Frequently asked questions

What is included in the price?

The tour price covers all accommodation, wine bodega visits, cultural visits, meals on a half-board basis (breakfast and main meal of the day – this is usually a substantial 3-course lunch with wine though dinner is usually served instead on day 1 of the tour), wine-tasting sessions, transport during the tour including transfer to and from the wine regions from Madrid Barajas Airport (excluding flights or onward travel), and the fully supervised guiding service of your tour host, Don Federico. 

What is not included?

Flights to and from Madrid, free-time or evening tapas and drinks not provided as part of the half-board meals are not included.

What is meant by shared or double room?

Prices for the tour include all accommodation and are quoted per person based on sharing twin or double rooms for the duration of the trip. It is essential to advise us at the time of booking which tour guests will be sharing and whether twin beds or a double bed is preferred.

Single occupancy of a double room is also available subject to a supplement.

What are the group sizes?

La Ruta de Don Federico offers a highly-personalised, authentic wine experience, with small groups of up to a maximum of 6 guests.

Can larger groups be accommodated?

Bespoke packages are available for larger group bookings.
Please enquire for details.

How much time will be spent in the tour vehicle?

It takes approximately 2 hours to reach the wine regions on day 1 of your tour, and a little over 2 hours to return to Madrid Airport on day 5. On the other days of the tour the emphasis is on spending the majority of our time on visits, whether cultural or wine-related, in villages or countryside, wine tasting and culinary sessions and vehicle transit times are short with less than an hour generally required to travel between visits and appellations.

Are there any mobility requirements?

The nature of La Ruta Don Federico involves visits to authentic, rustic wineries, walking through vineyards on uneven soil and descending steps into centuries-old subterranean cellars, as well as stops at sights of natural beauty which require reasonably good mobility to fully enjoy the experience. As such, the tours are not suitable for wheelchair users or those with restricted mobility. If in doubt, please contact us for advice prior to making a reservation.

Can children be accommodated on tours?

Alcohol is served in moderation as a core element of the wine experiences and therefore we cannot welcome children on any of the tours. The minimum age for alcohol consumption in the UK and Spain of 18 years applies.

Can you cater for allergies and dietary requirements?

La Ruta de Don Federico organises tours primarily in Castile and León, where meat such as lamb, pork, ham and beef are specialities of the region. However, a wide range of gastronomy is offered during the wine experiences including fish and vegetarian options, and other special dietary requirements can be catered for if you advise us at the time of booking. 

Do I need travel insurance?

Every care will be taken to ensure your comfort and safety and a welcome briefing will provide advice on safe conduct during visits in natural and agricultural terrain. However, it is a condition of your booking that you have valid and adequate travel insurance prior to and throughout your tour. A suitable insurance policy should provide adequate cover for medical expenses arising through illness or accident prior to or during the holiday and loss of holiday monies through cancellation or curtailment of the holiday for insurable reasons.

What flight times should I book?

There is a degree of flexibility on pick up and drop off times as tour guests may arrive from different departure points. In general you should arrive at Madrid Airport between 12–4pm on the day of arrival and fly after 4pm on the day of departure. It is advisable that you contact us to discuss and confirm this before you purchase your flights.

What luggage may I bring?

For reasons of space in the touring vehicle and time efficiency upon arrival at Madrid Airport guests are restricted to one standard 15kg cabin bag or case of 56x45x25cm plus a hat and small bag for personal items and camera etc (please check restrictions for these items with your airline).

What should I pack?

Dress code is informal in Spain so there is no need to pack much in the way of smart dress clothing. For the most part we will be staying overnight in very quiet, rural, historic villages. On the final night of the tour we will visit the tapas bars and perhaps coctelerías of the small city of Salamanca so you may wish to pack ‘going out clothes’ (eg dress/shirt and chinos) for that evening, though it is by no means essential.
 
Casual wear and jeans are best for our visits to the bodegas and vineyards, and it is essential that you pack footwear suitable for walking and exploring on fairly rough terrain (fields, vineyards, underground chambers). The photos on our website and especially those of previous guests on the TESTIMONIALS page should provide a general guide.
 
Castile and León is a warm and temperate zone influenced by the Mediterranean and westerly oceanic currents. In April and May the days are warm with temperatures reaching to around 20°C, and the nights are a cool to pleasant 5°C to 8°C, usually with precipitation of up to 8 days in the month. A sweater and light rain jacket are therefore recommended.
 
From June to September the temperatures generally climb to between 26°C and 30°C with hot, arid and sunny days and balmy evenings of around 13°C. However, as we will be staying in wine regions ranging from altitudes of 800m to 1000m, it can be somewhat chilly at night at any time of the year so packing a jersey and a light rain jacket as wind protection is still recommended. 
 
The ambient temperature in the subterranean bodegas and wine tunnels is usually cooler than outside at the time of our visits and some guests find it comfortable to wear their sweater or light jacket while exploring these maturation chambers regardless of the time of year.
 
Sun protection is of course always required in Spain throughout the year, so you should bring high factor cream and a hat. Don’t forget to pack sunglasses!
 
Hair and showering toiletries are provided at the hotels of your trip. Sundry items such as mobile phone and other electrical device charging cables are essential, and you may wish to carry a UK 3-pin to Spain 2-rounded pin power adaptor (plug type C) for convenience (these are readily available to purchase at Madrid Barajas or your departure airport). Spain operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.
 

Will my trip be exactly as described in the tour highlights for my chosen wine experience?

The details outlined in the tour highlights of each specific wine experience (such as in the WINE HOLIDAYS or 1-DAY EXPERIENCES sections of this website) are indicative of the actual experience you will enjoy but do not include the full list of all visits and activities provided for the duration of your trip. On some occasions weather, group sizes, local events or other circumstances outwith the control of La Ruta de Don Federico may necessitate a change or modification to the advertised programme for your trip but any such substituted modification will be commensurate with the programme and theme of your chosen wine experience and will if feasible be communicated to you at the welcome briefing at the beginning of your tour.

Can I extend my trip in Spain before or after my tour?

La Ruta de Don Federico begins and ends at Madrid Airport. However, every attempt to accommodate a pick up or drop off at an alternative location to facilitate your extended trip will be made and confirmed or otherwise in advance of your tour dates, taking into consideration the travel arrangements of other guests on the tour. Information on Madrid or other Spanish regions can be provided and also some assistance on getting to and from the standard meeting point.