20 DAY European Getaway EEFDLL-8

Transcription

1 20 DAY European Getaway EEFDLL-8 This tour visits: France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands Glide through Venetian canals, whizz down the Swiss Alps, peek over the other side of the Berlin Wall and practice your Jungfrau mountain yodel so that France can hear you. Have your own Under The Tuscan Sun moment as you feast, take in the soaring pencil pines and attempt to be a very chic Italian (BYO wide brimmed hat and black sunnies). At night douse yourself in glitter in Monaco and always bet on black. All topped off with as much pizza, gelato, strudel, beer, chocolate, herring and macarons as your poor stomach can handle.

2 The Bucket List More Inclusions Walking tour of Amsterdam Driving tour of Berlin Visit former concentration camp Mauthausen Walking tour of Venice Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Walking tour of Rome Visit Pisa & the famous Leaning Tower Walking tour of Verona Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden Walking tour of Prague Walking tour of Florence with local guide Visit a traditional French perfumery Vaporetto ride in Venice Walking tour of Monaco Driving tour of Paris & gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower 19 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 10 dinners 10 nights in hostels, 6 nights in bungalows at European campsites, 2 nights hotel upgrade & 1 night in an Austrian Gasthof English Channel Crossings Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Trip Leader + Driver + On-Site Chefs Trip Itinerary Day 1 - London, England to Paris, France All good things start with Paris. Meet the crew, grab some supplies and hit the road early in the morning as we jump across the English Channel to Paris. Pinch yourself and instagram your first #selfie before we kick off the trip with a guided tour of the Paris with your Trip Leader. Home to Coco Chanel, the Eiffel Tower and the Mona Lisa, Paris has more than deserved its reputation as the European capital for all things culture, fashion and food. -Driving tour of Paris & gourmet picnic by the Eiffel Tower. Day 2 - Paris This morning: free time en Francais. From the Louvre and Musée d'orsay to the l'arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées, you'll be sure to make a solid dent in your bucket list. Then: hop on an optional bike tour of Paris or roam the streets on your own before ending your day with an optional Seine River cruise or a #throwback bohemian cabaret show. -Traditional cabaret show in Paris -Scenic river cruise on the Seine

3 -Bike tour of Paris Day 3 - Paris to Swiss Alps, Switzerland Trade in Parisian streets for snowy peaks. Urban charm ain't got nothing on Swiss scenery. Upon arrival, chow down on Swiss cuisine and hit the bar for a nightcap. -Lunch Day 4 - Swiss Alps Scenic hikes and jaw-dropping views are on today's agenda. Go low key with a mountain walk or hop on board the Jungfraubahn railway for an optional visit to the Jungfrau Mountain summit.fairytale villages en route, sky-diving out of a helicopter (if heights don't scare you). -Lunch -Scenic excursion to Jungfrau ('The Top of Europe') -Scenic helicopter ride in the Swiss Alps -Skydiving in the Swiss Alps Day 5 - Swiss Alps to French Riviera, France Trade in your gruezi for bonjour as we follow in Napoleon's footsteps downwards to the glamorous French Riviera. Try your hand at celeb spotting as you explore the world's most lavish waterfront property. Day 6 - French Riviera including Monaco visit Bring your paparazzi posse to the beach or let loose among the designer boutiques in Nice's Old Town. Later: Roll with the jet set as we hit up Monaco for a guided tour and the chance to see how the 1% live (hint: it involves luxury cars and bathing in caviar). Feeling lucky? Hit the tables at the Monte Carlo Casino and make it rain (or not). -Walking tour of Monaco Day 7 - French Riviera to Florence, Italy It's on to the renaissance romance of Florence. Take THAT shot at the Leaning Tower of Pisa before trucking on to the Tuscan hills outside Florence to eat, sleep, repeat in the foodie capital of the world.

4 -Visit a traditional French perfumery -Visit to Pisa & the famous Leaning Tower Day 8 - Florence Florence has more stories than Bilbo Baggins, more culture than a Shoreditch hipster, over 1,800 restaurants and it gave the world gelato. Get schooled on the Medici family, stroll the Ponte Vecchio (the only bridge not bombed in WWII) and get an in-depth tour of the city with a local guide. -Walking tour of Florence with a local guide Day 9 - Florence to Rome Step back to 753 BC in one of the world's oldest open-air museums on an in-depth walking tour and give that bucket list a workout. Make like Caesar and work up a colossus hunger as you pass by the Pantheon, throw your two cents in the Trevi Fountain, sit on the Spanish Steps and visit ancient history's version of the Hunger Games set at the Colosseum. -Walking tour of Rome Day 10 - Rome including Vatican City visit Create the ultimate Roman Holiday in one day with a whirlwind of Vespas, espresso, two-cheek kisses and pizza the way it's supposed to taste. Count your blessings on an optional tour of the Vatican City to see how Michelangelo messed around and created the High Renaissance, then play eye spy with two-and-a-half millennia worth of history. -Guided tour of Vatican City Day 11 - Rome to Venice Hark! Maketh haste to whence the lady Juliet was wooed in Verona. Say ciao to Venice from across the lagoon as we check into our hotel, have an Eat Pray Love-worthy relationship with an irresistible Italian (meal) and get pumped for living out your own version of The Italian Job

