Totally Spain Customer testimonials

We just completed our 4th trip with Totally Spain. They are a wonderful travel company with a superior group of tour guides, hotels, and recommendations. We will be back again!

Ken, In brief the trip was outstanding—flawless in terms of execution by you and your team.  Rosalia was a remarkable guide in Burgos with fantastic knowledge and passion about the area and the Cathedral.  She kept a group of very critical physicians and spouses truly enamored for the full 2 hours (we had no one leave the group to go off on their own).  Lunch was also a real treat—fantastic chef and team and great setting.  Thanks for adding that in—a great closer.  Also greatly appreciated our highly competent and professional driver Luis.  We will be sure to use your group again and I would be quite surprised if you didn't get some return business from several of those attending  as well, who no doubt will plan future visits to Spain/Portugal.  Thanks again for making me look good in picking your group to run our tour. 

Review from Yelp

We spent almost a month in Spain, and the experience was so successful thanks in large part to the expertise, guidance, and support from Olaia and Totally Spain. They were able to help us plan and book all the essentials of our travel, from the hotel rooms to the trains to the guides and even tours and activities. We are at the point in our traveling lives where we don't want to plan every single step of our journey, yet we want the freedom to not be a part of any big group. With Totally Spain, we received a personalized itinerary that represented everything that we wanted to see and do, and more. What's more, at every location, they included detailed information about the places we were seeing, the best restaurants nearby, and some of the main points of interest that we should check out. All the while, we never felt rushed or a number. They truly understand customer service.

The best part was that they were with us every step of the way. When I had an unexpected medical emergency and had to change our plans, Olaia was right there for me, taking care of the changes that had to be made to our itinerary, and showing genuine concern for my health. When we were able to resume our trip, she was able to quickly and professionally book us to our next destination. She did it on a Friday afternoon, just before she had to leave work. We were so thankful that she could pull it off in so short a time.

Totally Spain knows what travelers like ourselves want and need. They are experts on everything travel-related for Spain, Portugal, and Morrocco. I highly recommend their services, especially if you want someone who knows these countries to take the guesswork out of trip-planning.

Review from Yelp

We had just come back from 10 days in Andalusia organized by Olaia that was really wonderful. Olaia prepared for us a trip of driving through Andalusia and staying at beautiful Paradors.

Every detailed was thought of and it was perfectly organized with very good, knowledgeable and very personable guides, who got us into the main tourist sights with no lines and away from the crowds.
We will definitely use Olaia and Totally Spain for future trips in Spain, Portugal or Morocco and we highly recommend them.

Dear Olaia, Yoram and I wanted to thank you so for an excellently planned trip you organized for us in Andalusia.

We loved the Paradors and the fact that a couple of them were outside of
cities, which gave a sense of the country side and was quiet and more
restful.
Both guides were really good and we highly recommend them. 
The Flamenco performance too was wonderful and we are left with a taste of more from your wonderful country.

Again thanks very much for all your help and we will certainly recommend
your services to our friends who may plan a trip to your wonderful country.

Dear Belen, Thank you so much for all your arrangements and help. Everything went smoothly. My only disappointment was not winning the lottery for Altamira.

Albert was fantastic. He was very enjoyable company. I learned much about the local food and customs thanks to him. He was also very helpful at all the sites. He also showed me some of the landscape around the caves which was very informative.

The cave visits were wonderful. I especially liked having the private tours as I could ask questions and I was not rushed.
The caves were a mix of type with some being a deep cave with a steep descent, like El Pendo. Others were nearly horizontal river beds, like Tito Bustillo.
The cave paintings were spectacular, especially at Tito Bustillo and El Castillo. The Altamira museum and recreation of the ceiling are a model that could be followed elsewhere.

The Bahia hotel worked out perfectly for me. I had plenty of space and a nice desk to work at. And, it was nice going down to the cafe to read for the next day and enjoy a coffee/tea and the extra light and view. It is also has the best designed bathrooms of almost any where.

Thank you, Loeta

Review from Yelp

We completed a month long trip to Spain in October, and with the help of Olaia at Totally Spain, had a wonderful experience. The guides we had were expert, flexible, and introduced us to their respective cities.  It was fantastic to have prepaid tickets and our own guide to avoid the long lines and waiting times at museums, cathedrals, the Alhambra and Mezquita.  Every transfer and pickup except one local bus (we traveled by plane, train, car) was on time- pretty amazing, and completely stress free. Our accommodations were also arranged by Olaia and each location was  within walking distance of the major sights we wanted to see; in Barcelona we had a driver and guide, and in Andalusia we rented a car to drive among the white towns. Olaia also arranged a tapas tour in Seville, and other tours that we requested.  
I would definitely recommend Totally Spain to make arrangements if you are planning a trip to Portugal or Spain.

