Málaga, Spain Tour
9-Day Málaga Pickleball Trips
TRIP LOCATION:
Málaga, Spain
Includes day trips to:
Granada
Córdoba
Ronda
Seville, Jerez, Cádiz,
Gibraltar and Marbella
2024 TRIP DATES:
► April 25 – May 3, 2024
With Tour Pros Steve & Jennifer Dawson (more info here)
► May 3 - 6 (Add-on Trip)
Southern Spain Experience
► May 6 – 14, 2024
With Tour Pro Prem Carnot, the Pickleball Guru (more info here)
► October 1 – 9, 2024
► Oct. 9 - 12 (Add-on Trip)
Southern Spain Experience
TRIP PRICE:
Starting at $3,650
Pricing and Payment:
- Double Room – $3,650 (per person when sharing a room)
- Single Room – $4,350 (solo traveler with private room)
- Tour Deposit – You can make a 20% initial deposit to reserve a spot on the tour. The initial deposit will be deducted from your grand total (listed above).
- Final Payment – After placing your initial deposit, your full payment is due two months prior to the trip dates.
Cancellation Policy (% of trip price per person):
- 91 + Days prior to arrival – Non-refundable portion of the deposit ($200)
- 61 – 90 Days prior to arrival – 30% of the Total Price
- 31 – 60 Days prior to arrival – 60% of the Total Price
- 0 – 31 Days prior to arrival – 100% of the Total Price
Travel Insurance:
We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy the your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:
- You need to cancel your participation on the tour
- You need to cancel or change a flight
- Lost baggage during the trip
- Stolen items during the trip
- Medical costs during the trip
If you would like to compare policies here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider: Travelex Travel Insurance and Travel Guard. You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.
Pickleball Tour Details
What's Included:
- 8 nights in a handpicked 4-star hotel (part of the Marriott Group)
- Access to pickleball courts and locker room facilities
- Pickleball instruction and participation in all organized pickleball activity
- Transportation to and from the pickleball sports center (pickleball courts)
- Buffet breakfast every morning
- 4 gourmet dinners
- Private deluxe motor coach for day trip excursions
- Day trip to Granada
- Day trip to Córdoba
- Day trip to Ronda
- Professionally guided tours in each city we visit
- Comprehensive tour handbook when you arrive
- Guided tours of the Museums and other historical sites (Palaces, Cathedrals, Mosques)
- Bilingual tour director
- Flamenco performance
- “Bienvenido” welcome reception
- “Hasta Luego Fiesta” farewell dinner and party
What's Not Included:
- Airfare, lunches, half your dinners, tips, drinks, personal spending
Where we're going!
The Málaga pickleball trip is based in the city of Málaga which is located on the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Spain. This is an ideal location for a pickleball vacation because of its warm weather, rich culture and history, gastronomy, music, art, festive atmosphere, and its friendly people.
Málaga will be our home base for the pickleball trip. It is a vibrant and historical coastal city that never sleeps. From Málaga we’ll take three incredible day trips, always returning to sleep at our hotel in Málaga. On our day trips we’ll take guided tours of the following cities: Granada (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Córdoba (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Ronda, a spectacular village built on a cliff and dating back to the 6th century BC.
Pickleball is scheduled for at least every other day throughout the tour, and includes both pickleball instruction as well as open play and competition with the locals. Fortunately pickleball continues to grow throughout Spain, offering a unique opportunity to play with the Spaniards on your pickleball vacation.
Brief Itinerary Málaga Tour
Day 1: Málaga: Arrival, optional afternoon pickleball, reception and dinner
Day 2: Málaga: Morning pickleball, guided walking tour of Málaga, welcome dinner celebration
Day 3: Granada: Day-trip to Granada, guided tour of Granada and La Alhambra
Day 4: Málaga: Morning pickleball, afternoon free, dinner and Flamenco show
Day 5: Ronda: Day-trip to Ronda, guided tour of Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
Day 6: Málaga: Morning pickleball, guided tour of Atarazanas Market, dinner under the stars
Day 7: Córdoba: Day-trip to Cordoba, guided tour of Córdoba and the Cathedral-Mosque
Day 8: Málaga: Morning pickleball, free time to shop and explore, farewell Fiesta dinner!
Day 9: Málaga: Bus transfer to the airport, departure flight, arrive same day to US or Canada
Full Itinerary Málaga Tour
Day 1 – Welcome to Málaga!
- Morning: Arrival to “Malaga-Costa del Sol” Airport. Easy transportation (20 minutes) from the airport to our 4-star Marriott AC Hotel located in the heart of the historic center of Málaga, near the Cathedral and seaport. You can relax at the hotel and nearby cafés, stroll through Málaga Park, or walk along the seaport promenade just outside of the hotel to begin to get to know this picturesque and vibrant city.
