Pub Culture Beercations is proud to present Czech It Out August 24-September 2, 2019 for a 9-night trip across the Czech Republic with special celebeerty guests Tom Becka and Jeffrey Koterba! Join them, and Pub Culture Beercation s owner and guide Chris Bettini, as they Czech out the Czech Republic as only these SOB's can... well, at least one of them is a true South Omaha Boy - the other two are just well, you know. Fun! So why should you travel to the Czech Republic with Tom, Jeff, and Pub Culture Beercations Chris Bettini? Well, Tom Becka is a TV commentator on Fox 42 news in Omaha. He's also a real estate salesman, a radio talk show host, an author, a comedian, and he s 100% Czech! In fact, Tom is so Czech he took accordion lessons when he was five, but it turns out he had no talent for the accordion and is more a pork and dumplings kind of Bohemian. While he may not be bringing his accordion on the trip, Tom does enjoy a good polka and some of his earliest memories are of family get togethers in Cleveland where Grandma Becka would make a delicious pork and dumplings dinner, and visiting his grandparents on his mother's side and not understand a word they said because everyone was speaking Czech. Tom can't wait to get back to the Czech Republic and visit the home of his ancestors. He s looking forward to a trip where there will be plenty of pork, kolache, beer, and laughter along with incredible sites, a polka or two, and hopefully you.
Then, there s Jeff. The awardwinning cartoonist for the Omaha World-Herald whose cartoons are distributed to 850 newspapers around the globe, and have appeared in such publications as The New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today. Two of his cartoons even flew aboard space shuttle Discovery in 2010! He is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the Prairie Cats, a swing band that has performed at the South by Southwest Music Festival and Windows on the World at the World Trade Center. Entertainment Weekly even called Jeff s memoir, Inklings, a powerful and moving portrait of an artist. He s also 100% Czech just no accordion lessons or undying love of pork. Jeff knows he doesn t need to take one of those DNA genetic tests as all his family, on both sides, are of Czech ancestry. In fact, the Moravian farms where Jeff s grandparents were raised are still being operated by his cousins near where we will stay in Brno!
Lastly, why did Tom and Jeff turn to Pub Culture Beercations to help them plan a trip they could invite you to join them on to their ancestral homeland? To fully understand you need to meet their friend, your trip planner and guide, Chris Bettini. Dubbed Omaha s beer god by the Omaha World-Herald in 2009 and having worked in Omaha s craft beer community bartending at the Crescent Moon Alehouse since January of 2006, Chris has been part of the Omaha beer scene for over a decade. His love for searching out amazing craft beer and the culture around this fermented libation has led to him on countless travels, including 18 trips to Europe since 2008. The past few years Chris found a way to combine his love of craft beer, traveling and exploring pub culture with the creation of his tour company, Pub Culture Beercations LLC. Now he is exploring the world one pint at a time and sharing his adventures with people just like you! Chris has visited over 700 breweries and countless craft beer bars in 13 different countries over the past 10 years and created friendships and contacts all over the beer world that help him make a Pub Culture Trip one that will not only showcase and spotlight some more touristic locations, but also take you off the beaten path to search out those local favorite spots, and locations often overlooked by larger, more expensive tour groups. Having Bohemian ancestry on his maternal greatgrandmother s side, this trip has a personal connection for him as well. Tom, Jeff and Chris hope you'll join them for a trip of a lifetime with Pub Culture Beercations that promises plenty of Czech culture, traditional food, stunning sightseeing, camaraderie, laughter, and just maybe, a great beer or two!
