Your Holiday Itinerary - 2009

9-Day Break

• Day 1 – Local departure then onwards to Belgium for an overnight stay.
• Day 2 – Continue south to Prague for a 2-night stay. B,D
• Day 3 – Prague. B,D
• Excursions and Visits – Prague (included). We spend the day in the elegant Czech capital. Our guided walking tour (optional, included on Silver Service) introduces the splendid architecture of Prague Old Town, the world’s largest UNESCO monument.
• Day 4 – To Bratislava then to Budapest for a 2-night stay.B,D
• Excursions and Visits – Bratislava (included). Enjoy a brief orientation of the highlights of this mystical city, Slovakia’s capital, with its exquisitely renovated centre of Baroque palaces, fountains and romantic streets.
• Day 5 – Budapest. B,D
• Excursions and Visits – Budapest (included). A full day to discover the Hungarian capital at leisure. Our optional sightseeing tour captures many sights including the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Royal Palace, Parliament Building and St. Stephen’s Basilica. Beginning with a drive to Gellért Hill, we then cross the famous Chain Bridge and travel on to the Pest district, passing Heroes’ Square and ending at the Buda castle district.
• Day 6 – To Györ and Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, then to Vienna Woods for a 2-night stay. B,D
• Excursions and Visits – Györ and Schönbrunn Palace Gardens (included). En route to the Vienna Woods area, we drive to the beautiful Hungarian town of Györ. Time at leisure visiting the old town. Györ offers one of the best-preserved examples of a Hungarian Renaissance and Baroque town. We continue to Schönbrunn Palace, where the gardens and park will take you into a world of Baroque culture (entrance fee to palace not included).
• Day 7 – Vienna. B,D
• Excursions and Visits – Vienna (included). The former imperial city of Vienna has a fascinating heritage as the centre of the Habsburg Empire. There are over 80 museums, plus elegant shops and boutiques. Our optional guided tour will introduce the principal sights, including the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament Building, the Opera House, National Theatre and the City Hall. We see the house where Johann Strauss composed the Blue Danube Waltz, before crossing the Danube to see the United Nations complex. We then pass the famous Prater Wheel, before returning to the centre.
• Day 8 – To Belgium for an overnight stay. B
• Day 9 – To Calais then return home. B

12-Day Break

Our Extra Leisure option allows you a more relaxed exploration of these great imperial cities. With an extra day spent in Prague, Vienna and Budapest, you’ll have more time for independent sightseeing and the chance to enjoy our additional optional excursions. The itinerary will follow the same order as our 9-day holiday, but with an extra night’s stay in Prague, Budapest and the Vienna Woods area.

• Extra Leisure Day - Prague – Enjoy another day at leisure in Prague or choose to join our optional cruise on the Vltava River. Lasting for approximately two hours, the narrated cruise will take you along the majestic Vltava River, past spectacular views of the famous sights of the city. Lunch will be served on board, with a selection of warm and cold Czech specialties for you to enjoy. So sit back on the sundeck, listen to the musician, and admire the views of the city of a hundred spires. B,D
• Extra Leisure Day - Budapest – Enjoy another day at leisure in Budapest or an optional excursion to the ‘Danube Bend’, exploring old Hungary, beginning with a visit to the former capital of Esztergom and its magnificent basilica. We continue to Visegrad, where we view the old fortifications, and then to the town of Szentendre, where you will have time for lunch in one of the restaurants serving typical Hungarian food, as well as the opportunity to walk through the narrow streets and browse in the many shops displaying traditional handicrafts. B,D
• Extra Leisure Day - Vienna – Enjoy another full day at leisure in Vienna or choose to join our optional ‘Viennese Highlights’ excursion. We begin with a visit to the Prater and a nostalgic ride on the famous Riesenrad, or ‘Giant Wheel’, built over 100 years ago and today one of the most wellknown landmarks of the city. From here, we drive to the northern Vienna Woods, just outside of the city, and to the summit of the Kahlenberg mountain to enjoy the spectacular panorama overlooking the city of Vienna, which on a clear day extends as far as Bratislava. We continue to the picturesque town of Grinzing to enjoy an included lunch with a glass of wine in one of the Heurigen restaurants – typical Austrian fayre and all to the accompaniment of traditional Viennese music! Later we return to Vienna for added free time, before returning to our hotel. B,D

