From
London to Rome, travel to Western Europe’s most famous cities on this
affordable European tour. Along the way, visit celebrated cities as
well as picturesque towns and witness beautiful scenery. After visiting
the British capital, you’ll experience an engineering marvel, the
Cross-Channel Tunnel, as you take the Eurostar train from London to
Paris.
In Paris, Florence, and Rome, enjoy a sightseeing tour with a Local
Guide, a knowledgeable expert who intimately knows the cities. See the
must-see sights, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and
Champs Elysées in Paris; the renaissance historic center in
Florence; and Rome’s elegant streets and St. Peter’s Square, the most
important architectural and religious landmark in the world. In Venice,
enjoy a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square, one of the most famous squares
in the world. In pretty Lucerne, see the Lion Monument, a stone
sculpture erected to honor the Swiss Guards killed during the French
Revolution, and the wooden Chapel Bridge, Europe’s oldest covered
bridge dating back to 1333.
Marvel at Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery
on the Piazza dei Miracoli. But that’s not all…on this Europe tour
you’ll also witness amazing scenery. Enjoy views of Burgundy, France’s
most famous wine-growing area, prosperous farms, and half-timbered
villages as you travel between Paris and picture-perfect Lucerne, as
well as views of the rolling hills in Tuscany.
If you desire to see some of Europe’s most picturesque scenery and
famous cities, this value-minded Europe tour is the perfect vacation!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: LONDON
Visit LONDON-PARIS by
Eurostar train PARIS Guided
sightseeing LUCERNE Visit VERONA See
Juliet’s balcony VENICE Canal
boat ride, glassblowing workshop FLORENCE Guided
walking tour MONTECATINI
Visit PISA See the
Leaning Tower ROME Guided
sightseeing
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites
can be seen or visited on this vacation:
City of Verona
Historic Centre of Florence
Historic Centre of Rome - various properties
Vatican City
Paris Banks of the Seine
Piazza del Duomo Pisa
Venice and its Lagoon
Inside visits and
special features: Shown in UPPERCASE in
the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
OPTIONALS:
Choice of optional excursions at reasonable prices to customize your
own experience. Please find a detailed list in your travel documents
HEADSETS
throughout the tour
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS Airport
transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
LONDON Novotel London West (F)
PARIS Hotel Ibis Styles Paris
Porte D'Orleans (ST)
LUCERNE Ibis Styles Luzerne
City (ST)
VENICE Poppi (ST) at Mira
MONTECATINI Settentrionale
Esplanade (F)
ROME BV Oly Hotel
(F)
HOTELS -
(SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist Class
(T) Tourist Class
DINING
HIGHLIGHTS
Buffet
breakfasts daily; 2 dinners
TRANSPORTATION Touring by private, first-class,
air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; Eurostar London-Paris;
canal transfer boat in Venice; Pisa mini-train ride
GUIDES
Host service in London; Local Guides for city sightseeing in Paris,
Florence, Rome; professional Tour Director while touring
AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
Day 1 Arrive 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.
Day2LondonA full day to revel in our rich program
of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s landmarks,
visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle.
Tonight, we recommend our optional Taste of London excursion with
dinner, followed by a guided illumination cruise on the River Thames.
Breakfast
Day 3 London–Paris, FranceTransfer to the railway station and
board the Eurostar train across the Channel to Paris with your Tour
Director. Spend the next two nights in Paris.
Today’s Distance: 212 mi/ 342 kmBreakfast
Day4ParisParis is a world-class city with more
familiar landmarks than almost any other city in the world. This
morning, see some of these sites during the included city tour with a
Local Guide. Sign up for the optional excursions available to complete
your Paris experience.
Breakfast
Day 5 Paris–Lucerne Area, SwitzerlandFascinating, ever-changing scenery
greets you today. Enjoy views of Fontainebleau Forest, the wine-growing
area of Burgundy, prosperous farms, and tidy, half-timbered villages as
you head through the alpine heart of Switzerland to the picture-book
Lucerne area.
Today’s Distance: 423 mi/ 680 kmBreakfast
Day6Lucerne AreaOne of Switzerland’s finest cities,
Lucerne is nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake,
and graced by the clear mountain waters of the Reuss River. The
orientation includes the Lion monument, erected in memory of the 800
Swiss Guards who defended Louis XVI and his wife. Also admire the
famous wooden Chapel bridge with its splendid frescoes. A selection of
optional activities completes the day: a ride on the “cabrio” cable-car
to the summit of Mount Stanserhorn; a cruise on the fjord-like lake;
and, of course, time to shop for an authentic Swiss watch.
Breakfast
Day 7 Lucerne Area–Verona,
Italy–Venice AreaMore wonderful alpine scenery awaits as
you drive into the mountain ranges that surround the massive St.
