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Irene Carravilla

My experience getting to know different places in the world and in my own country has made me realise that the deeper you get into a destination, the closer you get to its people, its gastronomy and its customs, the more special and rewarding the trip becomes for the soul.
With this experience and with what I know about my region, the Basque Country and the rest of Spain, I believe that I will be able to design a tailor-made trip for you, always taking into account your expectations, your tastes, your preferences and what makes you happiest on a trip.
I hope that we can chat to make our conversation an unforgettable trip.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Specialised in sustainable tourism, ecotourism and any type of trip that respects the environment, from the nature that surrounds it, its people, its children and the life of each one of them.
Specialised in creating trips that contain experiences that make us spend a good holiday and make us learn and grow as people."

How did you get involved in travel?

"When you become aware of all the beauty that you have close to your own home, sceneries so different from each other, a curiosity begins in you that you can hardly stop. The scenery that we have near our homes made me realise how much there was to discover."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I believe that every trip leaves an imprint on you that cannot be erased, in my case I have been lucky to have many imprints. One of my favourite memories was quite a few years ago, I remember perfectly the feeling of listening to the silence in the Sahara desert, admiring the night sky and admiring the most beautiful sky I have ever seen in my life. I felt the peace of that place and I don't think I will ever forget that feeling."

Irene is part of the following groups: Spain Travel Agents
Row the family on Plaza de España in Seville
10 Days in Spain - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Grab your kids and head to Spain for 10 days of fun activities, like beach trips near Málaga and on the Costa Brava; city-wide treasure hunts; kayaking, catamaran, and sailing excursions; museum visits; and food tours. These five different itineraries take you all over the country, from north to south, as you witness Spain through your kids' eager eyes and explore places like the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and the Royal Palace in Madrid, the Alhambra, the Mezquita, and Seville's Royal Alcázar.

Eat churros and play at Retiro Park in Madrid
1 Week in Spain: 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

With kid-friendly activities like exploring Gaudí's whimsical Park Güell, expressing your creativity at mosaic workshops, and stretching your legs on easy-yet-stunning hikes in the southern hills, Spain is an excellent family destination. These top picks for family-friendly itineraries in Spain let you and your crew hop from Barcelona to Madrid to Granada and more with comfort, ease, and plenty of entertainment. Watch those faces light up as you channel your inner royal for the day, taste all the Spanish goodies (tapas are naturally kid-approved), and play at the beach!

Beautiful Segovia, Spain
Spain FAQ

Spain is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and for a good reason. From north to south, you have options for hiking, beach days, UNESCO heritage sites, charming medieval villages, gastronomy, and more. If you're heading to this cultural goldmine, discover the answers to the most common FAQs—including how to get around, what to eat, how much to tip, etc.

Historic luxury hotels in Seville (Photo courtesy of Hotel Alfonso XIII)
The 3 Best Historic Luxury Hotels in Seville

Some of the best historic luxury hotels in Seville are the city's top properties. You can stay in old palaces commissioned by the king or elegantly preserved buildings from the Middle Ages with unique historical elements. With such fascinating history, Seville allows you to experience it day and night in posh accommodation with cushy perks.

Hotels in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter (Photo courtesy of Duquesa de Cardona)
The 5 Best Hotels in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter

One of Barcelona's most historic and picturesque neighborhoods is the Gothic Quarter. Aptly named, it features medieval architecture and sites like the Barcelona Cathedral, Santa Anna Church, Bishop's Bridge, and the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi. Staying here means you'll be in the heart of the city's history and within walking distance to unlimited sites, parks, eateries, and tapas bars.

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona
Best of Spain & Portugal: Barcelona, Porto, Lisbon & Andalusia - 21 Days

See the best of Spain and Portugal with a harmonious mix of the "must-sees" and the off-the-beaten-track. Start in Barcelona before continuing to the country's capital, Madrid. From here, catch a short flight up to enchanting Porto for a few nights before making your way down through Lisbon, Évora, and the Alentejo region. Transfer back across the border to Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain, which is known for its flamenco, bullfighting, tapas, and cultural traditions. 

