10 DAY | Western Runner
EEWMMR-7
This tour visits: Spain, France, Vatican City, Italy
Run, run, run, as fast you can! Just kidding. We want you to enjoy this epic
adventure through western Europe at your own pace. With so much to take in,
why rush?! Start your trip in marvellous Madrid and work your way through the
port town of Valencia, banging’ Barca, magnificent Marseille and fab Florence
before revelling in Rome. With so much awesomeness to take in, you better
start prepping. Like, now.
The Bucket List
More Inclusions
9 breakfasts, 2 dinners
7 nights in hostel accommodation & 1 night in a bungalow
Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi
Guided tours of all major cities
Awesome Trip Leader + Driver
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 - Madrid, Spain
Hola, Madrid! Before you meet up with the gang this afternoon, check out the Royal Palace, get cultured at the Prado Museum or just kick
back in the botanical gardens. After the sun sets, delve into the buzzing nightlife in the areas of Malasaña and Chueca. Just be prepared to
party ‘til the break of dawn (and then stuff your face with churros at a ridiculous hour).
Day 2 - Madrid to Valencia
Onto Spain’s third largest city, Valencia. A fabulous hybrid of past and present, this picturesque port town combines avant-garde buildings
with modern facilities (hello, The City of Arts and Sciences Complex) and sparkling seaports.
Meals:
-Breakfast
Day 3 - Valencia to Barcelona
Bienvenidos to the city of art nouveau, alluring accents and most importantly, tapas. Today we hit Barcelona and learn the meaning behind
the passionate football cry, "Visca el Barça!" (Long live Barça!). Stroll the bustling Las Ramblas and try not to be tempted by the artists, street
performers and souvenir spruikers, and then indulge in a satisfying feast at our included dinner. Flamenco, anyone? Channel your inner
Spaniard post dinner and get those feet a’ tapping.
Meals:
-Breakfast
-Dinner
Optional activities:
-Flamenco show
Day 4 - Barcelona
Tick off the likes of the Sagrada Familia, Gothic Quarter and Mount Tibidabo. After a solid day of exploring, fire up for the notorious nightlife
(note: it’s not unusual to hit the clubs after midnight, so ensure you’ve had your beauty sleep).
Meals:
-Breakfast
Day 5 - Barcelona to Marseille, France
Today we cross the border into France (Marseille, to be exact). With its boat-lined quayside, history and architecture, there’s no wonder this is
one of France’s most visited cities. A melting pot of sceneries, spend the day exploring the colourful markets, the Calanques, the Panier area
and the Corniche.
Meals:
-Breakfast
Day 6 - Marseille
Your second day in Marseille is yours to spend at your leisure. Explore bustling La Canebière or dig into bouillabaisse – the hearty fish stew
invented in Marseille – as you watch the sun set over the Vieux Port. Simply perfect.
Meals:
-Breakfast
Day 7 - Marseille to Florence, Italy
With more culture than a British hipster, over 1,800 restaurants and the world’s best gelato (hands down), Florence is where all your Italian
dreams are made. After snapping the city’s picturesque streets, dig into a hearty included dinner before rolling into bed with a full tummy
and even fuller memory card.
Meals:
-Breakfast
-Dinner
Day 8 - Florence
Wakey wakey! Florence is ready and waiting. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the city’s greats this morning. Think: Ponte Vecchio, Florence
Cathedral and that famous naked guy, David. Afterwards, try and track down that ‘world’s best’ gelato we were talking about (depending on
what web article you read).
Included today:
-Walking tour of Florence with local guide
Meals:
-Breakfast
Day 9 - Florence to Rome
Today, we’re Romeward bound. Prep your Instagram for a walking tour of the must-dos in this sprawling, cosmopolitan city. After all, the
Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Pantheon aren’t going to selfie themselves.
Included today:
-Walking tour of Rome
Meals:
-Breakfast
Day 10 - Rome including Vatican City visit
If you're up for one last outing after breakfast, visit the world's smallest country (hello, Vatican City) and gawk at the magnificent ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel. Apparently Michelangelo was kind of miffed when he was commissioned to paint the masterpiece since his main artistic
profession was to sculpt - but for a reluctant artist his work is pretty darn impressive. Judge it for yourself or simply mix with the locals.
