Catalonian Christmas & New Year

Day 1

Driving south, we sail to Continental Europe and stay in an overnight French hotel this evening.

Day 2

We continue our journey to The Hotel Volga, Calella in Spain.

Days 3-5

Enjoy the next three days to do as much or as little as you want in the resort. With a Gala dinner served on Christmas Eve and a special Christmas Day lunch, both served with sparkling wine - there will be no problem getting into the 'festive' spirit! During our stay, we also enjoy brunch (served daily from 8am until 12pm) and a 50% discount on all drinks and snacks (everyday between 2pm and 5pm). Calella is home to three big, beautiful beaches with sparkling waters - all within walking distance from our hotel. The Playa Grande is situated just in front of our hotel and features the Beach Club of Hotel Volga (fully equipped with lounge chairs, umbrellas, a bar, restaurant and entertainment). Away from the beaches, throughout the town, you can discover a fascinating blend of old and new.

Day 6

No holiday to Catalonia would be complete without a visit to beautiful Barcelona! The cosmopolitan seaside city, with a history among the oldest in Europe. Visit the Park Guell, one of Gaudi's major works for spectacular views over the city or head to the Sagrada Familia - now the emblem of Barcelona - this incredible unfinished cathedral was the work of architect Antoni Gaudi.

Day 7

Today, you can join us for an optional excursion to Montserrat, a rocky mountain range and Santa Maria de Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery, that sits at the top of the mountain. Inside this fascinating monastery is a statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, one of the few black Madonna's in Europe and is Catalonia's most important religious retreat*. For those of you who don't wish to join us, you can enjoy a day at leisure. Please note: Price does not include any of the Monserrat Funiculars.

Day 8

Our first visit today is to Figueres for the opportunity to explore Sant Ferran Castle, together with the charming narrow streets, and the bustling central boulevard of the historial town, famous for being artist Salvador Dali's birthplace - the fascinating Dali museum is located in the town centre. After some free time, we travel to Besalu, a magnificent example of a medieval town for some more free time before returning to our hotel.

Days 9 & 10

Enjoy more free time over the next couple of days.

Day 11

After breakfast, we travel to Pals, known as one of the most charming villages in the Costa Brava. Perched on a hilltop, it was built around a fortress and has kept its medieval look. Stroll around the historical centre, beautifully preserved you can take in its authentic beauty and history and enjoy surprising details and architectural features such as picturesque arches and doorways, with flowers adding colour to the pretty stone walls. After some free time, we return via a visit to the coastal resort of Lloret de Mar, a former fisherman's village that has become a well-known tourist destination and one of the livliest resorts on the Costa Brava.

Day 12

We return to our overnight hotel.

Day 13

We retrace our footsteps back through Europe, returning home later this evening.