Day by Day
Full Itinerary
MAY 31 — DEPARTURE DAY 0 mi
San Antonio → Dallas → Doha
Flight
AA2609 · SAT → DFW2:51 PM — 4:15 PM
QR730 · DFW → DOH7:20 PM — Jun 1 6:30 PM
ClassEconomy → Business
ConfMKYIML / 7TDEY4
💵 Price$452 (AA) + $580 taxes (QR business on miles)
JUNE 1 — 2 · DOHA, QATAR 7,975 mi
Al Najada Doha Hotel
Hotel Superior King Room
Check-inJune 1
Check-outJune 2
Conf2430369104
Phone+974 4144 5544
💵 PriceAED 223 / ~$60 (1 night)
CancelFree until May 25, 12:00 PM
☀ Weather106°F, 0% rain. Brutal heat — hydrate aggressively, sightsee morning/evening
Things to do
Souq Waqif — Historic market & cultural hub (~3 min walk)
Museum of Islamic Art — I.M. Pei masterpiece (~10 min walk)
Doha Corniche — Skyline waterfront walk (~8 min walk)
The Pearl Qatar — Mediterranean-style island (~20 min taxi)
Nearest Irish Pub
The Irish Pub Doha — Best Western Plus, Al Safilia St, Al Salata. ~10 min taxi
Nearest Chinese
Rice and Noodles — Inside Souq Waqif, noodles & stir-fry (~2 min walk)
Getting a ride
Uber — works well, card payment. Karwa taxis (white/turquoise) are everywhere & metered. Ryde app is cheapest. Flag taxis down easily
Bars & Nightlife
La Vista 55 — 55th-floor Cuban lounge at InterContinental (~15 min taxi)
Sky View Bar — Kempinski rooftop overlooking The Pearl (~20 min taxi)
Infinity Rooftop Lounge — 20th floor of Alwadi Hotel, views from Souq Waqif to West Bay (~5 min walk)
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Private Half-Day Desert Safari ↗ — 6 hrs, ~$110, 3,246 reviews. Dune bashing + camel + Khor Al Adaid inland sea. AM ONLY — at 106°F, an afternoon desert is dangerous
Doha City Tour + Sunset Dhow Cruise ↗ — 4–5 hrs, ~$65–95, 762 reviews. Pearl, Katara, MIA exterior, Corniche + traditional dhow. Book a late-afternoon start so it ends at sunset over the skyline
Souq Waqif Food & Market Tour ↗ — 3–4 hrs, ~$110. Lamb machboos + karak tea. Evening slot (~6–7pm) — souq opens ~4pm and heat drops
JUNE 2 · FLY TO MADRID 11,475 mi
Doha → Madrid
Flight Qatar Airways Business
QR151 · DOH → MAD2:00 PM — 9:25 PM
Conf7TDEY4
🚐 TransferPrivate van, Barajas T4 → city center
Transfer Conf1383390657
💵 Transfer Price$50.86
JUNE 2 — 4 · MADRID, SPAIN 11,475 mi
WAKAFLATS 2
Apartment One-Bedroom
Check-inJune 2
Check-outJune 4
Conf6428281218
Phone+34 616 13 66 89
💵 Price€302.71 / ~$327 (2 nights)
CancelNon-refundable — 100% charge
☀ Weather80°F, 5% rain. Warm, dry, sunny. Cool mornings ~57°F
Things to do
Prado Museum — World-class art collection (~18 min walk)
Plaza Mayor — Historic heart of the city (~15 min walk)
Royal Palace — One of Europe's largest (~20 min walk)
El Retiro Park — Lakes & green spaces (~18 min walk)
Temple of Debod — Egyptian temple at sunset (~22 min walk)
Santiago Bernabéu Tour — Real Madrid's freshly renovated stadium. Trophy hall, locker room, pitch view, immersive 360° experiences. ~1.5-2 hrs, ~€35 pp. Book at entradas.realmadrid.com. Metro L10 to Santiago Bernabéu (~15 min from Chueca)
Nearest Irish Pub
The Cavern Irish Pub — Calle de Santiago 1, near Plaza Mayor. ~15 min walk
Nearest Chinese
El Buda Feliz 1974 — Madrid's first Chinese restaurant (since 1974), excellent dim sum. Calle Tudescos 5 (~5 min walk)
Getting a ride
Cabify + Bolt — compare prices, can differ hugely. FreeNow for airport flat-rate fares. All work great in Madrid
Restaurants to book
DiverXO — 3 Michelin stars, Chef Dabiz Munoz. ~20 min taxi. Book NOW — drops sell out in minutes
Smoked Room — 2 Michelin stars. ~20 min walk. Book 4-6 weeks ahead
Bars & Nightlife
Salmon Guru — World's 50 Best Bars, wild experimental cocktails (~12 min walk)
Museo Chicote — Est. 1931, Art Deco on Gran Via. Hemingway & Sinatra drank here (~8 min walk)
