Madrid to Lisbon – Douro River Golf Cruise – 22 April to 7 May 2024
Luxury 15 Night Tour with 7 Golf Games- 22 April to 7 May 2024* from AUD 16,990 per person
Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours invites you to join us on Trendsetter’s Madrid to Lisbon golf cruise/tour onboard Tauck’s luxury MS Andorinha.
Our journey commences with a 4 night stay in Madrid at the 5 star Westin Palace Hotel and includes 2 games of golf at leading courses in Madrid. We will travel from Madrid by coach (via a 4 to 5 hour stop, including lunch, at historic Salamanca) over the border to Portugal and board the boutique luxury up to 80 guest MS Andorinha to commence a 7 night cruise concluding with 2 nights berthed in Porto, the 2nd largest port city of Portugal. We then coach to Lisbon, via a stop at the historic town of Colmbra, for the final 4 nights days of our tour staying at the 5 star Intercontinental Hotel and golf at two of the best courses near Lisbon.
Your cruise includes all meals and beverages (standard alcoholic and non-alcoholic), gratuities, wifi, standard shore excursions , use of the fitness centre and arrival/departure airport/train transfers. The 8 nights pre and post-cruise hotel stays include breakfast daily and 4 dinners. In addition, golfing guests will enjoy 7 rounds of golf, return coach transfers, motorised carts, prize money, and drinks post golf.
Importantly, singles can join this tour for a modest AUD 1,000 single supplement for their own room for the extra nights in Madrid and Lisbon provided a Tauck Category 1 stateroom (bottom deck) is booked on MS Andorinha. However, there are only 4 x Category 1 staterooms on the ship and thus availability is strictly limited and our ability to access Category 1 staterooms cannot be guaranteed. For singles requiring a larger room on an upper deck, we can offer a middle deck Category 3 room with a 40% single supplement to the Tauck cruise fare – still excellent value.
Your tour hosts are Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper, Directors/Co-Owners of Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours. Both are enthusiastic golfers and longstanding members of one of Sydney’s most prestigious golf clubs. They have golfed and cruised extensively around the world. They invite you to join them on this fantastic tour, with long port days combined with the chance to play 7 games, all at a wonderful selection of golf courses in Spin and Portugal.
Significant additional information on the Tauck component of our tour can be found on the following link:
www.tauck.com/tours/exploring-spain-portugal-douro-river-cruise?tcd=qiw2024
*Important Disclosure – While the tour is advertised as 15 nights, the actual Tauck tour is 12 nights (including 1 extra night as part of a Tauck group incentive) with the extra 3 nights (in total) in Madrid and Lisbon made available as part of your participation of the Trendsetter Travel golf programme.
Tauck European river boats have significantly larger staterooms/suites than their competitors. On MS Andorinha all of the top and middle decks have a size of over 20 sqm. Reflecting the larger size of its guest rooms, MS Andorinha will sail with less than 80 guests of whom the Trendsetter tour party will comprise over 30 of those guests. We have a group allocation sufficient to fill our tour group. Significantly, our group allocation includes all 12 x CAT 5 rooms on the Top Deck and 4 x CAT 3 rooms on the Middle Deck. With only a modest price premium, the CAT 5 rooms on the top deck offer stand out value with their size of 27 sqm and Euro 100/room on board credit (not available to other room categories) – available for spa, laundry and gift shop.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Monday 22 April 2024 – Madrid
Tauck provides a complimentary transfer from either Madrid-Barajas Airport or Madrid’s Atocha station to The Westin Palace Hotel your base for the next 4 nights in Madrid. The complimentary transfer is available to the hotel on any day prior to the official tour commencement. The hotel was commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1912 and is located in the heart of the city’s renowned art triangle with easy access to its three most famous museums, El Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza. You will arrive 2 days earlier than the remainder of the Tauck tour party and the next 2 days your stay will be independent of Tauck. Additional nights can be booked through Trendsetter Travel at Westin Palace Hotel upon request – we suggest you do this once your travel arrangements to Europe are finalised.
For all 15 nights of your tour, breakfast will be included as an extra either in your hotel or for the 7 nights of your cruise.
Meet up at 6.30 pm for Trendsetter Travel welcome drinks and dinner at either the hotel or a local restaurant. Details will be advised closer to the tour commencement date.
Tour Inclusions: transfer to hotel, pre-dinner drinks, dinner (including drinks) and accommodation
Day 2 – Tuesday 23 April 2024 – Madrid – Golf Game 1 - Real Club de Golf La Herrería
For the non golfers, this is a day for independent exploring of Madrid.
