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COSMOPOLITAN
EUROPE - 2010
18
days incl. air, or 17 days from London to Paris (CO-5150)
Return to Italy
Vacations & Tours  Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours Vacation
Overview
This
comprehensive European vacation begins in London with time to explore on
your own or to take an optional panoramic tour of London’s landmarks.
Cross the Channel by ferry and arrive in Brussels by motorcoach. Continue
to Germany for a leisurely Rhine River cruise with some legendary sights,
such as the Lorelei rock. Overnight in Würzburg, a baroque city famed for
its cathedral, bridges, palace, and gardens. Travel through Bavaria
visiting Nuremberg on the way to the Czech capital, Prague. In Prague, enjoy
your sightseeing tour featuring Prague’s famous landmarks. Pass through
enchanting Bohemia and Moravia before reaching Vienna with its State
Opera, Hofburg Palace, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In Vienna, Austria’s
capital, you see the city’s famous sights on your sightseeing tour. Cross
Austria and the Styrian Alps to Italy, then head to Venice, where a canal
boat ride takes you to St. Mark’s Square. In Venice, you encounter the
Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace, and the Basilica before turning south to the
“Eternal City” of Rome. Before you get to Rome, stop in Assisi, where St.
Francis was born in 1182, to visit the world-famous Basilica with its
beautiful frescoes by Giotto. Your sightseeing tour in Rome includes St.
Peter’s Square and a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum.
Renaissance Florence is up next, and highlights of your walking tour
include Santa Croce, Piazza Signoria, and the beautiful Duomo.
Leave
Italy and travel to Switzerland for a stop in subtropical Lugano. Then
continue to scenic Lake Lucerne to enjoy the mountain landscapes and
Lucerne’s historic center. Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s finest cities,
nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and
embellished by the clear mountain waters. Spend the final two nights of
your European vacation on the Old Continent in Paris, the “City of
Light.” In Paris, enjoy a guided city sightseeing tour of the famous
Paris sights, including the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Champs-Elysées, and
more. You also have leisure time to discover more of this charming
metropolis on your town. This tour—including eight European countries—is
a great way to see Europe and its famous cities and beautiful scenery.
Itinerary
Day
1 Wed. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 Thu. ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Check
into your hotel. In the afternoon you may want to start exploring the
lively British capital. Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make
the most of your stay.
Day
3 Fri. LONDON
A
full day to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a
panoramic tour of London’s landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or an
excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the
River Thames? (B)
Day
4 Sat. LONDON-BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Leave
London in the early morning and head through the lush English countryside
to the Channel port, where you board your ferry for the Continent. Here
your Tour Director and luxury coach meet you and you’re off to Brussels.
(B)
Day
5 Sun. BRUSSELS-RHINE CRUISE, GERMANY-WÜRZBURG
Drive
south this morning to the shores of the mighty Rhine. Your included Rhine
steamer cruise is today’s highlight with some legendary sights such as
the Lorelei rock. An easy and relatively short drive southeast to
Würzburg, a baroque city famed for its cathedral, bridges, palace, and
gardens. (B,D)
Day
6 Mon. WÜRZBURG-NUREMBERG-PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Travel
eastwards today, making a first stop in Nuremberg, an ancient city still
showing its medieval walls with rampart walks and an 11th-century castle.
It is also famous for its 1945 trials of the Nazi leaders and war
criminals. Continue by way of the world’s beer capital, Pilsen, to
Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, for an overnight. (B,D)
Day
7 Tue. PRAGUE-VIENNA, AUSTRIAA
church on an Austrian mountaintop
The
wealth of gothic and baroque architecture perhaps inspired Dvorak and
Smetana, both Prague composers. The included guided sightseeing features
landmarks such as the Jewish Quarter, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge,
and the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock. This afternoon,
motor from Bohemia into Moravia and continue southwest for a few more
miles before crossing into Austria for two nights in its splendid
capital, Vienna. This evening, enjoy an optional Viennese concert. (B)
Day
8 Wed. VIENNA
There’s
so much to see on your included sightseeing tour: the State Opera,
Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes’ Square to
view the Hofburg and take an inside visit of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In
the afternoon, an optional trip to the Palace of Schönbrunn. (B)
Day
9 Thu. VIENNA-VENICE AREA, ITALY
Breathtaking
scenery as you travel across Austria to Velden and beautiful Lake Worth
for a short visit. Next, into Italy by way of Tarvisio, then through the
flat and fertile plains of Venetia to the Venice area for two overnights.