1862 Dry Bar — Speakeasy in a Malasana palace. World's 50 Best Discovery list (~8 min walk)
Hemingway Cocktail Bar — Hidden speakeasy accessed through restaurant bathrooms (~15 min walk)
Getting around
Hotel → Atocha — Metro L1 (Blue): Gran Vía → Sol → Atocha Renfe (3 stops). Or cab ~10 min
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
🍻 DIY La Latina tapas crawl — ~$30-60 total for both. Madrid invented free tapas. Order a caña (~€2-3) at any La Latina bar; most give a free tapa with each drink. 5-6 bars over 3 hrs = stuffed and tipsy. Best stops: Casa Lucio (Cava Baja, broken eggs) · El Tigre (Calle de las Infantas, huge free tapa plate) · Casa Revuelta (Calle Latoneros, best bacalao in Madrid) · Bodega de la Ardosa (Calle Colón, 1892, legendary tortilla)
Backup: Devour Madrid Tapas & Taverns ↗ — 4 hrs, $95 pp ($190 total). Gold-standard small-group crawl if you want a guide. Book ASAP if going this route
Madrid in a Day VIP: Royal Palace + Center + Prado ↗ — full day, $119, 4.8★ (627). Skip-the-line VIP early entry; one expert guide covers all the marquee sights
Flamenco Show + Dinner at Torres Bermejas ↗ — 2.5 hrs, $34, 4.3★ (1,987). Dinner + show in one shot — perfect arrival-night (Jun 2)
JUNE 4 · HIGH-SPEED TRAIN 11,860 mi
Madrid → Barcelona
AVE Train 09725
RouteAtocha → Sants
Depart — Arrive12:50 PM — 4:19 PM
SeatsCar 5, Seats 9A & 9B
💵 Price€32.35 / ~$35
JUNE 4 — 6 · BARCELONA, SPAIN 11,860 mi
Hotel Praktik Rambla
Hotel Double Room
Check-inJune 4
Check-outJune 6
ConfP9546000
Phone+34 933 436 690
💵 Price€625 / ~$675 (2 nights, incl. city tax) · free cancel until May 28
CancelFree until May 28 (7 days prior)
☀ Weather77°F, 13% rain. Warm, sunny, comfortable humidity
Things to do
Sagrada Família + Towers — BOOKED for Fri Jun 5: Basilica 10:30 AM, Tower (Nativity facade) 11:15 AM. 2 General tickets — €72 total. Locator 98413953. Download "Sagrada Família Oficial" app before arrival for tickets + audioguide. Bring photo ID
Park Güell — Colorful mosaic wonderland (~15 min taxi)
Gothic Quarter — Medieval narrow streets (~12 min walk)
Montjuïc — Museums & city views (~15 min taxi)
Nearest Irish Pub
The Old Irish Pub — Rambla dels Caputxins 31, down Las Ramblas. ~12 min walk. Live music nightly from 8pm
Nearest Chinese
China Crown Barcelona — Inside Gaudí's Casa Calvet building! Imperial Cantonese & Shanghai cuisine (~8 min walk)
Getting a ride
FreeNow — best app here, connects to official taxis. Cabify is the premium option. Uber works but uses licensed taxi drivers only
Restaurants to book
Disfrutar — 3 Michelin stars, #1 World's 50 Best 2024. ~12 min walk. Book NOW
Tickets — Albert Adria's tapas theater. ~20 min walk. Book 2-3 months ahead
Bars & Nightlife
Paradiso — #4 World's 50 Best Bars. Hidden behind a pastrami shop freezer door (~18 min walk). Virtual queue at 3pm
Sips — #3 World's 50 Best Bars (was #1 in 2023). Theatrical cocktail innovation (~8 min walk)
Monk — Speakeasy hidden behind a fake supermarket (~10 min walk)
The Roof (Barcelona EDITION) — Panoramic views over Gothic Quarter and cathedral spires (~15 min walk)
Getting around
Sants → Hotel — Metro L3 (Green): Sants Estació → Plaça Catalunya → Passeig de Gràcia (2 stops). 2 min walk to hotel
Hotel → Cruise Port — Cab to Terminal E, Moll Adossat (~15 min, ~€15). Don't take metro, port is far from stations
🎤 Primavera Sound — JUN 4–6, 2026 (your exact dates!)
Festival overlaps your entire stay at Parc del Fòrum. Confirmed lineup: The Cure, Doja Cat, The xx, Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Skrillex, Bad Gyal, My Bloody Valentine. Expect packed hotels, surge pricing, crowded bars/restaurants, late-night metro crush. Either buy a festival pass ↗ or book dinners/tours NOW to beat the crowd.
