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CostSaver
OFFER ID 1571755
European Experience
Get out of that armchair and experience the beauty of Europe with her centuries-old history, vibrant cities and splendid landscapes. You’ll tick many bucket-list boxes on this 12 day trip that takes you from Paris to Amsterdam, from the Swiss Alps to Italy, through the canals of Venice and St. Mark’s Square and on to Austria and finally through the Rhineland Amsterdam.
Dining Summary
11 nights from $2,825 per person
Costsaver: European Experience
Day 1 - Arrive Paris
Arrive in Paris, a capital that doesn’t hold back and doesn’t expect you to either. Take a walk through its grand past, dynamic present and exciting future, from the maze of streets that once nurtured great artists in Montmartre to the Eiffel Tower before joining your Travel Director and fellow travelers this evening.
Accommodations: Ibis Alésia Montparnasse 14éme
Day 2 - Paris Sightseeing and Free Time
Audrey Hepburn described it best when she said: 'Paris is always a good idea.' We’re sure you’ll agree. Hit its grand boulevards on a city sightseeing tour with your Travel Director. See the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Élysées then spend the rest of the day discovering the city on your terms. Don’t resist the urge to tread in the footsteps of Picasso and Dalí and visit Montmartre this afternoon, exploring its maze of streets and Artist’s Square. There’s time to shop for artwork and savor some local specialties before considering a real highlight this evening – an optional dinner and cabaret performance.
Accommodations: Ibis Alésia Montparnasse 14éme
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Paris - Lucerne Region
Journey through the idyllic French countryside before arriving in Lake Lucerne. You’ll want to put the 'heart' of Switzerland in your pocket and take its history, culture and epic landscapes with you.
Accommodations: SwissEver Zug
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Lucerne orientation and free time
Turn the page to a land of fairy-tale landscapes and medieval history. You have a full day to see the sights and explore Lucerne, starting with a morning orientation including the Chapel Bridge and the Jesuit Church. No visit to Lucerne is complete without a visit to the Lion Monument, built to commemorate the brave Swiss Guards who died defending Louis XVI during the French Revolution. You may be tempted to do some souvenir shopping, but an Optional Experience into the mountains will be hard to resist. Ascend Mount Pilatus by a cog-wheel railway then embark on a scenic lake cruise.
Accommodations: SwissEver Zug
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Lucerne - Florence
Your journey heads south to the city of Florence - home to various masterpieces of Renaissance architecture and outstanding fine arts. Enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers tonight as you prepare to soak up the beauty of the city, surrounded by Tuscan hills, that has remained unchanged throughout the centuries.
Accommodations: The Gate
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Florence – Rome
Enjoy your day in Florence before heading to Rome. Admire the city skyline from Piazzale Michelangelo. There’s time to explore Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo and Giotto's Bell Tower or shop for the bespoke Italian leather goods and fine gold jewelery for which Florence is justifiably famous. You could choose instead to join an Optional Experience revealing the Renaissance heritage of a city which attracted artists, physicists, astronomers and philosophers like Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo.Next, travel to Rome. If Rome was a person, she would be confident, alluring and complex. You’ll get to know her, and her quirks, over the next two days. You’ll find reminders of an ancient world, a holy empire and the Renaissance around every turn. You could choose to join a Local Specialist for an optional guided stroll through Rome’s piazzas. Linger in your favorite square, or perhaps enjoy a scoop or three of the local gelato and soak up the effervescent energy of a city that knows how to enjoy life.
Accommodations: Raganelli, Ergife Palace
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Rome Sightseeing and Free Time
You could spend a lifetime exploring Rome and just scratch the surface, but with your Local Guide on hand you’ll dive right into the city’s heart and soul. Head to Vatican City to watch the pigeons and people tread on holy ground. The rest of your day is free to explore the City, this evening why not consider an optional dinner at one of the local restaurants.
Accommodations: Raganelli, Ergife Palace
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Rome – Venice
Journey on to Venice, which bewitches in all her Byzantine glory, softening even the hardest of hearts with her opulence. Highlights include a cruise on a private launch to St. Mark’s Square and views of the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge's Palace. The talents of master craftsmen are the star of the show later as you visit their glassblowing workshop, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. There’s even time for an optional Gondola and Grand Canal cruise – grand palazzi, churches and ornate bridges line your journey.
Accommodations: Campanile Venice Mestre
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Venice – Innsbruck
Today you continue along the Inn Valley to the Austrian Tyrol and its capital, Innsbruck, where you can 'ooh and aah' at the impressive ski jump and view the famed Golden Roof, constructed from 2,657 copper tiles. Admire the fascinating crystal installations and browse for precious gifts and souvenirs at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds Store. This evening, a Choice Experience could see you enjoy a lively evening of entertainment during a traditional Tyrolean evening.
Accommodations: Bon Alpina, Alphotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Innsbruck - Munich - Reilingen
Your first stop today is Munich where you can admire the Glockenspiel in the Marienplatz and the Hofbräuhaus. Continue onto the main cultural center of the Rhineland.
Accommodations: Achat Hotel Bad Durkheim
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 - Reilingen - Cologne - Amsterdam
Suitably inspired by its spires, you’ll board a lazy river cruise down the Rhine past terraced vineyards and fairy-tale castles. Your experience of a lifetime ends in the free-thinking capital of the Netherlands. Immerse yourself in Amsterdam's gezelligheid as you soak up the buzz of the city's canals, gabled houses and festive squares. There's no better way to see the capital than from its waterways, why not join a Choice Experience in a glass-topped boat winding through Amsterdam's historic canal ring.
Accommodations: Ibis Schiphol
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 - Depart Amsterdam
Say farewell to your Travel Director and traveling companions at the end of an amazing holiday.
Meals: Breakfast
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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