Germany, Austria and Switzerland…14 Days…Departing June 2012

Double Occupancy *$4,064 Single Occupancy *$4,499

With Budapest Extension…. Double Occupancy *$4,363 Single Occupancy *$4,888

*Trip and optional excursion prices subject to change. Prices are based on Baton Rouge Departure and include airline fees subject to change. I have been informed that prices will be increasing soon due to airline increases. The sooner the applications are submitted the sooner we can lock in prices.

Day 1 - Heidelberg Region
Your trip begins with an overnight flight to Frankfurt.

Day 2 - Heidelberg Region
Clear customs and transfer to your hotel in the Heidelberg region. The rest of the day is free to relax. Meet your fellow travelers at an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner

Day 3 - Heidelberg Region
Travel into Heidelberg for a guided tour. View the Renaissance grandeur of the city’s rose-colored, hilltop castle. Returning to the town center, see the grounds of the oldest university in Germany, dating back to 1386, and the elegant market square. With free time this afternoon, enjoy a stroll along the River Neckar or join an optional tour of Schwetzingen Castle and its 172 acres of gardens, which uniquely combine French formal and English landscape gardening styles.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Heidelberg Castle

Opational Excursion...Castle and Gardens of Schwetzingen....$USD

Travel to Schwetzingen Castle and its internationally famed garden. Spanning 178 acres, the spacious and ornate gardens welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and feature a unique combination of French and English landscaping styles. Savor the sights of this exquisitely maintained compound on a tour led by a local guide.

Day 4 - Lucerne
Journey to the Rhine Falls and through the Black Forest, the darkly setting for many of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales. Cross later into Switzerland to arrive in Lucerne. Dinner is included this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 5 - Lucerne
A professional local guide acquaints you with this Alpine town. Stroll down narrow streets and across the Kapellbrücke, a covered bridge whose history dates back to medieval days. The murals lining its walls are nearly identical to those painted in the 14th century. Be on the lookout for the colorful hand-painted façades along the cobbled streets of the Old Town. You’ll also view the captivating Löwendenkmal (Lion Monument), a sandstone statue commemorating the Swiss Guards slain in the 1792 Paris storming of the Tuileries. This afternoon, join an optional excursion up nearby Mount Pilatus (seasonal) via cable car for gorgeous views of the surrounding Alps.
Included meals: breakfast

Optional ExcursionMount Pilatus...$USD

This scenic excursion begins with a cruise along Lake Lucerne aboard an authentic steamer. Then ascend the 7,000-foot summit of Mount Pilatus, on the world’s steepest cog-wheel railway, where the views of the Alps are stunning. On a clear day you can see for 200 miles.

Please note: The cruise and cog railway only run from mid-May through October. During the winter months, the excursion includes the gondola ride only.

Day 6 - Innsbruck

Leaving Lucerne, travel into Liechtenstein, a tiny Alpine principality dating back to the Holy Roman Empire. Pass the royal family’s hilltop castle, still in use as a royal residence, as you visit Liechtenstein’s capital, Vaduz. Next, return to Austria, arriving later in the day in Innsbruck. The site of two winter Olympics and capital of the Austrian Tyrol, Innsbruck is a mix of centuries-old royal splendor and modern allure. On a guided tour, you’ll see the Golden Roof with its 2,657 gold shingles and the Triumphbogen, built during the imperial Hapsburg reign to commemorate a royal marriage. Dinner is included tonight.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 7 - Munich
Departing Innsbruck this morning, return to Germany. You’ll journey through the mountains of Bavaria to Neuschwanstein, retreat of “Mad” King Ludwig. View the castle’s turrets and towers as you approach along winding roads. Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle was modeled on this same fairy-tale design. As you tour the castle, you’ll see many examples of the young king’s eclectic tastes. Within its chambers are a stalactite grotto, artifacts of all kinds and murals depicting his favorite scenes from Wagnerian operas. Arrive in Munich in time for an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Neuschwanstein

