Holland, Belgium & Germany

Transcription

1 Holland, Belgium & Germany Soccer Tour Amsterdam, Cologne & Brussels 10 Day / 8 Night Program SUGGESTED PROGRAM PLEASE NOTE: Actual sequence and timing of activities will revolve around your game & practice schedule, which will be finalized in the weeks prior to your team s arrival at its destination. All times are approximate and may vary according to flight schedules and other logistical factors. ALL SOCCER ACTIVITIES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED. Day 1 Day 2 USA AMSTERDAM Depart USA on your overnight flight to Amsterdam. Possible change of plane enroute. Dinner and breakfast served aloft. HAARLEM Arrive at Amsterdam s Schipol Airport late morning. Greeting by your highly-qualified Tour Manager. The Tour Managers we select are chosen for their high-energy and commitment to customer satisfaction. For the duration of your stay, your Tour Manager will be coordinating and managing all of your scheduled activities and will be available to you on a 24-hour basis should you need special assistance. Transfer by private motorcoach to the city of Haarlem, located just west of Amsterdam. Holland's history blends a fascinating tale of commerce and culture. The nation was a wealthy and powerful seafaring and trading empire in its 17th century heyday. This was complemented by its great artistic heritage featuring such famous names as Rembrandt and Van Gogh. Modern Holland has 16 million people and is still an influential and economically-significant player on the world stage. Check into your Three-Star Hotel. PRACTICE SESSION Rest of afternoon free to explore Haarlem.

2 The Grote Markt (Market Square) district features many examples of 17th and 18th century architecture. Two museums of interest are the Teylers Museum of science and the arts and the Frans Hals Museum of art. Day 3 AMSTERDAM Transfer to Amsterdam for a free morning to explore the city on your own, visiting the city s cafés, shops, and restaurants and strolling along the canals, enjoying its charming setting. Dutch Premier League Match (optional additional fee for Game Tickets) Watch AFC Ajax in an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime soccer experience!!!!! (subject to ticket availability and being in-season) MATCH # 1 vs. DUTCH SOCCER TEAM Day 4 & AMSTERDAM Amsterdam Full-Day Tour Row of Traditional Houses Tulip Garden Clogs

3 Enjoy a Boat Tour of the canals starting from the Centraal Station where you will radiate out to the city's many fascinating attractions. Go to The Dam (Dam Square), the center of town and a busy crossroads featuring shops and other attractions. Anne Frank's House, home of the young Jewish girl who kept the famous diary during World War II while she and her family were hidden from the Germans, is a short distance away. Proceed to the Begijnhof (Beguine Court), a collection of interesting houses where the Beguines lived (women who lived a sort of convent life). The Herengracht (Gentlemen's Canal) is a prestigious stretch of canal featuring a variety of architectural styles typical of Amsterdam. Amsterdam offers several excellent art museums including Rembrandt's House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum, featuring an unsurpassed collection of works by the Dutch masters of the 16th and 17th century. Amsterdam Arena Stadium Tour Tour the largest stadium in the nation, built between 1993 and 1996 and home of the AFC Ajax. Enjoy a Guided Tour of the facility starting in the locker rooms, heading out through the tunnel and onto the field. Visit the Ajax museum and the Ajax Fan Shop where you can get the official match and training kits. MATCH # 2 vs. DUTCH SOCCER TEAM Day 5 & ZAANSE SCHANS VOLENDAM SOCCER CLINIC with a highly-qualified licensed professional coach. Zaanse Schans & Volendam Full-Day Tour Zaanse Schans Cheese Factory Volendam Harbor Transfer by private motorcoach for the "typical" Dutch tour, including visits to a Cheese Farm and Clog Factory. Later stop in the town of Zaanse Schans to see the famous 17 th century Windmills. Visit Volendam, an old fishing village on the Ijselmeer Sea.

4 Day 6 HAARLEM UTRECHT MAASTRICHT Check out of your hotel and transfer to Maastricht. On the way, stop at the city of Utrecht for free time in the city. Utrecht Free Time De Haar Castle Gardens Utrecht Canal De Haar Castle Utrecht, the Netherlands fourth largest city with a population of 300,000, has been the religious center of the country since the eighth century with both catholic and protestant church leadership having an important presence. Utrecht University is Holland s largest university. Utrecht's city center dates back over 1000 years with many of its buildings and structures being from the early Middle Ages, the most prominent of which is the Dom Tower, part of the Dom Church, rising up some 370 feet over neighboring streets and buildings. Utrecht is also home to one of the early landmarks of modern architecture, the 1924 Rietveld Schröder House, which is on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites. Day 7 Continue your trip to Maastricht where you will check in at your lodging. COLOGNE Transfer to Cologne, one of Germany's largest and most historic cities with over 1 million people, for a full-day sightseeing tour. Cologne is Germany s fourth-largest city and dates back to Roman times. The city grew into a major trading center in medieval times and continues that tradition today. Located in the Rhineland, the Cologne region is a major center of professional soccer with five teams calling the area home, including FC Cologne, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, Leverkusen, and Schalke 04 (Gelsenkirchen). Cologne City Tour