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Barcelona Tapas & Wine Small-Group Walking Tour ↗ — 4 hrs, $84, 4.9★ (5,799 reviews). Highest-volume top-rated tapas tour in the city. Book NOW — Primavera weekend = instant sellout
~~Sagrada Familia Fast-Track Tour~~ — SKIP — already booked direct (see Things to do)
Paella Cooking Class + Boqueria Market ↗ — 4 hrs, $126, 4.8★ (2,461). Hands-on alternative to another walking tour
Montserrat & Medieval Winery + Tapas Lunch ↗ — ~10 hrs, $65, 4.9★ (5,198). Dramatic mountain monastery + 11th-century winery lunch — rare combo, only if you can escape the city
JUNE 6 — 13 · MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE 11,860 — 13,030 mi
Princess Cruises — 7 Day Med
Cruise Upper Deck, Room 17421
💵 Price$660 PAID IN FULL
Sat Jun 6Barcelona — embark, sail 5 PM
Sun Jun 7Mallorca · 7 AM – 4 PM
Mon Jun 8Marseille · 10 AM – 8 PM
Tue Jun 9Ajaccio (Corsica) · 8 AM – 5:30 PM
Wed Jun 10Genoa · 8 AM – 8 PM
Thu Jun 11La Spezia · 7 AM — OVERNIGHT IN PORT
Fri Jun 12La Spezia · until 5 PM (Florence day!)
Sat Jun 13Civitavecchia · 6 AM disembark
ConfDXDD7M
Port highlights
Mallorca — La Seu Cathedral & Old Town
Marseille — Le Panier & Notre-Dame de la Garde
Ajaccio — Napoleon's birthplace & Îles Sanguinaires
Genoa — Porto Antico & Aquarium
La Spezia — Cinque Terre villages & coastal trail
Port lunch spots
Mercat de l'Olivar (Mallorca) — Covered food market, tapas bars, fresh seafood, pa amb oli. ~5 min taxi from port. $5-15/person
Pizzeria Chez Sauveur (Marseille) — Est. 1943, legendary crispy pizza. Near Vieux Port, ~10 min from free cruise shuttle. $12-20/person
Le Don Quichotte (Ajaccio) — Corsican bouillabaisse, stuffed squid. ~5 min walk from cruise pier. $25-40/person
Trattoria dell'Acciughetta (Genoa) — Ligurian seafood, trofie al pesto, free prosecco on arrival. ~15 min walk from terminal. $20-40/person
L'Osteria della Corte (La Spezia) — MICHELIN-listed, daily-changing fish menu. ~20 min walk. $25-45/person. Book ahead!
Nessun Dorma (Manarola) — Most famous terrace in Cinque Terre. No reservations — arrive at opening
JUNE 13 · ROME DAY & FLY TO MALAGA 14,080 mi
Civitavecchia → Rome → Malaga
Flight Wizz Air W46113
W46113 · FCO → AGP6:45 PM — 9:35 PM
ConfVU8P9R
💵 Price$351.59 (via Kiwi.com)
Rome day plan
1. Cruise → Civitavecchia station — Shuttle bus from port (€6) or 500m walk
2. Train to Roma Termini — Regionale ~1h10m, runs every 30 min (~€5). Stops: S. Pietro, Trastevere, Ostiense, Termini
3. Drop bags at Termini — Left luggage at platform level (~€6/bag)
4. Explore Rome — Trastevere, Colosseum, Pantheon, gelato
5. Leonardo Express to FCO — Nonstop from Termini platforms 23/24, runs every 15 min, 32 min ride (€14). Depart ~4:30 PM for 6:45 PM flight
Rome dining
Roscioli — BOOKED for Jun 13 at 12:30 PM. Famous deli/restaurant lunch stop in Rome. Conf BYYRXAWA. Late cancel fee: €20 pp
JUNE 13 — 14 · MALAGA, SPAIN 14,080 mi
MalagaHome
Apartment One-Bedroom
Check-inJune 13
Check-outJune 14
AddressCalle San Telmo 8, Málaga ↗
Conf5825535974
Phone+1 910-728-3080
💵 Price€118.88 / ~$128 (1 night) · non-refundable
CancelNon-refundable — 100% charge
☀ Weather84°F, 1% rain. Hot and bone-dry. Beach weather
Things to do
Alcazaba & Gibralfaro — Moorish fortress & views (~10 min walk)
Centro Pompidou — Modern art museum (~8 min walk)
Malaga Cathedral — 16th-century "La Manquita" (~5 min walk)
Day trips — adventure
⚠ Caminito del Rey — World's (former) most dangerous walkway. 330 ft-high cliffside boardwalk pinned to a gorge. ~36 mi N of Málaga. Walk is 4.8 mi one-way (shuttle drives you back, no backtracking). Easy grade, ~3–4 hrs total. Sun Jun 14 is OPEN (closed Mondays only). Summer last entry ~5:00 PM. No car → book a tour (handles transport, entry ticket, shuttle).
✅ TOP PICK: Caminito del Rey Experience (guide + ticket only, no transport) ↗ — $47 pp, 534 reviews, free cancellation. Includes guaranteed entry ticket (the part that sells out) + expert guided walk. You DIY the train from Málaga María Zambrano → El Chorro-Caminito del Rey (~40 min, ~€6) + shuttle (€2.50). Saves ~$50 for the pair vs full-transport tours, whose pickup points aren't near your apartment anyway.
Full-transport alternative (more $, zero logistics): With Pickup from Malaga City ↗ — 7 hrs, $71, 4.9★ (768). Includes bus + ticket + guide + shuttle. Worth it only if you want zero train stress before the 8:55 PM AGP flight.
