At Exeter International we have been creating memories and crafting our trademark extraordinary journeys to Central Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, and Central Asia for 25 years. Our specialty is to distill the best of the best in iconic places that are on so many people s travel must-do list. We are not a call center of nameless, faceless people. We do not try to be everything to everyone. We are a small team of specialists. We are all committed to providing the best travel experiences to our destinations. Each member of our team has travelled extensively throughout our destinations, giving them insider knowledge lacking in many other tour operators. Our Extraordinary Experiences are different, unusual, and often closed to the general public. We can offer special insider access that takes you beyond the typical tourist sites. We know how important it is to remain authentic and increasingly going beyond the well-known sites is what is important to our guests discovering the little-known museum or street market that adds to their experience. We do this through our local knowledge, cultivating our extensive contacts and regularly visiting each destination to enable us to share the most up-to-date insider information with you, our valued partner. The most important part of your trip will be your guides. Guides come in many quality levels, especially in our part of the world. We have worked with a core group of the best of the best for over 20 years. We know them like family and if they weren't the best, they wouldn't work for us. Simply stated, a guide can make or break your experience. You should have 100% confidence in who is introducing you to your guide and the level of guiding that you are going to get throughout the countries you will be visiting. The best does indeed cost more and we pay our guides at the very top of the market, with pride. You'll also want to know what kind of vehicle your tour will include. We use luxury late-model vehicles, often Mercedes, Audi, BMW, or Volkswagen, depending on the size of the vehicle you need. You'll want to see things that may or may not be open to the public and go in early or after hours before the crowds whenever possible. We also make every effort to skip lines whenever possible. Avoiding long museum lines is one of our top priorities and we work hard to minimize the wait time to get into the most popular sights in each city, maximizing your time in each destination. You'll want impeccable planning and someone to bounce ideas off of before your trip and speak English as well as you do while planning your trip so there are no cultural misunderstandings when you arrive. You'll also want someone to talk to if your trip is not perfect when you get home. These are all ways that we distinguish ourselves from all other companies. A lot goes into our travel program design. We arrange the program so that it is flawless and effortless for our travelers from the time they set foot in the first city until they leave us. The expertise to set up an itinerary like this comes after years of investing in staff on both sides of the Atlantic, and this too is a value that is incorporated into our traveler's trips with us.
This morning you will arrive into Gdansk, where you will be met by your driver for your transfer to your hotel in the center of the city and in the heart of the historic district. Gdansk, or Danzig, as it was formerly called, is a city of charm and elegance, even though it is most known for its industrial shipyards and the popular movement by Lech Walesa that marked the end of Communism in Poland. While Gdansk was mostly German before WWII, the Poles expelled all remaining Germans at the end of the war and left the city to become truly Polish. Gdansk was an important city of the Hanseatic League for centuries. The remainder of your day is at leisure. We recommend heading on your own to the fantastic new WWII Museum. September 1, 1939 was the date that WWII began and it started right here with shots fired over Westerplatte. This massive museum is divided into three areas past, present and future. You ll have a timed entrance ticket today and the use of an audio guide, if you like. With even a casual interest in WWII, you ll be hard pressed to see everything in two hours here. There are over 2,000 exhibits from the road to war to effects of the war post-1945. All exhibits are in English and the audio guides give greater detail wherever you would like it. Arrival Transfer Radisson Blu
This morning meet your guide in your hotel lobby at 10AM. Today you will start with a visit to the European Solidarity Center. The permanent exhibition is dedicated to the Solidarity Movement and the opposition, which led to the overthrow of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. It s like a walking timeline of contemporary history in Gdansk and really all of Europe. It s a fascinating look into this turbulent time leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Afterward head to Oliwa. This is a complex of Cistercian abbey buildings and the highlight is the cathedral. It s built in the Romanesque and Gothic styles and is best known for its organ, which includes moving angels, stars and the sun. Today there is an organ concert at noon and you can attend. Continue on to Gdansk where the rest of your touring is on foot. Your guide will take you on foot Gdansk s Royal Route. Around every corner of Old Town you ll find an important building or historic monument and your guide will show you the most important of them. You can also step inside St. Mary s Church, founded in 1343, and one of the largest churches in Europe and is best known for its extraordinary Gothic sculpture. At the picturesque Motlawa River bank you will see the massive, 15th century Old Crane, which is now a museum containing a wooden elevator and granaries used at the port during its heyday. Note: Some touring is on foot. Please be prepared to be outside and walking over cobblestones. Vehicle & Driver (4 Hours); Guide (8 Hours) Radisson Blu
