One of the most fascinating attractions is the Plaza de la Reina, with the Cathedral and the Miguelete tower, where you should climb the 207 steps for some beautiful views. In the city centre you can also find the Silk Exchange -one of Valencia’s most beautiful buildings, a World Heritage Site, with its idyllic Patio de los Naranjos courtyard full of orange trees.
If you get tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, you can also take a stroll down to the sea front, where you will be met with miles upon miles of golden sands and the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean. Perhaps enjoy an evening at one of the many shoreside restaurants, where you can enjoy fresh sea food and traditional dishes such as Paella.
Spending time in the city of Valencia is sure to be special in so many ways but, whatever you choose to see and do, don’t forget to really absorb the little details that make Valencia so unique and like nowhere else in the world.
Today, you make your way back to Valencia station where you board your regional train back to Barcelona as you skirt alongside the Mediterranean before arriving back in the Catalan capital.
From Barcelona Sants station, you make your way to the comfortable and welcoming H10 Urquinaona Plaza Hotel where you spend the next three nights.
Make sure you allow plenty to time to soak up all aspects of this remarkable city, from the lively Ramblas to the smart shops of Passeig de Gracia. Perhaps head towards the cathedral and older parts of town with wonderful examples of Gaudi architecture or visit one of the city’s museums.
Don’t miss the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, or the Picasso Museum which houses one of the most extensive collections of the 20th-century painter’s artworks. You may also wish to take the funicular up to Montjuïc, a lively region set on a hill with commanding views over the city, in addition to a number of attractions and galleries.
If you prefer to venture further afield, then why not visit Montserrat? This distinctive jagged mountain is crowned by its impressive monastery and can be reached either by rack railway or cable car. Back in Barcelona, there are plenty of options for dinner from wonderful gastronomic restaurants to cosy bistros and tapas bars.
This morning after breakfast make your way back to Barcelona Sants station for your First Class journey to London.
You travel north on the superfast TGV as it speeds you onward to Paris. Your private transfer takes you across the city to the Gare du Nord and heralds the last leg of your journey. Here you join the Eurostar service and head for home.
Take time to reflect on the magnificent sights, sounds and tastes you have enjoyed during your Spanish holiday, as you sit back and relax with a light meal and drinks before your arrival into London St Pancras and the final leg of your journey home.
MARSEILLE
The Grand Hotel Beauvau (MGallery) hotel (4 star) is an elegant establishment in the centre of Marseille. The hotel’s Le Beauvau bar invites guests to enjoy a drink while looking out over Vieux Port and the Mediterranean Sea. Decorated with Provencal fabrics and Empire or Napoleon III furniture, the hotels 73 rooms are air-conditioned and offer satellite and cable TV. The room’s en suite bathrooms feature a bath and shower, a large mirror and offer a hairdryer, bathrobe, slippers and amenities. Breakfast is served daily in the hotel’s dining area or in the comfort of your room.
MADRID
The elegant and distinguished Hotel Liabeny (4 star) is ideally situated in the centre of Madrid, just 200 meters from Puerta del Sol – Madrid’s most famous and central square. The hotel offers modern facilities such as a gym with sauna, a bar and lounge area, and an excellent selection of Mediterranean and International cuisine served in the Restaurante Sensaciones (Sensations Restaurant). The dining room also serves a Buffet-Style breakfast, where guests can find a large selection of pastries, cold and hot dishes and the famous home-made churros. The hotels 220 large and functional bedrooms are equipped with air-conditioning and central heating, LCD flat-screen satellite TV, a minibar, a safe, free WiFi, and the bathroom features a vanity mirror, hair-dryer and toiletries. Many of Madrid’s attractions can be found a short walk from the hotel, with the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museums less than 10 minutes away.
VALENCIA
Located in the gorgeous city of Valencia, the Soho Boutique Turia (4 star) is within 500 metres of Turia Gardens and less than 1 km of González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Art. With free WiFi, this 4-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a coffee machine, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a balcony and a private bathroom with a shower. At Soho Boutique Turia each room has bed linen and towels. The daily breakfast offers buffet, continental or gluten-free options. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados, Norte Train Station and Church of Saint Nicolás.
BARCELONA
Enjoying a great location just a 5-minute walk from Plaza de Catalunya and Las Ramblas, the H10 Urquinaona Plaza Hotel (4 star) is housed in a beautifully-restored historical building that dates back to the late 19th century. Its modern interior design is set against the building’s 19th-century features, giving it an effortlessly elegant feel. The hotel includes the Novecento Restaurant, a coffee shop, a pleasant courtyard garden and Chill-Out terrace with plunge pool and excellent views of the city. The 80 bright, modern rooms, with their high ceilings, white décor and elegant en-suite bathrooms are equipped with a 37” LED TV with international channels, a Nespresso coffee machine, free safe box, minibar, smart temperature control and soundproofed walls.
Throughout the year and tailor-made to suit your holiday needs
For information and booking Tel: 01347 825292 or email info@planetrail.co.uk
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