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Frequently Asked Questions

Our journeys

Our Small Group Journeys are intimate, personally hosted trips for a maximum of 20 guests. We design each journey around the places, people, food, wine and cultural experiences that we believe reveal the true character of a destination and where we have personal connections. We personally host every departure, travelling with the group from beginning to end.

Our guests are curious, well-travelled people who enjoy good food, wine, culture and discovering places beyond the obvious. You do not need to be a wine expert or a serious gastronome. What matters most is curiosity, openness and enjoying the pleasure of sharing extraordinary experiences with others.

Our scheduled Small Group Journeys are limited to a maximum of 20 guests. Keeping the groups intimate allows us to create a more personal atmosphere and to access places and experiences that would not work with a large group.

Our journeys are personally hosted by two members of The Valfers team, who accompany the group throughout the trip. We also work with exceptional local guides, winemakers, chefs, producers and other specialists along the way.

Our journeys are not designed as active or physically demanding trips, but a reasonable level of mobility is important. Walking, uneven streets, stairs and periods of standing are an unavoidable part of exploring historic towns, wineries, markets and cultural sites. Any journey with a higher activity level will be clearly identified in advance.

Yes. Solo travelers are very welcome and often find that the intimate group format makes it easy to connect with other guests. Single-room availability and any applicable single supplement vary by journey.

Our scheduled Small Group Journeys are designed for adults only. If you are considering travelling with a younger guest, please contact us before booking. We may be able to design a private journey for your party, ensuring that the experience is suitable for everyone.

What’s included

Each journey includes the accommodations specified in the itinerary, breakfast each morning, most meals and drinks as indicated in the program, private transportation during the journey, sightseeing and entrance fees listed in the itinerary, our tour leaders throughout the trip, specialist local guides where required, and the services and experiences specifically described in the program. Arrival and departure transfers are also included when made in accordance with the journey schedule and the conditions stated in your travel documents.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, international airfare, travel insurance, passports and visas, meals or activities not listed in the itinerary, personal expenses, excess baggage charges, certain gratuities, and pre- or post-trip arrangements are not included.

No. International flights to and from the destination are not included. This gives our guests the freedom to choose the airline, routing, cabin and points or miles that work best for them. If a journey includes an internal flight as part of the published itinerary, this will be clearly indicated and included.

Arrival and departure transfers are included when you arrive and depart in the designated tour cities on the scheduled program dates and within the transfer conditions advised for your journey. Very early, late or out-of-program transfers may require a private transfer at an additional cost.

Gratuities to hotels and restaurants are generally included. Gratuities for drivers and local guides are not included unless specifically stated in the itinerary. Your final travel documents will provide clear guidance for your particular journey.

Food & wine

We take food allergies and intolerances very seriously and work closely with our restaurants and chefs to accommodate them whenever reasonably possible. Please tell us about any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can review them carefully in the context of the journey.

Because food is an essential part of our journeys and many menus are created specifically for the group, not every itinerary can accommodate every dietary preference. Some journeys can accommodate vegetarians more easily than others; vegan diets can be particularly difficult on certain programs. Please contact us before booking and we will advise honestly on the specific trip.

Not at all. Some of our guests are very knowledgeable about wine and others simply enjoy drinking it. Our tastings and visits are designed to be engaging rather than intimidating. Curiosity is much more important than expertise.

Food and wine are central to The Valfers experience, but the emphasis is on quality, context and pleasure rather than excess. Our programs include a generous number of meals, tastings and culinary experiences, balanced with culture, history, art and time to enjoy each destination.

Hotels & rooms

We choose hotels for character, location, service and sense of place rather than simply for a star rating. Depending on the destination, this may mean an iconic grand hotel, a refined boutique property, an exceptional country estate or a distinctive independent hotel that we feel belongs to the journey.

The journey price is based on the room category contracted for the group. If you would like a different category, suite or special room request, please let us know. We will be happy to check availability and quote any additional cost, although specific rooms or upgrades can never be guaranteed until confirmed by the hotel.

In most hotels, yes, subject to availability. Please request twin beds at the time of booking so we can include the preference in all hotel arrangements. Some properties or room categories have a more limited number of twin rooms.

Private small group tours

Our Private Small Group Tours allow you to experience one of our signature journeys exclusively with your own group of family or friends. We take the essence of the journey – the places, hotels, food, wine, culture and insider access – and adapt it into a private experience, subject to availability.

The essential difference is that the journey is exclusively yours. You travel only with your own group and have greater flexibility over dates and, where possible, selected elements of the program. The same care, local knowledge and access that define our scheduled journeys remain at the heart of the experience.