⚠ Book ASAP — entry tickets sell out weeks ahead. The Experience tour guarantees the ticket, which is the main risk.
Check Renfe before booking: search renfe.com ↗ for Jun 14 Málaga María Zambrano → El Chorro-Caminito del Rey. Make sure the return train from El Chorro gets you to Málaga by ~5 PM. If not, take the full-transport tour instead.
Ronda — Cliff-top white town, Puente Nuevo bridge spans a 390 ft gorge. ~62 mi / 1h45 drive. Hemingway wrote here. Half-day trip, pair with Caminito only if sleeping another night
Nerja Caves — Prehistoric caves with world's largest stalagmite, paintings 42k yrs old. ~31 mi / 45 min drive E. Combo with Balcony of Europe clifftop plaza
Gibraltar — British territory, the Rock, Barbary apes, cable car. ~81 mi / 1h45 drive. Bring passport. Full-day only
Nearest Irish Pub
Old Town Irish Pub — Plaza de Uncibay 6. ~5 min walk from apartment
Nearest Chinese
Casa Feliz — Family-run, 40+ years in the old town. Calle Comedias 10 (~4 min walk)
Getting a ride
Cabify — most popular, has electric "Cabify Lite" taxis. Bolt often cheapest. Uber also works. Airport to city ~€25
Restaurants to book
Jose Carlos Garcia — 1 Michelin star, waterfront tasting menu. ~8 min walk. Book 2-3 weeks ahead
JUNE 14 · FLY TO MOROCCO 14,420 mi
Malaga → Marrakech
Flight Ryanair · Seats 01C & 01A
FR6287 · AGP → RAK8:55 PM — 9:25 PM
ConfQZ3NSP
💵 Flight Price€114.47 / ~$124
🚐 TransferPrivate car, RAK airport → Riad
Transfer Conf1383384323
💵 Transfer Price$23.77
JUNE 14 — 18 · MARRAKECH, MOROCCO 14,420 mi
Riad Palais Sebban
Riad Double Prestige
Check-inJune 14
Check-outJune 18
ConfBB26040420540261
Phone+34 633 313 839
💵 PriceMAD 9,360 / ~$925 (4 nights)
CancelPolicy varies — check Booking.com
☀ Weather92°F, 3% rain. Hot & dry, peaks 95°F+ mid-afternoon. Sightsee morning/evening
Things to do
Djemaa el-Fna — Iconic square, snake charmers & food stalls (~8 min walk)
Bahia Palace — Stunning 19th-century royal residence (~10 min walk)
Koutoubia Mosque — Marrakech's iconic minaret
Jardin Majorelle — YSL's cobalt blue garden oasis (~15 min taxi)
Saadian Tombs — Hidden 16th-century royal tombs
Hammam spa — Les Bains de Marrakech "Timeless" couples package — 3 hrs, ~$260 total. Book at lesbainsdemarrakech.com 1-2 weeks ahead. Cheaper alt: Mythic Oriental Classic Couples 1h40, ~$150 total. Splurge: Royal Mansour ~$280-400
Moroccan cooking class — Learn tagine & couscous
Nearest Irish Pub
O'Mulligan Resto Pub — 59 Blvd Hassan II, Gueliz. ~25 min walk from Medina or 5 min taxi
Nearest Chinese
YouJia Chinese Restaurant — Szechuan & Cantonese in Gueliz (~15 min taxi from Medina)
Getting a ride
InDrive — you set the fare, drivers counter-offer. Best prices. Uber relaunched in Morocco 2025. Petit taxis (red) are everywhere & cheap — insist on the meter!
