Reviews

Jo-Ann Gaidosz

Active Gourmet Holidays

"Hello Ramon, hope you are well - back in London? Anna emailed the other day saying the trip was fabulous and talked about how wonderful you are! So, thanks once again for your hard work and hope they were nice people. She was very pleasant to deal with over email. Have a great day and I am so happy we finally met!"

Bruce

"Dear Ramon, thank you so much for time and help on our recent trip.  I know that we got to do and see things that many tourists do not because of your knowledge of the country. Overall it was a great experience.  Shari and I could have stayed another two weeks and could easily see ourselves returning and staying longer than two weeks.  Shari, I think, to Barcelona, and me to Rioja."

Rosemary Burki

G. Travelers

"Good morning, Ramon, I spoke to Dr. and Mrs. Deal last night and wanted to thank you for taking such great care of them.  They loved everything about the tour.  The said the guide was excellent and very knowledgeable.  The outstanding point was the luncheon at the winery, so thank you for recommending it. Please pass on my thanks to your guide."

Bryan

"Ramon, thanks for following up. Rachel and Antonio ( think that is how you spell it)  were perfect. They both had a lot of knowledge about the regions and were very informative. I would recommend them both many times over. I have been on many private wine tours with difference guides and Rachel is one of the best we have toured with. Her knowledge of the region and her connections are very impressive. Kelly and I look forward to working with her again in the future. Thanks again."

Karen

"Hi Ramon, the dinner was fantastic - everyone enjoyed it. We also had a wonderful time on the trip and thank you for all your services.  It really was a unique trip and we hated it to end. Thanks again."

Emma North

Account Manager

"Hi Ramon, just wanted to pass on this lovely feedback we had from the client who recently staying at Hotel 1898. Big thank you for arranging all that, it was a fabulous break in a magnificent city staying in a great hotel.  Faultless service, charming staff, amazing breakfast buffet (only once had a better one and that was in a five star hotel in Paris!), beautiful room and perfect location. What more can I say? The Traders will absolutely love this trip. Thanks again! Obviously great to hear this and she will spread the word about how lovely the hotel is. Thank you for your help in arranging this and please pass on my thanks to the hotel. Have a great weekend. Thanks."

David

"Hi Ramon, we have been back for a few days now... The trip was really special. Thanks again for your work in creating such a wonderful itinerary and being an excellent guide with us, in person. We were also very very happy with Andoni in the 2nd half of our trip. Take care!"

Marilee Irwin

"Ramon, if you wish to feel like a very special guest of Spain, explore with Ramon. While sharing his passion and spirit of his  native land, you will be transported through Spain's rich countryside of the Rioja area while enjoying the many bodegas, cuisine and regional flavours of its culture. You are the very best guide and oh so, so patient-God will reward you someday for putting up with our group of crazy but fun women and I bet you will never have another group quite like US!!!!  Ana Abel (A little bit) is an absolute sweetheart and beautiful on top of all her other great qualities. Please tell her hello and many, many thanks for everything you both did to make our trip so very special. Keep in touch and hope to see both of you in California in the very near future."

Lisa

"Hi Ramon, they had a wonderful time and appreciate your hard work and how everything worked so smoothly! They loved the food and drink the most! The restaurants were lovely and wine free flowing! I know this hasn’t been the easiest job for you! I have worked with them for 7 years and out of all my clients they are the most high maintenance! You should see what we have to do over here for all 35 parks! Thank you for your patience and guidance and when I get some more clients will be in contact! I also would like to do this trip myself! Thanks again."

Peter & Niki Allen

"Dear Ramon, I would just like to write a few words to thank you for helping my wife Niki in the organisation of my 50th birthday present of a gourmet wine tour of Rioja. On our arrival at Bilbao airport it was great to meet you & even better when you dealt with all of our luggage. As you are now aware Niki doesn't travel light! Our first stop was The Dinastia Vivanco Museum, which gave us a great insight into all aspects of wine production from the historical perspective & how the wonderful liquid is physically produced today. You then took us to the Marques de Riscal hotel for a two night stay. As you arrive at the hotel, it really does have the wow factor (I'm still not sure about that roof..) and from the minute we entered the hotel, the welcome was amazing & nothing appeared too much trouble for the team. It really is a lovely hotel right in the middle of a working vineyard. Our room, which was even more special with the upgrade to a suite was also just perfect. The views over the surrounding countryside were ones that you'd never tire of. We had a very special dinner that night with of course the accompanying glasses of Rioja (also something I'd never tire of!). The winery tours that you arranged for us gave a balanced view of current methods of production & ageing in use today. I prefer the nice clean ones whereas Niki preferred the older cellars complete with dust & cobwebs! The subsequent tasting of the wines was also very insightful & again provided a balance between new & old wines. You then took us to the Hotel Hospederia de los Parajes. This was a very quaint hotel, which was also excellent & in the middle of a pedestrian square with other bars & restaurants, which were great for people watching. You were right, suite 401 was delightful! The food & service here were also fantastic, we really felt pampered, particularly on our last day which was our wedding anniversary & the meal on the last night was superb. My goal was to see grapes on the vine & the finished bottles on the table & everything in between you achieved all of this and more. We are so grateful."