Germany and Austria

Day 1 - Depart USA
Overnight flight to Frankfurt.

Day 2 - Arrive Frankfurt (Offenbach)
On arrival at Frankfurt airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, our Tour Director takes us on a late afternoon orientation tour which explores the dynamic financial centre and medieval Römerplatz. Afterwards we will enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director and fellow travellers.

Hotel: Sheraton Offenbach

Day 3 - Frankfurt (Offenbach) – Rhine Cruise – Cologne
This morning our day starts with a drive to St. Goar where we embark on a scenic Rhine cruise past medieval castles and terrraced vineyards. We rejoin our coach at Boppard and continue via Bonn to Cologne where an orientation tour includes the gothic Cathedral. Then enjoy free time before dinner. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Dorint Hotel an der Messe

Day 4 - Cologne – Hamburg
Today's drive takes us via Lower Saxony en route to Hamburg for the night. On our arrival, an orientation tour in this Hanseatic port shows us the major points of interest. Later, why not take a cruise on the famous harbour? Dinner is at our hotel tonight. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Le Meridien Hamburg Stillhorn

Day 5 - Hamburg – Berlin (2 nights)
This morning it's a fast run to historic Berlin – once a divided city, now enjoying new freedom and excitement since the infamous Wall came down in 1989. The rest of your day is free. (Buffet Breakfast)

Hotel: Crowne Plaza City Centre (2 nights)

Day 6 - Berlin sightseeing & at leisure
Berlin sightseeing & at leisure Today the city's history and momentous events mingle on our interesting sightseeing tour. We will see the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden Boulevard, the Reichstag Building, German State Opera House, Tiergarten and the shopping and entertainment district of Kurfürstendamm. Your evening is at leisure. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 7 - Berlin – Bayreuth – Würzburg
Today our journey takes us past Potsdam and across the River Elbe. From here we continue past Leipzig into western Germany and on to the town of Bayreuth, home of the Wagner Festival. Later, in Wurzburg our Tour Director shows us the Marienburg fortress, the Prince – Bishops Residenz and a special Hidden Treasure! (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Novotel Map

Day 8 - Würzburg – Munich
Today we drive via the Romantic Road and to the fairytale town of Rothenburg, with its gabled houses and wrought iron shop signs for a walking tour. Then into the heart of Bavaria and its regional capital – Munich where an orientation includes the Olympic Stadium and City Hall with its Glockenspiel clock. Tonight why not discover some of Munich's lively beer halls. (Buffet Breakfast)

Hotel: Westin Grand Arabella Park

Day 9 - Munich – Salzburg
We're off to Salzburg this morning, where spires and domes are overlooked by the fortress of Hohensalzburg. On arrival, our guided walking tour explores the city that featured in "The Sound of Music" and which is best known as Mozart's birthplace. We'll see the family house in the picturesque Getreidegasse and admire the Domplatz, the baroque square dominated by its Cathedral. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Europa

Day 10 - Salzburg – Dürnstein – Vienna (2 nights)
Enjoy breathtaking scenery on our drive past the Mondsee Lake to the Danube Valley. Then from the Monastery of Melk, vineyards line the river to Dürnstein where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner and subsequently found by Blondel, his faithful minstrel. We arrive in Vienna, with the afternoon at leisure. (Buffet Breakfast)

Hotel: Renaissance (2 nights)

Day 11 - Vienna sightseeing & at leisure
Highlights of this elegant Austrian capital are revealed on our sightseeing tour; from the Opera to the Hofburg and, from St. Stephen's Cathedral to the Parliament. Also included is a walking tour into the oldest and most secret part of old Vienna. Then free time to maybe visit the Prater Amusement Park. Later, why not take in a concert of Strauss music or a little Opera? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 12 - Vienna – Innsbruck
We travel by the Vienna Woods and the Salzkammergut en route to Innsbruck where our Tour Director shows us the Golden Roof, the Hofburg Palace and another Hidden Treasure! Later we enjoy a dinner of Tyrolean specialities in a local restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

Hotel: Innsbruck

Day 13 - Innsbruck – Oberammergau – Neuschwanstein – Freiburg
Today we head into Germany to Oberammergau, home of the famous Passion Play. On to view Neuschwanstein – mad King Ludwig's fairytale castle. Later, we skirt around Western Europe's largest lake, the Bodensee, Lake Constance. Into the green wooded hills of the Black Forest, where cuckoo clocks were first invented, to the University town of Freiburg, for the night. Here an orientation tour shows us the Cathedral and the many frescoed buildings of this once Austrian city! (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Novotel Freiburg