Espresso stops mandatory.
Meals:
-Breakfast
Accommodation
Hostel Plus trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also
stay in hotels (free upgrade – yeah!) or bungalows.
The number of people to a room on Hostel Plus trips will vary. For hostels (remember, the most common) you will have multi-share rooms
and share with between 3 and 5 others while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). Bungalows can be up to 4
people to a room.
Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single sex and therefore couples should not expect to share
a room.
Optional Activities
On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not
you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be
taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money.
None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip.
Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the
local supplier and their conditions will apply.
Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare
circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here.
Spain - Barcelona
Flamenco show: €12
Italy - Rome
Guided tour of Vatican City: €40
Other Information
Finances
Changing Money
ATMs/cashpoints are available all over Europe and are the safest and easiest way to access money. Major credit cards are also accepted and
we recommend you bring yours along in case you see something special that you hadn't budgeted for.
Some nationals may have access to pre-paid cards that you can use at any ATM just like a debit card that you may want to consider as a
viable alternative or addition to your bank card.
We recommend that you change approximately €100 in cash before departure and approximately 30 Swiss francs (if your trip goes through
Switzerland). This will cover you for spending money until you have the chance to change more or find an ATM on the ground.
Please note credit cards cannot be used to pay for Optional Activities.
Spending Money
Based on experience, we recommend at least €50 – €60 per day. This is to cover daily expenses including sightseeing, small souvenir
shopping and non-included meals.
Remember, this is a rough figure only and spending habits vary greatly between individuals according to their budget and habits!
Tipping
Although you may not be accustomed to tipping at home, in many European countries it is customary. In some countries a service charge
may be added to your bill, in other countries it is usual to round the bill up to the nearest Euro or to leave an additional amount of between
5% and 10%. Your Trip Leader will be able to advise you further on the tipping customs in the countries you visit.
Topdeck Top Tip: it is a really good idea to hide away somewhere a small amount of cash and/or extra card; this will really come in handy in
the unlikely event that you lose your wallet or any other kind of emergency.
European Currencies
While the predominant currency throughout Europe is the euro (€), there are still many European countries that sit outside the Eurozone for
which you will need to use local currency (or rely on your credit/debit cards). It is generally always possible to exchange money into local
currency after arriving in the country, but the easiest way is to make a withdrawal from a local ATM/cashpoint.
Insurance
It is compulsory for all passengers to take out comprehensive travel insurance before the trip departs covering cancellation, medical
expenses including repatriation, loss or damage to baggage and personal belongings, money and personal liability.
For more information go to www.topdeck.travel/travel-insurance.
You must bring a copy of your travel insurance policy with you on the trip. Details of your policy must be uploaded into the Topdeck app
before your trips departs, otherwise they will be requested by your Trip Leader on Day One
Passports and Visas
Please make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after the last day of your trip. Some countries will refuse entry if there is not at
least six months validity remaining on your passport after your departure date from their country. Depending on your nationality, you may
require a visa to enter certain countries.
It is your responsibility to obtain these prior to the departure of this trip. You can consult the government websites of the countries in which
you will be travelling or your own government’s website to determine which visas you will require. We also have a visa chart on our website
listing the visas required by some nationalities travelling on our trips. To check go to www.topdeck.travel/visas.
Remember that some visas can take up to six weeks to acquire, so don’t leave it until the last minute. Also bear in mind that the validity of
the visa often runs from the date of issue rather than date of entry into the country. Please check with the appropriate embassies prior to
departure as requirements do change periodically.
Transport
Coach Time
We try to spend as little time on the coach as possible so that you have more time to enjoy the places you visit. But do please remember that
Europe is a large continent and it takes time to get around!
On driving days between cities you will be on the coach during the day, stopping off to visit places of interest where possible. Strict driving
rules apply in Europe that limit the maximum number of hours your Driver can drive each day. They also limit the maximum number of days
that can be driven before a day off must be taken. We have worked hard to make sure this does not affect your trip, but in some cities it
means we will use public transport while your Driver has a well-earned rest day. The cost for this is included in your trip price and your Trip
Leader will show you how to get around town as the locals do!
