4 independent reviews for Singing holiday in La Mancha, Spain
Reviews for Singing holiday in La Mancha, Spain
Anthony Bynom review 6 Sep 2025
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Intensity of the choral training.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared to work at your vocal range.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Certainly benefited the venue.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
On reflection satisfaction with a week well spent and a job well done. However there were some safety issues re old stone stairs with few hand rails.Jodie Nelson review 26 Aug 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
I am a single person who is capable of traveling on her own but doesn't really enjoy it as much as when it can be shared with others. This vacation provided the exact mix that I was looking for; traveling on my own but not being on my own. I was there with very welcoming, interesting people with a common interest. That common interest allowed us to create great comradery not only amongst the singers, but also with the guitarists and photography. Hilary made the singing so much fun and made us sound great in an extremely short period of time. The music was fun, interesting, challenging and sounded beautiful. The variety provided meant that many were singing songs that were different from their normal repertoire and gave the opportunity to enjoy different genres. Jeremy, our accompanist, was brilliant and helped to make us sound great :). Helen's organisation and overseeing of the event made it smooth sailing so that we could all relax and enjoy a wonderful vacation.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Do it! If you are trying to decide whether it is right for you, give it a go. You will be welcomed with open arms and will find lots of different people to chat and sing with.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
There were a few residents at the hotel we stayed at. It was great enjoying a greeting with them each morning - I don't speak Italian - but a warm hearted smile given and received was all it took. They even came to our concert and thoroughly enjoyed it so they definitely benefited from us being there.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was a brilliant vacation and I will definitely return. Congratulations to the tour operator team, to Hilary and to Jeremy.Brian Smith review 8 Sep 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The choir reached a standard for the zero car crash* final concert I didn't think was possible. We learned to a listenable performance level some 76 pages of music. Most of it in 2, 3 or 4 parts and much of it new to us. Credit for what was achieved must go to the musical director and choir leader Mary King, and to our amazingly talented accompanist, Jeremy Limb (being on a singing vacation and finding Jeremy at the piano is a little like getting your case out for the vacation and finding 100 euros in it from your last trip you'd completely forgotten you had). We worked hard but they worked their musical socks off on our behalf. I learned more from Mary in the 6 or 7 days she led us than in whole terms of choral singing I have previously attended.) * For non-singers, a car crash is where a song has to be abandoned or re-started, perhaps several times, due to performance "difficulties"; ie the singers can't get it/don't know it well enough.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring everything you need. The hotel we stayed in was beautiful and the staff really attentive but we were a good 40 minutes walk uphill from the nearest town. Popping out for a bit of occasional shopping was definitely a no no.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I've no idea, I've never looked into/think about things like that. But generally speaking, most economists would say that tourism is a vital part of any country's economy (I read that it's about 5% of Italy's) so my guess is that, yes, our vacation benefited local people. The other stuff? Who knows.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This was a brilliant vacation, well organised and the musicianship I learned from Mary and Jeremy will stay with me. If you like to sing and like to sing stuff that's worth singing then I can only recommend you go on this singing vacation. (Although I took no part in them, I understand from talking to other vacationmakers that the guitar and photography courses that ran in parallel to the singing course were equally amazing.)Simon Taylor review 2 Sep 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Staying in the beautiful Pousada at Guimaraes, meeting a variety of friendly people on the singing, guitar and photography courses, the singing course itself and working on challenging music, led by Mary King, singing in the final concert in Guimaraes.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book it!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It benefited local hotel staff and also, by performing in Guimaraes it benefited the audience culturally. I travelled to and from the venue by ferry and train so slightly less carbon footprint. Did not seem to support conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent - good value for money, great company, organisers and leaders, very relaxed (the big swimming pool helped!) a beautiful location (though my only slight moan is that it was quite a way from the town, but this was a good excuse to swim, lounge by the pool reading a book and exploring the lovely gardens!)Food was great and wine abundant. A really enjoyable and rewarding singing vacation - I hope to go on many more.Holiday Reviews
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