16 DAY Eastern Express EEGERL-9

Transcription

1 16 DAY Eastern Express EEGERL-9 This tour visits: Italy, Vatican City, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands Join us as we journey through Eastern Europe s hottest new destinations. After seeing timeless classics in Venice and Rome, we ll take the road less travelled and explore Croatia s stunning Dalmatian Coast, Slovenia s natural charms and the Gothic glories of Prague. As we head west we ll get to grips with funky Berlin and join the party in lively Amsterdam. Long story short? This is a tour of Europe you re unlikely to forget anytime soon!

2 The Bucket List More Inclusions Walking tour of Amsterdam Driving tour of Berlin Visit former concentration camp Mauthausen Pag Island getaway Walking tour of Venice Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Walking tour of Rome Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden Walking tour of Prague Vaporetto ride in Venice Visit Lake Bled 15 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners 10 nights in hostels, 3 nights in bungalows at European campsites & 2 nights in an Austrian Gasthof English Channel crossing Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader and Driver Trip Itinerary Day 1 - Rome, Italy Meet with the group today in Rome and prepare to give that bucket list a workout! If you arrive early, shop till you drop on Via Condotti, head to Capitoline Hill for awesome views of the Roman Forum and Colosseum or just kick back in Piazza Navona. Get excited it s gonna be one heck of a trip. -Walking tour of Rome Day 2 - Rome to Venice including Vatican City visit This morning, there s an optional Vatican City visit on the cards. Then: say ciao to Venice from across the lagoon as we check into our accommodation, have an Eat Pray Love-worthy relationship with an irresistible Italian (meal) and get pumped for living out our own version of The Italian Job tomorrow. -Guided tour of the Vatican City -Get a personalised trip T-shirt or hoodie Day 3 - Venice You know it as The Floating City, but this place is actually sinking (slowly). Today we ll check out a who's who of Venice's usual suspects on a guided walking tour (ticking off the likes of St Mark's Square and Accademia Bridge), then jump on a vaporetto to explore the Grand Canal. If

3 that s not enough, you can also hop on an optional gondola ride. Throw away your map in the afternoon and try to find the world's most epic little bookshop, Libreria Acqua Alta, or just go on a mission to find the perfect gelato. -Walking tour of Venice -Vaporetto ride -Gondola ride Day 4 - Venice to Pag Island, Croatia via Postojna Cave, Slovenia First up: an optional round of stalagmite spotting at the beautiful (not to mention huge) Postojna Cave. This all-natural maze of tunnels and caverns was hollowed out by the Pivka River two million years ago. True story. Later today, your Pag Island getaway awaits. -Lunch -Visit Postojna Cave Day 5 - Pag Island You ve got two whole days to relax and chill out in the sun. The water is warm, the food is awesome and this island sure knows how to party. Day 6 - Pag Island Eat, sleep, party, repeat. Day 7 - Pag Island to Ljubljana, Slovenia Shoot one last longing look at Pag before arriving in Ljubljana (lyoob-lya-nah), the capital of Slovenia. Tonight, band together with your fellow #Topdeckers and see the city come alive on an optional pub crawl.

4 Optional activities -Ljubljana pub crawl Day 8 - Ljubljana to Austrian Alps, Austria Lake Bled is one of those names that keeps popping up in all those lists of amazing places. Find out why as we climb the Austrian Alps to the Sound of Music. -Visit Lake Bled Day 9 - Austrian Alps The snow-capped hills (Alps, really) are alive with the sound of carving. The mountains have shaped virtually all aspects of life here. Our optionals? We're glad you asked. There's skydiving, tandem paragliding, canyoning, mountain biking and even a mountainside dinner to keep you occupied. Or, you could just sit and stare at the storybook landscape like a lovesick puppy. Kirchdorf does that to people. You haven't really been there without a few sneaky selfies, right? Say edelweiss! -Canyoning -Tandem paragliding -Skydiving -Mountain biking -Mountainside dinner Day 10 - Austrian Alps to Prague, Czech Republic First, a visit to former concentration camp Mauthausen for a lesson in the resilience of humanity. Then, on to Prague. Get Insta-happy and seek out the John Lennon Wall, soak up some 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). -Visit former concentration camp Mauthausen -Walking tour of Prague Day 11 - Prague Another free day for the win. Snap a selfie at Prague's own Eiffel Tower, visit a miniatures museum, eat roast pork from one of the street