Golf (Round 1): Today we play Real Club de Golf La Herrería, a highly rated and recommended course located in the hills outside of Madrid. It is a parkland course and somewhat hilly but not an issue as we will all play with motorised carts. The course is over-looked by the dominating Monastery of San Lorenzo. We have a confirmed 10 am multi tee start.
Independent dining tonight.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf and accommodation
Day 3 – Wednesday 24 April 2024 – Madrid – Golf Game 2 - Centro National de Golf
For the non golfers, this is a day for independent exploring of Madrid.
Golf (Round 2): Today we play Centro National de Golf – one of Madrid’s leading golf courses and a less than 30 minute coach transfer from our hotel. The course was the venue for the 2018 Spanish Open won by John Rahm.
After returning to Madrid, we meet the full Tauck tour party over cocktails (circa 7 pm) and a welcome dinner (circa 7.30 pm) at the Westin Hotel.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, golf, welcome Tauck cocktail function plus dinner and accommodation
Day 4 – Thursday 25 April 2024 – Madrid – Touring Highlights of Madrid
Our tour of Madrid commences at around 9 am with a guided walking tour of the city finishing up at the Royal Palace where there is a scheduled guided tour of the Palace concluding around 12.30 pm. The 18th century Royal Palace was home to a succession fo Spanish kings over 200 years. However, with the restoration of the monarchy post Franco, it is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family in name only. The Palace has over 2,000 rooms and our tour will include the State Apartments, Armory, Throne Room, Banquet Room and Royal Pharmacy.
After free time for lunch, we have a guided tour of the Museo del Prado, one of the world’s leading art museums withover 4,000 works of art masterpieces. After the tour, there is a walking tasting tour with a chance to taste some of the best Tapas available.
Independent dining tonight.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, walking tour of Madrid including Royal Palace and Museo del Prado and accommodation
Day 5 – Friday 26 April 2024
We farewell the Westin Palace at 9 am and drive to Salamanca and will arrive at around 11.15 am. We will spend 4 ½ hours in Salamanca including time for a guided tour, free time for lunch and time to independently explore the historic city.
We leave about 3.45 pm and drive across the Portuguese border and relocate to your room on MS Andorinha. After drinks, there is the welcome reception and dinner.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch, dinner coach transfers and guided tour of Salamanca and golf cruise (including welcome dinner)
Day 6 – Saturday 27 April 2024 - Castelo Rodrigo - Pocinho
An a la Carte/buffet breakfast is served each morning from 7 am to 8 am.
Over the next few days we will travel the approximate 200 miles as the Douro River winds eastwards through rugged country from the Spanish border to the coast at Porto.
This morning we leave around 8.30 am for a 45 minute drive to Castelo Rodrigo where we have a walking tour of this medieval hilltop village. After some free time, we drive to in Pocinho and board MS Andorinha where the ship has sailed to meet us.
After lunch on the ship, we drive 30 minutes to the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the Côa Valley to see stunning exhibits of rock art from the valley’s Paleolithic era, discovered in the 1990s when excavations began for a Côa River dam.
Return to the ship late afternoon, and cruise to Ferradosa arriving around 7 pm.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch and dinner plus standard Tauck tours
Day 7 – Sunday 28 April 2024 – Golf Game 3 – Amarante Golf Club
We have a leisurely breakfast as our ship sails from Ferradosa to Pinhão where we berth at around 9.30 am.
Golf – Game 3 – We are met by our coach and drive just over an hour north to the Amarante Golf Club. The course is a relatively short but hilly. Golf carts are mandatory for our group. It is ranked # 4 in Northern Portugal.
After golf, we will coach back to the Douro River and rejoin our ship at Folgosa.
There will be independent Tauck tours this day for the non-golfers.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch and dinner plus standard Tauck tours for the non golfers
Day 8 – Monday 29 April 2024 – Golf Game 4 - Vidago Palace Golf Club
For the non-golfers, today is for touring and exploring the historic wine region of the Douro River. This morning, you have a choice of a visit to the Douro Museum, set within the restored Casa da Companhia Velha building, On your guided visit to the museum, you’ll explore its exhibits chronicling the history, culture and traditions of the Douro River Valley region, from the cultivation of grapes on the vines to the processes involved in the production of Port wine and its distribution around the world. As an alternative, visit the historic town of Lamego (dating back to the Middle Ages), renowned for its viticulture and production of sparkling wine.
In the afternoon, our non golfers will have a choice of a guided tour of 18th-century Casa de Mateus, a Baroque masterpiece you may recognize from the label on bottles of Mateus Rosé, and its fantasy garden of manicured hedges and dignified statues. Or, if you choose, join a local guide for a visit to a local wine-making estate called a quinta, rewarding with a port cocktail making class. Return to the riverboat late day.
