testimonials

 

GUEST TESTIMONIALS AND ARTICLES IN THE PRESS

Here are some past guest reviews of our courses, and more can be found on Tripadvisor.


“I absolutely loved the week long painting course with Granada Cultural Holidays. The communication and logistic planning beforehand was clear, professional, friendly, and helpful. The accommodations very spacious, clean, and overlooked mountains and olive groves. The town of Moclín is charming and welcoming. The meals far exceeded my expectations. I loved trying so much local cuisine, all made fresh. The course sessions were spectacular. Granada Cultural Holidays found a superstar of a tutor! In addition, there were many local activities and outings available provided by Granada Cultural Holidays. This trip was the highlight of my year! I highly recommend Granada Cultural Holidays.”
– Catherine T, 2022. Botanical Watercolour Painting


"What a wonderful find. I enrolled on the Botanical Watercolour course, which was beyond my wildest dreams. Put that in the mix with a unique and wonderful location, superb food cooked by extremely knowledgeable, friendly, entrepreneurial fun loving hosts what's not to love. My stay was cut short for personal reasons but I feel the need to return to complete the whole experience an absolute must. The time in Moclin was amazing on so many levels.”
– Sharon B, 2022. Botanical Watercolour Painting


“I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Granada Cultural Holidays. I went for a watercolor workshop with Jess Sheperd, who is an incredible artist and teacher. Our hosts, Ian and Andrew, are kind, hilarious, welcoming, *excellent* chefs, and deeply committed to integrating their workshops with the communities of Moclin and Granada.

I fully anticipated going to paint all day every day, which would have also been lovely, but instead we were also encouraged to hike up to Moclin Castle and explore the ruins ("we'll just borrow the key to the castle from the Mayor"), to go down into the countryside to see Neolithic cave paintings (!!) and taken into Granada to see hidden gardens and eat incredible food.

If you have the chance, please treat yourself to a Granada Cultural Holiday. I flew home feeling that I'd made friends for life, and I can't wait to go back.”
– Tika V, 2022. Botanical Watercolour Painting


“So my second time on this fabulous Andalusian cooking course. It was just as wonderful as the first time. We had a change of chef this time who was so much fun and showed us how to prepare Andalusian classics like Albondigas, fish soup, croquetas , tortilla as well as dishes with salt cod and dog fish. All levels of ability were present and Carlos guided us all through the preparation easily. The recipes seemed simple but the difference was really in the flavours he helped us create which were intense and robust. We had a wonderful trip to Granada for a trip to a market and lunch as well as preparing tapas for the village alongside wine tasting. Ian and Andrew are sublime hosts, the views in Moclin are breathtaking and the course beautifully planned.

After two visits it feels a little like home from home, a safe haven and escape from daily life.“
– Jeanna L 2022. Andalucian Cookery


“We went on the Flamenco course and learned a great deal. Hosts Ian and Andrew were wonderful plus were both fantastic cooks and Natalie was brilliant as our teacher showing a great deal of enthusiasm and patience throughout. The performance in the village at the end of the week certainly took us out of our comfort zone but very pleased we did it in the end! Gorgeous location!”
–Celia D 2022. Flamenco: Dance, Music and History


“This was my second time attending the flamenco course, and it was more incredible than the first. I discovered on this visit to Moclín that I had the capacity to sing flamenco, which was mind-blowing. The course tutor brought out a part of me that I hadn’t expressed since I was in middle school. It was an emotional experience, one that will be with me forever. Every other element of the course was superb…fantastic dance instruction, food as good or better than you get in restaurants, eye-opening experiences of flamenco history and live performance, and a dynamic group of course members who will be friends forever. Don’t miss the next course…you’ll never regret it!”
– Lisa K 2021. Flamenco: Dance, Music and History


“I had an absolutely wonderful time on this trip- I really didn't want to come home! Moclin is such a beautiful village and made a perfect backdrop to a week spent learning about children's book creation. The hosts Ian and Andrew were so accommodating and really went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and relaxed. The food was especially good- wonderful Spanish dishes and very tasty cakes! The excursions we went on were very inspiring and the tuition led by James Mayhew and Andrew Watson was really enjoyable. I came away from the course feeling invigorated and ready to take up my pencils and brushes again. I would absolutely recommend both the venue and the course, and I would love to return!“
– Ellie S 2022. Children’s Book Creation


“I couldn’t rate this trip enough! I would give it ten stars if I could! Ian and Andrew go above and beyond to make your stay memorable. Moclin is the most beautiful town - and we had amazing walks too. The Children’s Book Illustrating course was fantastic, with the best teachers - James Mayhew and Andrew Watson. The food was cooked by Ian and every meal was sensational. We had group excursions, painting and workshops, and sketching in Moclin. And the finale was James Mayhew painting to live music - a wonderful Spanish guitarist, and singer, overlooking the castle. My heart is fill. I am already trying to see if I can go again next year!!”
– Kirsty 2022. Children’s Book Creation


“Spending a week learning to paint in a beautiful location, eating delicious, freshly-cooked food under the Spanish blue skies, making new friends, and exploring gorgeous Granada was just the perfect retreat after the nightmare of the last 18 months.

Established artist Jo Hathaway, was the perfect kind and inspiring teacher to guide us (I was a complete beginner) through a series of exercises to learn the elements of abstract art and how to use acrylics. The materials provided were all high quality. Carefully structured tasks, mixing time between the outdoors and the light, airy studio, built up through the week until we finally attacked a large canvas. Amazingly, I have produced work that I’m intending to frame!

Andrew & Ian are the ultimate hosts. As artists themselves, they were enthusiastic and encouraging critics of our efforts. They are both great cooks and we were spoilt with delicious, beautifully presented food from breakfast to dinner. It took great will power not to eat cake at every break time! They are also FUN, leading us around Granada on an evening tapas tour and generously inviting us into their beautiful home for their legendary Paella night. Don’t think that I have laughed so much for a long time. End of course drinks and (copious) nibbles atop a local view point as we watched the glorious sunset was the perfect end to a wonderful week.”
– Rachel S, 2021. Abstract Landscape Painting in Acrylics


“What an incredible week! A perfect combination of Jo Hathaway's outstanding teaching, the stunning location and the wonderful hosting by Ian and Andrew from Granada Concierge - together creating something very special.

Jo is delightful and an extremely good teacher, and guided us through lots of different activities both in the studio and outdoors that built our skills and understanding of painting abstract landscapes. I've brought home paintings I love and am proud of and the inspiration and confidence to go it alone.

The hosts Andrew and Ian are generous, warm and fun, producing meal after meal of delicious home-cooked food and escorting us on walks, Tapas tours and drinks on a hill watching the sunset. Nothing was too much trouble for them.

The week was a gorgeous whirl of painting, eating, laughing and reaffirming life at its best. Thank you Jo, Ian and Andrew.“
– Hannah 2021. Abstract Landscape Painting in Acrylics


IN THE PRESS

“How Andalucia’s beautiful ghost towns are being brought back to life”. The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/andalusia/how-andalucias-beautiful-white-villages-brought-back-life/