Please note: this doesn't cover your own local transport while in a city, only when the coach is not in operation
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available for all passengers in Europe, this includes both coach and sailing trips. For more information about our Wi-Fi allowance
and availability per country, please head to our website www.topdeck.travel/wi-fi.
Please note: Wi-Fi charges are subject to change. If you feel necessary, please enquire with us to ensure your particular coach has Wi-Fi
availability.
Health and Safety
We want to make sure you’re having the time of your life while travelling with us. Therefore, if you suffer from any kind of medical condition
or allergies, we will need to know at the time of booking, or at least six weeks prior to the departure of your trip.
If you require regular medication, you must have a sufficient supply before your trip departs, as it may be difficult to obtain while travelling.
You must be able to administer your own medication, as Topdeck Road Crew will not be able to administer it, and there are no guarantees
that there will be anyone with first aid training on board.
Vaccinations
There are currently no compulsory vaccinations required for any of the countries this trip visits. Please reconfirm this with your GP or health
professional before you leave as conditions can change.
General Information
Public toilets
In most European countries you can expect to pay a small amount to use public toilets at service stations and in city centres. It is a common
practice in Europe and should be regarded as a form of ‘tipping’, as the money goes to the people who clean and/or maintain the facilities. It
is very rare that public toilets do not supply toilet paper, but it may be useful to carry a pack of tissues with you.
Power
All European countries (with the sole exception of the United Kingdom) use a CEE7/16 standard round, two-prong plug and a single adaptor
will work in all countries.
Voltage
Throughout Europe the voltage is a uniform 220v. If the voltage is the same or similar in your home country your appliance will comply. If
you have a 110v appliance you will need to use a transformer to avoid damaging your appliance.
In Cases of Emergency
While we hope you never have to use it, if for any reason you need to contact someone from Topdeck, whether it be that you have missed a
trip departure meeting, have become separated from your trip on the road or any other unforeseeable problem, the following options are
available to you.
London Office
Your best recourse to assistance during the day is to call our team between 8am-9pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am-4pm on Saturdays UK
time.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8987 3305
Emergency Contact
If you need to contact Topdeck outside of the above hours the following number is available: Mobile: +(44) 7792 775 415
Please remember if it is a genuine emergency, we of course want you to call us; however, if it can wait until the next day, we ask
that you call during our office hours.
What to Bring
We recommend soft bags, suitcases or frameless backpacks, plus a small day pack or carry bag. No external framed bags please, as they
damage other bags on the coach. Please limit your luggage to a maximum of 20kg. Luggage must not exceed dimensions of 70cm in height,
45cm in width and 25cm in depth. Only one piece of luggage is allowed.
Please note that due to space and weight restrictions on our coaches, passengers with too much luggage on departure morning may be told
that they cannot take their entire luggage with them. Luggage storage facilities are usually available at the departure point, if they are not
available you will have to make your own arrangements to have it stored or shipped home. Any luggage left behind will be at your own risk
and you will be required to pay any costs incurred.
Sleeping Bags
A sleeping bag will not be required for your trip.
Suggested Packing List
The golden rule is to travel as light as you can. Only bring what you really need and leave plenty of space for things you might want to buy.
Don't forget you will have to carry your bag around yourself before and after the trip, as well as in and out of where you’re staying while on
your trip!
The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience:
1 pair of comfortable walking shoes
1 pair of smart casual shoes
1 pair thongs/jandals/flip-flops
2 pairs jeans/trousers
2 pairs shorts/skirts
4 shirts/t-shirts
2 sweaters/jumpers
Smart casual evening wear
1 rainproof jacket
1 warm jacket
Underwear and socks!
Other things to pack:
Swimwear
Towel
Toiletries
Hat and Sunscreen
Basic medical kit (including plasters, aspirin etc.)
Washing powder
Insect repellent
Conversion plug
Optionals to consider:
Sewing kit
Pillow case
Torch
Travel pillow
Please note: entry into some religious sites, such as cathedrals and mosques, requires clothing to cover the knees, chest and shoulders.
Final Checklist
Passport (with visas if required!)
Airline tickets (where applicable)
Insurance Policy (you must bring these details with you)
Camera; batteries; chargers; conversion plug
That’s it – you’re now ready for your trip of a lifetime! If you have any further questions feel free to give our team a shout at any time. Happy
travels!