COLOGNE,
HAMLIN, HAMBURG, GERMAN ALPINE ROAD, BAVARIAN ALPS, BLACK FOREST
and HEIDELBERG
Specially-priced
Air Rates
Available:YES
Spectacular
scenery, medieval towns, fairy-tale castles, a fascinating history, and
world-class beer…this is Germany! On this comprehensive tour, you'll
see Germany's highlights and visit its most famous cities, as well as
its medieval towns and scenic areas. Your vacation begins and ends in
Frankfurt with overnights in the Rhineland, Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig,
Nuremberg, Munich, and the Stuttgart area. Magnificent scenery awaits
you on this value-minded Germany vacation. Enjoy a cruise on the Rhine
River, passing castle-crested hills, terraced vineyards, and pretty
historic towns. In Bavaria, see King Ludwig II's 19th-century
Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled high in the Alps. Drive along the
Romantic Road with its charming villages, cobblestone streets, walled
cities, half-timbered houses, and scenic countryside, and stop in
Rothenburg, a walled town that has retained its medieval character.
Among the tour highlights is Lübeck, a Hanseatic city and UNESCO
World Heritage Site founded in the 12th century and Veste Coburg
Castle, one of Germany’s largest castle complexes. Today, the fortress
houses the former art collections of the dukes of Coburg. You’ll also
enjoy the must-see sights in the cities, including Munich’s
Marienplatz, the main square in the city. In Dresden, see the Zwinger
Carillon Pavilion, where the 40 bells of the Glockenspiel sound every
quarter of an hour. From the beautiful scenery and exciting cities to
the historic sights and fun experiences, this Germany tour has it all!
Inside visits and
special features: Shown in UPPERCASE in
the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites
can be seen or visited on this vacation:
Cologne Cathedral (see only)`
Upper Middle Rhine Valley
Hanseatic city of Lübeck
Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin
Speicherstadt and Kontorhous District of
Hamburg
NOTES:
September 27 Departure – Oktoberfest
December 6 & 13 Departures – Christmas markets. Included visits to
Cologne, Lübeck, Dresden, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Munich
Christmas markets.
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
FRANKFURT Hotel Frankfurt Messe (F)
or Leonardo Royal Frankfurt (F)
RHINELAND Hotel Achat Monheim
(F)
HAMBURG NH Altona Hamburg (F)
BERLIN B&B
Berlin-Tiergarten
(ST) or B&B Hotel Berlin City Ost
LEIPZIG NH Leipzig Messe
(ST)
NUREMBERG B&B Hotel
Nürnberg-City
(F)
MUNICH Ibis Muenchen
Parkstadt Schwabing (ST)
STUTTGART AREA Seminaris (ST)
HOTELS -
(SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist Class
(T) Tourist Class
DINING
HIGHLIGHTS
Buffet
breakfasts; 4 dinners
TRANSPORTATION Scheduled transatlantic flights and
airport transfers in Frankfurt if Cosmos issues the air tickets.
Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Rhine cruise
GUIDES
Local Guides for city sightseeing in Berlin, Dresden, Munich. Services
of a professional Tour Director while touring
AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
Day 1 Arrive in FRANKFURT, Germany Check into your hotel. The rest of the
day is free. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.
Dinner
Day2FRANKFURT–RHINE CRUISE–COLOGNE–RHINELANDToday’s highlight is an included Rhine
cruise to enjoy scenic views of the Rhineland, including the famous
Lorelei rock. Next is the city of Cologne, the city known for its
joyous attitude, with free time to visit the city center.
Today’s Distance: 193 mi/ 310 km Breakfast
Day 3 RHINELAND–HAMELIN–HAMBURGJourney into Niedersachsen to visit
Hamelin. Admire its town center with the historical buildings and
magically fancy gables echoing the “Pied Piper” legend. Continue to
Hamburg.
Today’s Distance: 304 mi/ 490 km Breakfast
Day4HAMBURG–LÜBECK–BERLINStart the day with an orientation drive
in Hamburg, one of Germany’s greatest maritime cities. Later, depart
for Lübeck, formerly a free Hanseatic city and independent state.