Restaurants to book
La Grande Table Marocaine — Royal Mansour, 1 Michelin star. ~10 min walk. Call direct, non-guest tables limited
Al Fassia — Famous all-female-chef restaurant. ~15 min taxi. Book 1 week ahead
Bars & Nightlife
Theatro Marrakech — Es Saadi Resort, cabaret shows + international DJs (~12 min taxi)
Nomad — Rooftop over the souks, modern Moroccan cocktails, best sunset spot (~8 min walk)
Kechmara — Gueliz rooftop with live jazz/soul/Moroccan beats (~15 min taxi)
Club 555 — Super club with international DJs (~30 min taxi)
Booked events
Authentic Moroccans Street Food Tour Marrakech — BOOKED for Jun 15 at 6:00 PM. Medina evening food walk for 2. Conf BK798268668129230
Agafay Camel Ride, Sunset Dinner and Fire Show — BOOKED for Jun 16 at 5:00 PM. 2 guests. Conf 1388525187. Free refund until Jun 15 at 5:00 PM
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Atlas Mountains & 3 Valleys + Camel Ride ↗ — 10 hrs, $24 pp, 5.0★ (11,766 reviews!). Private day trip hitting Atlas + camel in one shot. The must-book. Insane review volume for the price
Authentic Moroccan Food Tour ↗ — 3–4 hrs, $51, 5.0★ (1,596). Evening medina food walk with local guide
Cooking Class with Chef Laila ↗ — 4 hrs, $36, 5.0★ (1,160). Named local chef, highest-rated class in Marrakech. Book early
Hot Air Balloon + Berber Breakfast ↗ — 4 hrs, $167, 5.0★ (3,185). Sunrise only — unique couple experience. High sell-out risk
Agafay Desert: Camel + Sunset Dinner + Fire Show ↗ — 6–7 hrs, $30, 5.0★. Stony-desert alternative to a 3-day Merzouga trek — fits a 4-night stay
JUNE 18 · PRIVATE TRANSFER 14,540 mi
Marrakech → Essaouira
Transfer ~3 hours
Private car transfer~3 hr drive
Conf1383385057
💵 Price$114.10
JUNE 18 — 21 · ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO 14,540 mi
Riad Emotion
Riad Les Alizés Room
Check-inJune 18
Check-outJune 21
Conf6309475141
Phone+212 5244-72309
💵 Price€388.50 / ~$420 (3 nights, incl. city tax) · free cancel until Jun 4
CancelFree until June 4 · 50% after
☀ Weather69°F, 1% rain. Much cooler than Marrakech — Atlantic coast breeze. Windy! Bring a layer
Things to do
Essaouira Beach — Atlantic coastline & windsurfing (~5 min walk)
Skala de la Ville — 18th-century sea ramparts & cannons (~5 min walk)
Fresh seafood grills — Port-side fish stalls, pick your catch
Camel ride on the beach — Classic Essaouira experience
Game of Thrones locations — Filmed as Astapor in S3
Windsurfing / kitesurfing — "Wind City of Africa"
Nearest Irish Pub
None in Essaouira — Nearest is O'Mulligan in Marrakech (~2.5 hrs away)
Nearest Chinese
No Chinese restaurant in Essaouira. Asian Red Food — tiny Thai street food spot in the medina (~5 min walk) is the closest thing
Getting a ride
No ride apps work here. Petit taxis (blue/white) — flat 7 MAD (~€0.65) anywhere in town. Max 3 passengers. For airport, use a grand taxi or hotel transfer
Bars & Nightlife
Taros — THE rooftop bar. Live music, dancing until 2am (~5 min walk)
Salut Maroc — Riad rooftop with live concerts Fri-Sun (~5 min walk)
Mega Loft — 4 floors, rooftop medina views, gnawa bands most nights (~5 min walk)
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Big Dunes & Atlantic Coast Tour ↗ — 2 hrs, $63, 5.0★ (500). Highest-volume Essaouira tour; quick half-day dunes/coast combo
Horse Ride on the Beach ↗ — 2 hrs, $42, 5.0★ (141). Signature Essaouira experience, couple-friendly
Essaouira Cooking Class: How to Be a Real Moroccan Chef ↗ — $42, 5.0★ (117). Essaouira seafood angle differs from Marrakech tagines
Sunday Market in Had Draa + Oasis ↗ — $60, 5.0★. Runs Sundays only — June 21 IS a Sunday. Perfect fit if your flight to Tenerife is later in the day
JUNE 21 · FLY TO CANARY ISLANDS 15,530 mi
Marrakech → Tenerife
Flight Ryanair · Seats 01C & 01A
FR826 · RAK → TFS3:55 PM — 5:45 PM
💵 Price€149.29 / ~$161
ConfL7IIQH
⚠ Essaouira → RAK transferNOT BOOKED — need ~10:30 AM pickup
JUNE 21 — 25 · TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS 15,530 mi
Cleopatra Palace Hotel
Hotel Double Room w/ Breakfast
Check-inJune 21
Check-outJune 25
ConfM4162371
Phone+34 922 75 75 45
💵 Price€492 / ~$531 (4 nights, prepaid)
CancelNon-refundable — prepaid
☀ Weather79°F, 2% rain. Perfect. Warm, sunny, dry. Sea temp 72°F
Close to hotel (walk or short taxi)
Costa Adeje Coastal Promenade — 10km paved seafront walk from your door through Camisón, Troya, Fañabé to La Caleta (~0 min, starts at hotel)
