Holiday Information
Local collection.
Modern, air-conditioned coach with two experienced drivers.
No overnight continental travel.
Two-night cruise to Spain including breakfast on both days (includes inside cabin with upper and lower beds).
Overnight stay in the Madrid area en route to Portugal with evening meal and buffet breakfast.
Seven nights’ accommodation on Portugal’s west coast with buffet breakfast and dinner (including wine and water) each day.
Overnight stay with evening meal (including drinks) and buffet breakfast in northern Spain en route from Portugal. Overnight stay with breakfast in France on the Saturday night returning.
All rooms with private facilities.
A full-day excursion to the historic city of Porto including guided tour.
A visit to Madrid, the stunning capital of Spain.

Essential insurance, full cover at Ł44.95 (min) per person.
Cabin upgrades on board 'Pride of Bilbao': Inside cabin with 2 lower beds - Ł8 per person; Outside cabin with 2 lower beds - Ł10 per person.
Optional excursions to Lisbon, Coimbra and Obidos.

Holiday Programme
Day 1 Local collection then onwards to Portsmouth for the early evening sailing on our two-night cruise to Bilbao, Spain.
Day 2 At sea. Relax and take in the sunny sea views, or perhaps use the swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Later, there is cabaret entertainment in the ship’s lounge or, for a more sedate evening, enjoy the Piano Bar. The ship’s Casino is open nightly.
Day 3 - Madrid Disembark in Bilbao after breakfast and head south to Madrid for our first included excursion. Here a local guide will join us to explore the city and ‘old Madrid’ around the Plaza Mayor. Later, rejoin the coach to your overnight hotel.
Day 4 Travel towards the border of Portugal and the sunny Atlantic coast. An evening meal awaits at the Hotel Cristal, our base for seven nights.
Day 5 A day of leisure at your hotel or a chance to explore more of what is known as Portugal’s ‘Silver Coast’.
Day 6 - Obidos Optional excursion to the pretty, walled town of Obidos and Quinta do Sanguinhal. See the winemaking techniques, along with a tour of the vineyard followed by winetasting and a light lunch.
Day 7 - Lisbon Optional visit to Lisbon, capital of Portugal. A panoramic coach tour takes us around the main sights before visiting the Belem area of the city and in particular the Monument of Discoveries and the Monastery.
Day 8 - Coimbra Enjoy an optional guided excursion taking in the pretty town of Coimbra and also a visit to the fascinating ‘Portugal in Miniature’. Continue on to Bussaco Forest to enjoy beautiful gardens and the outstanding natural beauty of the area.
Day 9 - Porto Today, join our second included excursion to Porto, a wonderful, walled city on the banks of the Douro River and birthplace of the famous fortified wine. Your guided tour will show many sights linked to Porto’s history from the 8th century BC. The scenic historical quarter and cathedral are also worth a visit before our day ends at a traditional Porto wine cellar.
Day 10 Relax and enjoy your last day on Portugal’s sunny coastline.
Day 11 Leave Portugal for your journey to the region of Vitoria-Gasteiz in northern Spain for an overnight stay.
Day 12 Travel north into France and then onwards to your overnight hotel in the Orleans region.
Day 13 Travel around the outskirts of Paris and then onwards to Calais for your return journey home.

Hotel Cristal, Praia de Vieira
After your relaxing cruise and an afternoon and evening in the wonderful city of Madrid, the enchanting coast of Portugal is your base for a relaxing week’s stay. Situated directly on the beach, the Hotel Cristal is a superb 3-star hotel with fantastic views over the Atlantic Ocean.
The hotel offers an outdoor pool, which can also be covered when necessary, and an extensive spa and health club with gym, sauna, Turkish bath and health treatments. There is a lift, restaurant and panoramic bar offering more striking views. All air-conditioned rooms provide hairdryer, fridge, telephone and satellite T.V. Occasional entertainment throughout the summer, and wine and water with your evening meal are included.

The area is very historic, in particular relating to Leiria’s pinewood, which was planted in the 12th century and whose wood was used to build vessels for Portuguese Discoveries.