Sports Travel Experience Designed Especially for DC Stoddert Soccer U14 Boys Soccer in Madrid April 13 - April 21, 2019 ITINERARY OVERVIEW DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. DAY 2 ARRIVE MADRID AREA (7 NIGHTS) DAY 3 PROFESSIONAL COACHING CLINIC & MADRID DAY 4 TOLEDO & FIRST INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY DAY 5 MADRID & SECOND INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY DAY 6 TRAINING SESSION & SEGOVIA DAY 7 CIUDAD DEL FUTBOL & THIRD INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY DAY 8 FOURTH INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL SOCCER MATCH DAY 9 DEPARTURE FROM MADRID
ITINERARY The most successful side of the past decade, the Spanish National Team (La Roja), has won two European Championships and a World Cup. Spain also boasts the most dominant club teams in Europe headed by FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two sides form the most famous rivalry in the world. The derby is referred to as El Clasico and is underlined with decades of political and cultural tensions. The Spanish way of soccer is renowned for its total football approach. Educational Tour/Visit Cultural Experience Festival/Performance/Workshop Tour Services Recreational Activity LEAP Enrichment Match/Training Session DAY 1 Saturday, 13 April 2019 Relax and enjoy our scheduled flight from Dulles Intl Airport to Madrid, Spain * Please note that the final itinerary may be slightly different from this program. The final itinerary will be determined based on the size of the group, any adjustments that are required (such as adding additional matches), and the final schedule of the matches. (If additional matches are required, then some sightseeing content will be replaced by the additional matches needed.) DAY 2 Sunday, 14 April 2019 Our 24-hour Tour Director will meet us at the airport and remain with us until our final airport departure. We will be met at the airport by our private bus and driver and we will transfer to our hotel. We will have use of a private coach and driver, while touring for the next seven days. Spain's capital city of Madrid lies at the heart of the country. Despite its modern and cosmopolitan culture, the city has preserved its traditional architecture and charm. This is a city of great monuments and great art, all against the backdrop of a rich culture and an exciting nightlife. Our base for the next seven nights will be the greater Madrid area, where breakfast and dinner will be provided at the hotel. We will begin with a welcome meeting and orientation. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore the area around the hotel. TRAINING SESSION Participate in a Training Session at a local field in the Madrid area. The training session will be led by your own coaching staff and is designed to prepare the team for upcoming friendly matches. (Training sessions may be in the morning, afternoon or evening and will be determined by the final hotel location, field availability, and the schedule of activities for the day.) DAY 3 Monday, 15 April 2019 Today we will travel to our clinic and then into central Madrid. PROFESSIONAL COACHING CLINIC Participate in a special Professional Coaching Clinic in the Madrid area. The clinic will be led by a guest coach, player or instructor. The clinic will be designed exclusively for the team and to enhance skills in areas identified by the coaching staff. (Excel Sports has contacts at every level and can provide your team with some of the finest instructors in the industry. Specific clinics and coaches will be selected after time of booking.) 1
DAY 3 Monday, 15 April 2019 In Madrid, the cost of public transport is included for all group sightseeing. Escorted by our Tour Director, we will be able to experience the city in the same manner as the local people. During the course of our tour we will gain from the knowledge and insight of three half-day local guides while we are here in Spain. MADRID CITY TOUR Take an introductory City Tour of Madrid to learn about and view some of Madrid's top landmarks and attractions using our private bus and on foot. Highlights will include The Prado, the Plaza de Cibeles, the Puerta de Alcala, the Gran Via, Plaza de Espana, Palacio Real,and the Puerto del Sol. PALACIO REAL Visit the Palacio Real, a huge palace begun in 1738 on the site of the Madrid Alcázar, which burned to the ground in 1734. Our tour will take us through some of the palace s 2,000 rooms that the enlightened despot Charles III called home. Although the palace is no longer home to the royal family, it is still full of art treasures and antiques, including Tiepolo ceilings and paintings by Goya. Highlights of our visit include the Reception Room and State Apartments; the Throne Room; the Banquet Room, where receptions for heads of state are still held; and the Royal Chapel. DAY 4 Tuesday, 16 April 2019 Today we will take an excursion to Toledo. The historic city of Toledo, capital of La Mancha, is a cultural fusion of Christian, Arab, and Jewish traditions from the Middle Ages. With numerous churches, museums, mosques, synagogues, and artistic treasures, the city has definitely earned its World Heritage Site designation. TOLEDO