Review from Yelp

"Totally Spain came through for us with A+++ service.
I am on my 15th and last day of traveling in Spain - just my husband and I. We didn't want the lack of freedom with a tour, but, in our 70's, we also didn't want the trip to be difficult to navigate. We worked with Totally Spain and hit the jackpot. 8 cities - Madrid, Seville, Toledo, Córdoba, Ronda, Malaga, Grenada, and Barcelona- on our own by air, train, and rented car- and every connection, every day tour, every pickup worked like clockwork.
We were very reluctant to work with an unknown agency, even more worried about sending in money up front, but did what research we could and took the leap. They were great.
Their biggest asset is they are detail oriented to perfection. We got detailed itinerary, maps, directions, city histories, entrance tickets, train tickets, places to visit, restaurant recommendations, even a cheat sheet of restaurant food translations. They were packaged and organized like an efficiency exert did it.
Their other asset is they seem to know the best drivers and tour guides. We went on 3 private 1/2 day tours with some of the best tour guides I've ever met. We felt like family when parting.
Totally Spain took our desires and acted on them. I wanted to be in very centrally situated locations and wanted nice hotels but didn't need large expensive luxury. The gave us many boutique hotels in the heart of the cities - just perfect. I had to weed out some of the many activities they first proposed, but ended up with a custom made trip for our preferences. I'm sure they made money on our trip, but the results were worth it.
I highly recommend them. "

Review from Yelp

Totally Spain did a wonderful job for us on our trip to Spain to complete "The Camino".  Olaia was most efficient, providing quick answers to any questions we had, and made reservations at fantastic accommodations along The Way.  Our bags were transported to each accommodation and were always there on time.  The drivers transporting us also arrived on time and were so pleasant.  If you want to complete The Way, talk with Olaia, and she will take care of you.

Hola Olaia,

We thank you so much for preparing such a wonderful trip for us.  We couldn't believe that the accommodations were way above whatever expected.

We made the 75 miles and received our certificates, but the last two days were a bit difficult.  Could be related to the fact that Bob, at 80 years old, was the oldest pilgrim we met on the trails.

We have told others about our adventure and you may get some inquiries.

Thank you again.  Buen Camino!

Dear Olaia,

I want to thank you very much for the vacation you put together for us. 

Your hotel selections were spot on.  Each hotel was centrally located and the staff at each hotel was pleasant, professional, and eager to please.  The rooms themselves were exactly what we had asked for.

We were particularly pleased with the guides you found for us:

Thank you again for the wonderful service you provided and if you like, we will gladly act as a reference.

This was a fantastic trip- in great measure because of the planning by Totally Spain.  What a wonderful and diverse country you have, with warm people, delicious food, beautiful architecture, museums, and monuments, and a long and interesting history.  We have been enthusiastically recommending Spain as a destination to our friends and Totally Spain for planning any trip  there. I hope we will return in the future, and would definitely use your services again.

Another perfect vacation! Thank you so much for all your hard work - we loved the hotels, the tour guides were amazing, and we so appreciated you’re making all those restaurant reservations.

It was an unforgettable trip. I hope to work with you again in the future!

Review from Yelp

Olaia planned an amazing multi-city Christmas trip for my family this past year that was so perfect, we contacted her again for a 25th anniversary trip to the Basque Country. Olaia's choice of hotels were creative and thoughtful, each with it's own special vibe. Our tour guides were knowledgeable and such a pleasure - we had an amazing impromptu tour of a gastronomy club in San Sebastian! Olaia even managed a side trip to Toulouse and arranged various restaurant reservations. In addition to all the "basics", Olaia prepares the most comprehensive document package: detailed maps, restaurant recommendations, mini city/history guides, and suggestions for additional activities. And there's a blog available with a wealth of useful information. If you're going to Spain, start here. Highly, highly recommend!

Ken was responsive from the start, made excellent suggestions on the route we should take, the locations that are must see, how long we should spend in each place and how we got around. It's clear he knows Spain and his suppliers well. After giving him a briefing on what we liked, to do, a budget, he came up with a plan.

We opted for many private walking tours in key locations that gave us insights into the history and personality of Spain and the region we were in, which was quite varied.

It was all the little details that made a difference such as where to meet our guides and transfers, pre purchased train and bus tickets. Providing us with maps with notes on our accommodation, where we arrived and where we either pick up a tour or meet someone. Even the tip of using Cabify app v's taxi's was a nice little addition. He selected well located accommodation, all unique and good quality. Our arrival pack has an overview of each destination and a list of activities to see and restaurants.

I'm sure he arranged the fabulous weather we had as it was lovely and warm. A big thanks to Ken and the team and I can't recommend highly enough and I'm in the tourism business.