Recent trip reviews for Irene

Madrid is well worth a visit
Spain | Mar 1 - Mar 5, 2023

Colleen
Colleen N.
Tucson, AZ | Reviewed on Mar 12, 2023

We had a wonderful time in Madrid. Irene was very efficient in organizing every detail and responded quickly to every question I had. Madrid is a beautiful city and easy to navigate. We also made a day trip to Toledo, which was an interesting historic city with a stunning cathedral but is also very touristy with lots of souvenir shops. read more

We had a wonderful time in Madrid. Irene was very efficient in organizing every detail and responded quickly to every question I had. Madrid is a beautiful city and easy to navigate. We also made a day trip to Toledo, which was an interesting historic city with a stunning cathedral but is also very touristy with lots of souvenir shops.

Hotel Review
Hotel One Shot Luchana 22
Madrid

The hotel was in an excellent location right next to a metro stop. It is a beautiful historic building but the room was small and very plain. I expected a little more character. The restaurant downstairs served an excellent breakfast and we also stopped several times for a glass of wine.

Authenticity & Character
The building was beautiful and historic but the room was small and plain. We had just a small open space around our bed for our luggage. The bathroom by comparison was quite roomy and the shower was excellent. I would have been willing to pay a bit more for a larger room.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean but too small. By the time we reached Madrid we had been traveling nearly 3 weeks and would have liked to spread out a bit.
Activity Reviews
Eco TukTuk
Madrid

Very informative and a good way to start our visit.

Tapas tour
Madrid

My favorite experience. Our guide was friendly, spoke very good English without a heavy accent, and was very knowledgeable. We had a great time trying Spanish wines and tapas

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Especial Dinner and Flamenco show
Madrid

The food was very mediocre. I noticed that only two other Americans came for dinner; everyone else came just for the performance. The dancing was interesting and energetic but a very modern, extemporaneous style and we missed some of the more traditional, flamboyant aspects of the dance.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We wasted time taking a cab. It would have been much easier to get there by Metro but the address was unfamiliar. It would have been helpful if our itinerary had indicated the Metro stop closest to the venue
Walking tour in the World Heritage city of Toledo
Spain

Beautiful city and worth a visit but be prepared for lots of other tourists and souvenir shops everywhere you turn. Our guide was a wonderful Spanish lady who had lots of information to share but her English was heavily accented and we had to listen very closely to understand her, which got very wearing after 3 hrs.

Quality of Experience
Y
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The train was excellent. We took a cab from the station to the location where we met our driver
Spanish Cooking Master Class in Madrid
Madrid

One of our most fun activities in Spain!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Irene Carravilla
Irene
Irene Carravilla
Local specialist in Basque Country | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2023

Thank you very much for your kind comments, we were very happy to hear about your excellent experience in our country and we were delighted to be your local hosts. It is the way we have to work in our local operator specialized in responsible tourism, GenuineSpain. We try to take care of all the details and give a personalized service and always improve, so your comments help us to provide a better and better service.
Thank you very much and see you soon!
Irene
GenuineSpain
www.genuinespain.es

Extremadura Adventures
Spain | Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2022

Robert
Robert M.
Houston, TX | Reviewed on Dec 16, 2022

Kimkim paired us with Spanish travel specialist Irene who coordinated our 7-day drive through the Extremadura region southwest of Madrid, after we spent 10 days with friends in Sevilla and Madrid. With minimal Spanish fluency, my husband and I were nervous about driving on our own through the countryside for a week, but Irene managed every detail, allowing us to experience this extraordinary agricultural and historical region. She designed an itinerary that incorporated each destination we... read more