Lübeck, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the
cultural capital of northern Germany. Thomas Mann, Günther Grass,
and Willy Brandt—all Nobel laureates—were among the famous residents of
this city. Later, arrive in Berlin and enjoy your first evening in the
capital of Germany.
Today’s Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km Breakfast
Day
5
BERLINNo longer divided but every bit as
fascinating, Berlin was once the city of contrasts with the wall
separating two different worlds. Now, the city has developed into a
harmonious blend of new and old, preserving its historical buildings
and impressive boulevards as well as creating brand new buildings in
the contemporary architectural styles. See all of this on the included
city sightseeing with a Local Guide. Consider an optional excursion
this afternoon.
Breakfast
Day6BERLIN–DRESDEN–LEIPZIGTravel southwest to Dresden, the old
capital of Saxony and at one time called the “Florence on the Elbe.” On
the included guided sightseeing tour, see the Zwinger Carillon Pavilion
where the 40 bells of the Glockenspiel sound four times per hour, and
much more. Then it’s on to Leipzig, where composers Johann Sebastian
Bach and Felix Mendelssohn lived the last years of their lives. It was
Mendelssohn who founded the Leipziger Conservatory in 1843.
Today’s Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km Breakfast Dinner
Day 7 LEIPZIG–WEIMAR–COBURG–NUREMBERGLeave Leipzig to visit Weimar, home to
many intellectuals of the past but mainly known for the name given to
the historical period of the “Weimar Republic.” This city is also famed
as the home of the Bauhaus architectural movement in the 1920s. Next
stop is Coburg. Visit the dominating and mighty Veste Coburg Castle,
built in 1225. Continue to Nuremberg and admire its town center,
dominated by the imperial castle.
Today’s Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km Breakfast
Day8NUREMBERG–ROTHENBURG–MUNICHAs you leave Nuremberg, stop for a photo
at the famous Zeppelinfield. On the way to Munich, visit the quaint
Medieval village of Rothenburg on the Romantic Road. Marvel at its
towered gates and battlements, squares of half-timbered houses and
decorated fountains.
Today’s Distance: 217 mi/ 350 km Breakfast
Day 9 MUNICHWith a Local Guide, take advantage of
the included sightseeing tour of the city known as Germany’s “Secret
Capital.” Time to admire the beautiful main square, Marienplatz, do
some shopping, and sample Munich’s famous beer!
Breakfast Dinner
Day10MUNICH–NEUSCHWANSTEIN–STUTTGART AREALeave Munich and drive into the heart of
the Bavarian Alps to see the most famous 19th-century, neo-romantic
castle of the world, King Ludwig II’s fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle.
Overnight in a lovely village outside Stuttgart.
Today’s Distance: 192 mi/ 310 km Breakfast Dinner
Day11STUTTGART AREA–HEIDELBERG–FRANKFURT AREAThe day starts with a scenic drive for a
taste of the Black Forest landscapes and villages, followed by a visit
to Heidelberg—location of Germany’s oldest university and inspiration
for the German Romantic movement. From here, continue to Frankfurt.
Today’s Distance: 155 mi/ 250 km Breakfast
Day12FRANKFURT AREAYour vacation ends with breakfast this
morning.
Breakfast
Highlights
of Germany
12 Day Tour
From $1979USD
(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
ZSUZSANNA LUKA
Escorting
tours for more than 15 years
Traveling, researching the history and culture of new places has always
been a passion of mine so when the opportunity arose to become a Tour
Director I did not hesitate, and I still enjoy it - sharing my
knowledge, passion and experience with guests, doing my best to ensure
that their trip exceeds their expectations and becomes a wonderful
memory. On tour there are travelers from all around the world, so I
also learn a lot from them, broadening my horizon with each tour. It is
not easy to choose a favorite country or a favorite tour as there is
something unique and delightful in every corner of the world, but
perhaps the Balkans and Transylvania are closest to my heart, as they
are regions I am closely linked to.
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.
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 45 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 GLOBUS professional
representative.
When it is important to get it right, you can trust the services of our
own professional GLOBUS Certified travel specialists. Please feel free
to call us or email us or we would be happy to provide your information
via email
on the tour form, below.
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.
and The Globus Family of
Brands
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?
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GOLF TOURS - golf packages for some fantastic destinations
throughout the U.S! Click
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Know Globus!
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