FROM SAME CLIENT AND REPRODUCED FROM OUR GOOGLE REVIEWS

4 weeks of pure Spain - On deciding we were going to Spain and starting to do research there was so much to see and do that we had to decide what, where when etc . I didn't have the time nor inclination to spend hours researching so I found an expert - Ken from Totally Spain owns the company and could not have been more helpful.

Ken was responsive from the start, made excellent suggestions on the route we should take, the locations that are must see, how long we should spend in each place and how we got around. It's clear he knows Spain and his suppliers well. After giving him a briefing on what we liked, to do, a budget, he came up with a plan.

We opted for many private walking tours in key locations that gave us insights into the history and personality of Spain and the region we were in, which was quite varied.

It was all the little details that made a difference such as where to meet our guides and transfers, pre purchased train and bus tickets. Providing us with maps with notes on our accommodation, where we arrived and where we either pick up a tour or meet someone. Even the tip of using Cabify app v's taxi's was a nice little addition. He selected well located accommodation, all unique and good quality. Our arrival pack has an overview of each destination and a list of activities to see and restaurants.

I'm sure he arranged the fabulous weather we had as it was lovely and warm. A big thanks to Ken and the team and I can't recommend highly enough and I'm in the tourism business.

Aloha Olaia, We just got back from out trip to Spain and I wanted to take a moment to thank you once again for all of your help and your recommendations.

Picking up the rental car was a breeze, and google maps worked just fine.

We absolutely adored Ribadesella! The hotel was perfect and what a wonderful seaside town. 

San Sebastian was also great, and the choice of the Hotel Codina worked out well as it forced us to do long walks to get to old town for the tapas.

Thank you again and we can't wait to come back to your beautiful country.

We are just back from our trip (had 3 weeks in UK after Spain).

Very many thanks for organising our Spanish trip – how wonderful. The bookings were great, hotels good, car bookings worked, trains worked, and your transfer people were so prompt, courteous, and efficient it was just so easy. We’ll come to you again if we come to Spain, and definitely recommend you also.

Just wanted you to know that we completed our trip successfully.  Everything went pretty well, accommodations were acceptable and located in good places. We were especially pleased with the hotel in Girona—it was a great place to decompress after the hustle and bustle of the larger cities of Barcelona and Valencia.  

Both tour guides were great, and helped us connect historically and culturally with the locations. Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Casa Mila were all amazing.  Casa Batllo was interesting but not as impressive.  We liked Ramon, our driver, very much.  He was friendly and helpful. The train accommodations worked well.

Thank you for you the bookings and recommendations.  There weren’t any mistakes in schedules, tickets, or reservations—great work.

Dear Olaia

Erin and I are sitting in the Barcelona airport and saying that the trip you planned was executed to 

perfection. Everything was organized timely, and well thought out. Our private tours were amazing. 

Gracias. 

Please do not hesitate to use us a referral. It would be our pleasure.

In 2018, we traveled throughout Spain and Portugal, along with a day in Tangier. Every aspect of our trip was expertly arranged by Totally Spain. We were pleased with the hotels, transportation, and guides. It truly was an excellent trip! If only Totally Spain could be replicated in every country!

Re-Produced from our Google Reviews

We want to thank you from the bottom of our traveling hearts for our magnificent vacation. The arrangements you made were so excellent......

All three of us made it through with a thousand great memories of places, people, food, wine, museums, mosques, cathedrals, music choices on cab drivers' radios, unbelievably narrow streets, sacred processions, did I mention food and wine? We are recommending your agency to people we talk to here at home! 

Gracias muchisimas. 

Hi Olaia

This big THANK YOU is quite late from when it was due, but I still need to send it.  My husband, Daryl, and adult son, James, enjoyed their Totally Spain trip in October, 2017.  Everything you planned went perfectly.  The Toledo guide was particularly outstanding!  They enjoyed everything your recommended and Daryl said he would love to return to Spain someday.  He so very much enjoyed the rhythm of the country, the people and the food!  You do an excellent job.  Their accommodations were perfect.  Thank you, thank you.  You removed an enormous amount of stress regarding their travels!

Review from Yelp

Absolutely appreciative of Olaia from Totally Spain for organising a memorable family trip to Madrid, Segovia, Bilbao and Barcelona.  From wanting to see as much of the major cities to dining  at the World's oldest restaurant;  going up in a hot air balloon  to listening to the angelic voices of the Monserrat Boys' Choir, Olaia made it all happened within our 9 days there inclusive of recommended places that we were not initially aware of.   All spaced out in a comfortable pace.

Olaia put us in lovely apartments and hotels, all within walking distances to shops, museums and glorious food.