Kimkim paired us with Spanish travel specialist Irene who coordinated our 7-day drive through the Extremadura region southwest of Madrid, after we spent 10 days with friends in Sevilla and Madrid. With minimal Spanish fluency, my husband and I were nervous about driving on our own through the countryside for a week, but Irene managed every detail, allowing us to experience this extraordinary agricultural and historical region. She designed an itinerary that incorporated each destination we requested and hit the mark in every respect, assuring that we felt safe and looked after throughout this part of our journey. She arranged the car rental, reserved exquisite hotels for no less than two-night stays as we requested, and arranged local English-speaking tour guides for each major destination we requested along the way. Although our tours ranged from laidback to frenetic, each guide was prompt, passionate, and informative, aimed to address our interests as well as share their favorite sites and stories, and helped us feel safe and welcome. The best guide for us was Álvaro with whom we spent two full days. An expert in the region’s “dehesa” and agrarian culture, Álvaro shared a thrilling visit to witness as hundreds of newly born lambs were vaccinated and marked to pair them with their mothers, a stroll among a herd of Iberian black pigs, and a tour and tasting at a family-run processing plant for curing ham. Álvaro also guided us through architectural antiquities in Plasencia and through the Monfragüe National Park, including a mountain top hike and birdwatching expedition, and provided two of the most outstanding culinary experiences of our trip: the tasting with the owner of the processing plant and a picnic with his colleague Esther at a panoramic mountainside location. We are grateful to Kimkim and to Irene for her understanding and for meeting our specific requests to create as seamless and stress-free a travel experience as possible.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Hospes Palacio San Esteban
Salamanca

Wonderful hotel and experience. Comfortable modern room in this historic renovated convent. Excellent breakfast buffet and table service and one of the best dining restaurants of our three-week travel through Spain. Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character
Peaceful interior courtyard, lovely dining room and bar. Low-key restful throughout. Simple and elegant decorations for the winter holiday season.
Location
We parked once at the hotel and were able to walk everywhere to visit antiquities and local sites of interest. Safe and central location on a side street a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor.
Staff
Helpful front-desk staff. Highly attentive and professional dining room staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, orderly. Felt pampered simply by the ambiance of the facilities.
Hotel Soho Boutique Casa Don Fernando
Caceres

Spacious corner room with a great view of the Plaza Mayor. Airy and bright but easy to black out the windows for sleep and quiet. Good breakfast in convenient dining room. Front desk staff were attentive and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character
Modern facility in charming renovated building with vestiges of antiquities.
Location
Could not have been better. Directly on the Plaza Mayor, just a few steps from the walled city and numerous bodegas, restaurants, and shops. Parking was a few blocks away, easily manageable one we understood the arrangements.
Staff
Front desk staff were helpful and attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfortable room and bed, well appointed.
Parador de Trujillo
Trujillo
Authenticity & Character
Quiet setting, lovely interior courtyard.
Location
great location with rooftop views of centuries old structures. Blocks from the central sites and walled city. Gorgeous sites well within walking distance.
Staff
Front desk staff were attentive and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, simple, well appointed.
Activity Reviews
Guided tour in Caceres
Cáceres

The tour began on the steps of the walled city, where we stood too long next to a loud generator that made it difficult to hear and understand our guide; we wish our guide had taken the initiative to step to a quieter spot much sooner. Our guide Javier was relatively low energy and, unfortunately, the night was cold and rainy, which detracted from the experience. Javier was well-informed and shared many intriguing stories and points of history. The sites themselves were stunning and beautifully lit at night. We did not know how long a tour to expect, so when Javier said at several points that we could go into a building or museum then or come back later on our own, we opted not to enter each time in order to walk and see more. In retrospect, I wish Javier had encouraged us to step inside from time to time to get out of the rain and cold. We were able to tour the walled city fairly thoroughly, and did return the next day, but might have enjoyed touring some of the interiors with Javier who had extensive knowledge about the architectural, political, religious, and art history of the city.

Quality of Experience
The walled city of Cáceres was fascinating, ethereal, and allowed a profound opportunity to imagine the lives of generations of inhabitants over the centuries.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided tour in Merida
Mérida

The Roman ruins in Merida were our primary focus and we were thrilled to walk among the ruins of the theater, amphitheater, and Temple of Diana. These spots have enough authentic relics to ground the viewer in their historical relevance and enough restoration to give a feel of their awesome grandeur. Our guide Juan Luis, native to the city, was informed, funny, and responsible to attend to our interests and comfort. Right away, he stepped up to help us find parking, paced our walk among sites to match our interests and stamina, then recommended restaurants for us to access following the tour. He relayed stories of historical importance and reveled in trivia about the daily lives of ancient Romans which made his tour especially fun and engaging.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
We strongly recommend Juan Luis. His knowledge about local businesses and personalities added richly to our experience beyond the historical sites of interest.
Discover the Dehesa
Trujillo

Perhaps the highlight of our three weeks in Spain, the experiences our guide Álvaro shared in the dehesa met and exceeded our hopes for pastoral experiences of the Spanish countryside. He shared deep knowledge and passion for sustainable agriculture and demonstrated an impressive grasp of the intersection of politics, economics, geography, and biology in determining the past and likely future of this region. We got rare glimpses of the workings of animal husbandry due to his investment in and commitment to individuals who work the land and whose efforts maintain the local culture and economy. We strongly recommend this experience for anyone interested to get out of the urban centers and seek to learn about the people and culture of this region of Spain.