5 tomorrow. -Walking tour of Verona Day 12 - Venice You know it as the floating city, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). Check out St. Mark's Square, Accademia Bridge and a who's who of Venice's usual suspects on a guided walking tour then jump on a vaporetto and explore the Grand Canal. Also on the schedule: an optional gondola ride through the maze of marble bridges. -Walking tour of Venice -Vaporetto ride in Venice -Gondola ride in Venice Day 13 - Venice to Austrian Alps, Austria Prepare your retinas for the scenery playing outside the coach windows and yodel around the mountain as we make our way to the Alps. So much more than schnitty, strudel and The Sound of Music, this day should have been sponsored by GoPro. -Lunch -Canyoning -Tandem paragliding in the Austrian Alps -Skydiving in the Austrian Alps -Bike tour in the Austrian Alps Day 14 - Austrian Alps to Prague, Czech Republic Begin the day with a sobering visit to the former concentration camp Mauthausen. Then, set the sat nav for the gothic city of Prague with its Guinness World Record-setting (and Disney-inspiring) castle spires. Fuel up on trdelník (pastry deliciousness) before a walking tour amongst the spires and cobblestone streets. Suss out the castle deemed worthy by Guinness World Records as being the largest ancient castle in the world, cross medieval Charles Bridge and watch 'Death' toll the hour on an astronomical clock that's over 600 years old.

6 -Visit former concentration camp Mauthausen -Walking tour of Prague -Lunch Day 15 - Prague Another free day for the win. Channel your inner bohemian and seek out the John Lennon memorial wall, then soak up some more Czech history at the National or Communist Museum or get a taste of the quirky local culture at a marionette puppet opera (you gotta see it to believe it). Snap a selfie at Prague's own Eiffel Tower, visit a miniatures museum, eat roast pork from one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square and drink beer. Good beer. -Local beer tasting in Prague Day 16 - Prague to Berlin, Germany Get acquainted with 800 year-old Dresden a city virtually destroyed in WWII and then rebuilt and ogle the Frauenkirche before making your beard all the more ironic in Berlin. Prep yourself for currywurst, absinthe and more hipsters per capita than anywhere else. We'll drive you around to see (what's left of) the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building before making your food baby sing with a hearty German meal. -Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden -Driving tour of Berlin Day 17 - Berlin

7 Shake off last night with a wander around the German capital. Optional: Third Reich walking tour and local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule during World War II. Kreuzberg is a hit for lunch, or save your appetite and have an afternoon picnic at the historic Tempelhof airport turned public park #picniconthetarmac. Tonight: hit the hotspots on an optional street art and nightlife tour. Optional Activities: -Third Reich walking tour -Street art & nightlife tour of Berlin Day 18 - Berlin to Amsterdam, Netherlands Cheese lovers, rejoice. Your next stop is a local Dutch farm to see how cheddar (and clogs) gets made. Next: Amsterdam, mayo-dipped fries and red lights. Get your bearings on a walking tour of the vibrant capital and see the Dam Square, Royal Palace and National Monument. Then: explore all that this notoriously liberal city has to offer. -Dutch cheese & clogs demonstration -Walking tour of Amsterdam Day 19 - Amsterdam Rise and shine you've got some serious exploring to do today. Culture fiends, delve deeper with a visit to Anne Frank House, Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum. Still thirsty for more? Check out the Heineken Experience for an interactive visit and tasting at the brewery. Top it off with a dinner cruise on the canal. -Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam -Bike tour of Amsterdam Day 20 - Amsterdam to London, England After all the Amster-damage is done and dusted, it's back on the ferry to ol' Blighty to start planning your next adventure. Facebook friends?

8 Accommodation Hostel Plus trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While modern hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also stay in hotels (free upgrade - yeah!) or bungalows. The 'More Inclusions' section details what type of accommodation will be used for overnight stops on your trip. The number of people to a room on Hostel Plus trips will vary. For hostels you will have multi-share rooms and usually share with between 3 and 5 others (although in some circumstances you will share with more than 5) while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). Bungalows can be up to 4 people to a room. Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex. Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document. Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). Included meals will be a combination of those prepared by Topdeck On-Site Chefs, local restaurants and places in which we stay. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Customer Service Consultant when you book, or make note of this in the Topdeck app when you check in (refer below). However, please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android

9 Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.