The guides like Esther Benito in Madrid,  Jose Manuel Calleja in Bilbao whom she arranged for us were all so amiable, well-articulated and imbues passion in their country's history and all it has to offer. Realizing that we enjoyed architecture, Jose went the extra mile to show us beautiful inspiring buildings along the Rioja Valley

Ewan from Devour Madrid brought to life the selected masterpieces at Prado Museum and making it such a memorable study of Spanish art history for my family. Coming from an country where we don't learn about European history nor its artwork, it's nice when your kids becomes fascinated and now have a favourite Velazquez painting .
In Barcelona, Mar Ramoneda  weaved her magic spell and turned what would have been an impossibly long day to see all 4 of Gaudi's masterpieces into an enchanting  one immersed in the genius of the architect .

The whole team is great, even  Jose the driver in Barcelona who picked us from the airport and subsequently saw us off,  made us feel so very  welcomed in his city and gave us great pointers on the type of cheese and  Jamon to enjoy.
Two Thumbs up to Totally Spain.

Review from Yelp

Total pleasure! We are experienced travelers - I've arranged complicated trips for my family for years - but traveling to Spain during the Christmas holidays on relatively short notice with an 81 year old mother? I knew I needed help. A visit to the Alhambra? They were sold out in September! I found a reference to Totally Spain online and started exploring their website. Shortly afterward, I made contact with Olaia and found my zen. After getting a thorough idea of what we were looking for, Olaia crafted an adventure from Madrid to Nerja, Granada, Seville and back to Madrid. She arranged private transfers, wonderful hotels, private tours, bicycle rentals, AVE tickets, museum passes, expert guides and even made dinner reservations for the holidays. She had great suggestions and was always available to bounce ideas off and answer any questions. The packet she sent was a thing of beauty - each city separated with corresponding maps (highlighting hotel and other important locations), detailed notes on sightseeing, history, restaurants and culture, and brochures for additional activities we might be interested in (Hamman in Granada!). All vouchers, passes, AVE tickets, etc were printed and included for easy access. Every driver, guide and tour, met us promptly and exactly where we expected. And they were all professional, personable and a pleasure. There were never any confusion or wasted time. I loved that Olaia could help me with whatever parts of the trip I wanted. We had her book hotels for us, but there would have been no problem if we had decided to airbnb it. And their website and blog has a wealth of information. The holidays can be stressful. Planning a trip is stressful. The trip itself can be stressful. We had none of that. We had Olaia, and we had a great time!

Thank you for all your help with our holiday. We had a fantastic time. The Christmas meal in our hotel was fantastic, the food and staff were amazing. The private transfer was lovely too.

We are thinking of where to go for our next Spanish trip.

Just a quick note to thank you again for organising another excellent holiday for us in Catalonia. Everything went very well - the car was fine and the hotels were all excellent. The Hotel San Jorge in Platja D'Aro was a different kind of experience for us from the paradors, but we liked it very much too.

I hope to get in touch again in 2018; maybe starting again in Santander and going further over towards Santiago.

Thank you so much for all the arrangements you made for us. We had a wonderful trip. The hotels were perfectly located, attractive, clean, comfortable, and well staffed. We felt very well cared for. Your restaurant selections were excellent. We loved all of them! 

Our drivers Javier and Alberto plus Ismael were excellent. We loved the Flamenco show. Great artistry!

The trains were all good and on time. Overall this was a fabulous trip!  We enjoyed it so much! Everything worked perfectly thanks to your attention to detail, knowledge, and excellent connections. I would happily recommend you and Totally Spain to anyone.

My wife and I fly out of Madrid tomorrow heading home with great memories of a wonderful holiday in Spain behind us.

Much of the holiday was organised by you so I need to thank you very much. The accommodation was first class, the restaurants were amazing and the tourist information was all extremely useful.

Thank you Olaia, you are a very professional, top class, tour consultant and I am most grateful for everything you did to make our visit to Spain so wonderful.

Estoy de regreso en Honduras y por este medio quiero expresarles las gracias por la coordinacion del viaje que hicimos desde Oviedo,Santander, Bilbao a San Sebastian. Espana tiene sitios, ciudades y pueblos bellisimos, llenos de historia, de gastronomia y de personas muy amables. Disfrutamos mucho nuestra estadia en su hermoso pais. Los felicito por el profesionalismo con el que trabajan y esperamos en un futuro cercano volverlos a contactar.  

Our trip was wonderful! I was amazed that everything worked as planned. The drivers were always on time. The tour guides were waiting for us and they knew so much!! They were patient and answered all our questions. We loved the hotels especially in Seville and in Granada. I must admit that Granada was my favorite place and my favorite hotel. The receptionists at the hotel there were so pleasant and willing to help.

I want to thank you for organizing such a great trip. My only regret was that we didn’t spend more time in each city, but that encourages us to go back and spend more time in Spain. Thank you for such a well organized trip. We appreciate your service and consideration. We hope to plan another trip with you.

Sincerely,
Cora Five and Richard Ditoro