Artfay
My Profile
This member is not sharing any profile information publicly.
My Viator Contributions
Artfay's reviews and photos on Viator.com
Have you got a recommendation?
Have a travel tip to share? Simply click the "Add New Recommendation" button above to start sharing your travel expertise and travel photos on Viator!
Dec302011
Toledo Half-Day or Full-Day Trip from Madrid
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Madrid, Spain
My Review: I would have been happier if Viator had been clear that this trip is TOTALLY UNSUITABLE for those who have any difficulty climbing hills, walking on damp or wet cobblestones, or climbing stairs. Toledo is not an accessible city-- it is very hilly, and the sites visited require climbing and descending many hills and steps, and walking over uneven cobblestones in between. My wife, who walks with a cane, decided to stay on the bus after the guide told her that it would be a bad idea to attempt the tour, but the driver required her to get off the bus and wait in a parking lot (nowhere near any sort of shelter or even a coffee shop) in near-freezing temperatures for three hours until the bus returned. Unbelievable, but definitely true. Also, the tour operator (Julia Tours) feels the need to stop at a souvenir stand on the way to Toledo, and of course, the tour ends in a tourist shop where you can buy additional "treasures" (pronounced "junk") of Toledo. It was not clear that the guide would be speaking half the time in Spanish; while she was a good guide, the content was only half of what might have been conveyed if she had been speaking English the whole time. If I had known this, I wouldn't have booked this tour. However, the tour itself was very good, the motorcoach comfortable, and the guide (when speaking English) was knowledgeable. I give a half-hearted recommendation due to the English/Spanish issue, and a strong "thumbs down" for those who may be unfit or have a mobility issue.
Dec292011
Madrid Card
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Madrid, Spain
My Review: If your trip to Madrid will include several museums, get this card. Even if you don't save any money (which may be the case--check online for ticket prices with the individual museums), you will make up for it in convenience of not needing to stand in line to buy tickets. As a tourist, your time in town may be limited--and even if under no time pressure, you didn't travel to Spain in order to stand in line. This card possibly saves you money, but definitely saves you time. Be sure to note the pick-up locations at either the airport or train station. If you don't get it in those locations, you have to pick up your ticket at the Tourist Office in Plaza Mayor, where a single clerk handles the line of Madrid Card patrons. She's helpful, speaks a bunch of languages, but the line moves S-L-O-W-L-Y. Thumbs Up on this card.
Dec272011
Skip the Line: Best of Barcelona Tour including Sagrada Familia
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: Barcelona, Spain
My Review: This is a wonderful tour. If for no other reason, you SHOULD take this tour to avoid the two hour wait to get into Sagrada Familia. Our guide was a terrific, knowledgeable, and funny young Greek man who has lived in Spain for several years. Along the way, he gave a wonderfull overview of the history of Barcelona, the culture (Catalunya vs. Spain), the neighborhoods, etc. Part of the tour was by coach, but approximately 1.5 hours was a walking tour of various neighborhoods and historic sites in Barcelona. The tour included a rest stop during which participants were treated to a glass of cava sparklng wine and a couple of tapas appetizers. We spent about 45 minutes of the tour at Sagrada Familia (both outside and inside) and this time was the absolute highlight of our visit to Barcelona. I thought the tour was fairly good, but the ability to walk past the huge crowds and enter Sagrada Familia with no wait whasoever, makes me give this a STRONGLY positive review.
