Portugal, Spain, and France

Portugal, Spain, and France currently have no COVID restrictions.

Small group. Mass daily. Lovely meals. Wine tasting. Plus a few apparitions, a Eucharistic Miracle, some chanting monks, and lots of saints.

Is this pilgrimage trip for you?

You need to be flexible.
This pilgrimage is not for grumpy people or those unable to be joyfully flexible. Europe is fully back to normal, but the world is still a bit uncertain. While I don’t expect any complications, we have be able to adjust our plans if needed.

So if you are easy-going and excited to travel, even with some uncertainties mixed in, this could be the trip for you!

You should be in good physical shape.
We will do a lot of walking, much of it outside, and much of it on uneven ground. We can walk up to several miles per day. Please do consider this before signing up.

Itinerary

September 20th: We meet today at 2 PM in the lobby of our Lisbon hotel and head out to explore this beautiful city. We will visit where Saint Anthony of Padua was born and the room where Mary appeared to Jacinta. We have a fun dinner planned for this evening.

September 21st: This morning we travel north to Fatima. We will stop along the way to see the Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem. This evening in Fatima we will attend the rosary and candlelight procession.

September 22nd: Today our local guide will take us to the home of Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. We will celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Apparitions. You’ll have time for confessions and adoration in the shrine. Overnight in Fatima.

September 23rd and 24th Today we cross over into Spain. We are staying two nights in a former convent, now a five star hotel, in the center of Salamanca. We will tour the city and you’ll have some time to explore on your own.

September 25th and 26th This afternoon we will move outside the city into a quaint hacienda, formerly a Dominican convent with a cool connection to the US. From here we will day trip to Ávila and walk in the footsteps of Saint Teresa.

September 27th: Today we head north. We will be stopping in Santo Domingo de Silos to join afternoon prayer with the famous chanting monks. From here, we head to Burgos. Located on the Camino, Burgos has been a beautiful spot to rest for hundreds of years. The cathedral is one of the best in Spain. You’ll even have some time today to walk a bit of the Camino and get a taste for perhaps a future pilgrimage.

September 28th: Today we travel to France, but first we will stop in the birthplace of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and celebrate Mass here. Later today we arrive in Lourdes. After dinner this evening you’ll have a chance to participate in the evening candlelight procession.

September 29th: After Mass this morning, we’ll follow in the footsteps of Saint Bernadette. We’ll visit the spot of her birth and the home where she lived. You’ll have some time this afternoon for reconciliation and personal reflection before our dinner and the candlelight procession.

September 30th: Morning departures. I am available to help you get where you need to be… airport, train station, etc.

Price

$4,200 per person – ground only.

The cost is per person, in double occupancy, meaning two people to a room.

You’re $1,000 deposit secures your space.

Final payment is due August 20th, 2023. Final payment is nonrefundable.

Traveling alone?
I match singles with other traveling singles (of the same sex) and that always works out great. If you are uncomfortable sharing a room with a stranger, you can request a single room for an additional $800. Single rooms at this price are extremely limited. So, first come, first served.

Included in the price

Accommodations for 10 nights
We are staying one night in Lisbon.

We are staying two nights in Fatima.

We are staying two nights in Salamanca.

We are staying two nights just outside Salamanca.

We are staying one night in Burgos.

We are staying two nights in Lourdes.

Breakfast daily plus 8 additional meals.

Drinks, including wine, are included in all our meals.

All group ground transportation
We’ll be traveling in a private motor coach.

Excellent local experts

Full time service of a tour director
I’ll be with you at all times.

No hidden costs
If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price! You are responsible only for things you do on your own, souvenirs you wish to buy, and Mass donations directly to the churches.

Guaranteed price
Once I receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up!

All tips for group meals, guides, and drivers
Would you believe that many tour companies require you to tip as you go? Not only does that add to the advertised sticker price of a tour, it’s also a huge hassle to you! No need to worry about that here. Tips are already included.

Entry fees and tours
All entry fees and tours to our included group activities.

You time
We have a lot planned, but time on your own is important. We take our time in churches to give you the opportunity for prayer and reflection. We also include free time for you to explore, shop, and relax.

Not Included

Your flights
We will begin on September 20th at 2 PM with a city tour, Mass, and dinner.

You should fly into LIS no later than September 20th. Most flights from the US will depart late on the 19th, and arrive the morning of the 20th.

Some people like to arrive a day or two early to get over jet-lag and to enjoy the sea – the waters in Portugal are gorgeous. Also, Lisbon is an amazing city. If you need extra nights at the hotel, you can book that directly with them.

Our last group activity is dinner together on the September 29th. We have the hotel rooms for the night of the 29th so you can schedule your flight September 30th or later.

There is an airport in Lourdes, airport code LDE. Flights here will connect you to cities within Europe.

There is also an airpot in Toulouse, TLS, with more flight options, but it’s about an hour and a half outside of Lourdes – accessible by train or car.

Another option is to take the high speed train to Paris and spend a few days there. The high speed train departs Lourdes and arrives in Paris less than five hours later, the cost is around $150 per person.

Most airlines are offering free changes should anything happen to the trip. Some airlines are not offering refunds, but rather a credit.

If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, if the situation in the Europe changes and we need to cancel or postpone the trip, it’s your responsibility to work with your airline to cancel, reschedule, or request refunds.

If you have any questions or concerns about booking your flight, email me.

Airport transfers
Taxis, private drivers, and Uber are readily available. The Lisbon airport is also connected to the city by metro and bus.

Cancellations

I want you to feel comfortable signing up for my pilgrimages.

If Europe changes their requirements for entry, and you decide that doesn’t work for you, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all up to 90 days before the start of the trip, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all within 90 days of departure, you’ll get everything back minus the deposit.

Trip insurance is a wise investment in case something comes up while you are in Europe. If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. A “Cancel for Any Reason” plan will let you, well, cancel for most any reason. Most plans should allow for at least a 75% refund should you need to cancel at any time before departure. I have a friend who specializes in trip insurance, you can contact him directly, but you are under no obligation to use him and I don’t get any sort of kick backs, so shop around and find what is best for you.