This morning your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby at 10AM for your journey outside of Gdansk to Malbork Castle. First begun by the Order of the Teutonic Knights in the late 14th century, Malbork Castle was once the capital of one of the most powerful states on the southern Baltic coast. Malbork Castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress and is the world s largest brick castle and certainly the most impressive in Europe. The Teutonic Knights were an order of German crusaders and their rich history dates to the 12th century. Your visit today will take you inside the castle walls, where you can visit a variety of rooms that have been restored to their former grandeur. The castle is also home to temporary exhibitions. One of the most striking features of Malbork is its existence. The castle has been under continuous reconstruction for nearly 230 years! Vehicle, Driver & Guide (6-8 Hours) Radisson Blu
This morning your driver will take you directly to the station to meet your high-speed train to Warsaw. First class tickets are included and will be given to you locally. Upon your arrival in Warsaw you will be transferred to your hotel, where the remainder of your day will be at leisure. Often overlooked, Warsaw is a phoenix that has risen out of the ashes of immense carnage to emerge as a vibrant, contemporary and edgy European capital. Its eclectic architectural style reflects the different influences throughout the ages. In Old Town Warsaw, tall church steeples, colorful houses, and narrow cobble-stoned lanes give way to the newer part of the city and a larger more contemporary skyline. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings have been exquisitely restored to their former glory in the post-world War II era, while more recent construction reflects Warsaw s cosmopolitan vibe. Station Transfers with Assistants Bristol Warsaw
Today your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby at 10AM for a half-day walking tour of Warsaw s Old Town. On the tour with your guide have a stroll through Warsaw s renowned Castle Square. In this square, you ll find street artists, small cafes and shops among the rebuilt gothic mansions of Warsaw s nobility. View Zygmunt Column, built to honor King Zygmunt III Wasa, who moved Poland s capital from Krakow to Warsaw in the 17th-century. Next, your guide will take you to the Royal Castle, which boasts one of the most magnificent art collections of the city, including famous views of Warsaw by Bellotto, the nephew and student of the famous Venetian painter Canaletto. Bellotto was the court painter of King Stanislaw August and his paintings of Warsaw were used for rebuilding the city after its near complete destruction in World War II. Afterward, your driver will meet you for an overview city tour. You ll stop at the Palace of Science and Culture a gift from Stalin to Poland and mimicking the design of Moscow s Seven Sisters. Today you can head to the top for a panoramic view of the city. On your overview, you can also stop at Łazienki Park, one of the most beautiful and serene areas of Warsaw and a favorite of the local residents. Take a stroll through the park to see the Palace on the Water before heading down Warsaw s most elegant street back to your hotel. Note: Some touring is on foot. Please be prepared to be outside and walking over cobblestones. Vehicle & Driver (4 Hours); Guide (8 Hours) Bristol Warsaw
Today you will meet your guide and driver at 10AM to continue your exploration of Warsaw. Today you will head across the river to the Praga district. This area was not destroyed during WWII and today it s a rapidly gentrifying and vibrant part of the city, with the largest market, galleries and more. Today you can stop at the Neon Museum. This is a small private museum features hundreds of neon signs that were found in Poland between the 1950s and 1970s. It s a unique glimpse into Cold War era Poland. Afterward, stop at what was once the factory of Koneser Vodka that has now been revitalized and reopened as the Polish Vodka Museum. This gorgeous space is a huge complex that is now bars, apartments a hotel and more. Today your visit will be a privately guided experience in the Vodka Museum, complete with a tasting. Back in central Warsaw this afternoon, you will have the chance to explore the fascinating Museum of the Warsaw Uprising. The exhibition displays all aspects of the battle as well as everyday life in Warsaw against the background of the German Nazi occupation. More than 500 exhibit items, plus about 1,000 photographs, films and sound recordings, depict the days leading up to the outbreak of the uprising, its day-by-day development, the forced evacuation of the fighters from Warsaw, and their ordeal after their heroic fight was over. Don t miss the short film, City in Ruins, at the end. Vehicle, Driver & Guide (8 Hours) Bristol Warsaw