Gotthard Pass. Once through its great tunnel, start your scenic descent
into the warmer and sunnier ambiance of Canton Ticino, then cross into
Italy and drive through the Lombardy plains to Romeo and Juliet’s
Verona, known as “Little Rome” for its splendid arena still standing in
its former glory and hosting many concerts and festival during the
summer season. Overnight in the Venice area.
Today’s Distance: 317 mi/ 510 kmBreakfast
Day8Venice AreaVenice is more like a magical film set
than a real-life city, with crisscrossing canals, gondolas and water
buses, arched bridges, palaces, and busy little piazzas (squares). Your
orientation starts with a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and is
followed by a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their
delicate objects as they did centuries ago. A range of optional
excursions are available.
Breakfast Dinner
Day 9 Venice
Area–Florence–MontecatiniTravel south across the Apennines into
the gentle and hilly countryside of Tuscany. Enjoy a guided walk
through Florence to discover its Renaissance treasures, then continue
to Montecatini.
Today’s Distance: 187 mi/ 302 km Breakfast Dinner
Day10Montecatini–Pisa–RomeThis morning in Pisa, hop on a
mini-train and reach the famed Square of Miracles to view the Leaning
Tower. Then, journey south to Rome. Tonight, consider an optional
excursion to discover the city by night—a floodlit spectacular of
shimmering fountains, magnificent churches, and piazzas—followed by
dinner.
Today’s Distance: 245 mi/ 395 kmBreakfast
Day 11 RomeThe “Eternal City” is steeped in
history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the
included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with
a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city:
the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the
Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from
the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating
Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire. Don’t miss out on the
opportunity to visit the treasures of the Vatican Museum and the
Sistine Chapel on our optional excursion.
Breakfast
Day12RomeArrivederci, Roma—your vacation ends
with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
From
St. Paul's to St. Peter's
12 Day Tour
From $2424USD
(Less
applicable COSMOS
PROMO(S) and Gardner Travel
Discounts)
CLICK HERE to Request ourLOW
UNPUBLISHED RATEand
availability for this tour below:
You
may REQUEST information
for this tour via our email response here and we will return a complete
and detailed quote
OR CALL
US
at
1-877-510-4653
and we will be happy to personally assist you at every turn.
Exceptional
Vacations
Celebrating
over 90 Years of Touring!
YOUR
TOUR DIRECTOR
PATRICIA SUTRELL
Escorting
tours for more than 20 years
Always thirsty for new challenges, my path led me to the role of Tour
Director. I love people, enjoy sharing the history and anecdotes of the
different places visited on tour. Everyday is different, and this
provides me with the motivation to hopefully meet everyone's dream. I
do believe that travelling is like a book, if you do not travel you
will always remain on the first page. All we need is to open our eyes
to the world, and enjoy every moment we have, as life is a journey.
Prices
are
per person based on double occupancy and are land only. We also offer
competitive group-based airfares from your home city airport that fit
with this particular touring program.
Toll
Free Call
1-877-510-4653 USAandCanada
We
provide an additional agency
point-of-sale discountfor
all Globus,
Cosmos
and Avalon
Waterways
tour programs. Offer subject
to availability and change without notice.
TALK
TO AN EXPERIENCED
As
a
full-service travel provider, we can help you in finding your
perfect tour at the best price available, today. We've been
representing the GLOBUS Family of
Brands for
over 40 years as a Premier Agency
Partner - a designation only awarded to the top tier agencies
that are authorized to represent the full Globus Family of Brands. We
can take you all the way from your own hometown to
some of the most beautiful touring experiences in Europe and then back
again - all with the expertise of a seasoned COSMOS professional
representative.
When it is important to get it right, you can trust the services of our
own professional COSMOS Certified travel specialists.
REQUESTING
AVAILABILITY
We will check your requested tour
program and accommodations for the date range that you may specify in
the questionnaire above and reply back to you as soon as
possible. Of course
the more information that you can provide us, the closer we will be in
matching your needs and preferences. We will not knowingly sell or pass
along your information that you provide to any third party for any
reason (see Liabilities
and Privacy Policy). And we use SSL Technology to safeguard your
information on our tour request forms that we have posted throughout
our website. We
are available to answer your inquiries in person Monday - Friday
(except holidays) from 8:30am until 5:30pm CST (1-877-510-4653 |
817-788-5210). We are available from time to time on the weekends via
email to answer your questions. Our typical response time for your
email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon the
availability of onsite resources and those of the tour companies and
resorts/lodging establishments, as well as any variations you may
request from our listed programs. We will respond to your
requests as quickly as possible and as soon as we have all components
of your package confirmable. All tour program rates are based upon
double occupancy unless otherwise specified.
