Lemon Valley Holidays

13/12/2020

One day we will be back here enjoying these beautiful views 🤞🏻 ☀️ 🍷 🚣‍♂️

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Missing the good old days! Driving through the winding roads of Douro valley, sipping the red, the white, the rosé and all colors in between, just gazing the horizon. We miss this 💓

07/07/2020

Handmade tours and bespoke holidays in Spain

Have you ever dreamt of visiting the Alhambra Palace in Granada or taking a long lazy lunch in an orange tree lined plaza in Seville? Or of wandering the medieval labyrinth of streets in Toledo, or sampling the extraordinary food scene of San Sebastian? Spain is one of the most historically, geographically and culturally diverse countries in the world. From the Moorish south to the Celtic north and the Castilian Quixotic centre...

Please visit our website for more details on our handmade tours of Spain or get in contact with us for more information [email protected]

https://www.lemonvalleyholidays.com/spain-tours.php

07/07/2020

Independent tours for the more discerning traveller 🇪🇸 🇵🇹 🇲🇦 🇬🇧 www.lemonvalleyholidays.com

06/07/2020

We are delighted to present our brand new website. Over a year in the making and with new holidays being added all the time, we remain at your service and look forward to welcoming you soon to our special corner of the world.
https://www.lemonvalleyholidays.com/

We are a small, award winning travel company who offer handcrafted tours and creative tailor-made itineraries to Andalucía, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Our special corner of the world.

04/05/2020

This morning we took a virtual tour of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. We reminisced about the many times we have visited, the jaw dropping size of the building nestled right within the city, it’s beautiful intricately decorated facade and the wonderfully light and colourful interior.
We have so many wonderful resources available to us at the moment to visit our favourite places from our homes, have you been on any virtual journeys these past weeks?

Gaudeix de la visita virtual a la Sagrada Família. Descobreix el Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família com si hi fossis!

10/04/2020

Viernes Santo in Malaga was when, about 12 years ago now, I fell in love with Semana Santa. The atmosphere, the passion, the excitement of the thrones passing and swaying in the tiny streets, just inches from your face. The dedication, months of practise, the smell of incense. I feel sad beyond words that the people of Spain cannot engage in these ceremonies that they surely need now more than ever 😢❤️🤗

31/03/2020

Don’t forgot to visit the Cafe de Paris in Tangier, Morocco. In WW2 when Tangier was an International Zone the cafe had legendary status as a central base for agents & spies who would meet to swop intelligence and make new deals

27/03/2020

The ancient fortified city of Toledo has seen many events through its 2000 years of history. An historical and cultural melting pot where under Arabic rule, Muslims Jews and Christians enjoyed centuries of peaceful coexistence and cooperation.

25/03/2020

Spend an enchanted night under the Saharan desert sky, where your Berber hosts arrive to work on camels and cook all your meals on site using fresh local ingredients. After dinner you can join in with the traditional music and songs, before laying your head beneath the starry sky (In a sumptuous king size bed with en-suite bathroom of course!)

23/03/2020

A little bit of much needed calm in this crazy world. The lovely sounds of one of the many beautiful fountains in the Alhambra Palace.

23/03/2020

There is an age old Portuguese saying that “Lisbon shows off, whilst Porto works and Coimbra studies”. Our romantic train tour of these three cities takes you effortlessly into the heart of each of them; relaxed, refreshed and ready to explore.

21/03/2020

On our Magical Morocco tour we always drop in on the local ladies of the Argan oil cooperative; through the Tizi n’Tichka pass on the road from Marrakesh. Using the same method for hundreds of years they collect, dry and shell the nuts before crushing to release the “liquid gold”.

20/03/2020

When I picture the Alhambra today; empty and silent, amidst the closure of all cultural monuments in Spain, I think of Washington Irving - and how in 1828 he was able to live at the palace before it became one of the top three visited attractions in Europe. He took breakfast (as you would if you could) on the Patio de los Leones and made friends with the local vagabonds that had made the deserted citadel their home. It's an essential read before a visit to Granada and don't forget to sign the visitors book that he began nearly 200 years ago when you leave!

20/03/2020

The Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain is an ancient Islamic fortress, palace and citadel; a remnant of the Nasrid dynasty, the last Islamic kingdom in Western Europe. The inner Nasrid Palace (royal quarter) was designed so every view is a picture of harmony and balance with natural light and the sound of running water creating the perfect environment for meditation and prayer.

19/03/2020

https://www.instagram.com/p/B96ONd-gfxS/?igshid=ra7go4c99k7x
Hold each other tight! All you need is love ❤️

18/03/2020

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17/03/2020

We are so sorry for our friends and colleagues in Spain, Portugal & Morocco; hotels, guides, drivers; family businesses that we have worked with for 15 years now, over coming many obstacles over the years but who are now are facing an unprecidented challenge and we are helpless to assist.

Here at Lemon Valley we can only focus on the future; use this time with no one traveling to disect and polish all the elements that make up our business - all those things we can never do when busy with the day to day.

We are a small family business too. We need to survive. So much uncertainty and fear but we are absolutely determined that we will come back stronger than ever and be ready for when people can once again enjoy the delights the whole world has to offer (and not just their own four walls!!)

Take good care and stay safe. We will keep you posted

Nicola, Danielle and Anthony ❤️

02/03/2020

Two wonderful museums of Spain feature on the National Geographics list of museums with spectacular architecture. The Guggenheim in Bilbao with is metal curves has a wonderful collection of contemporary and modern art, and the Museo de la Memoria de Andalucia in Granada, a white washed circular courtyard houses artefacts from prehistoric times, both well worth a visit on your holiday to Spain! 🖼 🇪🇸 ✈️

Visit 10 cultural spaces with stunning exteriors.

