Continental Introduction
Discover the best of Paris, Munich, Rome & beyond
Over the course of this vacation you'll see the highlights of France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Holland. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Paris, Pisa, Munich, Amsterdam and more!
What's Included
Transportation:
- Round-trip economy class air to Paris (CDG) & from Amsterdam (AMS)
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Transportation by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach (with complimentary Wi-Fi)
Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 2 night in Paris at the Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel Hotel
- 1 night in Lucerne, Switzerland at The Astoria Hotel
- 1 night in Lugano, Switzerland at the Novotel Lugano Paradiso Hotel
- 1 night in Florence at the Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli
- 2 nights in Rome at the Crowne Plaza St. Peter's Hotel
- 2 nights in Venice at the Ambasciatori at Mestre Hotel
- 1 night in Munich at the Holiday Inn Munich City Centre Hotel
- 1 night in Rhineland, Germany at the NH Bingen Hotel
- 2 nights in Amsterdam at the NH Carlton Amsterdam Hotel
Guided sightseeing as described in itinerary, including:
- Paris, Lucerne, Pisa, Florence, Rome, Ferrara, Venice, Innsbruck, Munich, Rothenburg, Amsterdam
- Seine River Cruise, Private Boat Ride in Venice, Rhine River Cruise, Canal Cruise in Amsterdam
Other Inclusions:
- Full Buffet Breakfast daily
- 6 three-course dinners with wine, including special dinners in Paris and Florence
- Services of a Professional Travel Director; headsets throughout the tour
- Hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges
Great Ways to Explore
- Visit France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Holland and enjoy guided tours in Paris, Munich, Amsterdam and more!
- Don't miss a thing with a local guide taking you to all of the highlights. Escorted tours ensure you see it all.
- Your guided Florence walking tour features a visit to Michelangelo's celebrated David in the Academy of Fine Arts.
- Contemporary hotels close to all the action.
- These regions are steeped in history just waiting to be admired! Take full advantage of each regions unique beauty!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Transportation:
- Round-trip economy class air to Paris (CDG) & from Amsterdam (AMS)
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Transportation by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach (with complimentary Wi-Fi)
Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 2 night in Paris at the Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel Hotel
- 1 night in Lucerne, Switzerland at The Astoria Hotel
- 1 night in Lugano, Switzerland at the Novotel Lugano Paradiso Hotel
- 1 night in Florence at the Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli
- 2 nights in Rome at the Crowne Plaza St. Peter's Hotel
- 2 nights in Venice at the Ambasciatori at Mestre Hotel
- 1 night in Munich at the Holiday Inn Munich City Centre Hotel
- 1 night in Rhineland, Germany at the NH Bingen Hotel
- 2 nights in Amsterdam at the NH Carlton Amsterdam Hotel
Guided sightseeing as described in itinerary, including:
- Paris, Lucerne, Pisa, Florence, Rome, Ferrara, Venice, Innsbruck, Munich, Rothenburg, Amsterdam
- Seine River Cruise, Private Boat Ride in Venice, Rhine River Cruise, Canal Cruise in Amsterdam
Other Inclusions:
- Full Buffet Breakfast daily
- 6 three-course dinners with wine, including special dinners in Paris and Florence
- Services of a Professional Travel Director; headsets throughout the tour
- Hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges
- Visit France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Holland and enjoy guided tours in Paris, Munich, Amsterdam and more!
- Don't miss a thing with a local guide taking you to all of the highlights. Escorted tours ensure you see it all.
- Your guided Florence walking tour features a visit to Michelangelo's celebrated David in the Academy of Fine Arts.
- Contemporary hotels close to all the action.
- These regions are steeped in history just waiting to be admired! Take full advantage of each regions unique beauty!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Day 1. Welcome to Paris!
At 6pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine, followed by a Cruise on the Seine River for a first impression of this splendid city. (Dinner)
Check-in - Hotel Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel
Close to the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro, the Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel is an elegant 4-star hotel just waiting to be discovered in the heart of Paris. An ideal starting point for your visit, the proximity to public transport and tips for visiting this beautiful city is a fantastic feature, especially for those looking for a cultural or historic trip.
Combining pleasure and work on a business trip, relaxing on vacation, or staying active on a leisure trip, the hotel offers everything from meeting rooms to a terrace restaurant to a fitness room with a view of the Eiffel Tower, making it an ideal hotel for any kind of traveler.
Situated in the heart of the City of Light and only 5 minutes on foot from the Seine River, this hotel is the ideal base for seeing the sights. The central location makes it easy to discover the attractions and shopping opportunities in Paris, thanks to the hotel's close proximity to public transport running day and night. Nearby, the Eiffel Cafe Restaurant features international cuisine and wines for lunch and dinner, daily hot and cold breakfast, and children's menus.
Day 2. Paris
Morning guided sightseeing features Paris' main highlights including the Arc de Triomphe, Opera, Champs-Elysees, and more. For a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Choose from our optional excursions: the lavish Palace and Gardens of Versailles, and tonight, dinner and a show at the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret as a proper _Au revoir, Paris._ (Breakfast)
Day 3. Paris - Lucerne, Switzerland
Drive past Fontainebleau Forest and enter Burgundy. Enjoy views of impressive castles and vineyards on your way to the Swiss Alps. In picture-book Lucerne, admire Thorwaldsen's emotional Lion Monument, dedicated to the fallen Swiss Guards who protected the Royal House of France at the time of the French Revolution, then walk through the Old Town and cross the famous covered Chapel Bridge to the Jesuit Church. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - Hotel Astoria Lucerne
The Hotel Astoria offers genuine hospitality and professional service - everything expected of a modern hotel. Featuring light, bright and tastefully designed rooms, this architectural masterpiece in the heart of Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most attractive urban hotels. Each of the 252 rooms feature the same sleek design as the hotel, with soundproofed windows for a peaceful sleep, minibar and natural stone bathroom. Choose from three award-winning restaurants and a rooftop garden lounge and bar with 360-degree panoramic views across the mountain landscape and over the rooftops of Lucerne.
