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To book this trip, call 1-800-648-4856 or 972-233-3300

DATES

Nov. 25 – Dec. 2, 2009

PRICE

$1799 + $199 = $1998 per person double occupancy
$2190 + $199 = $2389 per person single occupancy – Maximum 2
*Taxes & fuel surcharges subject to change.

PRICE INCLUDES:

• Roundtrip air from DFW to Prague-Vienna to DFW
• Roundtrip transfers
• 6 nights hotel accommodations
• Meals as state on itinerary
• Trafalgar guide
• 1 bag porterage per person
• Taxes for above inclusions

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
• Optional excursions
• Gratuities
• Items of a personal nature

Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.

ITINERARY

Day 1
Departure from USA for Czech Republic
(FYI: As of 3/18/09, there is a 7 hour layover in London because it was the only possible connection. BA could possibly change the times but we won’t know until later in the year.)

Day 2
Arrival in Prague
Upon arrival in the morning at Prague’s international airport, we’ll be met and greeted by Trafalgar’s English-speaking Tour Director and transferred by coach to our hotel, where the rest of the day is at our leisure. Prague’s collection of ancient buildings and magnificent churches makes it one of the most beautiful historical cities in Europe, so try to get out for a stroll and adjust the biological clock! Later this evening, why not get to know our travel mates by joining our tour director for a welcome drink. And not to be missed tonight is our welcome dinner.
Overnight: Prague

Day 3
Prague
AIt’s an early breakfast, and then we’re off with our English-speaking local guide to see Hradcany Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world, built in the 9th century by Prince Borivoj and later transformed from a wooden fortress surrounded by earthen bulwarks to the imposing form we see today. Rulers made their own additions, so there is a mixture of styles. Prague Castle has had four major reconstructions but it keeps the classical facelift it took on in the 18th century during the reign of Maria Theresa. We’ll also see Prague Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Prague, where the kings of Bohemia were crowned until 1836 and, overshadowing its roofs for more than 600 years, the towers of the Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus. Our visit to Prague’s Old Town Square is like stepping back in time 700 years! It’s one of the most spectacular historical sites in all of Europe. One of its many notable attractions is the 15th Century Astronomical Clock on the side of the Old Town Hall Tower. With glittering hands and a complex series of filigreed wheels, this ornamental timepiece does not merely mark the hours but its zodiac symbols tell the course of the heavens and, when the bell tolls, windows fly open and mechanical apostles, skeletons and "sinners" begin a ritualistic dance of destiny. With the rest of the day at leisure, why not take a walk across the Gothic Charles Bridge and admire its thirty Baroque statues!
Overnight: Prague

Day 4
Brno – Kraków
After a buffet breakfast and checkout, we begin a day of travel east that will bring us to Kraków, Poland by evening. We go by way of the Czech Republic‘s second largest city, located about two hours to the southeast – Brno, the metropolis of Moravia. Surrounded by beautiful mixed forests, Brno boasts many notable historic sites and a rich cultural history. We’ll see two of them, the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, at the top of the hill known as Petrov, on the presumed site of the former Brno castle. Rebuilt as a Gothic cathedral in the 13th century and converted to the Baroque style in the 18th century, its current neo-Gothic form dates from the turn of this century. Since 1777, the cathedral has been the seat of the Brno bishopric. And, on a nearby hill, we’ll see the impressive Špilberk Castle and Fortifications, also built in the first half of the 13th century and later rebuilt. In the 18th century, Špilberk was transformed into an enormous Baroque fortress which also became a feared prison. It was a place of grim, lengthy suffering for French revolutionaries, Italian carbonari, adherents of the Young Italy movement and Czech political prisoners.
It’s time to make our way northeast through the Czech countryside and toward the Polish border. We’ll cross near Ostrava, as we complete our journey to Poland’s former capital, former seat of kings and residence of scholars and artists from around the world – Kraków, where we’ll spend the next two nights.
Overnight: Krakow

Day 5
Kraków
First, a buffet breakfast, then our local guide will accompany us on a special half-day walking tour which, appropriately, begins with Wavel Hill, a symbol of strength and patriotism not only for John Paul II, but for all Poles. Perched on a high rock at the edge of the Old Town, Wavel is an unforgettable journey through the history of Poland. Upon the death of John Paul in 2005, the bell of Wavel Cathedral sounded for the first time since 1979 to mark his passing. The beginnings of Wavel Castle, the residence of the Polish rulers, go back to an early Romanesque stone building dating from the mid-11th century, whose remains are still in the northern wing of the present-day castle. It was in the early 16th century that King Sigismund I the Old (1506-1548) invited Italian architects and sculptors, German decorators and the finest native artists to create the splendid Renaissance palace-cum-castle which survived. Little has changed until this day. Truly magnificent! Next on our itinerary is a visit to what is arguably the world’s oldest shopping mall, Kraków's Cloth Hall, a Renaissance monument of commerce. It was back around the year 1300 that a roof was put over two rows of stalls to form the first Sukiennice building, inside of which the textile trade was to become big business! As we enter we’ll admire the picturesque stairs and galleries, on both ends of the building, from the 16th century.
Stalls on the ground floor and shops in the arcades sell assorted souvenirs, and upstairs, since the 1880’s, the Kraków National Museum has exhibited its unparalleled collection of 19th century Polish art including Jan Matejko's famous movie-like giant paintings. And finally, we’ll visit one of the most impressive churches in the world, and – after Wavel – the most important place of worship in Poland, the Mariacki (or St. Mary’s) Basilica. So unusual and fascinating! Built of red brick with two towers of unequal height and form, it is does not prepare the visitor for what he sees upon stepping inside! Crammed with gold and blues and studded with tombs and memorials in every conceivable corner, we just might feel a bit awed! Have a look at some of the individual works of art here. There are some real treasures! The 14th century stained-glass windows are magnificent masterpieces in their own right. But perhaps the most famous of all the monuments here, and understandably so, is Veit Stoss's extraordinary altar-piece. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, and we will have an opportunity to explore a hidden treasure.
Overnight: Krakow