10/02/2020

A beautiful photo of Malaga Cathedral...work began on the building in 1528! ⛪️

Catedral de Málaga, uno de los monumentos históricos más bonitos de la ciudad ♥️

19/06/2019

Hi Nicola,
The customized trip to Lisbon, Porto, Seville, & Granada that you planned for us was outstanding!

We loved all of the boutique hotels and our modern apartment in Porto.
The breakfasts were all so good (maybe too good) & the locations
we’re perfect. Very easy access to sights and restaurants.

We enjoyed all of the private and small group tours you booked. All of the guides did a great job and had such good personalities. Our lunch on the Douro Valley wine tour was one of the best meals we had.

Wouldn’t change a thing.

Thank you so much for planning such a memorable trip.
Peggy Cheever
Castle Pines, Colorado

12/06/2019

Hi Nicola,
I wanted to let you know we had a great time in Barcelona. We loved the hotel and all the tours were perfect. Our only regret was we didn't have more time! On another note, I am planning a trip to France in the fall and I wondered if you knew of a travel advisor that offers a similar service like you do in Spain. After booking with you, I've decided it's the only way to go!

Thanks so much, Pat

31/05/2019

Dear Nicola
Thank you for organising the last few days of my holiday in Spain. Everything went very smoothly!! The Tour of Andalucia booklet and Spanish phrasebook were very helpful. Now home I have many happy memories of a wonderful holiday.
Kindest Regards
Justine

16/04/2019

07/04/2019

We recently returned from an enchanting tour of Portugal and Andalucia, including Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, Evora, Cordoba, Granada, Gibraltar, Vejer de la Frontera, Seville, and Estoi in the Algarve. It was perfectly orchestrated by Lemon Valley Holidays, with Nicola at the helm. Our adventure was a symphony of old and new, but always immersed in the warmth of the Portuguese and Spanish cultures. We chose a self drive and pre-arranged accommodation tour which allowed us the flexibility we wanted. During the planning of our trip, Nicola was so helpful and always available as we shared many emails and phone conversations. The accommodations she recommended were the most charming boutique hotels located in the historic districts, a perfect place to begin our exploring. It was so refreshing to have leisurely mornings to enjoy the outstanding European breakfasts, before heading out touring. When we arrived at our first hotel, Nicola had sent a large package for us that included all the details we needed, including maps, addresses of hotels, tickets for events, and other important information to make our travels perfect. And they were just that! We highly recommend Lemon Valley Tours, and look forward to a Moroccan adventure in the near future. It will be incomparably planned by our consultant and friend, Nicola. Her attention to detail, and her sincere interest in us were so greatly appreciated. Thank you so much, Nicola, for a wonderful three weeks!! Lynda and Rob Ecclestone Vancouver, Canada

30/03/2019

NIcola, once again we are in your debt. Your itinerary, car arrangements, hotels and logistics arrangements were perfect progenitors for a trip that has left us relaxed, full of fine memories, basking in new knowledge, and sharing our fascinating experiences in cities throughout Portugal.

Except for the parking imbroglio at the hotel in Porto, everything and everyone was just as you had planned and we had hoped. After enjoying your similar support in our trip last March 2018 to Andalucía and Barcelona, we have been delighted to send our friends the Maffres with you to Spain this year. Now we wish we were there with them!

Many, many thanks, and congratulations for your fine work and support..

Do you do any other European countries that we could take on next March?

John and Alena

30/03/2019

Nicola

We'll write more completely once our trip is over but couldn't wait to tell you what a thoroughly wonderful dinner we had tonight.

Wonderful ambience, attentive and helpful staff. And the foood!!! A great intro to Spanish dining.
An easy Metro ride and walk there but taxi back to hotel.

19/03/2019

Hi Nicola
Having just returned from our trip around Andalucia we want to say thank you for what has been a wonderful week. Everything went smoothly-the information you supplied was excellent & followed seemlessly from one destination to the next. The hotels were in great locations in the heart of the historical areas which we really enjoyed. The only disappointment was is that we didn’t have longer!
The good news is we’re already thinking about Portugal maybe next Spring!
Many thanks again.

Best Wishes
Helen & Kim

12/03/2019

Dear Nicola,

Ruth and I want to thank you for the wonderful holiday trip you organized and arranged for us.

The hotels we stayed at were truly first-rate, with wonderful service, breakfasts, views, and accommodations, the guides knowledgeable, personable, and reliable, the fado concert was an exquisite experience and in a fine venue, the day and river trip to the Duoro Valley port wineries a treat, and all our rail travel connections were easy to follow, properly arranged, and comfortable. We appreciated the well-organized packet and other materials you prepared for us - they were most helpful. It was a magical happy experience for us.

We especially were enchanted by the university at Coimbra and by the day trip to Sintra. Thanks for these fine suggestions.

We understand you did all this while under some personal stress, and are even therefore more grateful for your good work on our behalf.

We will be happy to recommend you service to others, and will pass your firm’s name on.

I (Lloyd) am a professional photographer. I have already prepared a handful of pictures from the trip, and am attaching them to this email. Please enjoy them - they give a small sense of what we saw.
Many more are in the work for editing, too.

Again, many thanks, and our kind regards,
Lloyd and Ruth

LLOYD WOLF|PHOTOGRAPHER