9 nights hotel stay in centrally located, comfortable 3 or 4-star hotels. Breakfast every day 4 Group Lunches including gratuities (listed separately below) 5 Group Dinners including gratuities (listed separately below) Ground transportation by private motor coach provided by Seitz Reisen of Germany - beer, soft drinks and water provided on the bus Welcome Dinner at Pivovar U Medvídků 4 nights total in beautiful historic Prague Hilarious History of Prague Walking Tour with Tom and Jeff Lunch at Klášterní pivovar Strahov Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Pivovar Staropramen International Media Symposium Hosted by Jeff Koterba & Tom Becka PubCulture.Beer Prague Pub Crawl One night in Karlovy Vary Tour and tasting at Becherovka distillery Tour and tasting at the original Budvar brewery Lunch at Budvar s classic Masné krámy restaurant Visit České Budějovice and the Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II square One night in Český Krumlov Two nights in Brno Group dinner at Brno s Pivovar Pegas Guided tour of Brno Visit to a Moravian winery for a tasting and lunch PubCulture.Beer Brno Pub Crawl Visit the UNESCO World Heritage city of Kutna Hora One night in Plzeň Group dinner at Plzeňský Prazdroj the famous Urquell Brewery! Farewell Dinner at U Fleků Miscellaneous Travel Charges/Transfer Fees
The price per person for Pub Culture Beercations Czech it Out! Exploring Czechia with Tom Becka and Jeff Koterba August 24-September 2, 2019, for a total of 9 nights in the Czech Republic is $2259 based on double occupancy. For Single Occupancy Supplement, please add $350 to total trip due exclusively to higher costs of single rooms. Single rooms are in limited availability. When committing to the Pub Culture Beercation s Czech it out! August 24- September 2, 2019 a $300 deposit per person is required to hold reservations for hotels, bus and other scheduled events. Your $300 will be applied towards your total trip cost. (Deposit is refundable until April 15 th. After April 15 th, deposit is only refundable if your spot on the trip is filled by another participant.) Remaining trip balance will be due no later than June 21, 2019. (After June 21 st, any payments made are non-refundable.) Payments accepted in cash, check or credit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express accepted) Minimum trip size, 16 persons. Maximum, 32 persons. Participants must be of legal drinking age in country(s) your Pub Culture Beercations trip visits. Participants need to be able to walk/be on their feet for up to 30 minutes at a time. We will have a private coach to get us between cities and planned events, but once in a town, you will be doing most of our exploring by foot and public transportation. Pub Culture Beercation participants are responsible for booking and purchasing their own flights. Last day for Departure from Omaha (OMA) or any other US city to Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is Friday, August 23, 2019. Please note, any additional days prior to the scheduled Day 1 of the trip are not included in your trip cost, so you will be on your own to make those arrangements and payments for hotels or other events. Pub Culture Beercations is not responsible for any delays you may encounter traveling to the meet destination, so please plan accordingly to assure you are not late for our first event on Day 1 or you will have to catch up with the group. Pub Culture Beercations will continually monitor flight prices and sales and notify people who have made a deposit to join the trip, but ultimately it is your responsibility to book your flights.
Our 9-night trip starts in beautiful Prague, and our first 3 nights we will be staying at the oldest brewery hotel, attached to the oldest beer hall, in the city. After getting yourself from the Prague Airport to hotel U Medvídků transportation available by taxi, Uber, or public transportation check in by letting reception know your part of Pub Culture Beercations Czech It Out tour group. (Many travelers like to arrive at least one day before the start of a Pub Culture Beercation in case you experience any travel delays. Extra nights can be booked at U Medvídků and Pub Culture Beercations can help you plan events or with reserving additional nights hotel if you need assistance, otherwise you can contact the hotel directly.) Our trip officially begins at 1:00 in the afternoon with for a brief Welcome and Introduction in our hotel lobby from your tour guide, Pub Culture Beercations Chris Bettini, and your Celebeerty tour guests Tom Becka and Jeff Koterba, along with a special welcome from our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is yours, with plenty of free-time and numerous locations to visit and explore with your fellow Czech It Out travelers around Prague s Old Town, which surrounds our hotel. (Try to not take a nap or jetlag will most likely get you!) That evening, get to know the rest of your fellow Czech It Out travelers while enjoying a traditional Czech meal and entertainment during a Group Trip Welcome Dinner at the U Medvídků Bier Hall. After Dinner discover more of Prague s tasty brews and bier bars, and take part in an optional PubCulture.Beer Prague Pub Crawl.
Start your morning and fuel up for the day with a filling, traditional Czech breakfast in the U Medvídků breakfast room or visiting one of the cities beautiful churches for morning mass before making the 10-minute walk to the famous St Charles Bridge and rendezvous with the rest of the group for a Hysterical Historic Walking Tour of Prague led by none other than your trip co-hosts, Tom and Jeff Our tour takes us to the Strahov Monastery Brewery for a group lunch. After lunch, we will continue our walking tour with Tom and Jeff for a bit longer before giving you the rest of the day to explore Prague however you like. Want to have a guided tour of traditional Czech beers and pub snacks? Sign up for an optional excursion with the highly recommended Eating Europe Food Tours. The 4-hour tour is only 75.
On our last full day in Prague, your morning is free to explore Prague until we meet for lunch at the Staropramen brewery, with an optional brewery tour afterwards. After our lunch and brewery tour, your afternoon is free so you can take in as much of this magnificent city as you can. Later than evening, take part in an International Media Roundtable Dinner with Tom and Jeff, along with others in the local media they have invited to share with you their thoughts on the current state of media in the world.after Dinner we will another Optional PubCulture.Beer Prague Pub those who just love the world class pivos of have Crawl for Prague!
