15 DAY East Meets West EEMEHL-8

Transcription

1 15 DAY East Meets West EEMEHL-8 This tour visits: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands Our introduction to the romanticism of Eastern Europe begins in beautiful Budapest. We then fall for the charm of Krakow and the Gothic glories of stunning Prague before we traverse the continent s former ideological divide and head west. After being seduced by the trendiness of modern Berlin and joining the party in pulsating Amsterdam, you will leave with a continent s worth of memories and experiences to last a lifetime. The Bucket List More Inclusions Guided tour of former concentration camp Auschwitz- Birkenau Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Walking tour of Bratislava Dutch cheese and clogs demonstration 14 breakfasts, 4 dinners 14 nights in hostels English Channel crossings Modern air conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver Trip Itinerary

2 Day 1 - Budapest, Hungary Hello, twin cities: Buda and Pest. Meet your group today. Check out Hero's Square, Parliament House, the National Palace, Fisherman's Bastion and swanky Andrássy Ave. After gorging on cabbage rolls and dumplings, roll into bed. Day 2 - Budapest Free day = Put down your Rubik's Cube and take on a city with enough baroque, neoclassical and art nouveau architecture to keep you puzzled for hours. Top tip: goulash is a MUST. Hot and dangerous (in a good way) this dish is the definition of 'Hungary'. Optional activities: cruise on the Danube Day 3 - Budapest to Vienna, Austria via Bratislava, Slovakia Today we move on to Vienna - but first, a pit stop at Bratislava, Slovakia. Later, pick your Baroque from Rococo as we slide into The City of Dreams (kudos, Freud!). The Vienna Orchestra provides the soundtrack while we check out Europe's classiest capital. Wave hello to the President as we go past the Hofburg Palace - and because one palace isn't enough, we also take a peek at the Schonbrunn. Top off your day with a search for schnitzels and apple strudel. -Walking tour of Bratislava -Driving tour of Vienna Optional activities: -A night at the Viennese Chamber Orchestra (dinner optional at an additional expense) Day 4 - Vienna to Krakow, Poland

3 On to gothic Kraków to devour all the pierogi. Legend has it a dragon had to be defeated in order for Kraków to be built (with a sulphurstuffed lamb as bait). -Walking tour of Kraków Optional activities: -Kraków pub crawl Day 5 - Krakow Miraculously untouched by the effects of war, this city boasts some serious Middle Ages swag and a quaint Old Town neighbourhood. Day 6 - Krakow to Prague, Czech Republic Learn more about the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Sombre, yes, but an important introduction to the region's history. Next: crack on to Prague. Welcome to a land of cheap beer and fairytale-like architecture. -Guided tour of former concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau -Walking tour of Prague Day 7 - Prague Channel your inner bohemian at the John Lennon memorial 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). Still have time to kill? Snap a selfie at Prague's own Eiffel Tower, visit The Museum of Miniatures or eat roast pork from one of the street vendors lining Old Town Square. Day 8 - Prague to Berlin, Germany Rock and roll over to 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

4 -Driving tour of Berlin Day 9 - Berlin Berlin is yours. Shake off last night with a wander around. Optional: Third Reich walking tour and local insight into what the city was like under Nazi rule during World War II. Hackescher Markt is a hit for lunch. Afternoon suggestion? Have a picnic at the historic Tempelhof airport turned public park #picniconthetarmac. Tonight: hit the hotspots on an optional alternative and nightlife tour. Optional Activities: -Third Reich walking tour -Alternative Tour & Nightlife Tour of Berlin Day 10 - Berlin to Copenhagen, Denmark Home of more Nordic 'cool' than you can poke a hipster's beard at, Copenhagen is sure to impress. If you think you've eaten it all, nuh-uh! Not even close. Uncover the food market gems scattered across the city and satisfy your inner gastronome. Try: the food markets on Paper Island for a luxe 'warehouse vibe' experience. -Driving tour of Copenhagen Day 11 - Copenhagen Romantic streak? Check out The Little Mermaid, a tribute to the fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen's pre-disney masterpieces. Spoiler: his version has the lovestruck mermaid become foam on the sea after she fails to win the prince's affections (even back then, it seems, #thestrugglewasreal). Day 12 - Copenhagen to Hamburg, Germany

5 On to Hamburg, aka the 'Gateway to the World'. Boasting more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined, plus the first zoo with no enclosures, Hamburg is one of the hippest cities in Europe. And if that weren't enough, Hamburg also boasts 3km of funfair AND Europe's biggest Japanese garden. If you hear "Hummel, Hummel" be sure to reply with "Mors, Mors". Don't ask. Later, check out the nightlife at the Port. Day 13 - Hamburg to Amsterdam, Netherlands Welcome to the most liberal city in Europe. Fun times ahead. 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. 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 for an interactive visit and tasting at the brewery. -Walking tour of Amsterdam -Dutch cheese & clogs demonstration Day 14 - Amsterdam Did you sneak a peek at the Red Light District last night? Freshen up and make your own way around the city. Grab some Dutch fries and finish on a high at our farewell dinner cruise tonight. Start swapping those phone numbers. -Canal dinner cruise in Amsterdam Optional Activities: -Bike tour of Amsterdam Day 15 - Amsterdam to London, England Love and leave Amsterdam this morning as we head back to London, where this trip of a lifetime ends. 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.

6 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 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:

7 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.