This morning, depart by express train to Krakow, the architectural gem of Poland. First class tickets are included and will be given to you locally. Upon your arrival in Krakow you will be transferred to your hotel, where the remainder of your day will be at leisure. The untouched medieval splendor of Krakow is a miracle for having survived unscathed during World War II, and in fact, some locals believe that Krakow has been divinely blessed with an aura of peace. Medieval buildings surround the cavernous market hall and the central square, where street musicians serenade you in the evenings with folksongs. Station Transfers with Assistants Unicus Palace Krakow
This morning meet your guide in your hotel lobby at 10AM for the short walk to Wawel Hill to visit the Renaissance Royal Castle and Cathedral. Converted from a Gothic style in the early 1500 s by a Florentine architect, the tiered courtyard of the castle is reminiscent of an opulent Italian palazzo. Inside the castle, view the State Rooms, which feature the splendid assembly of Flanders tapestries, scattered throughout the first and second floors. There is also an amazing ceiling with woodcarvings of 30 human heads, which is worth a look. A highlight of visiting the castle today will be the opportunity to see Leonardo da Vinci s Lady with an Ermine. This rare painting is usually exhibited at the Czartoryski Musuem, which has been closed for renovations for a few years. You may also visit Wawel Cathedral. The cathedral, as in few cathedrals of the world, speaks the history of Poland. Adorned with a mass of side chapels, endowed by subsequent Polish monarchs and aristocratic families too, the present brick and sandstone basilica is essentially Gothic, dating from the year 1306. This afternoon, your guide will introduce you to Krakow s Old Town. The Gothic houses of the 13th-century burgesses still remain, although they were rebuilt and given Renaissance or neoclassical facades. You will see the medieval Sukiennice, rebuilt in the 1550 s, is one of the most distinctive sights in the country a vast cloth hall, topped by a sixteenth-century attic dripping with gargoyles. Its commercial traditions are perpetuated by a covered market, which bustles with tourists and street sellers at almost every time of the year. Note: All touring today is on foot through mostly pedestrian areas. Please wear appropriate footwear. Guide (6 Hours) Unicus Palace Krakow
This morning your driver and guide will meet you for your visit to the memorial at Auschwitz Birkenau. Timing today is pending an appointment time at the camp. Auschwitz-Birkenau is located approximately 90 minutes outside of Krakow, near the industrial town of Oswiecim. Today it s made of a series of barracks each with its own displays from luggage collected from prisoners, to seized prosthetics and more. You will see the somber and sometimes shocking exhibits located throughout the camp. After your tour of Auschwitz, you may also visit Birkenau, where the majority of captives lived and died. A few barracks remain, as well as the railroad track that brought the prisoners to the selection process. Do not miss the monument to the dead, inscribed in ten languages, located between the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria. Finally, your guide will take you to pay a visit to one our favorite historical museums. The actual factory of Oskar Schindler has been opened as a branch of the Krakow History Museum. It s now a moving timeline of the history of Krakow from 1939 through 1945. You will see the changes in the city brought on by the Nazi occupation. Vehicle, Driver & Guide (8 Hours) Unicus Palace Krakow
You will meet you driver this morning to transfer to the airport to meet your departing flight. Departure Transfer
Consider a castle stay in the Silesian countryside while you explore UNESCO-protected churches and local crystal factories or head to the mountains with a stay in our favorite mountain resort the High Tatras. If you have an interest in Jewish heritage, we can arrange the entire program to focus on the best Jewish heritage sites throughout the country, including synagogues, camps, meetings with local JCC staff and more. If you have an interest in Catholicism in Poland, visits to pilgrimage sites like Czestochowa can be arranged, as well as a visit to Wadowice, Pope John Paul II s birthplace. Many of our guests have familial heritage in Poland. We can put you in touch with an expert local genealogist who can discover your family s roots. Poland is famous for their folk arts and we can introduce you to all the best artisans in each craft. From lacemaking in Koniakow to papercutting in Łowicz, we can introduce you to local craftspeople who are keeping these traditions alive. Meet the women who paint the village in Zalipie. Watch highlanders whittle wooden masterpieces in the Tatras. Learn the art of colorful Polish ceramics in Bolesławiec.
Cost of the Program: For two (2) guests traveling together For Four (4) guests traveling together January March November & December July & August April June; September & October January March November & December July & August April June; September & October From $6,075 From $6,475 From $6,250 From $4,425 From $4,825 From $4,575 All pricing is per person and based on double occupancy. Airfare is not included. Accommodations Gdansk Three (3) nights in a Premium Room at Radisson BLU; Tax and Breakfast included daily. The hotel, situated right in the heart of Gdansk s Old Town has a unique and contemporary atmosphere. No other hotel of this quality has such a fantastic location in this area. All rooms offer free high-speed internet, satellite television, tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms and Radisson s special One Touch button service. The hotel offers a fully-equipped fitness center, a French Brasserie and a casual bar.
