JEWELS OF EASTERN EUROPE
12-day Tour to Vienna-Budapest-Krakow-Prague
May 12^th – 23^rd 2008
(Reserve early, space is limited)
Download Itinerary in PDF format

For more information on this tour, contact Ann Blask at: 716-667-1459

Day #1 Monday May 12 - Depart from New York to Vienna, Austria.

Day #2 Tuesday May 13 - (Arrival in Vienna)                        D

Group arrival in Vienna, after clearing Immigration & Customs, group will make their way into the arrivals hall where you will be met by a Custom Euro Tour’s Representative. Board your motor coach and transfer to your hotel.

On arrival at the hotel, check in for 2 nights. This will be an early check in to drop luggage off only. Rooms will be available later in the afternoon.

Free time for an independent lunch before starting a comprehensive tour of the city. Our tour will show us the most famous sights of Vienna, including the Inner Ring, The Royal Hofburg, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Belvedere Palace, and the Parliament Buildings.

Late afternoon check into hotel

Dinner & Overnight in Vienna

Hotel in Vienna **** Hotel Kavalier (or similar)

Day #3 Wednesday May 14 - (Vienna)                                   B, D

Breakfast in the hotel

After breakfast the group will be transferred to the Hofburg, the winter residence of the Habsburgs.

Our visit will include a visit to view the training of the world famous Lippizaner Horses before we enter the Hofburg and visit the Imperial Silver and porcelain collection, the Hofburg Imperial Apartments and the “Sissi” Museum. After our visit free time for an independent lunch, personal sightseeing, shopping

An afternoon guided tour of the Schonbrunn Palace is planned

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1860s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. Schonbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburgs

Leaving Vienna this evening we are transferred out to Grinzing, which is a small wine village on the outskirts of Vienna for a typical “Heurigen Evening” with dinner, Heurigen wine and entertainment.

Here it is time to relax and sample some of the fine Heurigen wine and traditional cuisine. Local musicians playing many of the old Austrian favorites supply music this evening.

Day #4 Thursday May 15 - (Vienna – Bratislava - Budapest)    B, D

Breakfast in the hotel

We depart from Vienna for Budapest. En-route, a short stop is planned in the Slovak Republic's capital city of Bratislava. We will be making a short stop at the Austrian-Slovakian border to complete the necessary paperwork.

On arrival in Bratislava our local city guide who will show us the highlights of this impressive historical city, once known as Pressburg, will meet us. This much-maligned city has many fine buildings such as its Baroque and Rococo Palaces, which are as elegant as any in Vienna.

Bratislava's importance in European history should not be underestimated. However in spite of its checkered past, it is now reasserting its Slovakian culture after centuries of Hungarian and Austrian dominance.

After a short lunch break we Leave Bratislava behind and drive southeast through Slovakia to the Slovak-Hungarian border, crossing into Hungary.

A short stop will be made at the border crossing to complete the necessary paperwork and allow you to change your money into the Hungarian currency. Once this is completed we continue on to Gyor, Tatbanya and into Budapest. Arriving late afternoon we check into our hotel for 2 nights.  Remainder of the day is free.

Hotel in Budapest **** Hotel Budapest (or similar)

Day #5 Friday May 16 (Budapest)                                           B, L

Breakfast in the hotel

This morning we are joined by our local step on guide for a comprehensive Tour of the city, which will include many of Budapest’s fascinating sights. The Matyas Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, Hero’s Square, The Castle of Buda, The Opera House, Royal Palace, and many more. The tour will finish at the river Danube where we board our boat for a lunch cruise along the Danube.

Cruise along the Danube. Regarded locally as the main thoroughfare which divides this beautiful city into two halves… Buda & Pest. The river provides one of the best panoramas of the city as you cruise under the Elizabeth Bridge that was rebuilt after WWll. We will then pass under the Chain Bridge, which was the first permanent link between Buda & Pest. Sights will include the Matyas Church, the splendor of the Parliament Buildings, with its high dome, and the Royal Palace; all accentuate the magnificence of this historically rich City.