Thank
you for
your interest in this quality Cosmos Tour by The GLOBUS Family
of Brands!
Randy
C.
Gardner President Gardner Travel
Service,
Inc.
More
than three decades ago Cosmos
pioneered the idea of quality value
travel
to Europe. Since then we've developed and refined the concept of
vacation
packages. Over a million people have come back to us for a second or
third
vacation...or more!
Our clients'
repeat business is the best testimony to the incredible value and
experience
we offer.
If you've never
taken a package vacation, consider this: Traveling with Cosmos is less
expensive, more comfortable, and far easier than going it alone. Our
volume
contracting for hotels and services provides you with travel at
wholesale
prices. A Cosmos package is carefully planned to make the best possible
use of your time.
Our team of
experts has refined our itineraries to combine the must-see sights with
significant time on your own, offering more choice and flexibility. You
can travel relaxed and hassle-free, knowing that we've taken care of
all
the details. Once you've
discovered the special advantages of traveling with Cosmos, you'll
never
want to travel any other way again. Cosmos is "A Smart Way To Go."
Guidance At
the heart of every great Cosmos tour are the friendly, knowledgeable
folks who show you around and help you maximize your free time. We go
to incredible lengths to find the most professional Tour Directors and
Local Guides. They deliver commentary in English, but are multilingual
so they can navigate Europe with ease and give you the richest
experience possible.
Headsets
For all guided visits and included sightseeing in Europe, Cosmos will
provide personal audio headsets. See tour itinerary for details.
The Right Balance
No one enjoys a vacation where every second is spent on a schedule. We
build free time into every Cosmos vacation, so you can eat, shop, and
explore the way you want. Your Tour Director and Local Guides can offer
suggestions for things to see and do-or you can join one of our many
intriguing optional excursions.
Sightseeing
Our packages include guided sightseeing and scenic highlights that
reveal the best of Europe, North America, and South America. Enjoy
inside visits of the must-see sites with knowledgeable Local Guides who
will bring each destination to life. Inside visits and special features
are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description. See individual
itinerary pages to learn what is included in your vacation.
Personalize Your
Vacation with MyCosmos
Cosmos lets you enhance your tour with optional excursions that are
meaningful to you. Whether you enjoy art, music, food, wine, history,
or whatever, we give you the freedom to truly personalize your trip.
Best of all, you can make your selections-and even pre-pay-in advance
online at Cosmos.com/MyCosmos.
Cosmos
Takes
Care of Your
HotelsWhere
you stay makes all the difference After a day's
traveling you want to relax at a comfortable, clean, and attractive
hotel.
We have chosen hotels with the best rooms, service, and food for the
money.
Of course, they vary as different countries have different standards.
However,
we ensure that everywhere you get the best available in cleanliness and
comfort.
Cosmos hotels
are always located in good neighborhoods, some more centrally and
others
in residential areas. Especially in large cities we sometimes prefer
good
hotels in residential areas on the outskirts to less desirable or
overpriced
downtown hotels.
Rooms at all
our hotels include private facilities: private bath or shower and a
toilet.
Triple rooms
are usually no larger than twin rooms and the third bed is often a
roll-away
bed put into a twin-bedded room just for the night.
Cosmos
specifies
your hotels Our hotels
are mainly superior tourist-class (ST) and tourist-class (T)
establishments,
but we also feature some first-class (F) hotels. Cosmos hotel ratings
follow
standards set by the independent Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by
national
tourist boards. The specific rating for each contract hotel is
determined
by our quality controllers.
We reserve
the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour pages with hotels of
equivalent standard. With your Cosmos travel documents you'll receive a
list of hotel addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for your
tour.
Stretch
Your
Vacation Dollars Value-packed
vacations at bargain prices. With Cosmos,
a company that specializes in package travel arrangements, you'll visit
the world without spending a fortune. Because all our buying power is
devoted
to package travel, our clout with suppliers is powerfully concentrated
-- and we pass the savings on to you with affordable vacation packages
for every budget.
Singles
save
with "guaranteed share" rates More than one-third
of all people traveling with Cosmos are traveling independently. We
therefore
accept reservations on a "guaranteed share" basis. We charge singles
the
basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded
rooms.
For mutual comfort we adopt a no-smoking rule in shared rooms.
"Guaranteed
shares" are not available for extra nights before or after your tour,
on
tours with overnight trains, or on train or cruise extensions. If we cannot
find a roommate for a traveler who has booked on a "guaranteed share"
basis,
we'll absorb the single room supplement, and that traveler will be
accommodated
in a single room at no extra charge. Of course we
do offer single rooms when available to those who prefer to travel solo
and pay the single supplement.
Triple
room
reduction Cosmos grants
a reduction to three people who travel together and share the same
accommodation.