(B,D)
Day
10 Fri. VENICE
The
included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time
to soak up the athmosphere of this unique city and a chance to watch
Venetian glassblowers. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip. (B)
Day
11 Sat. VENICE AREA-ASSISI-ROME
Today,
travel south across the Po Delta into the very heart of the Apennines,
dotted with towns and villages perched on the mountain sides. Stop in
Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous
Basilica with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto. Reach the Eternal City in
time to join the optional Rome by Night excursion. (B)
Day
12 Sun. ROME
The
"Eternal City"—a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and
exciting and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide
starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and
the mighty Colosseum. (B)
Day
13 Mon. ROME-FLORENCE AREA
This
morning, join the optional excursion to the Vatican Museum before driving
northward through the Tuscan countryside to reach Florence in the late
afternoon. On the included walking tour with a Local Guide, discover most
of the city highlights: the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza
Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio, and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi;
and, to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the
Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry known as
the “Gate of Paradise.” (B,D)
Day
14 Tue. FLORENCE AREA-LAKE LUCERN, SWITZERLAND
Across
the Lombardy plains this morning to Italian Switzerland’s subtropical
resort of Lugano. Here you take a break to stroll along the lakeside
promenade before climbing towards the St. Gotthard Tunnel. Emerge on the
German-speaking side of Switzerland and then descend into the gentle
landscape around Lake Lucerne. (B,D)
Day
15 Wed. LUCERNE
One
of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snow-capped Alps,
surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of
the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the impressive city walls, a covered
wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and
the Lion Monument – a masterful stone sculpture in honor of the heroic
Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. A grand selection of optional activities
completes the day: a cable car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount
Titlis; a cruise on the fjord-like lake; and, of course, there is time to
shop for that very Swiss watch. (B,D)
Day
16 Thu. LAKE LUCERNE-PARIS, FRANCE Paris, France
Enjoy
vistas of green pastures and attractive chalets with rustic timbering and
luxuriant flowers. Then into France on the highway past some of its most
famous vineyards to Paris. Arrive in time to enjoy the optional cabaret
show. (B)
Day
17 Fri. PARIS
Paris
holds a special place in the imagination. It’s a city of many facets
famed for its culture, beauty, sophistication, and sparkle. By sitting
with a glass of wine in a bistro or sidewalk café, you can absorb the
essence of the city and the individualism of its people. The center has
wide boulevards and impressive buildings. Included sightseeing with a
local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc
de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the
Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées. Optional excursions are also
available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles and, to celebrate the
success of your tour, a French farewell dinner might be just the ticket.
(B)
Day
18 Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
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Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
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Status
|
|
Popular
Departure
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2/17/2010
|
2/18/2010
|
3/6/2010
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$1,999.00
|
Available
|
|
2/24/2010
|
2/25/2010
|
3/13/2010
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$2,240.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
3/3/2010
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3/4/2010
|
3/20/2010
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$2,256.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
Popular
Departure
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3/10/2010
|
3/11/2010
|
3/27/2010
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$2,069.00
|
Available
|
|
3/24/2010
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3/25/2010
|
4/10/2010
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$2,069.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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3/31/2010
|
4/1/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
$2,149.00
|
Available
|
|
4/7/2010
|
4/8/2010
|
4/24/2010
|
$2,149.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/14/2010
|
4/15/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
$2,149.00
|
Available
|
|
4/21/2010
|
4/22/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
$2,199.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/28/2010
|
4/29/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
$2,199.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/5/2010
|
5/6/2010
|
5/22/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
5/12/2010
|
5/13/2010
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5/29/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
5/19/2010
|
5/20/2010
|
6/5/2010
|
$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
5/26/2010
|
5/27/2010
|
6/12/2010
|
$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/2/2010
|
6/3/2010
|
6/19/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
6/9/2010
|
6/10/2010
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6/26/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
6/16/2010
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6/17/2010
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7/3/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
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6/23/2010
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6/24/2010
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7/10/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
6/30/2010
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7/1/2010
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7/17/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
7/7/2010
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7/8/2010
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7/24/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/14/2010
|
7/15/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
7/21/2010
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7/22/2010
|
8/7/2010
|
$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
7/28/2010
|
7/29/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
8/4/2010
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8/5/2010
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8/21/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/11/2010
|
8/12/2010
|
8/28/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
8/18/2010
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8/19/2010
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9/4/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
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8/25/2010
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8/26/2010
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9/11/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
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9/1/2010
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9/2/2010
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9/18/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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9/8/2010
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9/9/2010
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9/25/2010
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$2,219.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/15/2010
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9/16/2010
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10/2/2010
|
$2,219.00
|
Available
|
Popular Departure - due to itinerary and
time of year, this departure historically sells out quickly. Early
booking is encouraged.
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