Quality of Experience
The sites and experiences on this day were varied, educational, and eye-opening, a welcome difference from our visits to urban areas in Spain. As we moved from one fascinating location to another, Álvaro provided informed commentary to make sense of the land we were traversing and its importance to the economy and culture of the region.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Álvaro's passion for the dehesa was evident from the first moment of the tour. He was flexible to our interests and needs while being driven to share as much as possible about his extensive knowledge and intimate experience with this region and its people. For the full two days of our tour, he got us safely from place to place, making the experience both intriguing and restful. A bonus was meeting his colleague Esther who joined us for an exquisite picnic at the end of our tour.
Transport
Our guide drove us from place to place from early morning into the evening, allowing us to view the terrain and activities he was describing. This made the days feel safe and easy, and kept us from getting weary along the way.
Excursion in Monfragüe
Trujillo

A tour of this beautiful park was a great change from the urban areas we also visited on this trip to Spain. We enjoyed a mountaintop walk to an ancient Castillo offering amazing 360-degree panoramic view of the area, birdwatching with binoculars and a telescope the guide provided, and a delicious picnic provided by our guide.

Quality of Experience
We were lucky to have a beautiful fall day: sunny and cool. We enjoyed the hike, the vistas, and a great picnic at the end of the day.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Álvaro drove us around safely, prioritized our interests and curiosity, and was keenly prepared for each of several varied activities. We felt very well catered to on this day.
Guided tour in Salamanca
Salamanca

This was a busy tour both because there was much to see and because our guide kept a fast pace to cover a number of sites in limited time. His knowledge and passion of this hometown were evident as was his professional commitment to being a guide. He encouraged us to return later to visit several sites we passed; we were able to return to a couple of them but the initial tour was so rushed that we could not get our bearings and had difficulty finding some locations when we tried to return. Nevertheless, Salamanca was one of our favorite cities to visit in Spain due to its remarkable architecture, profoundly significant 15th-century history regarding discoveries of the "new world," and the presence and influence of the third-oldest surviving university in Europe.

Quality of Experience
We greatly enjoyed touring the university buildings and learning the historical functions of particular classrooms and significant spaces. We were fascinated learn highlights of the history of the university and its alums and leaders and to see the mix of architectural influences on major buildings across centuries of varied cultural, religious, and political influences. We enjoyed the vibe of the city and the mere experience of walking within the central areas.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide had extensive information about the university and the political and religious history of the city.
Local specialist: Irene Carravilla
Irene
Irene Carravilla
Local specialist in Basque Country | Reviewed on Dec 19, 2022

Dear both,It was a pleasure for me and my GenuineSpain colleagues to be your local hosts in our country.
We really appreciate your words and they help us to keep improving and offering responsible tourism experiences in Spain and Europe.
A big hug and we hope to have you back in Spain in the future.
Irene Carravilla, Susana and Giulia
GenuineSpain

3 cheers for Kimkim and especially for Irene!...
Spain | Nov 11 - Nov 28, 2022

Janet
Janet M.
Canada | Reviewed on Dec 13, 2022

3 cheers for Kimkim and especially for Irene! If we could give her 10 stars out of 5, we would. As 2 retired teachers who enjoy travel, had never been to Spain, and have enjoyed a number of organized small group tours, we wanted to plan an individualized trip to Andalusia. Enter KimKim, and specifically Irene, who is a local tour operator in the north of Spain. After sharing with her our preferences, she created an initial draft itinerary for us. We worked together on honing the plan for... read more

3 cheers for Kimkim and especially for Irene! If we could give her 10 stars out of 5, we would. As 2 retired teachers who enjoy travel, had never been to Spain, and have enjoyed a number of organized small group tours, we wanted to plan an individualized trip to Andalusia. Enter KimKim, and specifically Irene, who is a local tour operator in the north of Spain. After sharing with her our preferences, she created an initial draft itinerary for us. We worked together on honing the plan for a number of weeks until we knew it was exactly what we wanted. Not only was Irene tireless in planning every detail of our guided tours, transfers, accommodations and special meals, while we were in Spain, she was available to us via WhatsApp and checked in every day to ensure that everything was going smoothly. We told her that she was like our mother hen and we were her little chicks. Thank you so much, Irene, for a perfect introduction to Spain! Next time will include Barcelona and Madrid!