Triple room reductions, when available, are listed in the Dates and
Prices
box on the tour page.
A word of caution:
Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms, and the third bed,
if there is one, is often a rollaway bed put in a twin-bedded room for
the night.
Discount
for
young tour members Cosmos grants
a 10 percent discount on the land tour price to travelers who are under
18 years old on the tour departure date, provided they are accompanied
by an adult. We do not accept children under eight on our tours because
we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Cosmos Vacations
Offer Flexibility Joining late and
leaving early*
Many Cosmos land arrangements start and end in London. If you have
already spent time in the British capital, you may want to skip one or
more of the included London nights or even join at the first overnight
hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Agent for any reductions that
apply to your vacation for joining late or leaving early. Vacations
with these reductions are sold on a land-only basis.
A
professional team takes care of you in London
For any help or information you might require during your London stay,
please contact the Cosmos hospitality desk at your hotel. Our
knowledgeable staff will serve you with a smile; give you guidance on
what to do and where to go; and arrange excursions, evening
entertainment, and theater outings for you.
Extra
nights*
If you'd like more hotel nights than we've provided at the start or end
of your tour, we can make reservations for you at the rates quoted
below, provided you request them at the time you book your vacation.
Rates are per person, per night, and include room with private bath,
breakfast, service charges, and taxes.
Extra nights are only available immediately prior to or after your
tour. Extra pre-tour nights in London are not available if you join
your tour later than Day 2.
Every effort is made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your
tour stays. If space at the tour hotel is not available, alternative
accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. When
this is the case, the transfer to and from the tour hotel is at our
expense.
As hotel space is limited, we cannot reserve more than two extra nights
before and/or after a tour, unless they are needed to bridge the gap
between two Cosmos vacations. During particularly busy periods, hotel
space in certain cities can become so tight that we may be unable to
sell extra nights.
Trust
& Travel Insurance
For
generations, Globus has worked
hard to provide the best on-trip experiences, world-class customer
service, and the best consumer protection plans available in the travel
industry.
DETAILS
OF THIS INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR QUOTES.
and The Globus
Family of
Brands
More than 90
years ago, Antonio Mantegazza bought a rowboat to transport commercial
goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Who could know that rowboat
would launch the world's leading escorted travel company? Today Globus
is a global, family-owned company reaching every corner of the world.
Globus is now the first choice among individuals looking for vacations
with both domestic and international travel in a variety of styles to
six continents and hundreds of itineraries to choose from (see Globus History video right).
Antonio's
frequent trips across the scenic lake led him to
consider opportunities in a different market - tourism. His
entrepreneurial instinct pushed him to gradually acquire some
motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area. In
1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring
called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches
which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland.
By
1950, Globus Viaggi had grown to a fleet of 33 coaches
and featured overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and
the French Riviera. Gradually, these became regularly scheduled tours
and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the
leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio's business partner, Globus
pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class
European tours to North Americans. By 1961, the company launched its
Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, value-priced European touring
for the cost-conscious British traveler.
The
coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon
introduced another form of travel for the British market: air holiday
packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. By 1968, Cosmos
air holidays became so popular the company formed its own airline,
Monarch Airlines. Monarch Airlines started out modestly with two used
Britannia aircraft and eventually blossomed into one of the most
successful European charter companies with a large fleet of modern jets
and its own engineering division.
Under
the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, current president
and son of Antonio, Globus began expanding its markets beyond Great
Britain and North America. Since 1974, travel packages have been sold
in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently in Southeast Asia.
Starting in the 70s, the company also aggressively expanded its
offerings, introducing travelers to more countries than any other tour
operator with packages to Africa, South and North America, Europe, the
South Pacific and Asia.
Today,
the Globus family of brands is marketed and operated
by a network of more than 32 independent tourism and aviation
businesses, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals
worldwide. Combined, Globus, Cosmos, and Monograms carry over 500,000
passengers a year, making the organization the leading operator of
guided vacations worldwide. Globus attributes its success to the ideals
of founder Antonio Mantegazza. For three generations, his vision, hard
work, love for travel, and commitment have guided the company. These
values are the cornerstone on which Globus was built and will continue
to grow.
ENJOY THE GAME OF
GOLF?
Check
out our SOUTHERN BREEZE
GOLF TOURS - golf packages for some fantastic destinations
throughout the U.S! Click
here to
visit our golf site.
TOURS
BY REGION
SEARCH
OUR SITE:
A GLOBUS
Family of Brands Premier
Agency Partner We
Know Globus!
TOLL FREE 1-877-510-4653 or 817/788-5210
Serving
Dallas/Fort Worth and the World
Our
Hours
Are:
Monday
- Friday from
8:30am to
5:30pm
Central
Standard
Time