5 vendors lining Old Town Square and wash it all down with a beer. As in, a really good beer. Prague, we love you. -Local beer tasting Day 12 - Prague to Berlin, Germany Get acquainted with 800 year-old Dresden a city virtually destroyed in WWII and then rebuilt and check out the Frauenkirche before we make tracks to 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. -Walking tour of the restored city of Dresden -Driving tour of Berlin Day 13 - Berlin Today, why not step out on an optional Third Reich walking tour for a local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule during World War II? Kreuzberg is a hit for lunch. Afternoon suggestion? Have a picnic at the historic Tempelhof airport-turned-public park. Tonight: explore the city after dark on an optional alternative street art and nightlife tour. -Third Reich walking tour -Street art and nightlife tour Day 14 - Berlin to Amsterdam, Netherlands Start dreaming of cheese, clogs and cheeky café stops as we roll through tulip and windmill dotted fields to Amsterdam. DAM, it's going to be a good day! Learn how cheddar and clogs are made, then get your bearings on a walking tour of the vibrant capital. We re talking the Dam Square, the Royal Palace and the National Monument, so get your cameras at the ready. For the perfect end to the perfect day, give in to temptation and grab a cone of hot chips with mayo. Mmm. -Dutch cheese and clogs demonstration -Walking tour of Amsterdam

6 Day 15 - Amsterdam Join 881,000 bikes and get your cycle on with an optional bike tour of Amsterdam's iconic canals, bridges and parks. Culture fiends, delve deeper with a visit to the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh or Rijksmuseum. Still thirsty for more? Check out the Heineken Experience and indulge in a spot of beer tasting. What better way to toast the final night of your Europe Inspired adventure than with a cruise on the canal? -Canal dinner cruise -Bike tour of Amsterdam Day 16 - Amsterdam to London, England After all the Amster-damage has been done, it s time to hit the road back to ol Blighty. Soak up all the happy group vibes you can possibly handle this is your last coach ride with the gang. #sadface. 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!), Austrian Gasthofs, canvas cabins, ferry cabins 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). The number of people sharing in bungalows, canvas cabins, ferry cabins and Austrian Gasthofs can vary. Please note: When staying on a Hostel Plus trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex. You will also need to bring your own towels with you as these are not provided by all of our hostels. Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the

7 local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Vatican City Guided tour of the Vatican City: TBC Venice, Italy Gondola ride: TBC Get a personalised trip T-shirt or hoodie: TBC Postojna, Slovenia Postojna Cave: TBC Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana pub crawl: TBC Austrian Alps, Austria Canyoning: TBC Full day mountain biking: TBC Half day mountain biking: TBC Tandem paragliding: TBC Skydiving: TBC Mountainside dinner: TBC Prague, Czech Republic Local beer tasting: TBC Berlin, Germany Third Reich walking tour: TBC Street art and nightlife tour: TBC Amsterdam, Netherlands Bike tour: TBC Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' section of this document.

8 Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). They are usually 'continental breakfasts', which are typical in most European countries. A typical breakfast may consist of cereals with milk or yoghurt, bread, croissants, cold meats, cheese and a range of spreads, with fruit juice, tea or coffee to drink. It is rare to get a hot breakfast in continental Europe, though on some occasions there may be some hot food available as well. Included meals will be a combination of those prepared by Topdeck On-Site Chefs, local restaurants and places in which we stay. Included evening meals are in local restaurants or accommodations, and are either two or three courses. In most cases table water is provided with the meals, and if you wish to purchase additional drinks you can do so at your own expense. 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 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

9 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.