Highlights of the tour included Malaga, Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera, Sevilla, Cordoba, and Grenada.

The Petit Palace Plaza Hotel in Malaga was right in the middle of the pedestrian centre of the old city. We wandered the meandering streets that were buzzing with people enjoying a coffee or beer and tapas in one of the many outdoor cafes and restaurants. We’ve never seen such a vibrant scene. After a short rest, we met our city guide, Pilar Domingo, who took us on a walking tour of the historical sites. Pilar was a superb guide, and she set the bar very high for all of the guides yet to come. We enjoyed seeing the Cathedral, Roman Amphitheatre and Alcazaba where we had our first taste of Andalusia’s colourful history. Not only was Pliar a wealth of historical and architectural knowledge, she pointed us to the restaurant with the best fried artichokes in town!

We took the train to Ronda where we were met by driver, Diego, who took us to the famous Parador Hotel. Our stay in Ronda gave us a couple of days to relax and explore on our own. The Parador sits majestically atop a huge gorge and beside the Puente Nuevo built in the 18th century across the 400 ft chasm. Points of interest in Ronda are the Bullring where we enjoyed our audio tour and the museum in the Palacio de Mondragon. We were so lucky to get a reservation at the highly rated tiny mother/daugther operated restaurant called Casa Maria. There is no set menu, just an array of fresh local produce from which they produce the most delicious 6-course meal, including wine pairings. Unbelievably delicious and great value.

Diego collected us again for our drive to Sevilla. En route, we met our guide, Cecille, who took us on a wonderful walking tour of Arcos de la Frontera, one of the many “white villages” in Andalusia. We wandered the narrow cobbled streets imagining all of the peoples who had conquered and controlled this area through history, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Christians. What was harder to fathom was learning that they still practise the running of the bulls through those narrow steep streets! After a light lunch, Diego chauffeured us on to Sevilla.

Hotel Casa de Indias was another perfectly located hotel sitting adjacent to Las Setas, a huge sculptural structure resembling mushrooms. It was difficult to get lost with this landmark so prominent within the pedestrian streets of Seville. We had two very different tour experiences here. The first was a walking historical tour of the Cathedral and the Alcazar, led by the delightful Damiana. Her deep knowledge of art history was impressive and added to our appreciation of the Mudejar architecture that we were seeing in the palace. Later in the day, we met Manuel who took us to our first flamenco experience. The energy of show was riveting for us and Manuel was able to explain the importance of flamenco in the Spanish culture. He then took us to a local restaurant where we had our own tapas and wine tasting. Manuel was full of enthusiasm for his city and its culture.

We headed off to Cordoba on the super fast train. With only one day there, we had two more fantastic tours. First, we visited the Medina Azahara, the archeological restoration and remains of a palace/fortress and city built in the 10th century by Caliph ABD ar-Rahman III of the Umayyad dynasty. Unfortunately, this remarkable city was laid to waste during civil war that ended the caliphate in the early 11th century. The remains were discovered nearly 1000 years later. Our guide Enrique brought the remains of the city’s splendour back to life for us. His knowledge and enthusiasm were infectious and set the stage for our afternoon tour of the Mesquita. Known as the Mosque-Cathedral, beginning as an 8th century mosque on top of a visigothic church, later added to to become one of the largest mosques on the world, then having a cathedral built in the middle in the 16th century.! Luckily for us, our guide Jose, a practising archeologist, shared his vast knowledge and unsurpassed enthusiasm with us for over 2 hours. This was a fantastic experience. Our hotel, Las Casa de la Juderia, was delightful and perfectly situated in the old Jewish quarter.

