TESTIMONIALS

Sam, Rocio and the Tailormade Andalucia team provided an excellent service.

They guided us very sensibly in terms of our 3 week itinerary - at the right pace and with a great mix of experiences, including local guides now and then. Our accommodation was of a very high standard... and when things weren't quite perfect they intervened to make sure things were.

They were absolutely committed to making sure we had a great trip and nothing was too much trouble. So thanks again Sam and Rocio! We loved Spain and we will be back!

James and Rocio organised an excellent holiday for us, visiting Seville, Cordoba, the famous ‘white villages’ of Andalusia, El Rocio, the Doñana National Park, Cadiz and Madrid. Hotels, transport, and cultural events were all well organised and everything worked according to plan.

Rocio was available throughout the course of the holiday, and made some helpful suggestions. The holiday was great value for money. Tailor Made Andalucia delivered exactly as they’d promised.

We’d happily recommend their services, and would readily use them again ourselves. Thanks James and Rocio.

This was my first experience using a travel agency.

I am so glad we did! James was patient with me from the start. Kindly answering all of my questions and waiting for my husband to get on board! He sent over a great itinerary and worked with me when I found out I had the dates wrong as well 🙂

The itinerary was exactly what we asked for, some action, some down time and very family friendly as we traveled with our six year old.
I’m not sure what I was expecting upon arrival, but James and the team far exceeded my expectations. Upon arrival to our first hotel we received a package with what we referred to as our “vacation bible”. It’s was beautifully packaged with fans and a leather wallet. Our first tour was an artisans tour with Julia who was super sweet and filled us in on the history of Madrid.

James also arranged a day trip to Toledo. Our Toledo guide Enrique was genuine, hilarious and looked like Adam Sandler! He has lived there his entire life and was such a knowledgable and passionate guide! It was my favorite tour!

My favorite experience was Granada. The city is magical as well as the hotel and Alhambra. Our guide, Paco showed us a great time. If I had to choose another city to live in, it would be Granada!
Our train trips, tours, rental cars, hotels were all set up by the TMA team! Did I mention we had a Spanish liaison Rocio who went out of her way to check in with us at every stop to make sure we were enjoying ourselves!
We couldn’t have asked for a better vacation and it definitely wouldn't have been so smooth and easy without TMA! We are already ready to start planning our 2020 trip and will absolutely use this service again!

Thank you James, Rocio and the TMA Team

Our trip was to Barcelona and the Coasta Brava (staying in Calella de Palafrugell).

James planned a great itinerary for us! He asked the right questions to learn what we would enjoy and made great suggestions. Our favorite parts of the trip were things that we wouldn’t have done without his help in planning. (The more forgettable parts were the “must dos” that I found on lists and asked him to include!). In fact, it was James who suggested visiting the Coasta Brava and it was the perfect suggestion: we saw medieval towns, a vineyard that juxtaposed the old and new worlds (12th and 21st centuries), the world of Salvadore Dali, and the gorgeous coast.

We had great tour guides throughout (Gracia, Ariadna, Craig, Laia, Jose Luis, and Olga). They were all punctual and personable. They cared about our comfort (bringing water, etc.) and were willing to adjust the tours to our preferences. We loved having time to really talk to each guide and learn about the culture and people as well as the history. When we had meals included in our day, the restaurants selected were perfect: authentic, local, friendly, tasty.

Everything was seamless. Our transportation was arranged, tickets ready, etc. When there was a small error on our first day, James and our local assistant, Rocio, took care of it calmly and easily; they even apologized with a thoughtful surprise in our room despite the error not being theirs. Bad weather also required us to change plans as the last minute. After speaking with us, Rocio put together an itinerary that was better than we could have imagined! It turned out to be a highlight rather than a disappointment.

We got more out of our days by having guides. We had never done a vacation with private guides before and were pleasantly surprised by the small extras we enjoyed (learning to make tomato bread and tinto de verano at lunch (Jose Luis), eating fruit from the tree and fresh cheese from the cheese maker during a bike tour (Olga)).

This was easily one of the best, if not the best, vacation we’ve had. I’m so glad I took the gamble to work with TailormadeAndalucia. I look forward to doing so again! Thanks, James and Rocio!