Day 8 - Munich
On this morning’s tour, a local guide introduces you to the landmarks of this cosmopolitan Bavarian capital. Follow the stately Ludwigstrasse, designed in Italian style and home to the famed University and National Academy. Pass through the district of Schwabing, a favorite of students and artists, and on to the Olympic complex. Admire the summer palace of the Bavarian kings of Nymphenburg and stop in the colorful Marienplatz at the heart of the city to see the famous Glockenspiel. This afternoon, consider joining an optional excursion to the former concentration camp of Dachau, now a memorial museum.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Nymphenburg Palace

Optional Excursion...Dachau...$USD

Once a typical German village, Dachau served as one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Today, the camp is a Holocaust memorial museum and serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Day 9 - Salzburg
Leaving Munich this morning, cross the border into Austria and continue to the charming city of Salzburg. An included sightseeing tour takes you to Salzburg’s Renaissance cathedral and through the lovely churchyard of the Franciscans. You’ll see several sights familiar from The Sound of Music, as well as the abbey where the real-life Maria von Trapp took her vows. Then stop in Getreidegasse for a tour of the Mozart House and a walk through the Mirabell Gardens. Dinner is included this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Mozart House

Day 10 - Salzburg
See more of Salzburg on your own today. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to the mountain village of Berchtesgaden, where you’ll also visit the Eagle’s Nest, a mountaintop lodge used by the Nazis during World War II. This evening, enjoy an optional Mozart Concert followed by a traditional Austrian meal.
Included meals: breakfast

Optional Excursion...Eagle’s Nest & Berchtesgaden

Explore the Bavarian Alps where you'll visit the 450-year old salt mines and the Eagle's Nest, which served as a lookout point for World War II troops.

Please note: The elevation of the Eagle’s Nest is approximately 4,500 feet, which might not be advisable for travelers with heart/lung problems or other altitude-related problems. This optional is seasonal from mid May to mid October.

Optional Excursion...Mozart Concert & Dinner...$USD

As one of the greatest musical masters of the 18th century, Mozart composed over 600 works in his short life. Tonight, listen to Mozart’s intricately composed music and most treasured masterpieces during a special concert between your delicious dinner courses.

Day 11 - Vienna
On your way to the Austrian capital today, stop first in Melk, where you will have a guided tour of the town’s Baroque monastery, an architectural wonder perched high atop a cliff. Then continue your drive through the scenic Austrian countryside to Vienna, the city of the waltz and enjoy an included dinner with your group. After hotel check-in, spend the rest of the day exploring Vienna on your own. This is the city that perfected café society. Stop in one of Vienna’s many coffeehouses for a taste of Viennese coffee and chocolate. Enjoy an included dinner this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Melk Monastery

Day 12 - Vienna
Included this morning is a comprehensive tour of Vienna, led by a professional local guide. Highlights include the Opera House, the majestic monuments of the Ringstrasse and the Hofburg, once the hub of Imperial power. Then travel to Schonbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its intricately designed gardens. Your afternoon is free for a stroll through the Stadtpark or a horse-drawn carriage ride to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This evening, opt to attend our Traditional Viennese Heurigan Evening. At this optional evening event, you’ll take a ride on the Prater Ferris Wheel and dine at a local restaurant where you’ll enjoy wine made by the people serving dinner.
Included meals: breakfast

Optional Excursion...Traditional Viennese Heurigen Evening

Take a ride on Vienna’s Prater Ferris Wheel, which offers a one-of-a-kind view of the city. Then enjoy a scenic drive to the picturesque village of Grinzing. At dinner in Grinzing, savor traditional Austrian “Heurigen” cuisine in a cozy Old World setting, complete with wine served by the very people who made it.