- Lunch: On your own
- Afternoon: Pickleball courts will be available for optional afternoon play. Later, we will get together for a warm and friendly “Bienvenido” Welcome Reception at the hotel.
- Dinner: On your own
Day 2 – Tour of Málaga
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: We go to the pickleball courts for three hours of instruction and play.
- Lunch: On your own at the hotel or one of many local restaurants.
- Afternoon: We explore Málaga by foot with a guided walking tour of “Old Málaga”. We stroll through the city’s historic center to the Obispo Plaza, the Cathedral, the Merced Plaza with Pablo Picasso’s statue and birthplace, the Roman Theater, and the Atarazanas Food Market. We complete our walking tour in the “Plaza de la Constitucion”, a lively historic plaza where events have been held since the 15th century. The plaza is surrounded by windy streets with a wide range of restaurants and “tapas bars” to choose from – and only a 10-minute walk from our hotel. Along the way back to the hotel you can enjoy some of Málaga’s major sights illuminated at night.
- Dinner: We will get together for a “Bienvenido” Welcome Dinner in a restaurant a few minutes walking from our hotel.
Day 3 – Granada
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: After breakfast we head northeast on a 90-minute luxury coach ride to Granada, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Granada offers spectacular medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation. We begin our tour of the city by exploring Granada’s magnificent palace, the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Alhambra palace/fortress is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world, in addition to containing notable examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Its colorful ornate stucco, scalloped filigree windows, exuberant gardens, bubbling fountains, and peaceful pools highlight the splendor of Moorish civilization in the 13th and 14th centuries. Granada is the famous last home of the (Muslim) Moors, who were driven out of Spain and back to Africa in 1492 during the “Reconquista” (the reconquering) of Spain by Spaniards and Christians. Because of its significance in the “Reconquista”, Isabel and Ferdinand, the greatest king and queen of Spain, decided to use Granada as their capital. It was here that they listened to Christopher Columbus’ final pitch for a sea voyage to the Orient and agreed to finance the trip.
- Lunch: On your own at a local restaurant. We’ll suggest several options so you can savor the local fare.
- Afternoon: Free time to shop and enjoy the winding streets and varied sites on your own. Return to Málaga in the evening.
- Dinner: On your own
Day 4 – Málaga – Flamenco Show
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: We go to the pickleball courts for three hours of instruction and play.
- Lunch: After a morning of pickleball we meet our tour guide at Málaga’s famous Atarazanas Food Market, located in the heart of Málaga’s city center. We get a guided tour of this historical and bustling food market as we stroll through the variety of food stands displaying a sumptuous selection of Spanish delicacies. We savor the different food and drink on display and enjoy a fresh lunch “Málaga style”.
- Afternoon: At your leisure to explore Málaga, shop, or just relax in a centuries-old square to absorb the charm of this city and its people.
- Dinner: Tables are reserved for dinner and a fiery evening of Spanish dance and music! Get ready for throbbing guitars, lamenting solos, colorful dancers and the emotional, rhythmic stomp of flamenco.
Day 5 – Ronda
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: After breakfast we head north on a 90-minute luxury coach ride to Ronda, a cliffside city with remains of prehistoric settlements. The Celts (6th century BC), Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs all inhabited these lands, which were eventually reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs in the 15th century. We enjoy a guided tour of this mountaintop city that’s set dramatically above a deep canyon “El Tajo” and river “Guadalevín” that separates the city in two. We’ll walk the spectacular stone bridge “Puente Nuevo which was built in the 18th century and offers amazing views from 400 ft above the canyon floor. We’ll explore the Arab baths built in the 13th century and widely regarded as the best-preserved Arabic hammams in Iberia. Ronda is also the birthplace of modern bullfighting. We’ll tour the bullring “Plaza de Toros”, the oldest in Spain, built in 1785 in neoclassical style, and later we’ll visit the bullfighting museum. Both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spent many summers in Ronda writing about Ronda’s beauty and famous bullfighting traditions.
- Lunch: On your own at a local restaurant. We’ll suggest several options so you can savor the local fare.
- Afternoon: Free time to shop and enjoy the winding streets and varied sites on your own. Return to Málaga in the evening.
- Dinner: On your own
Day 6 – Málaga – Atarazanas Food Market and Plaza del Obispo
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: We go to the pickleball courts for three hours of instruction and play.
- Lunch: After a morning of pickleball we meet our tour guide at Málaga’s famous Atarazanas Food Market, located in the heart of Málaga’s city center. We get a guided tour of this historical and bustling food market as we stroll through the variety of food stands displaying a sumptuous selection of Spanish delicacies. We savor the different food and drink on display and enjoy a fresh lunch “Málaga style”.