Premium Room: This is the recommended starting category for all Exeter International guests. These rooms offer either one king bed or two twins and feature approximately 375 square feet of space. The extra amenities offered in this room include free in-house movies and a Nespresso coffee machine. Warsaw Three (3) nights in an Executive Room at Bristol Warsaw; Tax and Breakfast included daily. This wonderful historic hotel was built in 1899 and combines 19th century ambience and charm with 21st century luxury and technology. It is the top hotel in the city. Located in the heart of the capital, the Bristol has been Warsaw's leading hotel and the meeting place for high society and international dignitaries for over a century. Situated on King's Walk, Warsaw's most fashionable street, and overlooking the Presidential Palace, the hotel is just a few minutes on foot from the historic Old Town, the Royal Castle and the National Theater. The art nouveau façade welcomes guests in grand style and inside guests will find the highly regarded Marconi Restaurant along with the famous Viennese-style Café Bristol. An indoor pool and fitness center add to the long list of guest amenities. As this is a historic hotel, guest rooms vary widely in size and layout. All guest rooms are individually designed and some offer majestic high ceilings, French doors and balconies. All rooms feature satellite television, ipod docking station, complimentary WiFi and evening turndown service. Executive Room: These spacious (from 322 to 450 square feet!), very comfortable rooms are our top choice for most guests. All rooms feature a choice of one king or two twin beds as well as a comfortable sitting area. Rooms are overlooking Warsaw's most fashionable street - the historical "King's Walk," the park, or overlook the quiet inner courtyard. Krakow Three (3) nights in a Deluxe Room at Unicus Palace; Tax and Breakfast included daily. This luxury boutique hotel has an enviable location just steps from Krakow s Old Town market square. It combines modern design and style in the intimate atmosphere of a historical tenement house. The hotel features 60 rooms, all with plush and contemporary furnishings. You will also find a well-equipped fitness center and gorgeous swimming pool and salt cave. The hotel offers two dining venues for your enjoyment. All guest rooms offer air conditioning, tea and coffee-making facilities and complementary WiFi. Views are either of the hotel s interior courtyard or surrounding buildings of Krakow. Bathrooms generally feature a stand-alone shower, although some rooms also have tubs. Deluxe Room: This is the recommended starting category for Exeter guests. Rooms offer just under 300 square feet of space and a small sitting area. These rooms offer the choice of one king, one queen or two twin beds. Meals No meals included, other than breakfast as described above. Your final documents will include our top recommendations. Your guides will recommend restaurants that fit your exact needs daily. Services Private vehicle, driver and guide at your service as described. The timing for each day is noted in your program. Exeter International s local offices are available for your assistance 24 hours per day while you are traveling. Our local staff may also assist you with restaurant reservations and purchasing of additional theater and museum tickets at your request.
Transportation Transportation is included in the program as noted. Timing for each day is noted in your program. Guides Hand chosen for their knowledge on local history, art & architecture. Guides are at your disposal as noted in your itinerary. Tickets All entrance tickets as described in the program.
January March; November- December July & August From $105 per person (total for 3 nights) From $25 per person (total for 3 nights) April June; September- October From $225 per person (total for 3 nights) The Raffles Warsaw is in one of the most historic buildings in the city, the former Hotel Europejski. This new incarnation of this landmark hotel is the top luxury hotel in Poland and features contemporary décor tied to the history of the city. It has a perfect location on Warsaw s Royal Route, with just a short walk to Old Town and to some of the best shops and restaurants in Warsaw. The hotel features a luxurious spa with private treatment rooms, sauna and steam room, experience showers and an ice fountain. The well-equipped fitness center offers 24-hour access. There is a fine dining restaurant as well as a reinterpretation of a historic patisserie, a humidor and the famous Raffles Long Bar. There are just 106 rooms and suites and they are some of the largest in the city. All of them feature bespoke furniture and carefully curated art from the Hotel Europejski collection. Décor is inspired by art deco and all rooms offer a small library area, in the original spirit of Raffles. All rooms offer complimentary tea and coffee facilities and Raffles 24-hour Butler Service. Deluxe Room: These spacious rooms average almost 500 square feet of space. They offer a small library area with a hand-chosen book collection. Bathrooms are marble-clad and feature a separate tub and shower. Bedding is one king or two twins.