Today we check out of our hotel in Prague as we board our bus from Seitz Reisen of Germany and depart for the famous Western Bohemian spa town Karlovy Vary. Named after Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, who founded the city in 1370, it is historically famous for its hot springs, including 13 main springs, about 300 smaller springs, and the warm-water Teplá River. After getting checked into our hotel, the afternoon if yours to grab some lunch and explore the town and their famous mineral springs. A limited number of Beer Baths time slots have been reserved throughout the day An optional excursion, they are available first come first serve to the people who sign up. Later in the afternoon we will visit the Becherovka Jan Becher Museum for a tour and tasting of the traditional Czech herbal bitters liquor Becherovka. The remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy this beautiful and relaxing city.
This morning we will check out of our hotel and depart Karlovy Vary for the famous town of České Budějovice famous for being the home of the original Budějovický Budvar (Budvar Brewery) for a Tour and lunch at Budvar s legendary Masné krámy restaurance. After lunch you will have a couple hours to explore České Budějovice s famous Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II square. Afterwards we will make the short drive to Český Krumlov Český Krumlov, in Bohemia s deep south where we will spend the night. One of the most picturesque towns in Europe. It s a Unesco World Heritage Site with a stunning castle above the Vltava River, an old town square, Renaissance and baroque architecture. The evening is free for you to explore and lively bars and riverside restaurant terraces.
Our day starts after we check out of our hotel, board our bus and leave for the Unesco heritage town of Telč. Perched on the border between Bohemia and Moravia, Telč possesses one of the country's prettiest and best-preserved historic squares. The main attraction is the beauty of the square itself, lined by Renaissance and baroque burgers' houses, with their brightly colored yellow, pink and green facades. Grab some lunch, or spend part of your time simply ambling about, taking in the classic Renaissance chateau on the square's northwestern end and the parklands and ponds that surround the square on all sides. After a few hours we will depart Telč for Brno, where we will stay for the next two nights, and after checking into our hotel you have a few hours free to explore before we have a group dinner at Pivovar Pegas Considered by many locals as Brno s best beer hall, and craft beer brewery! The remainder of your night is free to explore the city of Brno, and immerse yourself into the Moravian nightlife and culture.
Allow yourself to sleep in, or get up and check out the sites, but the morning is yours to do as you d like. Early that afternoon we will board our bus and head to a Moravian winery for a tour, tasting and lunch. After our winery tour, take a walking tour of the city with one of Jeff s family friends upon our return to Brno. Your evening is free to Explore Brno. Or, check out the local beer scene, join the optional PubCulture.Beer Brno Pub Crawl and explore the city s nightlife after dinner.
In the morning we depart for the UNESCO city of Kutna Hora, giving you a few hours to grab yourself lunch and explore the city. Don t forget to make a visit to the Sedlec Ossuary, estimated to contain the skeletons of 40,000 to 70,000 people! After our stop, we will continue to Plzeň, where we will stay for the night. Your afternoon is free to explore Plzeň, and there will be an optional brewery tour of the famous Pilsner Urquell brewery. That evening its a group dinner at the world s original pilsner brewery, and after dinner check out Plzeň s nightlife with an optional PubCulture.Beer Pub Crawl.
Our final full day of Czech It Out!. Sleep in after a fun night in Plzeň for a late departure to Prague, where we return to spend the last night of our trip. After checking into the Hotel Majestic Plaza, the remainder of the afternoon is free for you to pack for your return home, buy those last-minute souvenirs, and visit any of the sights in Prague you still want to see before our trip ends That night, we share one last traditional Czech meal together for our group Farewell Dinner at U Fleků, Prague s famous, and largest, bier hall.
Today we come to the end of Scheduled Itinerary for Pub Culture Beercation s Czech It Out! Exploring Czechia with Tom Becka & Jeff Koterba It s time to depart for Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) and return to reality yet some may choose to spend more time in Prague, or visit places elsewhere in Europe. While extension of your trip in the Czech Republic, or on to other parts of Europe is on your own for expenses and not included in the price of this trip, however, PubCulture.Beercations can assist you in planning and booking any extensions you may choose to add to your trip.