Light and Music Fountain — Free evening show (~5 min walk)
Playa del Duque & Fañabé — Upscale Costa Adeje beach with fine golden sand (~15 min taxi + walk)
Yellow Submarine Safari — Tenerife's only real submarine, 30m underwater for ~50 min. Puerto Colón (~10 min taxi)
Puerto Colón Marina — Jet ski, parasailing, flyboard, dolphin/whale catamaran trips (~10 min taxi)
Siam Park — World's #1 water park, Tower of Power slide, biggest wave pool in Europe (~5 min taxi, free shuttle)
Aqualand Costa Adeje — Water slides + dolphinarium, free shuttle from Las Américas (~10 min taxi)
Jungle Park (Las Águilas) — Eagle/vulture free-flight shows, tigers & jaguars (~15 min taxi)
Siam Mall — Thai-themed open-air mall, 80+ shops, open till 10pm (~10 min taxi)
La Caleta fishing village — Traditional Canarian village with island's best seafood (La Vieja, Rosso Sul Mare) & turquoise swim coves (~15 min taxi)
Los Cristianos harbour & old town — Fishing harbour, Playa de las Vistas beach, La Gomera ferry (~8 min taxi or 45 min coastal walk)
Farther — big excursions (half-day drives)
Mount Teide — Spain's highest peak, cable car ride (~60 min taxi)
Teide National Park — UNESCO lunar landscape (~60 min drive)
Teide Observatory — Stargazing at night (~75 min drive)
Los Gigantes Cliffs — Dramatic coastal cliffs (~35 min taxi)
Whale watching catamaran — Departs Puerto Colón marina, tour off south coast (~10 min taxi to boat)
Masca Village — Remote mountain hamlet & gorge hike (~75 min winding drive)
La Laguna — UNESCO colonial old town (~1 hr drive north)
Veronicas Strip — The main nightlife strip
Tibu Tenerife — Upscale nightclub, international DJs (~5 min walk)
Tramps Tenerife — Legendary nightclub on the Strip
Papagayo Beach Club — Beach party vibes & DJs (~5 min walk)
Monkey Beach Club — Beachfront cocktails & music (~8 min walk)
Le Club (Fañabé Beach) — Beach club, DJ sessions, chilled-to-party sunset
Bahia Beach (Palm Mar) — Bohemian beach club, thatched shade, live music. Worth the trip
Nearest Chinese
Khong Tsha Oriental — Chinese/Japanese/Thai on the Golden Mile (~5 min walk)
Getting a ride
FreeNow or Cabify — best apps for Playa de las Américas / Costa Adeje. Uber limited (Black only). White taxis with green light = available at stands
🎆 NOCHE DE SAN JUAN (June 23-24) — Biggest night of the year! Walk 20 min along promenade to Playa de Los Cristianos for the main bonfire (lit 9pm). Write wishes on paper & burn them. Jump the bonfire 3x for luck. At midnight: swim in the ocean to be cleansed, throw 3 coins in the sea with your back turned (one per wish). DJs from 8pm, music until 1:30am. Bring towel, swimsuit, snacks & drinks. Arrive before sunset (~9:30pm) for a good spot. For the BIGGEST party on the island, drive 1.5 hrs to Puerto de la Cruz / Playa Martíanez — thousands attend, raves until dawn at Punta Brava. 🌎 Apple Maps directions →
Restaurants to book
El Rincón de Juan Carlos — 2 Michelin stars. ON WAITING LIST for June 22 or 24. Royal Hideaway Corales Resort, Adeje (~14 min taxi). Smart casual attire
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Teide Sunset & Stargazing with Dinner (Star Safari) ↗ — 7 hrs, ~€95, 4.9★ (2,695 reviews). Dinner at Spain's highest restaurant + sunset above the clouds + telescope stargazing. THE iconic Tenerife night. Book ASAP — San Juan week sells out
Royal Delfin: Whale Watching + Los Gigantes/Masca + Lunch & Swim ↗ — 4.5 hrs, ~€55, 4.5★ (140+). Pilot whales/dolphins + cliffs + swim stop + lunch in one trip. Best bang-for-buck hybrid
Guachinche Traditional Food Tour ↗ — 6 hrs, ~€75, 4.8★ (200+). Guachinches are rural family-run eateries tourists rarely find. Canarian dishes + local wines. Genuinely unique
Full-Day Masca & Teide (small group) ↗ — 9 hrs, ~€70, 4.7★ (400+). Small minibus tackles the hairpin Masca road + Teide crater + pickup right in Playa de las Américas
Bodegas Monje Winery + Cheese Tasting ↗ — 2 hrs, ~€45, 4.5★ (275). Family winery since 1750 on volcanic slopes, Atlantic + Teide views, 4 local wines paired with Canarian cheeses
JUNE 25 · FLY TO BASQUE COUNTRY 16,930 mi
Tenerife → Bilbao
Flight Vueling · Seats 1F & 1E
VY3261 · TFN → BIO7:10 AM — 11:15 AM
💵 Price$416.60 (2 pax row 1 + bags)
⚠ Taxi at 4:00 AM to TFN (North)~1hr drive — don't oversleep!
