Bridge for Beginners & Walking - Northern Spain
Discover the delights of Northern Spain on this Spice Escapes exclusive Bridge and Walking Holiday.
Following the first full year of holidays to our exclusive venue in Northern Spain we head back in 2024 but this trip is a first for us.
Bridge is possibly one of the world's most popular games with millions playing worldwide and believe it or not a community in most towns and villages! This break offers you the chance to learn the basics of the game in a 'safe' environment with other beginners, with structured learning that will help you learn quickly and get the most from your time away. Combine this with some leisurely walking this is a great combination for a relaxing break.
Your holiday includes
- Flights including 20kg checked in luggage
- Minibus Transport
- Accommodation as outlined
- Continental breakfasts, picnic lunches, evening meals
- Local wine, beer and spirits in the hotel just help yourself
- Tea/coffee available in the house throughout the day
- 5 seminars learning the basics of Bridge
- 5 Assisted Bridge evening play sessions
- Seminar notes, practice hands
- 5 afternoon walks
Your holiday extras
- Personal travel Insurance
- En suite room supplement
- Optional excursions
- Food & drink in bars on the day off
- Personal extras
This is a wonderful opportunity to visit a less well trod area of Spain while learning how to play Bridge along with some leisurely walking.
Location & Itinerary
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Spain and transfer to your home for the week. Meet your hosts and teachers and enjoy an evening meal getting to know your fellow players and teachers.
Day 2-7
There are 5 morning sessions of Bridge tuition hosted by Cherie and Dave, ever patient and eager to teach you will quickly pick up the basics of the game and have a lot of fun with your expert hosts.
Each day starts with a hearty breakfast either preparation for your morning Bridge seminar or for your free day when there will be the option to join a local excursion.
After your morning Bridge session, enjoy a light lunch before joining your included afternoon walk; nothing too taxing but not a gentle stroll either! If you prefer though, you are welcome to stay put and relax in the garden of the house.
After the evening meal it's time for the serious stuff (just kidding!) as we play a few hands of Bridge to put into practice everything your have learnt over the week and o course Cherie and Dave are on hand to guide and help.
Day 8
Farewell to Spain as you head back to the airport for your return flights.
Travel & Stay
‘Agara’ is translated as Home in Sanskrit – your accommodation is a large house that was formerly used as a restaurant but has recently been renovated. It has completely new electrical and bathroom installations and a new kitchen. Despite the physical improvements to bring the house up to modern standards the owners have tried to retain the character of the house. This is a chance for a relaxing break in a home away from home where you can immerse yourself in the local area and culture – you won’t find a choice of bars and nightclubs on your doorstep so if you want a party, you’ll have to do it in the house! There are twelve bedrooms and eight bathrooms; four rooms have bathrooms en-suite and the rest share the remaining four. There is a supplement for an some rooms.
When not in use by Spice, Agara is Rob Thompson's (Spice UK owner) home. As such there are 2 resident pet dogs - Charlie who is small and wanders the house and Ray. who is larger lives outside all year (he's a rescue and that's his choice).
Provisional Flight Information
18/05/2024 Manchester to Santander Dep: 0635 Arr: 0935
25/05/2024 Santander to Manchester Dep: 1010 Arr: 1110
18/05/2024 Stansted to Santander Dep: 1655 Arr: 1955
25/05/2024 Santander to Stansted Dep: 2100 Arr: 2155
Availability & Pricing
| Flights | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| London Stansted | £1161.00 | Available |
| Manchester | £1161.00 | Available |
| Accommodation | Price | |
| Female place in a twin shared facility room | £0.00 | Available |
| Male place in a twin shared facility room | £0.00 | Available |
| Place in a single shared facility room | £60.00 | Available |
| Female place in a twin en suite room | £90.00 | Available |
| Male place in a twin en suite room | £90.00 | Sold Out |
| Place in a double en suite room (booking for 2 onl | £90.00 | Sold Out |
| Place in a single en suite room | £180.00 | Sold Out |
Not enough spaces left for you? Click here to join the waitlist
Passport validity
For UK passport holders your passport must be:
- Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Travel Insurance
Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel. Spice Escapes have arranged a scheme with Staysure who are fully authorised and regulated by the FCA (firm reference number 663617) full details of which can be found on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk. For an instant online quotation please click here.
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).
UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) are still valid and offer the same cover as GHICs in the EU.
Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.
NB – A GHIC/EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance!
The latest FCO travel guidance for Spain
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain
Host & Everything Else
Dave & Cherie are your teachers for this week and they wanted to tell you a bit about themselves so Cherie has shared the following -
I am a retired Primary Head and qualified EBU (English Bridge Union) Bridge teacher.
Dave is a qualified EBU Director and qualified Mountain leader (you may have met him already on a WalkWise weekend or holiday).
We regularly host Bridge holidays both in the UK and internationally often being resident on cruise lines throughout the world running their Bridge Program for Beginners, Improvers & Advanced and we constantly have guests on the cruises who have tried several times to learn this amazing game but sadly given up, but by the end of the cruises guests are so inspired they can not wait to continue their Bridge journey at home.
Usually the giving up is because they are taught by an outstanding bridge player not outstanding teachers - it makes a big difference!
We believe Bridge is a great way forward as we all edge nearer retirement, offering mental stimulation and a new challenge in great social environments.
We are both very excited and looking forward very much to our first experience to run a Bridge & Walking holiday for Spice Escapes!
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