Golf – Game 3 – We are met by our coach and drive just less than an hour north to the Vidago Palace luxury 5 star resort and play Vidago Palace Course, rated # 2 in Northern Portugal. After golf, our coach returns us to Regua, an approximate 50 minute drive, where our ship will be berthed.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast and dinner plus golf.
Day 9 – Tuesday 30 April 2024
MS departs for 8 am and we sail down Douro River arriving at Entre-os-Rios at around 12 noon. After lunch we participate in a range of optional activities including a a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal renowned for its well-preserved medieval buildings and national monuments. As an alternative, you can join a local guide for a bicycle ride that entices with scenic views of terraced vineyards.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast and dinner plus standard Tauck tours
Day 10 – Wednesday 1 May 2024 – Golf Game 5 – Estela Golf Links
Today we sail from Entre-os-Rios to Porto via Aveleda. After a 2 hour stop at Aveleda, we are back on the ship by 11.30 am departure and a cruise down the river to Porto berthing around 4 pm at Vila Nova de Gaia.
Game 4 – Today we play Estela Golf Links, a magnificent links course facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is the # 1 rated course in Northern Portugal and is considered one of the best links courses in all Portugal.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, dinner, golf plus standard Tauck tours
Day 11 – Thursday 2 May 2024
Today we berth all day in Porto. Subject to sufficient demand, we will offer an optional 2nd golf game at Estela Golf Links for those that have perhaps visited Porto previously or simply want to play a 2nd game at a great links course.
For those looking to spend the day in Porto, there are many opportunities to explore Porto independently or take one of the many walking or other alternative guided tours which Tauck will offer and which you will book when on the cruise. The day will conclude with a tasting visit to a port wine cellar in Gaia. It is expected that the golfers will be back in time to attend as an early golf game is planned.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast, lunch and dinner plus standard Tauck tours
Day 12 – Friday 3 May 2024 – Porto to Lisbon
We leave our riverboat in Porto this morning for a drive back in time to Coimbra, Portugal’s medieval capital for more than a century. A walking tour along the tiered cobbled lanes of this hilltop city brings us to its esteemed university. Founded here in 1537, where its caped students evoke images of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School, its majestic buildings line squares steeped in history and cloistered arcades lead to architectural showpieces beautiful to behold. Learn about student life, past and present, and university traditions still in play today. Enjoy free time for lunch and exploring before continuing on to Lisbon for the remainder of our tour including 4 nights in Lisbon and our final 2 games of golf. Our hotel for the next 4 nights is the 5 star Intercontinental Hotel in Lisbon.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast and dinner plus golf
Day 13 – Saturday 4 May 2024 – Tour of Lisbon – Final Tauck Gala Dinner
Crafted atop seven hills over centuries, Lisbon is home to cobbled lanes, castles in the clouds and maritime monuments that pay lasting tribute to Portuguese explorers like Vasco da Gama who changed the world. City sightseeing today discovers landmark places steeped in history, including Eduardo VII Park, Trade Square, the Monument to the Discoveries, Jeronimos Monastery where Vasco da Gama and Portugal’s kings are buried, and a visit to the National Coach Museum. After the tour return to the hotel or there is the option to stay downtown. We should be back to our hotel by 1 pm when there is free time for the remainder of the afternoon.
At 6.30 pm there is a coach transfer to Queluz Palace where Tauck will hold its final drinks and tour gala dinner.
Tour inclusions: breakfast, transfers, standard Tauck tours, 5 star hotel accommodation and final Tauck tour gala dinner
Day 14 – Sunday 5 May 2024 – Lisbon - Golf Game 6 – West Cliffs Golf Course
For the non golfers, today is a free today to further explore Lisbon.
Golf Game 6 – today we will play the seaside links course, West Cliffs Golf Course, located north of Lisbon at Praia D’El Rey Resort and borders the Atlantic coast, The course is ranked #1 in greater Lisbon and #2 in Portugal. The course was ranked the world’s best new course in 2017, the year of its construction. The designer is Cynthia Dye, niece of the legendary Pete Dye. We will play from modest length tees given the challenges the course presents.