WALKING TOUR Enjoy a Walking Tour of central Toledo, with streets barely wide enough for a man and his donkey. During our walk, there will be the opportunity to visit spectacular shops that produce and sell Damascene gold jewelry, as well as medieval swords. There will also be some time to relax in the Plaza de Zocodover, a bustling triangular square in the heart of Toledo. TOLEDO CATHEDRAL Walk to Toledo Cathedral, considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in Spain. The cathedral actually reflects several architectural styles, and features many art treasures, including: the Transparente, a Last Supper in alabaster, El Greco s Twelve Apostles and Spoliation of Christ, Goya s Arrest of Christ on the Mount of Olives, and works by Juan de Borgona. The Treasure Room features a 500-pound, 15th-century gilded monstrance, allegedly made with gold brought back from the New World by Columbus, which is still carried through the streets of Toledo during the feast of Corpus Christi. FLY TOLEDO ZIP LINE Fly across the Tagus river on an exhilarating zip-line ride by the Puente de San Martin; the longest urban zip-line in Europe. FIRST FRIENDLY MATCH Play an International Friendly Match against a local club or academy team in the Madrid area. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life. (The teams you will play will be selected after time of booking and will be based on the specific skill level and requirements of your team. We have contacts at every level and take great pride in finding the perfect fit for each friendly match.) 2
DAY 5 Wednesday, 17 April 2019 Today we will experience Real Madrid. BEARNABEU STADIUM TOUR Tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of the Real Madrid football club. Our tour will include a visit to the Trophy Room, a walk on the field, a visit to the Presidential Balcony, the Player s Benches, Coaching Area and Dressing Room, as well as the Press Room. (The tour may be modified in the event of a match day). BERNABEAU STADIUM SHOP Spend time in the official Real Madrid store in the Santiago Bernabeu, which is spread throughout three floors of the stadium. The super store boasts the widest selection of Real Madrid products, as well as the main Adidas product lines. SECOND FRIENDLY MATCH Play an International Friendly Match against a local club or academy team in the Madrid area. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life. (The teams you will play will be selected after time of booking and will be based on the specific skill level and requirements of your team. We have contacts at every level and take great pride in finding the perfect fit for each friendly match.) DAY 6 Thursday, 18 April 2019 Today we will train and then take an excursion to Segovia. TRAINING SESSION Participate in a Training Session at a local field in the Madrid area. The training session will be led by your own coaching staff and is designed to prepare the team for upcoming friendly matches. (Training sessions may be in the morning, afternoon or evening and will be determined by the final hotel location, field availability, and the schedule of activities for the day.) Segovia is a beautiful and romantic city that has inspired the work of artists and architects over the centuries. Roman, medieval, and Renaissance influences can be seen throughout the city, and its relaxed way of life makes it difficult to leave. SEGOVIA WALKING TOUR Enjoy a Walking Tour through Segovia 's beautiful city center. The highlight of our walk is the impressive Roman Aqueduct, an architectural marvel built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. We will also view the spectacular exterior of Segovia's Baroque cathedral. SEGOVIA ALCAZAR Discover the fairytale Alcázar de Segovia, a castle dating from the 12th century. Royal romance is associated with the Alcázar; it was here that Isabella first met Ferdinand, and Philip II married his fourth wife, Anne of Austria. Our visit is highlighted by the replicas of Isabella s and Ferdinand s thrones, the battlements of the once-impregnable castle, and the tower, originally built by Isabella's father as a prison. Those who choose may ascend the tower for breathtaking views over the city and surrounding countryside. DAY 7 Friday, 19 April 2019 Today we will take a short excursion to the Ciudad del Futbol, the Spanish National Team's training facilities. 3
DAY 7 Friday, 19 April 2019 SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM MUSEUM Visit the Spanish National Football Team Museum, which is part of the Ciudad del Fútbol complex in Las Rozas just outside of Madrid. The museum features a unique exhibition, which records the most important events in the team's history. The museum traces the history of the "Red Fury", highlighting some of its most memorable moments, such as winning the European title in 1964 and reaching the final in 1984, as well as two European Championships (2008 and 2012) and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010. These glorious years in Spanish football saw great players like Andrés Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernández and two of the greatest coaches: Luis Aragonés and Vicente Del Bosque. Take some time to explore or shop in Madrid at your leisure. THIRD FRIENDLY MATCH Play an International Friendly Match against a local club or academy team in the Madrid area. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life. (The teams you will play will be selected after time of booking and will be based on the specific skill level and requirements of your team. We have contacts at every level and take great pride in finding the perfect fit for each friendly match.) DAY 8 Saturday, 20 April 2019 Today we will travel to our final match and then to a pro match. FOURTH FRIENDLY MATCH Play an International Friendly Match against a local club or academy team in the Madrid area. The team will meet and compete against athletes of similar ages and skill levels, and have the opportunity to make friends for life. (The teams you will play will be selected after time of booking and will be based on the specific skill level and requirements of your team. We have contacts at every level and take great pride in finding the perfect fit for each friendly match.) ATTEND A PROFESSIONAL MATCH We will attend a professional soccer match featuring teams from the top leagues. Seeing the top talent in the world in person would itself be an unforgettable experience, but add the passionate crowds signing, cheering and chanting and you will enter an atmosphere that can only be understood through personal experience. (Excel Programs will secure tickets for the group after time of booking and upon release of the official schedule. Due to scheduling your final itinerary may need to adjusted to accommodate attending a match.) DAY 9 Sunday, 21 April 2019 Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our Tour Director accompanies us to the airport on our final day. 4
DC Stoddert Soccer U14 Boys (31009-0-18) 24-27 Participants $3,199 20-23 Participants $3,299 16-19 Participants $3,349 Tour Prices Guaranteed at Time of Enrollment! Our Price Guarantee - Once you have enrolled to join the group, the prices shown for the relevant group size levels will not change, regardless of any subsequent rate fluctuations (for example, on visits to attractions, airline fuel/taxes or currency movements on overseas programs). **Final tour price will be determined by the total number of participants registered at 110 day prior to departure. What is Included: Round trip airfare, including all airport taxes and fuel surcharges Accommodation in three star hotels in twin or triple rooms with private facilities guaranteed throughout Breakfast and dinner (or lunch) at the hotel daily (determined by the final sporting arrangements) WorldStrides Excel Sports Tour Director to accompany your group 24 hours a day from arrival to departure The expertise and perspective of local guides during your tour (where required) Transportation by private coach for transfers and touring, as required based on your itinerary Excursions, cultural activities, stadium tours and admissions as per your itinerary International Friendly Matches per your itinerary (Excel Sports is a FIFA approved match agent, holding the rights to arrange soccer matches between teams from different confederations and will provide full documentation of the sanctioned games) Training Sessions and/or Professional Coaching Clinics per your itinerary One professional soccer ticket (subject to travel dates and match schedule) Three free college credits for all high school students (earning credit is optional for each participant and post trip course work is required) Free Professional Development Points/Credits (35 points or equivalent) for any educators traveling with the group Manchester United Raffle Fundraiser - all proceeds earned go directly to the cost of the tour WorldStrides Excel Sports App - featuring itinerary, flight and hotel details, as well as instant messaging capabilities Financial assistance program through the Future Leaders of American Government (FLAG) Foundation (for qualifying participants) Payment plans to meet the needs of all participants - EZPay and our Advantage Payment Plan (APP), where participants can make equal installment payments up to six months after the trip USTOA Extensive Consumer Protection up to $1,000,000 in coverage for advance deposits through our USTOA membership Basic health insurance while on tour (including medical treatment on tour up to $7,500) and $50,000 of coverage for emergency evacuation Exclusive 24-hour Doctors On-Call partnership with George Washington University Hospital Industry leading Professional Liability Insurance of $50,000,000 in coverage This Does Not Include: Any items not mentioned above or in the detailed itinerary Third daily meal or personal beverages with meals Single rooms for adults - available at a supplement of $50 per night Laundry services on tour Visas (if required) Tips and gratuities for the guide and driver Any fees that might be imposed by the airlines at the airport for checked baggage, or any costs for the hire of, or transport of, equipment or gear Travel Insurance - we offer and encourage you to consider our comprehensive policy which includes health, property and cancellation coverage at a cost of $149 (available upon registration) 5
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