What time in the morning do the tours start

Breakfast is included every day. Most days you get on the bus about 9 AM. There were a few days where it was as early as 8 AM. One day, we had to catch an early train and had to leave the hotel at 7 AM.

I have been on that tour - we gathered daily at nine o'clock in the hotel lobby except for the Toledo day, which was a little earlier - 8:45 I think. This is a wonderful tour.....who is your guide?

Hi, thank you for the responses. This is my first tour with RS. I will be going with my sister. She is a fan of RS and we have viewed the videos of Barcelona and Madrid.

The question is who is our Tour Guide? Well, frankly I do not know. I am not sure how I find that out. I do not remember seeing any mention of the persons name. How do I find out?
Carl

Check your RS documents.

Go to your portal, and click on tour documents. The roster of tour participants will have your guide's name at the top.

This is a fantastic tour. Have a wonderful time.

If you find your guide's name you can go to this place RS tour guidesand see if there's an interview with them.

Ok, thank you. Yes, at the top of the who is going list is the name: William Rosendin. I should read more carefully. I was focused on the names of the group. Hiding in plain sight....lol

Since this is a very helpful way of asking questions, I have another. It too is probably in the information but I will ask.
I assumedthat we would be walking from the hotel to our daily destinations e.g. to Sagrada Familia (Day 2). Or, is there bus that will take us there to start our day?

Also, we will be arriving on Saturday. On Sunday, I noticed that Sagrada Familia has Mass at 9. I was thinking that it would be helpful to go there on Sunday. I would like to spend time there before we go on Monday and then go to Park Guell after Mass.

Of course, I also see mentioned Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau as a recommended place to see.

I am thinking we will take a taxi from the Hotel (Midmost) to Sagrada and then walk the rest of the way.
Any thoughts from the travelers that have been there before?

You will be riding the Metro as a group. The only bus ride in Barcelona will be the morning of your last day, a sightseeing tour which includes a visit to the Catalan Museum of Art and concludes at the Sants train station as you travel from Barcelona to Madrid in the AVE high speed train. Once you arrive in Madrid, a bus will pick you up for a short sightseeing tour and city orientation prior to delivering you to your hotel. There will be quite a bit of walking in Madrid, especially the Royal Palace day. The only bus travel while in Madrid will be the ride to Toledo. There is wine tasting included every night when there are no group dinners (except one - have your guide make a reservation for you at a flamenco club located near Plaza Mayor.)

Oh well, I am learning so much. Thank you! I assume that the Metro tickets are part of the tour?
Since we have free time everyday and we will be arriving on Saturday. Has anyone used the T-10 ticket? And is it easy to get back and forth using them?
While in Madrid has anyone gone to a flamingo show. Any recommendations?

I just have a couple of quick comments:

Saint Pau is well worth the short walk from Sagrada Familia. It's like a little modernista village.

In 2017, we saw a Flamenco/Opera performance at the Palace of Catalonian Music (designed by Saint Pau architect Montaner) in Barcelona, and loved it. I can't speak for what is available in Madrid, but you might enjoy seeing a performance at the "PCM".

I'll just add a general statement in regard to the Rick Steves tours since this is your first. One of Rick's goals on his tours is to teach people to be able to travel independently - so for those of us who have never lived where there is public transit, that means a transportation lesson in each city where there is a subway or bus. The guide will teach you how to navigate the system so you can do it on your own in free time.

Be sure to take your guide book with you so you can figure out what how you want to spend your free time.

We used the T-10, and had no trouble.

Hi! I'm going on the 14 day tour in June and I came upon this info on how to use the T-10 (for those of us who don't use much public transit, it's nice to get a heads up!) http://billsinclair.es/how-to-use-the-t-10-travel-ticket-in-barcelona/

Thank you Barbara! That link was very helpful. I need to research the Zone map. I was not sure about that but I will page thru the book and see what it says.
Hope that you have a wonderful and safe trip as well.
Carl