- Afternoon: Free time to shop, visit a museum, or relax on the beach.
- Dinner: Together outdoors in the lively Plaza del Obispo, next to the Málaga Cathedral
Day 7 – Córdoba
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: After breakfast we head north on a 90-minute luxury coach ride to Córdoba, a city founded by the Romans in the 2nd century BC, and home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Córdoba has a glorious Roman and Moorish history, once serving as a regional capital for both empires. There we enjoy a guided tour of “La Mezquita”, a 6th-century church that was converted into a mosque in 784 AD after the Moorish conquest. “La Mezquita” was later converted into a cathedral under King Ferdinand III, known as “the Saint”, who reigned in the 13th century. This architectural masterpiece, now known as the Mosque-Cathedral, is remarkably well-preserved with more than 500 columns and overlapping arches creating incredible perspectives and stunning designs. Steps away from “La Mezquita” we’ll stroll through the charming, narrow streets of the old Jewish Quarter.
- Lunch: On your own at a local restaurant. We’ll suggest several options so you can savor the local fare.
- Afternoon: Free time to shop and enjoy the winding streets and varied sites on your own. Return to Málaga in the evening.
- Dinner: On your own
Day 8 – Málaga – “Hasta Luego Fiesta” and Farewell Dinner
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: We go to the pickleball courts for three hours of instruction and play.
- Lunch: On your own
- Afternoon: On your own to explore, shop, or visit any of the city’s many attractions that may have caught your eye throughout the tour.
- Dinner: We get together for the lively “Hasta Luego Fiesta” celebration and farewell dinner.
Day 9 – Málaga – Departure Flights
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: After breakfast, bus transfer to the airport for departure flights. Arrive same day to US or Canada.
Important information about the itinerary: Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and will make every effort to provide equally appealing alternatives when adjustments need to be made. We appreciate your understanding.
Southern Spain Extension Tour
3-Night Southern Spain Extension Tour
If you would like to broaden your travel experience in Spain, we invite you to extend your stay either before or after the April & May Málaga Pickleball Tours in order to join us on this Extension Tour as we explore several extraordinary cities throughout Southern Spain.
ITINERARY:
Seville
Jeréz
Cádiz
Gibraltar
Marbella
DATES:
► May 3 – 6, 2024
► October 9 – 12, 2024
PRICE:
Starting at $1,100
Pricing and Payment:
- Double Room – $1,100 (per person)
- Single Room – $1,500 (price difference due to single room supplement)
Cancellation Policy (% of trip price per person):
- 91 + Days prior to arrival – Non-refundable portion of the deposit ($200)
- 61 – 90 Days prior to arrival – 30% of the Total Price
- 31 – 60 Days prior to arrival – 60% of the Total Price
- 0 – 31 Days prior to arrival – 100% of the Total Price
Travel Insurance:
We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy the your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:
- You need to cancel your participation on the tour
- You need to cancel or change a flight
- Lost baggage during the trip
- Stolen items during the trip
- Medical costs during the trip
If you would like to compare policies here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider: Travelex Travel Insurance and Travel Guard. You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.
Trip Details
What's Included:
- Professionally guided tours in 5 amazing cities: Seville, Jerez, Cádiz, Gibraltar, and Marbella
- 3 nights in handpicked 4-star hotels in the historical old city center
- Buffet breakfast every morning
- 3 gourmet dinners
- Private deluxe motor coach for travel
- Pickleball with the locals
- Guided tours of the Museums and other historical sites (Palaces, Cathedrals, Mosques)
- Bilingual tour director
- “Hasta Luego Fiesta” farewell dinner and party
Brief Itinerary Southern Spain Extension Trip
Day 1: Seville: Morning private luxury coach from Málaga to Seville, guided tour of Seville, pickleball with the locals
Day 2: Seville, Jerez, and Cádiz: Morning continue exploring Seville, lunch in Jerez with dancing horse show, dinner in Cádiz
Day 3: Cádiz, Gibraltar, and Marbella: Morning guided tour of Cádiz, private coach to Gibraltar, tour of Gibraltar, private coach to Marbella
Day 4: Marbella and Málaga: Morning tour of Marbella, private luxury coach to Málaga to start Pickleball Tour or Depart
Full Itinerary Southern Spain Extension Trip
Day 1 – Seville
- Morning: Departure from Málaga in luxury private coach to Seville (2 hours 30 minutes).
