Spain Customized Tours and Trips

I was born and raised in Montilla, a small town in the province of Córdoba. After earning my degree in languages at the University of Granada, I worked for 14 years in international sales. During those years working for different companies, I had a recurring dream: opening my own small boutique travel agency. I wanted to make travelers fall in love with Spain by offering bespoke experiences that would remain forever in their souls. I was tired of seeing big groups of tourists being herded around under the merciless sun of Cordoba. It was about time authentic travelers, who appreciate quality time and true human connections, could have the opportunity to learn more about our culture and savor the magic taste of life in Spain. In 2013 I decided it was the right moment to follow my passion and my company, Just Explore, was born. They say that home is where the heart is, and mine definitely belongs to Spain. I feel passion and love for what this magical country has to offer and I want to share this contagious feeling with my guests. I love meeting new people and getting to know them really well so my team and I can design the perfect trip for them. I believe that personal touch is what makes the difference.

I am originally from London, but after buying a house in Portugal about 20 years ago, I eventually decided to move here full-time 10 years ago. Soon after, I started a travel service providing tailor-made vacations. When I first started out, I wanted to make sure that I could meet some very demanding expectations. Initially, I focused only on the Algarve region, where I live, but then the focus was increased to all of Portugal. Later on, that focus was increased again to cover all of Spain and its islands. I had to make sure I was familiar with all of the regions and cities. Now, I can say I have travelled the entire Iberian Peninsula and have the experience to offer you a wonderful vacation, no matter your interests or requirements. I know the best hotels, apartments and villas to suit all budgets. The best tour guides. The best sights to see and experiences to do. And all the different transport options to fit all budgets.

Traveling is in my DNA — I was born in Vancouver, Canada, but lived in Spain throughout my youth, and made many trips to Scotland with my family visiting the homeland of our ancestors. For me, traveling is innate. I love learning about different cultures and exploring places around the world, especially in the natural environment. I am an inquisitive person with lots of energy to arrange the best possible unique holidays for visitors to Spain and Portugal. After having studied tourism in Galicia, Spain, I have now traveled and arranged trips to all the destinations I can cover. I believe strongly in sustainable, responsible, and slow tourism. For example, in the itineraries that I create, I can help visitors explore the destination in a "slow food" style, which includes walking and enjoying the delicious gastronomy of each place that you visit!

I’m Laura and I am Italian, but my roots are lost all around the world! 8 years ago, while looking at the Alhambra under a fiery red sunset, I promised to come back and 3 years ago I moved to Spain with a suitcase full of dreams and positivity! After traveling the four corners of Spain and living in Menorca and Tenerife, I chose to live in Granada, where I am now. I love Granada for its small neighborhood squares full of life, its stunning views, and amazing atmosphere. I’m originally from the Amalfi Coast and I grew up surrounded by the lemony-fresh scent of spaghetti with clam sauce, tasty pizza Margherita and the white gold: mozzarella. I’d recognize those smell anywhere! For this reason, I consider myself a food lover. I love cooking and find new recipes which combine my roots with the places I have lived and loved: Menorca, Paris, the UK, Canary Islands, and my beloved Granada.

I have been a traveller since the age of 16 and have so far adventured to over 60 countries! I have always found that the best and most inspiring way to travel and experience a new culture is by being welcomed and guided by locals. Coming from a Persian background and having studied in Germany, the UK and Spain, I am able to speak multiple languages including German, Spanish, English and Farsi. Knowing multiple languages has been really useful for travelling and for working with foreign guests. After a motorcycling trip through West Africa, I returned home to Seville, Spain, with a new perspective on the importance of travel for both locals and visitors. Taking a closer look at Seville, I realized that the city I knew and loved was not the same one being packaged to unknowing travelers. The culture that made Seville so special to me was completely inaccessible to tourists. I was determined to find a way to give fellow travelers an authentic experience of Seville and Andalusia. A way for people who do not have the opportunity to invest the time, learn the language, or build the relationships with locals to still experience local Seville. A way to be invited into the culture as a close friend… and 'Not Just a Tourist'. I used this drive to establish my tour company named just that, with the help of my Sevillian friend, David.

My name is Sandro and I was born and raised in Portugal. I love everything related to travel. I love authentic experiences, authentic people, and authentic cultures. :-) Traveling and touring is my passion — I not only get to know locals but I also get to meet great people from all over the world. There are also so many cool beaches, jungles, forests and cities around the world, I would love to visit them all! I lived in London for a few years and there I worked for one of the biggest travel groups in the world. It was one of the richest working experiences I have had and has made me a better travel specialist. The prospect of leading or being part of a goal-focused team that strives for excellence excites me and is very rewarding. Motivated by challenge and inspired by change, I thrive in a team environment with passionate people.

I was born and raised in Malaga and I have been living in Costa del Sol for 44 years. My hobbies are hiking, traveling, reading and skiing. I have a business administration degree from the University of New Mexico, USA and my specialized field in college was tourism. Until just over 4 years ago, I worked in the IT sector until I took a chance and decided to change career paths to do what I really love: visit new places and show the places that I love to travellers. My focus as a tour operator is to provide specialized and unique services to my clients so they obtain the best possible experience. I believe that people should collect experiences, not things! I do my best to ensure my clients make lasting memories of their trip to southern Spain.

To make it happen, that’s my goal. To see how others make it happen, reaching their goals and fulfilling their dreams, is what I truly love doing; and to be part of it when it happens. I have lived in different countries throughout the years and become familiar with the nomads and the expats, and with that deep feeling of curiosity that is embedded in them. I have such a desire to learn and immerse myself in other people’s cultures, other ways of life and different thinking patterns. Since I started my work as a travel adviser in Andalusia, I have been helping people indulge in their passions, their hobbies and their real interests. It has been wonderfully rewarding to design personalised itineraries in this exceptional Spanish land, building a travel master plan for my clients and making their dreams fall into place. It pleases me so much to see that they feel totally identified with every step of the way that we create together!

My name is Sean O'Rourke and I am not your average travel specialist! Fascinated with the Celtic world, perhaps because of my Scottish and Irish roots, I am a Canadian who has been living in Vigo, Galicia, for over 20 years. Previously to living in Vigo, Galicia I spent years in Barcelona and Madrid. Other countries I have lived and visited are Greece, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and more. I am the co-founder of Eat & Walkabout, and I dedicate my time organizing vacations for individuals and small groups, mostly from the United States of America and Canada. In just a few days, these travellers enjoy to all degrees the excellence of various wines and gastronomy of Spain and Portugal. I also like to write articles about food and wine and have collaborated with magazines like Wines From Spain News, Conde Nast Traveller, Fodor's, and others. One of my many pastimes is the study of Ancient Celtic history, Galicia and it's connection to the other Celtic nations (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and Isle of Man). I would love to share with you all the legends and stories of Galicia.