After the Danube cruise our coach will transfer us over to the Parliament buildings where we will take a guided tour through these impressive gothic buildings

Time permitting; we will have some free time for browsing along Vaci Utca before transferring back to your hotel.

Later in the afternoon we transfer back to our hotel.

Remainder of the day is free at leisure

Day #6 Saturday May 17 - (Transfer Budapest - Krakow)       B, D

Breakfast in the hotel

On departing Budapest our journey takes us north to the Hungarian/Slovak border crossing back into Slovakia at the border-crossing town of Sahy.

A short stop will be made at the border crossing to complete the necessary paperwork.

Continuing our journey north we drive into the southern foothills of the Low Tatra Mountains passing through Banska Bystrica and Dolny Kubin continuing through the scenic High Tatra Mountains, arriving at the Slovak/Polish border.

A short stop will be made at the border crossing to complete the necessary paperwork and allow you to change your money into the Polish currency.

An early evening arrival in Krakow is planned and check into your hotel for 3 nights

Dinner in a nearby local restaurant.

Hotel in Krakow **** Hotel Demel (or similar)

Day #7 Sunday May 18 – (Krakow – Wadowice – Chestochowa - Krakow) B

Breakfast in the hotel

Wadowice, small city of about 20,000 some 30 miles southwest of Krakow has got international recognition as the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. Born in 1920 as Karol Wojtyla, the future Pontiff lived in Wadowice till 1938 when he moved to Krakow to study at its ancient Jagielleonian University.

We will visit the house at 7 Koscielna Street with flat where the future
Vicar of Christ was born and raised. This place has been turned to a
museum and exhibits comprise the Wojtyla family’s former possessions
such as an oven, a shelf, a table, tableware, a laundry basket, family
pictures as well as personal belongings of Father Karol Wojtyla–skis, a
rucksack, a cap, a prayer book, etc., plus photos from his three visits to
Wadowice as the Pope.

On leaving Wadowice we travel north, bypassing Krakow into the country-
side, where you'll see traditional villages and farms. Visit Czestochowa and
the baroque monastery of Jasna Gora; thousands of pilgrims come here
annually to view the holy icon called the Black Madonna.

Early evening Mass in Chestochowa TBA by Father Peter

Return to Krakow.

Day #8 Monday May 19 - (Krakow Sightseeing)           B

Breakfast in the hotel

Our sightseeing tour of Krakow features the center of the Old Town (Stare Mesto) Main Market Square (Rynek Glowny), where we can see the 14th cy Kosciol Mariaki (St. Mary’s Basilica) facing us from across Market Square. Note the uneven twin spires on this wonderful example of Gothic architecture, St. Mary’s Church (entrance), Renaissance Cloth Hall, the 13th century Franciscan Church and Jagiellonian University, another innovation of Kazimierz the Great, in 1364. Two notable students are

Nicolaus Copernicus, and Karol Wojtyla. The latter also taught here.
You should see the Copernicus Globe, in the museum, as it is the first
globe to depict the American continents.

After our city tour we continue to the Wawel Castle and Cathedral where
we have a guided tour. It was here, Karol Wojtyla said his first mass after ordination, Church on the Rock/ Kosciol Na Skate – and Kazimierz.

We drive by the house where Karol Wojtyla spent the Krakow period of his life until ordation. When the Wojtylas, father and son, moved to Krakow, they set up housekeeping in the tiny basement of a gray two-story house at #10 Tyniecka Street, on the western bank of the Vistula. Karol’s maternal uncle, Robert Kaczorowski, a master leather maker built it after WWI, and owned the house.

After our tour of Krakow we have free time for an independent lunch, personal sightseeing and shopping.

Day #9 Tuesday May 20 – (Transfer Krakow – Prague)          B, D

Breakfast in the hotel

On departing Krakow we follow the main Polish Highway # 4 to Katowice, Wroclaw and Legnica before turning south to the Polish /Czech Republic border town of Tanvald.