- Lunch: On your own
- Afternoon: After lunch we take a guided walking tour of “Old Seville”, the capital city of Southern Spain, and home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Founded in the 8th century BC, Seville has become one of the largest historical centers in Europe. We visit the magnificent Royal Alcázar fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the impressive Seville cathedral and Giralda tower. The Seville cathedral has been home to Christian worship since the 13th century when the city was reconquered by the Catholic monarchs from its Muslim rulers. It is also home to the grave of Christopher Columbus. The Royal Alcázar fortress, originally constructed in 913, is home to the Palace of Don Pedro, one of the site’s most impressive features, which was built in the 14th century by King Pedro. While exploring the city’s winding streets you’ll experience the energetic and charismatic culture of Southern Spain. The city center if full of a wide range of restaurants and “tapas bars” (bars serving local appetizers) to choose from – and only a 10-minute walk from our hotel. Along the way back to the hotel you can enjoy some of Seville’s spectacular monuments illuminated at night.
- Evening: Pickleball with the locals
- Dinner: Together at a handpicked restaurant
Day 2 – Seville, Jerez and Cádiz
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: After breakfast we will continue exploring Seville with our tour guide. We’ll visit the “Torre del Oro” (the Tower of Gold), a tower built in the12th century by the Almohads that was part of the Moorish city wall. We’ll also visit the historical “Plaza de Toros” (bullring) located in the city center. Built in 1749, this architectural masterpiece still hosts some of the most exciting bullfights in all of Spain.
- Late morning: We take a 30-minutes ride to “Jerez de la Frontera”, also known simply as “Jerez”. Founded 3,000 years ago by the Phoenicians as a colony called Xera, Jerez is now a hub of cultural importance in Andalusia. Its name “Jerez”, meaning “sherry”, alludes to its history as the birthplace of the famous white wine. During Christian rule, the Catholic monarchs began the prosperous trade of the city’s titular wine with the English. The city has a mixture of Muslim and Christian history which can be seen throughout its architecture. Most significantly, the Arab fortress (Alcázar) of Jerez is home to Arab baths, the stunning Garden of Olives, and many innate pools and fountains which outline the Baroque palace of Villavicencio built within the walls of the old fortress. We will enjoy Jerez’s impressive equestrian culture and dancing horse show, where riders dressed in 18th-century attire showcase the traditional dancing of Andalusian horses.
- Lunch: In Jerez, only 30-minutes from Seville, to experience the dancing horse show
- Afternoon: We head 30-minutes south to the seaside city of Cádiz, the oldest city in Europe
- Dinner: Together in Cádiz
Day 3 – Cádiz, Gibraltar and Marbella
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: We’ll take a guided walking tour of “Old Cádiz”. According to legend, the Cádiz was originally founded by Hercules himself around 3,000 years ago. Considered to be one of the oldest settlements in Europe, Cádiz was called Gadir in 1100 BC by the Phoenicians. Surrounded almost entirely by the Atlantic ocean, Cádiz is known for its delicious seafood, meandering streets, sunny beaches, and cheerful locals whose alegrías (flamenco songs) can be heard throughout the city. The impressive Cathedral of Cádiz was commissioned in 1716 but wasn’t finished until 1838, creating a mixture of baroque and neoclassical architectural styles.
- Lunch: On your own
- Afternoon: After lunch we head 90 minutes east on a private luxury coach to Gibraltar to explore the English territory on a guided tour. Located directly between Europe and Africa, Gibraltar holds an interesting position as a British colony located within Spain. The locals speak both English and Spanish, but Gibraltar been British longer than the United States has been American. Its Palladian architecture differentiates it from the white-walled cities of Southern Spain, showcasing the city’s unique combination of cultures. Often referred to as “The Rock”, the city was first used by the ancient Phoenicians and Carthaginian sea-traders between 800 BC and 200 BC. Later, it was a significant location during the Muslim conquest of Spain and a stronghold during the reign of the Catholic monarchs. British Gibraltar began after the conquest led by Admiral Sir George Rooke in 1704 and the Great Siege of 1779. We’ll learn about the impact Gibraltar has had on world history throughout our guided tour, and we’ll take the 6-minute cable car ride to the top of “the Rock” to experience in the magnificent views, as well as the famous Barbary apes that reside on the Rock.
- Evening: We take a private luxury coach 60 minutes east to the luxurious seaside resort town of Marbella.
- Dinner: On your own in the historical city center or the spectacular seaport.
Day 4 – Marbella and Málaga
- Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant
- Morning: We take a guided tour of Marbella, often referred to as the “jewel of the Mediterranean”, to enjoy its charming city center and impressive world-class seaport.
- Mid-morning: Private luxury bus to Málaga
Important information about the itinerary: Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and will make every effort to provide equally appealing alternatives when adjustments need to be made. We appreciate your understanding.