Yes. Flexible dates are one of the principal advantages of travelling privately. Dates are always subject to hotel, restaurant, winery, guide and experience availability, so the earlier we begin planning, the more possibilities we are likely to have.

Yes, within reason. Our private journeys begin with the framework of our signature itineraries, which have been carefully designed around the rhythm and character of each destination. From there, we can tailor selected elements to your interests, pace and priorities, provided the changes work logistically and preserve the quality of the journey.

Private journeys can be considered for different group sizes. The ideal size and pricing depend on the destination, dates, transportation and experiences involved. Tell us how many people are travelling and we will advise what works best.

Private versions of our journeys can be arranged in many of the destinations we know intimately, including the Basque Country, Andalusia, Barcelona & Catalonia, Madrid & Castile, Morocco, Portugal, Sicily and the Adriatic, subject to availability and season.

Whenever possible, we draw from the same hand-curated collection of hotels we love for their location, character, history and service. Because private journeys operate on your chosen dates, the exact properties and room categories depend on availability. We will always look for options that feel true to the destination and to The Valfers experience.

That is one of the reasons to travel privately with us. We use our local relationships to create intimate encounters with winemakers, chefs, producers, guides and other people who bring a destination to life. Particular visits and experiences are always subject to availability, but insider access remains central to how we design the journey.

Private journey pricing is bespoke and depends on the number of guests, destination, season, hotels, transportation and degree of customization. Once we understand your group, preferred dates and priorities, we will prepare a proposal tailored to you.

Contact us through our Private Small Group Tours page and tell us your preferred destination, approximate dates, number of guests, budget and anything important we should know. We will review the possibilities and come back to you with the best way to shape the journey.

Before & after the journey

Yes. We are happy to assist with pre- and post-trip hotel stays and, where appropriate, a thoughtfully designed extension. These arrangements are quoted separately from the Small Group Journey.

Absolutely. Many guests choose to arrive a day or two early, particularly after a long international flight. We can advise on additional hotel nights and the best way to connect with the group when the journey begins.

You may, but any unused portion of the journey is non-refundable. We will do our best to help you join the group late or depart early, although additional transfers or other arrangements may involve extra costs. Please speak with us before finalizing your flights.

Our Small Group Journeys follow a carefully designed group itinerary and individual changes cannot normally be made to the program. If you prefer a fully customized trip, please contact us to discuss a Private Small Group Journey designed around your party.

Booking & payments

Once you are ready to join us, we will send you the booking information for your chosen journey. A deposit is required to secure your place. Deposits are generally 25% to 30% of the journey price per person, depending on the trip.

Once your deposit is received, we confirm your reservation and send your booking confirmation and invoice. As the departure approaches, we will collect the information needed to operate your trip smoothly, including passport details, flight information, dietary requirements and any special requests. Final travel documents are sent before departure.

The final balance is generally due 90 days before departure, or 120 days for certain journeys. The exact schedule for your trip will be stated in your booking documents.

Cancellation terms vary by journey and by how close the cancellation is to departure. Please refer to the booking conditions supplied with your trip and to our Terms & Conditions for the complete policy. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance from the moment you book.

Yes. Guests travelling with The Valfers® are required to have adequate travel insurance, including medical and emergency assistance and repatriation. We strongly recommend broader coverage for cancellation, interruption, baggage and other unforeseen circumstances. Proof of insurance may be requested before departure.

Payment can be made by most major credit cards or by bank transfer, as indicated on your invoice. Any bank or wire-transfer charges are the responsibility of the client.

Practical information

Yes. To keep transfers and vehicle movements comfortable and efficient, each guest may normally travel with one large suitcase of up to 50 lb (approximately 23 kg) plus one carry-on item. Any journey with different baggage limits will be clearly identified in the final travel information.

All guests are responsible for travelling with a valid passport and for obtaining any visas, entry permits or other documents required for their nationality and destination. Entry rules can change, so we recommend checking the official requirements well before departure.

Before departure you will receive detailed final travel information with the practical details you need for the journey, including arrival and departure instructions, contacts, luggage guidance and other trip-specific information.

Packing guidance depends on the season and destination. We provide practical recommendations in your final travel information. In general, comfortable walking shoes are essential, together with smart-casual clothing suitable for restaurants, wineries and hotels.

Please contact us directly. We know our journeys in detail and are always happy to answer questions before you book or before you travel. Email bookings@thevalfers.com or call +1 (646) 934-6676 / +34 662 305 125.