Day 14 - Freiburg – Heidelberg – Frankfurt (Offenbach)
Our first stop this morning is at Heidelberg where there's time for a walking tour in the courtyards of the Castle, which dominates the University city of 'Student Prince' fame. From here we drive through the Rhineland on our way back to Frankfurt. This evening join your Tour Director and your travelling companions for a Farewell Dinner. (Buffet Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Hotel: Sheraton Offenbach

Day 15 - Frankfurt – USA
This morning time to bid farewell as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)

Sightseeing Highlights

    * Frankfurt: Orientation including the Old Town.
    * Rhine Valley: Scenic Rhine Cruise seeing the Lorelei Rock (weather permitting).
    * Cologne: See the gothic Cathedral.
    * Hamburg: Orientation tour.
    * Berlin: Sightseeing in this re-united city.
    * Bayreuth: See the Wagner Festival Theatre.
    * Würzburg: See the fortress and Prince-Bishops' Residenz.
    * Rothenburg: Orientation tour of this medieval city.
    * Munich: Orientation including the Olympic Stadium, Marienplatz and Glockenspiel.
    * Salzburg: Sightseeing including the Domplatz, Mozart's birthplace and locations used in "The Sound of Music".
    * Danube Valley: See the Monastery of Melk and Dürnstein Castle.
    * Vienna: Sightseeing includes St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg and Parliament.
    * Innsbruck: Orientation including the Olympic ski-jump, the Golden Roof, Wilten Basilica and Hofburg Palace.
    * Oberammergau: Visit the Passion Play village.
    * Neuschwanstein: View the fairytale castle.
    * Freiburg: Orientation tour of this fashionable Black Forest town.
    * Heidelberg: View the Castle.
    * Scenic drives: Rhine Valley, Romantic Road, Danube Valley, Vienna Woods, Alpine Austria, Salzkammergut, Bavaria, Tyrol, Lake Constance and Black Forest.

Dining Highlights

    * 1 Welcome Drink with your Tour Director in Frankfurt
    * 13 Hot Buffet breakfasts
    * 5 three-course dinners in hotels
    * 1 local speciality restaurant dinner in Innsbruck
    * Farewell Dinner with wine in Frankfurt

20 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

    * The services of top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
    * A qualified local city guide in Berlin, Salzburg and Vienna.
    * Chauffeur driven on luxury air-conditioned coaches with onboard washroom.
    * Stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
    * All hotel service charges, tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
    * A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.

Airport Transfers

Frankfurt Airport Transfers will be provided on Days 2 and 15. Group transfers on arrival at Frankfurt Airport will operate at 09.30 and 12.00. Return transfers from the last hotel will arrive at Frankfurt Airport at 08.00 and 10.00.

    * London Gateways: Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the Airport and central London. When you book your tour with The Tour Operator your transfers to and from the airport are included. It's that simple. Tour Operator has included a Free transfer to and from your airport and Central London.
    * Important – Please Note: Passengers will only be entitled to transfers to and from London Airports providing the following conditions are met:
    * You are staying at a London hotel, on the night of your arrival and the night prior to the date of your departure.
    * Flights are either booked by the Tour Operator or detailed information on flights is provided by your Travel Agent not less than 21 days prior to departure.
    * Only one included transfer both inbound and outbound per tour is included by Tour Operator. Transfers are by express train to a Central London Rail Station.
    * Heathrow Airport: Inbound transfers operate between 06.00-21.30. Outbound transfers are timed to connect with scheduled flights departing between 08.00-23.00. Transfers will be by coach. Gatwick Airport: Inbound transfers operate between 06.00-12.30. Outbound transfers are timed to connect with scheduled flights departing between 08.00-23.00. Transfers will be by express train and coach. Transfers outside these times will be at the passengers own expense.
    * In the event of unforeseen events (road or rail works, demonstrations, strikes) Tour Operator will not be held responsible for delayed or cancelled transfers.
    * No refund is available for passengers not utilising this service.
    * Why not upgrade to a Hotelink transfer from the Airport to-the-door of your London hotel? (please ask your travel agent of the additional upgrade price per person when booking)
    * European Gateways: With The Tour Operator all passengers will receive complimentary arrival and departure transfers on the scheduled arrival and departure day of their tour at the times specified below. Please ensure your Travel Agent reserves your flight to co-ordinate with the transfer times shown.
    * Tour Operator Bonus - Passengers who book Tour Operators Land+Air package and who arrive or depart outside of these specified times on the scheduled arrival and departure day of the tour will also be provided with a transfer.
    * Passengers arriving before or leaving after the scheduled tour days are not entitled to a transfer but may book and purchase one through Tour Operator providing that they also purchase the additional pre and/or post tour hotel night(s) from Tour Operator. Please ask for prices of transfers at the time of booking your extra night accommodation.
    * Land only passengers arriving or departing on the scheduled tour arrival or departure days but whose flights don't coincide with the listed transfer times below may also book and purchase these transfers. Flight details must