When we decided to vacation in Spain, the first thing we knew was that we did NOT want to be one of fifty tourists on a big bus, wearing headsets and struggling to keep up with a tour guide.  While that might be a good idea for some, we wanted to be able to see the sites that are most interesting to us, and to have the freedom to set our own itinerary. Not knowing when, or if, we might return to Spain, we really wanted to be able to maximize our time there without running ourselves ragged.  We also wanted to “get off the beaten path” a bit.    We did quite a bit of research, and had a general plan of where and when we wanted to go.  But organizing it all, including all the connections and finding good, local guides, was somewhat intimidating.  And then we found Tailormade Andalucia.

From the beginning, Sam listened to our ideas.  After our initial inquiry, and following a phone call to get a clearer idea of our wants, likes and needs, Sam put forth an itinerary for us to consider.  It was a wonderful itinerary, but there were a few things that we didn’t really feel necessary for us.  I admit, that I thought maybe we had contacted a travel company that caters only to the high end client.  After discussing with Sam that, for instance, we did not want a private driver to transport us through the White Villages, we preferred to rent our own car, Sam revised the plan.  We really appreciate how he listened to us and created an amazing vacation plan just for us.  If you might be thinking that Tailormade Andalucia won’t work for you, we would tell you to reach out to them and see.  Sam is a good listener and planner!  He might just be able to help you have an amazing vacation in Spain too.

We also wanted to give an example of the support we had from TA while we were in Spain.  On the day that we were to hike the Caminito del Rey, the weather forecast was bad.  They were calling for a 60% chance of thunderstorms, which would have closed the hiking trail.  That morning, Fran called us at our hotel and asked what we wanted to do.  He had a backup plan ready for us, if we wanted to back out.  We decided to take our chances and go ahead.  Even in route, we were getting weather updates from Fran and Sam.  Luckily, the rain held off until after our hike.  But, we were most thankful that Fran and Sam were watching out for us, and ready to switch gears at the last minute, if needed.  We think they really care about their clients.  And by the way, if you have a chance to hike the Caminito del Rey, DO IT!  It was incredible.

There was nothing about our vacation that we did not like.  Every hotel, tour guide, mode of transport and restaurant recommendation was spot on.  We will most definitely use Tailormade Andalucia again for travel to Spain, and recommend them highly.

Dear Sam

I returned home last night after 2 days in London. I cannot thank you enough for all you did to make our trip such a success. Apart from the weather which was ‘variable’ it was pretty well perfect.

We enjoyed our hotels specially Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia in Córdoba which was truly luxurious with both showers & baths… We were very happy in Ladron de Agua but it was good to go there first as we were spoiled in Cordoba & might have been disappointed if it had been the other way round.

Our guides were excellent & the restaurants you chose offered delicious food & wine. To go through our programme. We loved our walk in the Albaycin & our dinner that night was memorable with the view of the floodlit Alhambra in the distance. The Alhambra needs no write up from me. It is so utterly beautiful & somehow so peaceful. We loved our guide! Our day in the Lecrin Valley was a bit of a washout but we managed to enjoy it. If it had to pour with rain that was the best day for it to do so. We all admired Scarlet & Chris & what they had done to make such an attractive finca. We were also interested in the story of bull fighting while others dried our trousers & learnt how to cook a Spanish meal. Thank you so much for joining us on this day & on our first dinner. It gave our whole trip such a good & friendly atmosphere. I was surprised how interested my group was in the oil tasting. It was an impressive set up & we all bought some delicious oil. We were rather late for our visit to the Hacienda de la Albaida but had a wonderful display of horsemanship while enjoying tapas & a glass (or 2) of delicious local wine. We then had an excellent lunch before going on our 4 x 4 ‘safari’ where we saw bulls, mares & foals all running wild. It was all rather amateur & charming. We felt like friends not paying clients. XX was a delightful guide. We were all amazed by the Mesquita. Vast but beautiful & very interesting. We also enjoyed wandering through the winding alleys of the Jewish quarter and the gardens of the Alcazar. Our dinner on the last night was a triumph. Delicious food & wine in a beautiful setting. We all went to bed very happy only to be woken by pouring rain & the news that our driver could not get to our bus. This must have been a nightmare for you but all was well & we easily caught our flight. Please thank our driver for driving us so well. We had hoped to give him a tip. So that is about it & thank you again for organising such a great tour for us. We were quite an ‘upmarket’ party consisting of an Ambassador, a General, a lobbyist & 5 landowners….! Despite our ages we had a wonderful time (with no accidents!). You planned a marvellous tour for us. Again thank you & James so much for all your care and attention.

Hi Sam,

Sorry for the delay getting back to you re our comments on the tour but as you know we are only just back in Australia.