ConfMJG83J
JUNE 25 — 27 · BILBAO, SPAIN 16,930 mi
Apartamento Céntrico Casco Viejo
Apartment Two-Bedroom
Check-inJune 25
Check-outJune 27
AddressErronda Kalea, Bilbao ↗
Conf5116237177
Phone+34 635 732 931
💵 Price€247.86 / ~$268 (2 nights)
CancelNon-refundable — 100% charge
☀ Weather72°F, 26% rain. Pack a rain jacket! Green Basque Country = more moisture
Things to do
Guggenheim Museum — Titanium architectural icon (~15 min walk)
"Puppy" Sculpture — Jeff Koons floral terrier
Casco Viejo — Historic old town & pintxos bars
Museo de Bellas Artes — Fine arts collection
Pintxos on Calle Ledesma — Best bar street in Bilbao
Mercado de la Ribera — Europe's largest covered market (~3 min walk)
Funicular de Artxanda — Hilltop panoramic views (~15 min walk to base)
Getting around
BIO Airport → Hotel — Bizkaibus A3247 to city center (~20 min, €3) or cab ~€25. Walk 5 min to Erronda Kalea in Casco Viejo
Hotel → San Sebastián — Walk to Bilbao Abando station (~10 min), Euskotren/Renfe to Donostia (~1.5 hrs)
San Mamés Stadium — Athletic Club cathedral of football
Nearest Irish Pub
Molly Malone Bilbao — Calle Particular de Estraunza 8, across the river. ~12 min walk
Nearest Chinese
Old Shanghai — Reliable Cantonese, generous portions. Calle Ledesma 10 bis (~8 min walk)
Getting a ride
PideTaxi app or just flag a taxi. Uber exists but limited cars & overpriced (~3x taxi fare). Taxis are affordable (~€8 within city)
Restaurants to book
Azurmendi — 3 Michelin stars, Chef Eneko Atxa. ~20 min taxi. Greenhouse aperitif, kitchen tour, 3+ hr tasting. Book NOW
Eneko — 1 Michelin star, Eneko Atxa's casual spot. ~20 min taxi. Book 2-3 weeks ahead
Bars & Nightlife
Gin Fizz — Bilbao's best cocktail bar, plush and sophisticated (~5 min walk)
Sumerian Club — "A time machine" — most creative bar in Basque Country (~5 min walk)
Txiriboga — Speakeasy vibes, vermouth cocktails & croquetas (~5 min walk)
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Bilbao Food Tour & Wine Pairing (Basque Local) ↗ — 3.5 hrs, ~$125, 1,153 reviews (top-volume in city). The definitive Bilbao pintxos + wine crawl. High sell-out risk
Guggenheim VIP Skip-the-Line Small Group ↗ — 2 hrs, ~$97. Iconic museum with a real art guide — get past the surface and into what makes the architecture and collection tick
Chef-led Small-Group Pintxos & Food Tour ↗ — 3 hrs, price varies, 469 reviews. Chef-led angle goes deeper on technique/ingredients than a standard crawl
JUNE 27 · TRAIN TO SAN SEBASTIÁN 16,990 mi
Bilbao → San Sebastián
Euskotren / Renfe ~1.5 hrs
RouteBilbao Abando → Donostia
Duration~1.5 hours
JUNE 27 — 29 · SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN 16,990 mi
Pensión Alemana
Pensión Double/Twin Room
Check-inJune 27
Check-outJune 29
Conf6005324112
Phone+34 689 687 024
💵 Price€401.59 / ~$434 (2 nights) · free cancel until Jun 25
CancelFree until June 25 (2 days prior)
☀ Weather72°F, 30% rain. Mild but real chance of showers. Bring rain gear
Things to do
Parte Vieja pintxos crawl — Old town Basque tapas bar hopping (Bar Nestor, La Cuchara de San Telmo, A Fuego Negro)
La Viña — Famous burnt Basque cheesecake
La Concha Beach — Iconic crescent beach (~3 min walk)
Monte Urgull — Hilltop castle & bay views (~12 min walk)
Monte Igueldo — Funicular ride & coastline panorama (~20 min walk to base)
Zurriola Beach — Surfing & sunset spot
Nearest Irish Pub
Molly Malone — San Martin Kalea 55. Literally 2 doors down from your hotel!
Nearest Chinese
Restaurante Chino Mandarin — Calle Zabaleta 32, Barrio de Gros (~12 min walk across the river)
Getting a ride
No Uber/Cabify/Bolt here. Flag a taxi or walk to a taxi rank — city is very walkable. JoinUp Taxi app if you need to pre-book
Restaurants to book
Martin Berasategui — 3 Michelin stars. ~15 min taxi. World's 50 Best. Book NOW for June 27-28
Arzak — 2 Michelin stars, birthplace of New Basque Cuisine. ~12 min taxi. Book NOW
Mugaritz — 2 Michelin stars, avant-garde. ~20 min taxi. Book 2-3 months ahead
Kokotxa — 1 Michelin star, Old Town. ~8 min walk. Book 3-4 weeks ahead
Bars & Nightlife
Museo del Whisky — 3,400+ bottles, largest whisky collections in the world (~8 min walk)
GU — Bay views + cocktails, nightclub after 11pm until 5am (~8 min walk)
La Gintoneria Donostiarra — 100+ gins in big balloon glasses (~8 min walk)
Arraun Bar — Old Town gem, excellent rotating cocktail menu (~10 min walk)
Getting around
