Insight Vacations European Fall Winter and Spring - TPI Worldwide

Winterwonderlandwith Christmas Markets departuresTour Pace - This is a well paced tour with twonight stays in Munich and Lucerne, allowing plentyof time to explore the Christmas Markets in each ofthese towns. The driving distances between theother cities are relatively short.Hotels - A mostly modern selection. TheSheraton and Hilton hotels are fine examples fromthese prestigious chains. Salzburg’s CasetellaniParkhotel combines modern architecture withclassical elegance.Fellow Passengers - This tour is popularwith visitors from warmer climes, who wish toexperience the snowy, ‘Christmas card’ scenes and‘olde worlde’ charm of Europe, not readily found intheir own countries.Highlights - Seeing medieval Rothenburgin its finest winter setting! Pulling on your hat,coat and gloves to rub shoulders with the localsand to sip the warm mulled wine at the colorfulChristmas Markets.Munich Christmas Marketsff8-9DAY 1 – DEPART CANADA. Overnight flight to Frankfurt.DAY 2 – ARRIVE FRANKFURT. Welcome to Germany! From the Rhine Valley to the Alpinepeaks of Austria and Switzerland, you will experience lively cosmopolitan cities, historic old towns, aswell as breathtaking natural scenery. Transfers from Frankfurt Airport to the tour hotel depart at 09:30& 12:00. Later your Frankfurt orientation tour shows you Romerberg Square, St Paul’s Church andGoethe’s birthplace. This evening, join your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Drink.Hotel: Sheraton. (D)DAY 3 – FRANKFURT – MUNICH. Head to Rothenburg where you are plunged back to the16th century. Enter through medieval walls and follow the cobblestone streets to the Market Squarewith its Town Clock. Perhaps visit St Jakob's Church to see the amazing 16th century masterpiece ofTilman Riemenschneider, a representation of the Last Supper set into the altar of the Holy Blood. Orpop into the Christmas Shop which brings the glitz and glamour of the festive season all year round. Nowfollow the Romantic Road to fun loving Munich. Hotel: Westin Grand Arabella Park/Hilton City. (BB)DAY 4 – MUNICH SIGHTSEEING. Your orientation tour shows you the Olympic Stadium,Victory Arch and university concluding, in the heart of Munich - the Marienplatz with its Gothic TownHall and Glockenspiel. For those arriving before Christmas there is time to shop in the festiveChristmas market. Tonight, why not join the locals and enjoy a foaming stein of beer at the worldfamous Hofbrauhaus? (BB)DAY 5 – MUNICH – SALZBURG. Drive past Lake Chiemsee and cross the Austrian borderto Salzburg, "alive with the sound of music". Here, your local guide walks you through the gardensof the Mirabell Palace where you have a great chance to photograph the city skyline crowned by thecastle heights. Then cross the Salzach River to see Mozart’s birthplace on the Getreidegasse, a livelyshopping street lined with attractive wrought iron signs. Now follow the narrow lanes to theCathedral Square to view the ornate domed cathedral and the splendid Residenz Fountain. Thisafternoon is at leisure. Hotel: Castellani Park. (BB)DAY 6 – SALZBURG – INNSBRUCK. A scenic drive takes you through snow cappedmountains to Innsbruck. Visit the Wilten Basilica, its interior richly decorated with cherubs and angelsand see the Imperial Palace and delightful Golden Roof. The rest of the afternoon you are at leisureto relax among the typical Austrian cafes of the Old Quarter, with its narrow arcades and gabled shopfronts. Tonight enjoy a Highlight Dinner of traditional Tyrolean cuisine! Hotel: Hilton. (BB,HD)DAY 7 – INNSBRUCK – LUCERNE. More delightful scenery abounds as you make your wayto the Arlberg Tunnel. Stop in Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, at 16 square miles inarea, one of Europe's smallest countries. After a chance to explore the town, cross the Swiss border andcontinue to lakeside Lucerne. Your Tour Director will show the covered Chapel Bridge and the stirringLion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss guards who died defending the French King. Then you are atleisure to shop for watches and chocolate. Tonight why not join your Tour Director for a Swiss fondue?Hotel: Astoria. (BB)DAY 8 – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING. This morning take the cable car to the summit ofimpressive Mount Pilatus, offering stunning views of Lake Lucerne, the countryside and hills around.Later, back in Lucerne you are at leisure in this beautiful city. Spend some time exploring the old wallsand watch towers of the medieval fortifications, lake-side walks and excellent shops. (BB,D)DAY 9 – LUCERNE – FRANKFURT. First stop is at Schaffhausen to see the Rhine Riverthundering over the Rhine Falls, before crossing the border into Germany and driving deep into theBlack Forest. Now follow the Rhine Valley north to the Student Prince's town of Heidelberg,dominated by its magnificent red sandstone castle. From the castle terrace, there is a wonderfulpanoramic view over the old town and the Neckar River. Then return to your hotel in Frankfurt in timefor dinner. Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)DAY 10 – RETURN TO CANADA. After breakfast, your transfer to Frankfurt Airport’sTerminal 1 arrives at 09.00 and Terminal 2 at 09:15. (BB)