We have filled out the review form and provide the following testimonial for you to post if you wish. Once again thank you and Francisco very much for all your efforts we had marvellous time and still dream about the people food and place of beautiful Spain.

We have just returned from travelling to Spain with https://www.tailormadeandalucia.com/ and cannot recommend them enough for their attention to detail support and their knowledge of wonderful Spain.

This is our second trip with Sam and his team having gone a few years ago and again they have provided an itinerary that is totally suited to our interests while dispersing the tour with unusual and quirky additions that were fabulous.

Our accomodation was excellent that also suited our brief and the locations were right in the middle of the old towns and close to all facilities and sights.

All the guides and drivers that were part of the tour were fully knowledgeable of their area of expertise and had personalities that suited us and our travel companions. Lots of laughs and fun!

We will be going back to Spain " and will of course be contacting Sam to arrange another marvellous trip. We have no hesitation in recommending them.

Muchas gracias

Dear Sam and Fran,

Many thanks to you both for structuring, planning and executing a terrific introduction to Andalucia. We felt as though we touched upon many of the highlights as well as a bit of the fabric of life in this part of Spain.

We enjoyed the accommodations, especially in Ronda, which ended up being everyone's favorite stop. We had a few travel mishaps along the way and both of you were seamless in your response to each one.

Who knew that airlines could have so many problems? We really appreciate all of your help when we arrived 18 hours late!

We felt as though we had a good blend of city and countryside and congratulate you on meeting the disparate needs of four travelers, all of whom had slightly different priorities. Your restaurant recommendations were exceptional,especially Campero which is a bit of a surprise all together, but a great one. For myself, I fell a little bit in love with Spain on this trip. As is always the case a traveller can only skim the very outer surface of things In a few weeks. But I am ready to come back and see what the next level reveals. When I do I will certainly be calling you to help set the trip up. Can hardly wait. Again, many thanks for all of your patience and professionalism. It was fun to travel with your company as our guide.

Un Abrazo,

Hello Sam,

It seems quite a while ago since our wonderful holiday in Andalucia. I have filled in the survey and here goes with a brief testimonial:

I wanted to take my family to Andalucia to give them a taste of the spectacular culture and history of this place where Europe (just about) meets North Africa. From my first conversation with Sam at Tailormade Andalucia I knew that was definitely on the right track. He listened to the gist of what we wanted to do and he responded immediately with a bespoke proposed itinerary that perfectly captured what we had outlined, borne of his many years of experience in Andalucia. The holiday was wonderful, and it more than met our expectations. We saw the many facets of Andalucia from its own very particular history, its wonderful architecture and music, and of course, enjoyed some fabulous food. Sam managed to strike just the right balance between our cultural exploits and having enough time to relax and enjoy being together away from it all.

Every detail was thought through by Sam and the team, and despite or visiting six different locations, there were no hitches at all.

Tailormade Andalucia certainly lives up to its name: Highly personalised itinerary, great tour guides who really know their stuff, and we stayed in some great boutique hotels.

Tailormade Andalucia went above and beyond to understand our requirements and develop a unique and excellent itinerary for us including hotel selections.

Details were carefully attended to including the fabulous tour packet we received upon arrival at our first hotel. During our journey we requested two last minute changes which Sam accommodated immediately and without question.

The guides were all excellent, the transfer vehicles were great, and the drivers were prompt and friendly. I have nothing but praise and high recommendations for Tailormade Andalucia.

Thanks again to both you and Fran. If I'm ever in Spain again, I'll be in touch.

All the best and un abrazo fuerte!

'We have just returned from a very interesting 5 days in Granada, Malaga & Ronda organised by Tailormade Andalucia. Sam made several useful suggestions & booked us into great hotels, suggested good restaurants & tapas bars. All added to a great experience. 

We did not want to cram in too much in a few days, preferring quality to quantity. 

After being met at the airport, & driven to Granada, we visited The Alhambra with an excellent private guide. Magnificent. Malaga 's Picasso museum didn't disappoint & the train trip to Ronda was relaxing & interesting. We shall return again to Seville & Cordoba.  Of course, using the superb team at Tailormade'.

Hi Sam:

Thank you again for organising our recent cooking class and walking tour in Seville. From our introduction to your services to meeting with both Amelia and Jaime; the experience was both easy and amazing. The insight Amelia provided gave us a true local's understanding of the produce and technique for Andalucía food. Jaime also tailored our walk to exactly what we asked for and he even managed to help us locate the one of the nicest art shops. Again, I cannot thank you enough for helping make our honeymoon in Spain special.