Day 6
Bratislava - Vienna
After buffet breakfast and checkout, we bid a fond farewell to beautiful Kraków, board our long distance coach and begin a day’s journey southwest that will see us in Vienna by evening. But what an exciting day it will be! In a couple of hours we’ll cross the border into northern Slovakia, a scenic treasure made up of valleys. It’s surrounded by the Tatra mountain ranges and rich in cultural and historical monuments. As we pass through Žilina, we’ll enjoy the beauty of a city that – though the third largest in Slovakia – boasts no fewer than four natural preserves! Another two-hour drive brings us to the bustling capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava, just 40 miles from the center of Vienna. An infusion of money from the west has restored the impressive collection of 18th Century buildings in this charming and intimate city, whose streets and squares are alive with strollers and al fresco diners at any hour when the weather permits. Our orientation tour will give us a good look at Bratislava Castle, a landmark of this town, and a National Slovak Cultural Monument. The castle has a long and eventful history which can be traced back to a time when an Iron Age settlement inhabited Castle Hill between 600 and 500 BC. A fire in 1811 left the castle in ruins for over a century until a complete reconstruction was completed in the 1950’s. We’ll also see the Bratislava Town Hall, a fascinating aggregation of various styles. The oldest part dates back to the 14th century. Its Gothic gables and Renaissance arcades are landmarks! And now, it’s off to the Austrian border and, 40 miles to the west, the great city of Vienna, where we spend our final two nights!
Overnight: Vienna

Day 7
Vienna
After a buffet breakfast, our local guide will accompany us on a guided walking tour of Vienna – a city that combines beauty and charm with culture, style and sophistication. Among the noted places we’ll see are: the Hofburg, the residence of the Hapsburg Imperial family; the Staatsoper Wien (Vienna State Opera), the first major building to be constructed on the Ringstrasse and home to one of the world’s premier opera companies; and Stefan Platz, Vienna’s central square, dominated by St. Stephan’s Cathedral, built originally in the 12th Century as a Romanesque sanctuary and now one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe. Its proud spire rises 450 feet above Vienna. A highlight of our tour will be to Vienna’s oldest quarter and Am Hof, where the ruling Babenberg family built their castle in the Middle Ages - hence the name of the square which means simply "at court." Presiding over the east side of the square is the noted Kirche Am Hof, or Am Hof Church. Minutes away to the south is Vienna's most famous, and most noble shopping street, Kärntner Strasse, slicing through the heart of the city, from the State Opera House to St. Stephan’s Cathedral. And with the rest of the afternoon at leisure, walking down this street would be the perfect way to get to know Vienna and do a bit of relaxed shopping at the same time! Simply meander and listen for the strains of the music of the Strauss, Mozart or Beethoven (who lived most of their lives here) as we navigate the quaint cobblestone streets and alleys! Not to be missed tonight is our farewell dinner.
Overnight: Vienna

Day 8
Vienna - USA
After a VERY EARLY buffet breakfast, we board our motor coach for a VERY EARLY group transfer to Vienna International Airport and our flight home to the USA.

AIR SCHEDULE

Destination	Depart	Arrive
DFW/London	4:50PM	7:40AM
London/Prague	2:45PM	5:45PM
Vienna/London	7:40AM	9:15AM
London/DFW	10:45AM	3:00PM

HOTELS

All hotel rooms are rated superior tourist class or higher and have private baths. Please remember that hotel check-in time is 3:00PM, thus rooms may not be ready immediately upon arrival in each city. Hotel names and addresses will be provided in final tour documents.

OPTIONAL TOURS

TRAFALGAR TOURS WILL OFFER OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS FOR THIS TOUR. SCT DOES NOT ALWAYS RECEIVE INFORMATION OR PRICES ON THESE TOURS BEFORE THE GROUP DEPARTS. THESE TOURS ARE STRICTLY OPTIONAL.

ABBREVIATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS

*********A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TOUR AND MUST BE VALID 6 MONTHS AFTER YOU RETURN FROM THIS TOUR************

A deposit of $1000 per person is due with booking. Final payment of is due Aug 1, 2009.

If cancelled before July 1, 2009 a fee of $700 per person is assessed. If cancelled before Aug 1, 2009, a fee of $1000 per person is assessed. If cancelled on or after Aug. 1, 2009 - package is nonrefundable.

Insurance information will be given with confirmation.

Prices represent a 5% discount for payment by check or money order. Rates are 5% higher if using a credit card and require an authorized signature. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, & Discover.

Legal first and last names (NO NICKNAMES) must be given as shown on your passport. Name changes are $200 per name change and may be made up to 30 days prior to departure.

Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.