Day 13 - Vienna
Spend the day at your leisure. You might wish to take a stroll through Vienna’s pedestrian zone, stopping at the Hotel Sacher for a taste of its world-famous Sachertorte, or view the elegant Lipizzaner horses in the Spanish Riding School. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to Bratislava for a guided tour of the Slovakian capital. Stroll along cobblestone streets in the shadow of Brastislavsky Hrad, the hilltop 18th-century castle overlooking Old Town. Visit St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Gothic church where Austro-Hungarian royals were once crowned.
Included meals: breakfast

Optional Excursion...Bratislava...$USD
Walk through Bratislava’s Old Town on a guided tour of the Slovakian capital. Stroll along cobblestone streets in the shadow of Brastislavsky Hrad, the hilltop 18th-century castle overlooking Old Town. Then tour the famous Hall of Mirrors inside the pink baroque Primates’ Palace, where Napoleon and the Austrian emperor signed the Pressburg peace treaty.

Please note: Depending on the day of the week, you may visit St. Martins Coordination Church instead.

Day 14 - Vienna
Return flight home
Included meals: breakfast
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be included.)

Germany, Austria and Switzerland…14 Days…Departing June 2012
Double Occupancy *$4,064 Single Occupancy *$4,499
With Budapest Extension…. Double Occupancy *$4,363 Single Occupancy *$4,888

After planning 26 domestic group trips and 11 international group trips, plans are underway for an exciting trip to Europe. I hope you will consider joining me as I lead my 12th trip throughout Europe.
Airfare, hotel accommodations, guided tours and some meals are included in the above trip fee. We will have a bilingual Tour Director who will remain with us throughout the trip. A local tour guide will show us through cities as listed on the itinerary. I will be there to prepare you prior to travel and to help fill your free time and help you while on your European adventure. *Insurance and Optional Excursions ARE NOT included in the trip fee. *Prices are based on Baton Rouge Departure and include airline fees subject to change.

Best of Central Europe

Day 1 - Heidelberg Region - Overnight flight to Frankfurt.
Day 2 - Heidelberg Region - Arrive in Frankfurt and transfer to your hotel. Free time. Dinner.BD
Day 3 - Heidelberg Region - Guided Heidelberg & visit Heidelberg Castle. Free afternoon or opt to tour Schwetzingen Castle B
Day 4 – Lucerne - Journey to the Rhine Falls and Black Forest. Arrive in Lucerne, Switzerland. BD
Day 5 – Lucerne - Cross the Kapellbrücke, visit Old Town & view the Löwendenkmal. Free afternoon or opt for Mt Pilatus. B
Day 6 – Innsbruck - Travel into Liechtenstein & vost the capital, Vaduz. See the Golden Roof on guided Inssbruck.BD
Day 7 – Munich - Journey through Bavaria to Neuschwanstein, Tour the retreat of “Mad” King Ludwig. Arrive in Munich. BD
Day 8 – Munich - Guided tour of Munich. Admire the summer palace of the Bavarian kings of Nymphenburg, stop in the Marienplatz to see the Glockenspiel. Later opt for an excursion to the former concentration camp of Dachau.B
Day 9 – Salzburg - Guided sightseeing of Salzburg takes you to Salzburg’s Renaissance cathedral. See several sights familiar from The Sound of Music. Stop in Getreidegasse for a tour of the Mozart House. BD Included entrances: Mozart House
Day 10 – Salzburg - Free time in Salzburg or opt for an excursion to Berchtesgaden, visit the Eagle’s Nest, a mountaintop lodge used by the Nazis during World War II. Free evening or opt for a Mozart Concert followed by a traditional Austrian meal. B
Day 11 – Vienna - Stop in Melk for a tour of the town’s Baroque monastery, perched high atop a cliff. Free time Vienna. BD
Day 12 – Vienna - Guided Vienna, see the Opera House, the local monuments and the Hofburg. Travel to Schonbrunn Palace. Free afternoon. Opt for a Viennese Heurigan evening including Prater Ferris Wheel & dinner with local wine. B
Day 13 – Vienna - Free time in Vienna to taste its world-famous Sachertorte, or visit the Spanish Riding School. Opt for excursion to Bratislava for a guided tour of the Slovakian capital. Free time to visit Old Town and St. Martin’s Cathedral. B
Day 14 – Vienna - Return flight home or extend to visit Budapest.