From the hotel, easily reach the lake, the Lucerne Culture and Convention Centre, the train station, the historic old town with the famous Chapel Bridge and watch and jewelry outlets.
Day 4. Lucerne - Lugano
You'll have the morning at leisure. Why not climb Mount Pilatus? Later, admire the towering majesty of the Swiss Alps and St. Gotthard on the way to subtropical Lugano in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. To truly appreciate splendid Lake Lugano, an exciting optional boat cruise is available, followed by dinner at a traditional _grotto_ restaurant. (Breakfast)
Check-in - Novotel Lugano Paradiso Hotel
Day 5. Lugano - Pisa, Italy - Florence
Pass the commercial capital of Milan and turn towards the Mediterranean Sea. Arrive in Pisa and marvel at its famous Leaning Tower. In nearby Florence, enjoy time to explore the many gold and leather shops on Piazza Santa Croce before enjoying a special dinner with Tuscan specialties and wine at restaurant Finisterrae. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - Hilton Garden Inn Hotel
Day 6. Florence - Rome
Your guided walking tour features a visit to Michelangelo's celebrated David in the Academy of Fine Arts. Also admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistry's heavy bronze _Gate of Paradise,_ and visit sculpture-studded Signoria Square. Continue to the _Eternal City._ (Breakfast)
Check-in - Crowne Plaza Rome-St. Peter's Hotel & Spa
In addition to a full-service spa, Crowne Plaza Rome-St. Peter's Hotel & Spa features outdoor tennis courts and a health club. Dining is available at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of the hotel's bars, which include a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge.
Day 7. Rome
Enjoy a unique guided sightseeing tour, including inside visits to all highlights of religious and ancient Rome: the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment, monumental St. Peter's Square and Basilica to admire Michelangelo's Pieta, the amazing Colosseum, and the Roman Forum, where Roman legions marched in triumph. To make the most of your stay, join our optional walking tour to see the Spanish Steps, and the sites and squares of medieval Rome made famous in the movie Angels & Demons. (Breakfast)
Day 8. Rome - Ferrara - Venice
In Ferrara, walk through impressive Este Castle to the marble cathedral and browse the attractive little shops. Tonight, in Venice, why not try out local specialties at one of the city's fine restaurants? (Breakfast)
Check-in - Ambasciatori at Mestre Hotel
Day 9. Venice
Enter Venice in style by Private Boat. Highlights of your walking tour with a Local Guide are St. Mark's and its basilica; lavish Doges' Palace and the Bridges of Sighs. Enjoy a Glassblower demonstration. Afternoon at leisure; you may wish to join an optional gondola serenade. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 10. Venice - Innsbruck, Austria - Munich, Germany
Across spectacular Brenner Pass, through the Tyrolean Alps to Innsbruck, where a pleasant stroll through quaint medieval lanes takes you to Emperor Maximilian's Golden Roof. Continue to Munich, Germany's _Secret Capital._ Visit Marienplatz with its Old and New Town Halls. Highlight is a visit to Globus Local Favorite the famous Hofbrauhaus, dating back to 1589. You'll have a bit of free time for dinner before going to your hotel. (Breakfast)
Check-in - Holiday Inn Munich City Centre Hotel
Day 11. Munich - Rothenburg - Rhineland
Marvel at the Olympic Stadium and its 1,000-foot-high Television Tower. Continue through the Swabian Jura and part of the Romantic Road to picturesque Rothenburg for a walk through this walled town, famous for Christmas ornaments. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - NH Bingen Hotel
Day 12. Rhineland - Amsterdam, Holland
Admire castle-crested hills and terraced vineyards during a romantic Rhine Cruise while enjoying Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake). Then, a comfortable drive brings you to Amsterdam, capital of Holland. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Check-in - NH Carlton Hotel Amsterdam
Whether guests are looking to be inspired by history with a trip to Anne Frank's home, revel in the artistry of the Van Gogh Museum, kick back at the Heineken Brewery, or relax on an essential tour of the city's celebrated canals, NH Carlton Amsterdam's central location will fulfill a variety of vacation needs. This elegant hotel boasts a prime location in the center of the city, overlooking the Flower Market and within easy reach of all of Amsterdam's most popular recreational and sightseeing activities. Its 218 stylish and air-conditioned guestrooms also provide complimentary Wi-Fi.
Day 13. Amsterdam
See the main sights of the 700-year-old capital with a Local Guide, like the Royal Palace, Mint Tower, the original Heineken Brewery, the Rijksmuseum, and more. Highlight is a leisurely Canal Cruise along the patrician mansions and gabled faáades. Also visit a major Diamond Center. Later, you may wish to join an optional excursion to visit a cheese farm, a clog maker, and a working windmill, followed by dinner in the pretty fishing village of Volendam_the best way to say _Tot Ziens_ to Holland. (Breakfast)
Day 14. Depart Amsterdam!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Where available, the Flexible Change Plan allows you to change your travel date for ANY reason (between 30 days and 14 days before planned departure). You will receive a Future Travel Credit for the entire amount you paid. Please note that prepaid instant purchase airfares and group airfare are not eligible for the Flexible Change Plan and are subject to airline-imposed change or cancellation fees based on airline rules at the time that the change is requested. You must rebook using the original air carrier at least 14 days prior to your originally scheduled departure and complete travel at least 1 year from original booking date. Additional fees may apply. Future travel credit is non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be redeemed for cash.