January March; November- December July & August No Price Difference (total for 3 nights) From $25 per person (total for 3 nights) April June; September- October From $55 per person (total for 3 nights) The Sheraton is ideally located near Wawel Castle on the bank of the Vistula River with stunning views of both. It is just a 10-minute walk to the famous Market Square and Old Town. It s the only hotel of an international luxury standard in Krakow. The hotel offers 233 guestrooms and suites, all comfortably appointed. The hotel has an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge & café plus a lively bar & pub. The hotel also includes an indoor pool, fully equipped fitness facility, lobby shop and parking. All rooms feature classic décor and a bathroom with a tub/shower combination. Club Level rooms and higher gain access to a small Club Lounge, featuring continuous food and beverage service throughout the day. All Exeter guests receive complimentary WiFi and a special welcome amenity. Deluxe Rooms: These rooms feature approximately 300 square feet of space and the same amenities as Classic Rooms. They have either one king or two twin beds. The highlight of this room category is the beautiful view of the Vistula River, which runs in front of the hotel. Some of these rooms also have views of Wawel Castle.
Exeter International Travel Information BAGGAGE The vehicles reserved for your itinerary can accommodate up to two medium-sized suitcases per person. If you intend to travel with additional luggage, please advise your travel consultant so appropriate arrangements may be made. In general, we schedule a sedan for parties of two, a minivan for parties of three to four and a minibus for parties of five or more. SIGHTSEEING Sightseeing arrangements have been made with your special interests in mind. Your drivers and guides are at your disposal for full or half-day sightseeing programs as indicated in the itinerary. Within those time and mileage guidelines, your driver and guide are at your disposal, so you are free to modify your program as you please. Should you require additional time or mileage, the costs will be quoted on request and may be paid for locally in the local currency or U.S. Dollars. Every effort has been made to confirm that scheduled sightseeing venues will be open at the time you plan to visit them. However, individual estates, museums, gardens and other points of interest can change their hours of operation at short notice. In the event that a particular attraction is closed on the day or time of your visit, your guide will offer alternative arrangements or rearrange your sightseeing to accommodate these unexpected events. OPTIONAL EXPENSES Charges for extra meals, transport, sightseeing services or other optional additions to your established itinerary are your responsibility and must be paid locally in the local currency. GRATUITIES Gratuities are not included in your tour price. Gratuities are at your own discretion. We recommend $15- $20 per person, per day for your guide and $5 - $10 per person, per day for your driver. For your airport or station transfer, a gratuity of $5 - $10 is customary, based on service. Dollars, Euros and any local currency are all accepted. DINING WITH YOUR GUIDE On days when dinner and lunch costs have not been included in your itinerary (or in your tour cost), you may, at your discretion, choose to invite your guide to dine with your party. You are under no obligation to do so but, if you do extend such an invitation, the guide is your guest and you will be responsible for the cost of his/her meal. Booking Conditions PAYMENTS Exeter International must receive a deposit of 25% of the total program cost before reservations for your independent travel program can be initiated. The balance of payment is due 60 days prior to departure. No reservations are made on your behalf until this deposit has been received. Availability and pricing is subject to change until this deposit is received. All deposits are nonrefundable. CANCELLATION Written cancellations received less than 60 days prior to departure are subject to the following forfeit of tour cost 59-14 days prior to departure, 50% of total tour cost 14 or less days prior to departure, 100% of tour cost REFUNDS We regret that refunds cannot be issued for arrangements confirmed on your itinerary but unused once your tour has begun.
INSURANCE Exeter International strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance to protect your investment. You will find insurance costs noted on your invoice and insurance coverage information in your original booking packet. PRICES AND ARRANGEMENTS Once an itinerary is finalized and final payment has been made, a $100 revision fee will be charged if the itinerary is changed. The tour price includes planning, handling and operational charges. Rates are quoted in US Dollars on the current rate of exchange and tariff as of 2019. Exeter International reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange markets. Devaluation of a foreign currency will be weighed against any tariff increases imposed. Exeter International does not breakdown costs involved in any Small Group or Individual Travel Program. All arrangements are subject to availability and modification if necessary. Prices are subject to change if necessary until paid in full. Exeter International www.exeterinternational.com 111 South Dakota Avenue Tampa, Florida 33606 Phone: (813) 251-5355 (800) 633-1008 Fax: (813) 251-6685