Granada was another train trip away and was the icing on the cake! We looked up at the Alhambra from our room at Hotel Palacio Mariana Pineda. In our two final touring days we loved exploring the narrow streets leading up to the top of the Albacin where we watched the sun set over the Alhambra, the city, and the mountains. The Albacin is a neighbourhood of Grenada made up of meandering narrow streets built as early as the 13th century. While there, we were treated to some local musicians and dancer who performed flamenco for the gathered crowd. The following day, we had a wonderful tour of the Generalife (beautiful gardens, summer palace and country home from the 13th century built by the Nasrid rulers) and the Alhambra (11th century walled fortress/city and palaces built over time by the Muslims and reimagined by the Catholic Christians before being overtaken and damaged by Napoleon’s troops.) Even though we had rain while we walked through the gardens, we were spellbound. The whole complex of the Alhambra is stunning and a history lesson that would take more than one visit to fully appreciate. Once we finished the tour of the Alhambra, the sun came out for us when we climbed the watchtower where we had a spectacular view of the city and the Albacin. We could also see our hotel room! Our guide Maite was fantastic and delightful in her enthusiasm. On our last night in Grenada, we went to another flamenco show and dinner atop the Albacin.

While the organized portion of our trip was virtually over in Granada, Irene was still our faithful fairly godmother. We were driven from Granada to a private apartment on the coast owned by family friends where we stayed for another week. While we were there, we had another tour booked with Kimkim to visit wine and raisin country. Our guide Anna and driver Manu were very accommodating and we had a wonderful day driving through the mountains north of Malaga where we had a delicious wine tasting and got a flavour of the people who live and work so hard on the steep slopes of this beautiful part of the country.

We were fortunate enough to get tickets to watch Canada play Germany in the Davis Cup tennis held in Malaga. This entailed a bus trip there, but getting back to the apartment at night. Irene came to our rescue and arranged a driver to meet us outside the stadium in Malaga at 11 pm and drove us the hour’s drive back to the beach. She also arranged our return to Malaga the day before our 6 am flight, and she planned the most beautiful 6-course final dinner for us at the famous El Pimpi Restaurant.

We could not have been happier with our trip, from the initial planning through to our departure from Spain. We realize that we have barely scratched the surface of Andalusia let alone the whole country. More to come, and Irene is our gal!

Hotel Reviews
Petit Palace Plaza Malaga Hotel
Malaga
Authenticity & Character
We spent our first and last nights of the trip here. The building is beautiful and the rooms were modern and clean.
Location
So central and close to the action.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Parador de Ronda
Ronda

Location, location, location!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Literally, the best view in town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Casa de Indias by Intur
Seville
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Las Casas de la Juderia Hotel
Córdoba

A beautiful, quirky old building. We kept getting lost, trying to find our room, but it was worth it and the staff were so helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Tons of character.
Location
Perfect.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palacio Mariana Pineda Hotel
Granada
Authenticity & Character
Location
So close to everything and the view of the Alhambra
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private tour of Malaga
Málaga

Pilar was outstanding.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Arcos de la Frontera
Ronda

A great place to stop en route to Seville. There are so many white villages in Andalusia, we enjoyed seeing such a pretty one.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Diego didn't speak English but he understood us and was so accommodating. Cecille gave us an excellent tour, both from the car where we had a view of the town atop some very high cliffs and by foot which we enjoyed.
Transport
Guided tour in Seville
Seville

Damiana was excellent, an art history student initially from Italy. She knew her history and was so enthusiastic. We loved the walking tour with her.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Damiana was delightful.
Transport
Evening Flamenco & Tapas Private Tour
Seville

We weren't sure that we would enjoy the art of flamenco, but we were spellbound. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We enjoyed our time with Manuel at the flamenco show and then again over wine and tapas.
Transport
Exploring the archaeological site of Medina Azahara
Córdoba

The video about the archeological site before touring the real thing was very well done and worthwhile.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Enrique was extremely knowledgeable and very interesting.
Transport
We never heard our driver's name but she was excellent.
City tour in Córdoba
Córdoba

It is so important to see the Mesquita. Don't miss Cordoba.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jose was so passionate and informative. We were hanging on his every word.
Transport
Visit la Alhambra
Granada

We felt so fortunate having Maite guiding us. There were a number of large group tours and we knew that we were having a much richer experience having our private guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Maite was outstanding.
Transport
Flamenco Show
Granada

Once again, we were surprised by how much we enjoyed the flamenco, and the dinner was very good as well.