Train station → Hotel — 10 min walk from Donostia station. Head toward La Concha beach, San Martín 53 is 1 block from the waterfront
Hotel → Hendaye (TGV) — Euskotren from Donostia-San Sebastián to Hendaye (~35 min). Or cab ~€30
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Old Town Small-Group Pintxos & Wine Tour (Day) ↗ — 3 hrs, ~$123, 1,339 reviews (dominant seller). Parte Vieja classic. Book early, sells out
Evening Pintxos & Wine Tour ↗ — 3 hrs, price varies, 495 reviews. Evening is peak pintxos ambience — locals out, bars full
Rioja Winery Day Trip + Laguardia Lunch ↗ — full day, price varies. Two wineries + pintxos lunch in medieval Laguardia. Jun 28 fits perfectly
JUNE 29 · HIGH-SPEED TRAIN TO PARIS 17,470 mi
Hendaye → Paris Montparnasse
TGV INOUI Train 8544
Depart — Arrive4:08 PM — 9:00 PM
Class1ère Classe
SeatsCar 12, Seats 240 & 243
💵 Price€308 / ~$333 (2 pax)
JUNE 29 — JULY 2 · PARIS, FRANCE 17,470 mi
Paris Marais Arev
Apartment Studio
Check-inJune 29
Check-outJuly 2
Conf6951988160
Phone+33 614 088 856
💵 Price€580.50 / ~$627 (3 nights)
CancelNon-refundable — 100% charge
☀ Weather77°F, 27% rain. Warm but unpredictable. Could be 80°F or rainy 65°F. Layer up
Things to do
Eiffel Tower — Iconic Paris landmark; book timed entry in advance (~20 min metro)
Musée d'Orsay — Impressionist masterpieces (~25 min walk)
Montmartre — Sacré-Cœur & artist quarter (~15 min metro)
Le Marais — Trendy neighborhood & falafel
Seine river cruise — Evening boat along the landmarks
Café culture — Croissant & café crème on a terrace
Saint-Germain-des-Prés — Jazz bars & bookshops
Brussels day trip (Thalys 1h22m)
Grand Place — Most beautiful square in Europe
Delirium Café — 3,000+ beers, legendary bar
Fritland — Best frites in Belgium, mayo on top
Getting around
Montparnasse → Hotel — Metro L4 (Purple): Montparnasse → Strasbourg-Saint-Denis, then L3: → République. Walk 5 min to Rue des Gravilliers
Brussels day trip — Metro to Gare du Nord, Thalys to Brussels Midi (1h22m). Grand Place is 10 min walk from station
July 2 airport plan — Leave apartment by 6:45 AM. Best move: cab/Uber/Bolt/G7 straight to CDG (~45–60 min in the morning, budget ~€56 from Right Bank). That gets you to the airport around 7:45–8:00 AM for the 11:20 AM AF0098 flight. RER B is cheaper, but do not risk it with bags on flight morning.
Nearest Irish Pub
Stolly's Stone Bar — 16 Rue Cloche Perce, Le Marais. ~10 min walk. Opens 6:30pm
Nearest Chinese
Chez Haki — Hand-pulled noodles & handmade dumplings. 43 Rue des Gravilliers — literally on your street! (~1 min walk)
Getting a ride
Uber or Bolt — both work great, Bolt ~10% cheaper. G7 app for airport transfers (fixed govt rates: CDG → Right Bank €56). Surge pricing can spike hard at rush hour
Restaurants to book
Septime — 1 Michelin star. ~18 min walk. Hardest reservation in Paris — bookings open monthly, sell out in seconds
L'Ambroisie — 3 Michelin stars, Place des Vosges. ~10 min walk. Call only, no online booking
Frenchie — 1 Michelin star. ~8 min walk. Book 4-6 weeks ahead
Bars & Nightlife
Candelaria — THE Marais speakeasy, hidden behind a tiny taqueria (~5 min walk)
Little Red Door — Behind a small red door. World's 50 Best Bars regular (~5 min walk)
Bisou — No menu. Bartenders create bespoke cocktails based on your taste (~5 min walk)
🎟 Tours to book (Viator)
Secret Food Tours Paris ↗ — 3.5 hrs, $102, 5,055 reviews. The benchmark Paris food tour — cheese, charcuterie, wine, pastry across Marais-Montmartre
Louvre + Versailles Skip-the-Line Combo ↗ — full day, price varies. Knocks out both must-do skip-lines with one guide. Efficient use of a Paris day
Bateaux Parisiens Seine Sightseeing Cruise ↗ — 1 hr, $20, 3,044 reviews, 4.6★. Best-value Seine boat. Upgrade to dinner cruise for date night
Hidden Bars & Speakeasy Cocktail Tour ↗ — 2 hrs, price varies. Two hand-picked speakeasies + cocktails — matches your interest in the Marais cocktail scene
Montmartre Food Tour (Do Eat Better) ↗ — 3 hrs, price varies, 1,008 reviews. Tight Montmartre-specific pick; dense tastings with neighborhood history
Tour de France 2026 Grand Départ: July 4 in Barcelona — does NOT affect Paris Jun 29–Jul 2. Stage 21 Champs-Élysées is July 26. No TdF impact on your trip.
JULY 2 · RETURN HOME 22,460 mi
Paris → Houston
Flight Air France Business
AF0098 · CDG → IAH11:20 AM — 2:45 PM
ClassBusiness
ConfXNN6EO
💵 Price€1,025.50 / ~$1,108