Cheers!

We have just returned from an excellent trip to Andalucia, organised by Sam at Tailormade Andalucia.

We packed so much into our 2 week trip – wine and sherry tasting, city tours, flamenco, a bull farm and even a football match – but still arrived home relaxed, rested and invigorated.

We would never have been able to organise so much on our own and can thoroughly recommend the skills of this company, remaining friendly, approachable and patient at all times. The guides they provided were knowledgeable and interesting, each injecting their own personalities into our tours.

First class – thank you!

Sam, Fran and their collaborators at Tailormade Andalucía made us see what a fascinating country Spain is – and in particular Andalucia.

The service provided by Tailomade Andalucia was impeccable – great choice of hotels, very knowledgeable guides, and since the first contact, Sam paid attention to all the details, provided extensive information about the itinerary, and made as many changes as needed to make this a perfect trip.

We visited places we would never have imagined, off the beaten track, and at the same time could really learn about all the history and culture behind each tourist attraction. In fact, we felt not as tourists, but as special guests being taken around Andalucía by locals.

I would not think twice before calling Sam again if I ever consider going back to Spain!!

I can thoroughly recommend Sam Lister and Tailormade Andalucia. From my first contact with Sam to discuss a possible visit to Seville, I was impressed with his enthusiasm, his quick understanding of the type of holiday I was looking for and his exciting ideas for the trip.
 
On arrival in Seville, it soon became apparent that Sam was an excellent tour operator and guide. As well as seeing the traditional sites of Seville and Jerez, we were able to go ‘behind closed doors’ and meet artists, art restorers, flamenco dancers and musicians and learn about their work and see their beautiful homes. We were also able to gain an insight into Spanish life, its history and customs by spending a lot of time talking with Sam, either over a meal, or travelling to Jerez or walking through the streets of the Triana district. He introduced us, and indeed converted us, to Spanish white wine and sherry and eating in excellent restaurants, chosen by Sam, all added to the wonderful holiday.
 
We all hopeto return to Spain and experience another Tailormade Andalucia holiday.

Hi Sam and Fran,
We returned home safely. 
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you very much for coordinating our trip in an outstanding manner. We really appreciate, how you and your team, did such a wonderful job at every step of the way. There were too many highlights to single out a particular one. 
Sam, thank you very much, from all of us, for meeting us at Triana and your gifts. That was extremely unprecedented and so thoughtful. 
Fran, truly happy with your help in addressing any of our concerns promptly and your courteous approach. Missed your call at Casa 1800 because we were out partying. Thank you. 
Art/Tapas trip and drive thru "white villages" with two James and Cordoba visit with Maria will remain memorable. 
Somehow you guys transcended the visitor-tour operator relationship with your "think out of the box" approach.
We will explore how to work with you in the future - Portugal-Morocco?!!
Best
D

First thanks for organising another great holiday (once again better than expected) We had a wonderful time.  Sam Lister did a great job and kept in touch with me all the way through which was very reassuring.

He also met up with us on our last day in Seville.  What a really nice young guy he is.  Our drivers and guides were really good particularly BB ........ and what a laugh he was we had some very hilarious conversations...

We had such an amazing European trip it is hard to think of just one or two things to rate above all else.  Spain was our favourite destination by a long margin. The guides in each city and town were exceptional and brought alive the traditions of Spanish life.

Etruscan Pleasures (Italia) Ltd and Sam from Tailormade Andalucia in Seville, designed our itinerary perfectly to our needs and our dreams came true.  The itinerary was relaxing, informative and fun.  We would highly recommend travellers to use their exceptional services they have accumulated after many years of experience as travel consultants

Want to thank you, again, for your help and work in setting up our tours in the Andalucia region. They were all fantastic and the group enjoyed all the tour guides. We still are talking about our tapas and wine tour that you took us on. Again, many thanks and I would have no problem and would enjoy the opportunity to recommend you and your company to others touring the Andalucia area of Spain. Peace and blessings.

Tailormade Andalucia is a superb custom touring partner for Andalucia.

I have had the pleasure of partnering with Sam Lister for two small-group guided tours in this magical region of Spain and I can honestly say that Sam consistently exceeded my expectations, which are high!  Andalucia is a region that is packed with relatively easy to access treasures, but also one that is packed with remarkable small restaurants, small-scale winemakers, food artisans, cultural artisans, off-the-radar shopping gems, historic sites and so much more that an ‘insider’ can find and share.