Quality of Experience
Raisin and Wine Route of the Axarquia
Almuñecar, La Herradura

We felt we were at the winery off season and would likely have enjoyed the day even more had we seen more of the wine process. We did enjoy tasting the final product though!

Quality of Experience
Beautiful country and charming villages.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Anna and Manu were both great.
Transport
Dinner al Pimpi
Málaga
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
It took a few minutes for the staff to understand who we were and that Irene had made a reservation for our pre-paid meal. We enjoyed the people watching while they sorted that out. Once we were seated, the staff and service were excellent!
Local specialist: Irene Carravilla
Irene
Irene Carravilla
Local specialist in Basque Country | Reviewed on Dec 15, 2022

As I said before, thanks to both of you for making it easy.
It has been very pleasant to work for you from the creation of the plan to your return home.
Thank you for not only helping us but also future travellers.
I hope we can work together again.
Irene

Spectacular trip, made planning feel effortless!!!
Spain | Oct 26 - Nov 3, 2022

Franca
Franca M.
Baltimore, MD | Reviewed on Nov 09, 2022

I asked Irene to plan a trip for my family. I wasn´t going to be able to attend & wanted to feel like they would be in good hands and have an easy experience on the ground. Irene planned an amazing trip!! It was perfectly catered to them and their health needs. She was super attentive, even late into the night. And when one of our family members had health issues, she did everything possible to make sure they could still enjoy their experience - helping to adjust our itinerary as needed.... read more

I asked Irene to plan a trip for my family. I wasn´t going to be able to attend & wanted to feel like they would be in good hands and have an easy experience on the ground. Irene planned an amazing trip!! It was perfectly catered to them and their health needs. She was super attentive, even late into the night. And when one of our family members had health issues, she did everything possible to make sure they could still enjoy their experience - helping to adjust our itinerary as needed. They loved their stays, all very lovely with great breakfasts! And I heard rave reviews about their tour guides in the different cities.

Local specialist: Irene Carravilla
Irene
Irene Carravilla
Local specialist in Basque Country | Reviewed on Nov 10, 2022

Thank you very much for your kind words, it is a pleasure to have served you during your trip to Spain. It is the way we understand to be your local hosts and to offer the best travel experiences in our country.
See you soon! Best regards.
Irene, Giulia and Susana
GenuineSpain

Irene muy atenta a nuestras necesidades
Spain | Oct 26 - Nov 3, 2022

Monica
Monica M.
West Palm Beach, FL | Reviewed on Nov 09, 2022

Irene estuvo muy atenta a nuestras necesidades lo cual nos dio un sentimiento de seguridad. Los hoteles escogidos x ella estuvieron perfectos para nosotros, muy céntricos principalmente, bonitos y cómodos. Los 4 tours todos muy informativos y amenos. En verdad nos hizo el viaje cómodo y fácil. Todo fluyó fácilmente y sin trabas. Mi rating para Irene es = excelente.

Mónica Muller read more

Irene estuvo muy atenta a nuestras necesidades lo cual nos dio un sentimiento de seguridad. Los hoteles escogidos x ella estuvieron perfectos para nosotros, muy céntricos principalmente, bonitos y cómodos. Los 4 tours todos muy informativos y amenos. En verdad nos hizo el viaje cómodo y fácil. Todo fluyó fácilmente y sin trabas. Mi rating para Irene es = excelente.

Mónica Muller

Hotel Reviews
TOC Hostel Madrid
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
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Apartamentos Cuna 41
Sevilla
Authenticity & Character
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Mihlton Barcelona
Barcelona
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Local specialist: Irene Carravilla
Irene
Irene Carravilla
Local specialist in Basque Country | Reviewed on Nov 10, 2022

Thank you very much for your kind words, it is a pleasure to have served you during your trip to Spain. It is the way we understand to be your local hosts and to offer the best travel experiences in our country.
See you soon! Best regards.
Irene, Giulia and Susana
GenuineSpain

Our trip to Spain was absolutely fantastic!
Spain | Oct 15 - Oct 22, 2022

W
Wes E.
Bon Air, VA | Reviewed on Nov 06, 2022

... and it's all thanks to Irene! She was very patient as we learned KimKim and helped us to plan, and then setup a wonderful vacation that worked well for both me and my wife. What's more, whenever we found ourselves missing our driver, on a late train, or just confused in general, she was a quick message away to help us navigate our trip. She even checked in on us a few times to make sure we were having fun and enjoying ourselves as much as possible.