B=Breakfast D=Dinner

Your Holiday Itinerary - 2008

9-Day Break

• Day 1 – We break up our journey with an overnight stay in Belgium.
• Day 2 – We arrive at our hotel in Prague for two nights. B,D
• Day 3 – Prague (included).We spend the day in the elegant Czech capital. Our optional walking tour (included on Silver Service) introduces the splendid architecture of Prague Old Town, the world’s largest UNESCO monument. B,D
• Day 4 – Bratislava (included) Enjoy a brief orientation of the highlights of this mystical city, Slovakia’s capital, with its exquisitely renovated centre of Baroque palaces, fountains and romantic streets. B,D
• Day 5 – Budapest (included). A full day to discover the Hungarian capital at leisure. Our optional sightseeing tour captures many sights, beginning with a drive to Gellért Hill, then over the famous Chain Bridge and onto the Pest district, passing Heroes’ Square and ending at the Buda castle district. B,D
• Day 6 – Györ and schönbrunn palace gardens (included). En route to the Vienna Woods area, we drive to the beautiful town of Györ. Time at leisure visiting the old town. Györ offers one of the best-preserved examples of a Hungarian Renaissance and Baroque town. We continue to Schönbrunn Palace, where the gardens and park will take you into a world of Baroque culture (entrance fee to palace not included). B,D
• Day 7 – Vienna (included). The former imperial city of Vienna has a fascinating heritage as the centre of the Habsburg Empire. There are over 80 museums, plus elegant shops and boutiques. Our optional guided tour will introduce the principal sights, including the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament building, the Opera House, National Theatre and the City Hall. We see the house where Johann Strauss composed the Blue Danube Waltz, before crossing the Danube to see the United Nations complex. We then pass the famous Prater Wheel, before returning to the centre. B,D
• Day 8 – During our journey home, we spend a night in Belgium. B
• Day 9 – We arrive in Calais for our return journey home. B

12-Day Break

Our new Extra Leisure option allows you a more relaxed exploration of these great imperial cities. With an extra day spent in each of Prague, Vienna and Budapest, you'll have more time for independent exploration and the chance to enjoy our additional optional excursion. The itinerary will follow the same order as our 9-day holiday but with three-night stays in each of Prague, Budapest and then the Vienna Woods area.

• Day 1 – As per 9-Day Break.
• Day 2 – We arrive at our hotel in Prague for three nights. B,D
• Day 3 – As per Day 3 of 9-Day Break. B,D
• Extra Leisure Day 4 – Enjoy another day at leisure in Prague or choose to join our optional cruise on the Moldau River. Lasting for approximately two hours, the cruise, during which a commentary will be provided, will take you along the majestic Moldau River past spectacular views of the famous sights of the city. Lunch will be served on board with a selection of warm and cold Czech specialties for you to enjoy. So sit back on the sundeck, listen to the musician, and admire the outstanding views of the city of a hundred spires. B,D
• Day 5 – As per Day 4 of 9-Day Break, and on to Budapest for three nights. B,D
• Day 6 – As per Day 5 of 9-Day Break. B,D
• Extra Leisure Day 7 – Enjoy another day at leisure in Budapest or an optional excursion to the 'Danube Bend' exploring old Hungary and beginning with a visit to the former capital of Esztergom and its magnificent basilica. We continue to Visegrad where we view the old fortifications and then to the charming town of Szentendre where you will have time for lunch in one of the many restaurants serving typical Hungarian food and time to walk through the narrow streets and browse in the many shops displaying all kinds of traditional handicrafts. B,D
• Day 8 – As per Day 6 of 9-Day Break, and on to Vienna Woods for three nights. B,D
• Day 9 – As per Day 7 of 9-Day Break. B,D
• Extra Leisure Day 10 – Enjoy another full day at leisure in Vienna or choose to join our 'Viennese Highlights' optional excursion. We begin with a visit to the Prater and a nostalgic ride on the famous Riesenrad or 'Giant Wheel' built over 100 years ago and today one of the most well known landmarks of the city. A ride on the wheel is one of the hottest tickets in town on New Year's Eve! From here, we drive to the northern Vienna Woods, just outside of the city and to the summit of the Kahlenberg mountain to enjoy the spectacular panorama overlooking the city of Vienna, which on a clear day extends as far as Bratislava. We continue our scenic drive through the woods and vineyards to the picturesque town of Grinzing to enjoy an included lunch in one of the typical Heurige restaurants with a glass of wine, typical Austrian fare and all to the accompaniment of traditional Viennese music! Later we return to Vienna, for added free time before returning to our hotel. B,D
• Days 11 & 12 – As per days 8 and 9 of 9-Day Break.

B=Breakfast D=Dinner