Tour inclusions: breakfast, extra night’s accommodation as part of the Trendsetter tour golf package and golf
Day 15 – Monday 6 May 2024 - Lisbon–Golf
Golf Game 7 – : Today we will play Aroeira Challenge (former Aroeira 2), one of two courses at the the Aroeira Golf Complex. In 2022 we played Aroeira Pines Classic (former Aroeira I). After our round, the resort will transfer us to the more substantial club rooms of Aroeira Classic course. It is a 30 minute scenic drive from our hotel across the Tagus River to our golf course. Opened in April 2000, Aroeira Challenge was designed by the architect Donald Steel, It is a more challenging course than Aroeira Pines with its 5 large lakes but we will chose appropriate tees to make very playable for our group. We have only read positive reviews of the course.
Tonight there will be a final tour dinner hosted by Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours.
Tour inclusions: breakfast, golf, an extra night’s accommodation provided to the Trendsetter Travel group and final tour dinner.
Day 16 – Tuesday 7 May 2024 – Lisbon Tour Ends
Say goodbye to your many new found friends with complimentary Tauck transfer to Lisbon Airport – this transfer can be taken on a subsequent day if you extend your stay at the Intercontinental Hotel.
Tour Inclusions: breakfast and transfers to airport or train station
MS Andorinha, Deck Plan & Specification
In reviewing the below deck plan, please note that the Tauck’s MS Andorinha has significantly larger rooms than other leading river cruise companies which sell into the Australian market. As a result, Tauck has around half the number of guests (less than 80) than the capacity of most of its competitors – all of whom have similar size ships. The significantly large size of Tauck’s rooms is a key reason why we prefer to use Tauck for our European golf river cruises. It should be noted that MS Andorinha is near new with the 2023 cruise season its first year of operation.
Of great significance, Trendsetter Travel has secured a preferential allocation over all 12 x CAT 5 rooms on the Top Deck and 4 x CAT 3 rooms on the Middle Deck. Indeed, the CAT 5 rooms with an internal room area of 300 sqft approach the internal room areas of the standard lead-in suites on both Silversea and Seabourn, the two ocean cruise lines we use for most of our deep water golf cruises.
For couples or twin share, we strongly recommend the top deck Category 5 rooms as offering great value and luxury.
The Finer Details.
ALL Trendsetter Travel guests, as part of our golf tour, will receive a 16 day, 15 night golf tour, which includes a 7 night inclusive luxury cruise on Tauck, 4 nights in 5 star hotels (including breakfast) in each of Madrid and Lisbon, 7 games of golf (including shared motorised cart), coach transfers, prize money, drinks post golf, 11 dinners (inclusive of drinks) and airport transfers. Of the 8 hotel nights, 5 of the nights are provided by Tauck and 3 nights are part of the Trendsetter Travel golf package. Separate lower pricing is provided for non golfers with the 7 games of golf removed.
The deposit on the Trendsetter/Tauck tour is 25% of the total cruise fare per person and is non refundable other than in certain situations (eg deposit on CAT 5 room for 2 x golfers is AUD 10,270/room). The full tour balance is payable no later than the 15 May 2024. Payments for the golf package can be made by direct bank transfer or by credit card with merchant fees payable of 1% for Visa and Mastercard and 2% for AMEX. The above pricing is subject to change up until the time your deposit is paid – thereafter the tour pricing is locked in. If you choose to cancel prior to the date of final payment (15 May 2024), subject to our finding a replacement to take your place on the tour, we will refund your deposit less an administration fee of AUD 2,000 per room.
The Tauck tour prices are subject to future change by Tauck/Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours but are correct at the time of writing. Once your deposit is paid, the tour pricing is locked in and all foreign exchange risk is assumed by Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours. Once full tour payment is made, the Tauck Tour and golf programme are subject to a cancellation fee of 50% if cancelled up until 60 days from departure. No refunds are paid should cancellation occur within 60 days.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED – Trendsetter can assist in organising.
- The golf package price does NOT include golf club hire. It does include green fees, motorised cart hire (subject to availability – all courses booked should have sufficient motorised carts), coach transfers, prize money each game, and drinks post golf. Golf will be played on the courses as specified but Trendsetter cannot be held responsible for any cancellation/s necessitated by a change to Tauck’s itinerary due to weather or any other event, or late amendment by the golf course or if Trendsetter considers it in the best interests of the tour party as a whole to make a change in the specified golf course (eg due to course maintenance issues or lack of motorised carts or a better golf course having been found). In the event of a cancellation and Trendsetter cannot organise an alternative golf course, Trendsetter will pass through any refund available. For those walking and not using a golf cart, a small refund will be provided.
Contact Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours Ltd (www.trendsettertravel.com.au) for further information on this tour by phone +61 2 9428 5900 (Longueville/Northwood office) or email david@trendsettertravel.com.au or Mob + 61 (0) 413 010 638.