We started our trip with a group... read more

... and it's all thanks to Irene! She was very patient as we learned KimKim and helped us to plan, and then setup a wonderful vacation that worked well for both me and my wife. What's more, whenever we found ourselves missing our driver, on a late train, or just confused in general, she was a quick message away to help us navigate our trip. She even checked in on us a few times to make sure we were having fun and enjoying ourselves as much as possible.

We started our trip with a group tapas tour in Madrid, led by Neomi, who was very knowledgeable and made excellent suggestions at every step. It was truly a blast! We got to sample numerous delicious beverages, food, and make great conversation with our fellow travelers. Next, we enjoyed a guided tour in Madrid, where we learned all about its history, even joking and having fun with our guide (whose name I unfortunately cannot remember - but she was amazing!). Our time in Seville was also well planned, with Barbara showing us the Great Cathedral and the Alcazar our first day, making some fantastic recommendations for dinner. The day trip to the White Villages and Ronda was filled with beautiful scenery, fun shopping, and good food that truly left us wanting more. Granada is a gorgeous city, with so much to see, including the much (and rightfully) touted Alhambra. Our guide, Gabriela, was very knowledgeable and fun, leaving us once again feeling more like we'd been shown around by an acquaintance, rather than a stranger we hardly knew. We discovered a nice coffee house - Cafe 4 Gatos, that I would strongly recommend for good coffee and excellent food (bring cash!). Finally, our dinner at Aben Humeya was the perfect end to our last day in Granada, coupling delicious food with a view neither of us will ever forget.

I know I've gone on for quite a bit already, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that every hotel Irene found for us was fantastic, with comfortable beds, polite helpful staff, and delicious breakfasts. The drivers were all polite, professional, and very helpful. And our information packet was very thorough and helped us avoid making numerous mistakes we likely would have made on our own.

Thank you Irene and everyone who helped make our trip such a success!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel One Shot Luchana 22
Madrid

Nice location with very comfortable beds. Polite, helpful staff and a delicious breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Casa de Indias by Intur
Seville

Nice location with comfortable beds. Polite, helpful staff and a delicious breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palacio de Santa Inés Hotel
Granada

Very location with a lot of history in the building, converted in a very charming and aesthetically pleasing way. Extremely helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Aben Humeya
Granada
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Restaurante Casa Suecia
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit la Alhambra
Granada
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tapas tour
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
City tour
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lunch in La Bola
Madrid
Guided tour in Seville
Seville
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day trip : Ronda and White Villages
Spain
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Carravilla
Irene
Irene Carravilla
Local specialist in Basque Country | Reviewed on Nov 07, 2022

Thank you very much for your kind comments, we were very happy to hear about your excellent experience in our country and we were delighted to be your local hosts. It is the way we have to work in our local operator specialized in responsible tourism, GenuineSpain. We try to take care of all the details and give a personalized service and always improve, so your comments help us to provide a better and better service.
Thank you very much and see you soon!
Irene, Giulia and Susana
GenuineSpain
www.genuinespain.es

Working with Irene and Susana was exceptiona...
Spain | Sep 24 - Oct 8, 2022

Johanna
Johanna M.
Golden Gate, FL | Reviewed on Oct 12, 2022

Working with Irene and Susana was exceptional. Every little detail was thought out and nothing was left unseen. Everyday there was communication and I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Thank you so much for such a great experience. Top notch customer service and so personable.

Local specialist: Irene Carravilla
Irene
Irene Carravilla
Local specialist in Basque Country | Reviewed on Oct 19, 2022

Johanna!

For us it has also been a real pleasure, from the preparation of the trip with you, all the details you wanted to have with your family and all the follow up of the trip with them has been perfect, you have made it very easy.
We would be delighted to organise another holiday for you!