5 Cologne Cathedral Cathedral & Rhine River Rhine River Visit Cologne s main sights including the massive Cologne Cathedral, which was built in several stages from 1248 until its completion in With its soaring twin spires and huge stained-glass windows it is Germany s largest cathedral. Climb up the 310-foot tall platform for great views of the city. View vestiges of Roman Cologne including the Roman arch, tower, and Praetorium, which are relics of a Roman governor s palace. Tour the German Sport & Olympic Games Museum to learn all about the history of sports in Germany with special emphasis on the 1936 Berlin and 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Stop at the Documentation Center depicting the history of Cologne during Nazi rule. The basement of the building was the local Gestapo prison where many people were tortured and killed. Inscriptions on the walls by prisoners are a heart-rending reminder of the suffering they endured. Cologne Stadium tour The RheinEnergieStadion was host to five World Cup games in Tour the stadium with an English-speaking Guide starting in the locker rooms, heading out through the tunnel and onto the field. Time to shop for official merchandise. MATCH # 3 vs. GERMAN SOCCER TEAM Day 8 & BRUSSELS Brussels Full-Day Tour Royal Palace Town Hall Grand Place & Flower Carpet

6 Tour Brussels, the capital of Belgium and home to the main offices of the European Union and NATO headquarters. The main attraction is the Grand Place, the square in the heart of the city graced by elaborate baroque-style guild houses, surrounded by cobblestone streets featuring cafés, shops, and other attractions. Visit the Grand Sablon, an especially attractive square with cafés, restaurants, antique shops and art galleries. Also of interest is the Place Royale, home to most of the city's art museums, such as the Musée de Art Moderne and the Musée Instrumental. Free time for lunch on your own. Rest of the afternoon free to wander the city and discover the sights and attractions. MATCH # 4 vs. BELGIAN SOCCER TEAM Day 9 & MAASTRICHT Free day for optional activities or to explore Maastricht at your leisure. Maastricht City Hall River Maas St. Servaas Bridge Suggestions: Visit the Vrijthof, the city s most popular square featuring various charming churches. Markt (Market Square), with its town hall dating back to the 17 th century, was completely refurbished in 2007 and is now almost completely free of vehicles. The Inner City is Maastricht s main shopping district with many pubs, cafés and restaurants. Onze Lieve Vrouweplein is a picturesque tree-lined square with a large number of sidewalk cafés.

7 Day 10 AMSTERDAM USA Check out of hotel and transfer to Schipol Airport for your flights to the USA. Possible change of plane enroute. Arrive in the USA. TOUR INCLUSIONS: Travel Services: Your European Soccer & Cultural Adventure comes to a close with great memories to cherish for a lifetime! Economy-class Air Transportation USA Amsterdam round trip. Round-trip Airport / Hotel transfers by private motorcoach. Four nights at a Three-Star Hotel in Haarlem, Holland. Four nights at a Three-Star Hotel in Maastricht, Holland. One-way Haarlem / Maastricht transfer by private motorcoach with stop in Utrecht for sightseeing. Breakfast and Dinner Daily (including one drink at each dinner). Amsterdam Full-Day Tour including Canal Tour by Boat. Zaanse Schans & Volendam Full-Day Tour including visit to Cheese Farm & Clog Factory. Visit to the city of Utrecht. Cologne City Tour. Brussels Full-Day Tour. Bilingual Guide for all the tours. Transfers for all of the above activities by private motorcoach. Tour Manager available as necessary in Europe and 24/7 access in case of emergency. 24/7 Emergency Support from Victory Sports Tours Operations Office. Soccer Program: Four Games vs. Dutch, German & Belgian Teams One Soccer Clinic with a highly-qualified licensed professional coach. Two Practice Sessions Amsterdam Arena Stadium Tour Cologne Stadium tour Round-trip Transfers to the above Soccer Activities by private motorcoach. Please Note: The following services have NOT been included in the estimated tour price due to variations in ticket prices and availability of games: Tickets and transfers for AFC Ajax pro soccer game in Amsterdam. Summary of Included Meals: 8 Breakfasts 8 Dinners Tour Price: For the most up-to-date pricing information on this tour, please visit our website: Worldwide Soccer Tour Itineraries, Holland, Belgium & Germany #1

8 Price is per person based on a minimum of 20 paying travelers. Prices are subject to availability of airfares at time of booking. One FREE COACH S TRIP is included based on 20 paying travelers (21st is free). Coach would share twin room with a paying traveler and pay only the taxes / fees. Notes: The itinerary text outlines both included services and suggested free time activities. For a definitive indication of what is included in the tour price, please refer exclusively to the TOUR INCLUSIONS section above. No booking has been made yet. Tour dates are subject to availability. Tour price is based on current U.S. dollar/foreign currency exchange rate. Price may vary if the exchange rate were to change significantly prior to receiving your tour deposit. Air taxes/fees are determined by the various governments/airlines involved and are those currently in effect. By government regulation, actual air taxes/fees collected will be those in effect at ticketing, approx. 45 days before departure. Airlines may add a fuel surcharge if the price of fuel increases significantly. Final fuel surcharge is determined approx. 30 days prior to departure. Full Terms & Conditions to be provided upon acceptance of this proposal.