A short stop will be made at the border crossing to complete the necessary paperwork and allow you to change your money into the Czech currency.

Driving through the premier Czech Ski-ing region of the Krkonose Mountains and Jizerske Hora we travel south into Mlada Boleslav, once renowned for its strategig placement of Russian Troops during the cold war period to reach Prague from the north by late afternoon.

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is built on seven hills astride the Vlatava River. A thousand spires and turrets crown the magnificent skyline. The beauty of Prague is legendary prompting Goethe to describe it as "The most precious stone in the crown of his world".

On arrival in Prague, we transfer to our hotel and check in for 3 nights

Dinner is planned at a local restaurant, with free time to relax and get to know the surrounding area.

Hotel in Prague****Hotel Duo (or similar)

Day #10 Wednesday May 21           (Prague Sightseeing)          B, L

Breakfast in the hotel

This morning our local guide will take us on a comprehensive tour of the Golden City joins us. We will see Wenceslas Square, where the great demonstrations organized by the Civic Forum movement brought down the Communist government in late 1989. On to the Gothic Gunpowder Tower, Wallenstein's Palace and the National Theater before visiting Hradacany Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral.

After a short break for free time we transfer over to the Vlatava River and take a relaxing Cruise with lunch, passing under the famous Charles Bridge and getting a magnificent view of the castle and St. Vitus Cathedral from the water.

A short walk through the old town is planned for this afternoon. Here we will step back in time and explore the tangle of quaint narrow streets of the old historic part of town, finishing at the Old Town Square we view the historical Town Hall famous Astronomical Clock and the 14th century Tyn Church. Free time scheduled before we return to our hotel.

Remainder of the day free at leisure

Day #11 Thursday May 22 (Prague – Karlstein Castle - Prague)        B, D 

Breakfast in the hotel

A morning excursion to one of the most beautiful and imposing castles in Europe is planned this morning. Just a short journey outside the city limits of Prague, we find Karlstein Castle.

This high Gothic castle founded in 1348, has a unique position among Czech castles. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire.

Once inside the Castle you are invited to take a self guided tour.

After an independent lunch our group will transfer back into the center of Prague for last minute shopping and personal sightseeing.

Early evening a Farewell dinner is planned in one of Prague’s notable restaurants in the old city.

Day #12 Friday May 23 (Prague – Airport)                                     B

Breakfast in the hotel

After breakfast we board our coach and transfer to Prague’s International Airport for check in and flight back to the USA.

(B) = Breakfast        (L) = Lunch               (D) = Dinner

Tour Highlights

Trip Package: $3285.00
per person based 20+ travelers and on twin/double occupancy**

Trip Package includes:

• Round-Trip air from New York

• Services of English speaking assistance on arrival and departure airports

• All land transportation by modern touring coach

• All road tolls and applicable fees

• Services of a professional bi-lingual tour manager throughout

• 10 nights in 1st class 4**** star category hotels

• 10 breakfasts, 6 dinners (3 course) as per itinerary, 2 lunch cruises (all excluding beverages)

• All excursions as specified in itinerary

• All entrance fees as specified

• Luggage handling at hotels (1 piece per person)

• Gratuities to local guides, drivers, and transport operators

Trip Package does not include:

• All items of a personal nature i.e. Telephone calls, laundry, pay TV.

• Hotel mini-bars in room.

• All meals not specified in the itinerary.

• All entrances to museums, art galleries, etc. not specified in the itinerary

• All private excursions not specified in the itinerary

• Any public transport, Taxi, local bus, rail or flights not specified in the itinerary

• Passport, visas, or other necessary governmental travel documents

• Trip cancellation insurance (call Ann Blask for rates at: 716-667-1459)

* Price subject to change until paid in full
** Single Supplement: $500.00

Deposit: $600.00 per person due by January 1, 2008. Trip Balance due by March 1, 2008.

Download Itinerary in PDF format

For more information on this tour, contact Ann Blask at: 716-667-1459