Day trip - Wine tasting

Hi everyone,

For a while now , myself ( dave ) & my partner lynda have talked about having a  wine tasting day in the Murcia region, we have talked to a few fellow owners on Roda who in principle have agreed that it could be a good idea,

So recently i have contacted a coach tour company to see if they cater for such excursions , they do but they have no details as yet as it isn't the best time of year ( we are now on their emailing list ) We would be looking at the very end of september ( to coincide with our next visit of course ) this is also when the grapes come into the bodegas from harvest .

The trip would consist of a guided courier , meal  & visits to bodegas ( jumilla, bullas ,yecla ? but no exact  location details yet ) & would cost approx €25 per person.

The purpose of this post is to see what feedback we got of possible other owners/friends/visitors at Roda who would be interested in going on such a trip.

Can anyone who is interested either respond on this thread or PM us whichever their preference ,then we can decide if it 's worth arranging , the coach tour company would ideally want 54 people ,if we can't drum up that number then they would make the numbers up from any other interested 'outside ' party.

Any feedback from this would be greatly appreciated.

Dave & Lynda - Block 24

Hi Lyndy

Sounds like a good idea but we are quite worried about the postings on this forum and others about day trips in relation to insurance. It is essential that the providers of these type of trips are insured as it is very dangerous to be out and about without the relevant cover.

There are several people locally and even some with English number plates who are charging for day trips and airport runs who are most definitely not insured for carrying passengers and most definitely not for any day trips.  I really am very anxious to be sure that if I book something that it is fully insured and within Spanish law.

I have checked it out and if anyone with a UK  number plate is here for longer than 15 days (if they live here) they are neither MOT'd, insured nor can they be properly taxed in Spain. A word of caution to anyone who is asking an agent to provide airport pick ups or similar- make sure that the insurance is confirmed as you will be liable.

The wine tasting sounds great though and we have already done the Jumilla trip. I recommend it as it is brilliant.

LP

Sounds like a great idea (obviously provided insurance cover is verified).  Would you keep us posted about this please?

There is actually an insured compnay that provides this trip, is insured and picks up from the Oasis at Los Alcazares and go to not only the wine area of Bula, the museum, some vineyards and lunch but also places like Caravacca, Lorca, Benidorm etc and has been around years Coachtrips SL, website www.coachtripsonline.com

They are also very well priced and use new 53 seater coaches with an experienced courier for example Guadalest with the new boat trip included €22 including lunch, Benidorm market on Sundays €11, Murcia shopping €11

The problem with any private car or mininbus offering trips is that you have to get a tourist licence and special cover for the vehicle which requires that an SP plate can be seen on the vehicle, no plate no insurance and you cannot get hire and reward insurance in Spain

As far as English palted cars you can actually use a car for 6 months before having to register it and in that time you have to maintain a valid UK MOT and road tax so a tell tale sign is always an expired tax disc.

Again no MOT no tax no insurance and it you do get stopped it can be a long walk back from Benidorm

The company that inspectorhomes mentioned is the very same company that we have enquired with , to date there has been little feedback ( around 5 interested parties so far ) once we have more details ,we will post with intented  date, route etc  if after that there isn't much more positive responce then we may just do an independant trip ourselves. Watch this space we will keep you posted.

Just an update on the possible wine tasting daytrip , i enquired yesterday if they have any such planned trips in the murcia area during sept/oct ,

They replied that they don't do a wine tasting trip as such but go to a bodega in Jumilla to watch the treading of the grapes & then lunch provided in a typical spanish restaraunt.( no dates have been fixed as yet by the couch tour company )

So it looks like the wine tasting coach trip is a none starter , sorry guys

Dave