Arrival at Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Take Taxi, Uber or Public Transportation to rach our hotel. Check into Hotel U Medvídků 1:00 Welcome and Introduction from our guide, Pub Culture Beercations Chris Bettini, and Celebeerty co-hosts Tom Becka and Jeff Koterba. Afternoon Free for exploring. There are numerous nearby sites to visit. 6:30 Welcome Group Dinner at U Medvídků Bier Hall (attached to our hotel) 9:30 Optional PubCulture.Beer Prague Pub Crawl 10:00 Hysterical Historic Prague Walking Tour with Tom Becka and Jeff Koterba Meet at the famous St. Charles Bridge under the Old Town Bridge Tower 12:00 Lunch at Strahov Monastery Brewery Continue Walking Tour 4:00 Optional Additional Excursion: Prague Craft Beer & Food Tasting Tour with Eating Europe - 65 for a 4 hour tour. Remainder of night is Free Morning Free to explore Prague 12:00 Lunch at Staropramen with optional brewery tour afterwards 6:30 International Media Roundtable & Dinner hosted by Tom Becka and Jeff Koterba 9:00 Optional PubCulture.Beer Prague Craft Beer Pub Crawl 9:30 Depart for Karlovy Vary Optional Beer Baths throughout the day limited number of times slots available, to sign up, see your Pub Culture Beercations guide. 11:30 Arrive at Hotel If rooms are ready check in, or will leave luggage until check in. Free Time to grab lunch and explore the city and tier famous springs. 2:00 Check into Hotel 2:45 Depart for Becherovka Jan Becher Museum 3:00 Tour and tasting at Becherovka distillery Bus will return to hotel for those who want to return. Remainder of day free.
Check out of hotel 9:00 Depart for České Budějovice 11:30 Arrive at Budějovický Budvar (Budvar Brewery) for Tour 12:30 Depart for Budvar restaurant Masné krámy for lunch Free time to explore České Budějovice s famous Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II town square 3:00 Depart for Český Krumlov 3:30 Check into Hotel Grand Evening Free 9:00 Depart for Telč, Czechia 11:00 Arive in Telč, Czechia Free to explore the city. Lunch on your own 2:30 Depart for Brno, Czechia 4:00 Check into Hotel Continental Brno Free Time to Explore Brno 7:00 Group Dinner at Pivovar Pegas Remainder of Night Free Morning Free to Explore 11:30 Depart for Moravian Winery Tour and Lunch 12:15 Arrive at Winery for Tour, Tasting and Lunch 3:00 Depart for Brno 3:45 Return to Hotel Evening Walking Tour of Brno Remainder of Evening Free 9:30 Optional PubCulture.Beer Brno Pub Crawl 9:00 Depart for Kutná Hora 11:00 Arrive in Kutná Hora - Time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site 1:30 Depart for Plzeň, Czechia 3:30 Arrive at Hotel Centennial Pilsen Afternoon Free to Explore Pilsen 4:00 Optional Brewery Tour of Pilsner Urquell 7:00 Group dinner at Pilsner Urquell After Dinner - Optional PubCulture.Beer Pub Crawl
10:30 Depart for Prague 12:30 Arrive at Hotel Majestic Plaza Afternoon Free to pack for your return home or buy last minute souvenirs 6:30 Group Farewell Dinner at the famous U Fleků End of Scheduled Pub Culture Beercation Depart for Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) and return to reality Or, spend more time in Prague or places elsewhere in Europe. 3 nights in Prague, Czechia (August 24 th, 25 th & 26 th ) Hotel U Medvídků Na Perštýně 5, 110 00, Praha 1 Czech Republic Tel: +420 224 211 916 www.umedvidku.cz 1 night in Český Krumlov, Czechia (August 28 th ) Hotel Grand Náměstí Svornosti 3 381 01, Český Krumlov Czech Republic Tel: +420 380 711 671 www.hotel-grand.cz 1 night in Pilsen, Czechia (August 31 st ) Hotel Continental Zbrojnická 312/8 301 00 Plzeň Czech Republic Tel: +420 377 235 292 www.hotelcontinental.cz 1 night in Karlovy Vary (August 27 th ) Interhotel Central Divadelní náměstí 17 360 01, Karlovy Vary Czech Republic Tel: +420 353 182 630 www.interhotel-central.cz 2 nights in Brno, Czechia (August 29 th & 30 th ) Hotel Continental Brno Kounicova 680/6 602 00 Brno-střed Czech Republic Tel: +420 541 519 111 www.continentalbrno.cz 1 night in Prague, Czechia (September 1 st ) Hotel Majestic Plaza Štěpánská 645/33 110 00 Nové Město Czech Republic Tel: +420 221 486 100 www.hotel-majestic.cz