7 - Journée Délices Espagnols de Madrid

 When I arrived at the address given by VPT tours, there was no signage but I saw a group of people with suitcases queuing up along the footpath. I asked them if it was, indeed, the 7-day Andalusia and Barcelona 7-Day Package Tour, and they said it was. We waited for at least half an hour with no-one appearing to pass out information, welcome us or apologise for the wait. Fed up, I entered an office on the corner to find an unsmiling female receptionist who confirmed that I was in the right place and that I had to wait. Finally, a 20-something girl (Valeria) arrived in the street to say we should get onto a bus that had appeared and off we went.  I was surprised at how old the bus was. There was no pocket or table on the back of the seat in front, nowhere to put my things, and had to jam my water bottle between the seats.  Valeria had a good sense of humour and her knowledge of English was very good. She always made announcements in both Spanish and English.  Lack of communication was my main criticism. No communication from any staff upon arrival, haphazard messy handwritten notes in the lobbies of hotels about what was to happen the next day. Where was the itinerary? The daily news? The plans in detail for the following day? I tried calling Valeria early one evening to find out the times for the morning departure but she didn’t answer, nor did she reply to my SMS.  If I were running this outfit, from the beginning I would have had someone out on the footpath, talking and laughing with the passengers, handing out lots of information, reassuring them that the bus would arrive soon (along with the tour leader), provide seating for those who couldn’t stand on a footpath for half an hour or more. I would have provided information ad nauseum.  In Granada, we attended a terrific flamenco show one night, having been taken there by bus, alighting at the entrance, getting back on the bus from the same place. The next night, we went to a gypsy flamenco event in a cave-like venue, which was sensational. As I was using a walking stick, I figured I wouldn’t need it for the 2nd venue because I didn’t need it for the 1st, so I left it back at the hotel. BIG mistake! We were not told that we would have to walk a fair distance over cobblestoned hilly streets to get to the venue. To get there, two very kind fellow passengers supported me on either side to arrive safely at the venue. By the time we arrived there, I was exhausted and traumatised.  VPT tours need to grow up. They offer a really good package, where I saw lots of things I perhaps wouldn’t have if I’d been on my own, but they lack professionalism and organisation. Whilst Valeria was a charming, helpful and empathetic young tour leader, she lacked experience, which I’m sure will improve her performance in the coming years.  It’s a bit disconcerting how different destinations necessitate changing faces as passengers cease their journey leg and others join the buses, however, one can get used to that. It’s obviously the best way to run the buses economically. I get it. They just need to get it together in a more organised way.