The Heart of Europe: Prague and Vienna
A New Departures' Exclusive Excursion: 31 March -7 April 2007
“Just like travel, New Departures enhances my life.”
C. O’Toole, Minneapolis, MN
We know that our clients and fellow travellers consider travel to be very personal– very important. Every detail must be looked at, every nuance fully realized. When we first designed Exclusive Excursions eleven years ago we insisted that, although you may travel as a group, you would never, EVER, want to feel like part of a herd!
Heavens, we don’t want to be part of the herd and neither should you. All of our itineraries are designed with this taken to heart. The groups are small, there is ample time to explore on your own and there is always a New Departures’ staff member to gently assist.
Your Exclusive Excursions includes much more than just the mechanics of travel, but the hands-on, personal attention that will assure you a truly individual travel experience.
We start in Prague, a jewel box of a city, where we embark on seven glorious days exploring the heart and soul of the old Austrian Empire. We end in Vienna, the Imperial capital that flaunts its wealth and culture. Both cities offer more music than you could possibly hear, more enchanting sights than you could possibly see. And, ah, the schnitzel!
We can’t wait to share “The Heart of Europe” with you.
Saturday: Prague
Arrive in the capital of the Czech Republic and make your way to the hotel. Jerry and Brian will lead you on a short walking tour of the neighborhood to help you get your bearings. Evening at leisure.
Sunday: Prague
With a local guide, your sightseeing tour features Hradçany Castle, Loretto Church, Old Town Square and the romantic Charles Bridge.
Monday: Prague
Free day to explore, and get lost in the many and varied by-ways that make up the center of this fabulous city. Shop for Bohemian crystal, leather goods, amber - or just sit and sip a pilsner in the country where it was first brewed.
Tuesday: Entrain from Prague to Vienna
After breakfast today you entrain by first-class rail to Vienna. This journey of approximately five hours takes you through the Bohemian countryside and into the Danube River valley to Vienna. After becoming comfortably ensconced in your hotel, Jerry and Brian will take you on a neighborhood walk-about to get acquainted with the local environs.
Wednesday: Vienna
Today's guided sightseeing tour shows you the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament Buildings, the Opera house and St Stephen’s Cathedral. The afternoon is your own to take a trip into the Vienna Woods or explore the elegant squares and shops in the oldest part of the city. Perhaps a stop at one of Vienna’s fabled coffee houses.
Thursday: Vienna
A full day to explore this old imperial city that abounds with great museums, palaces and churches. In the evening may we suggest the Strauss concert at the Kursalon?
Friday: Vienna
Perhaps you will save your energy today for a rousing night at the glorious Vienna State Opera? Or a night of local food and music Heurige style.
Saturday: Return home
After breakfast it’s off to the airport and your flight home.
Grand Hotel Bohemia, Prague
Located near Namesti Republiky, Powder Gate and the Royal Road, this hotel resides in a part of town laced with cobblestone streets. It is a lovely mustard-color curve of a structure, built in 1925 and completely renovated in 1993.
Staffers escort arrivals into a classically styled lobby where old meets new. Thick red carpeting and heavy red curtains add classic touches. Symphonic notes ring out from hidden speakers, and a portrait of Charles IV of Bohemia gazes over the comings and goings.
All rooms have flowing drapes, fine furniture in pleasing light tones, desks, phones with voice mail, TVs, fax machines, data ports, high-speed Internet access, minibars, trouser presses and safes. The tiled baths feature cultured marble vanities, second phones, hair dryers, robes and radio speakers.
Biedermeier Hotel, Vienna
This hotel sits by a quaint, pedestrian-only allee and fronts on a quiet public garden on the east side of town between the magnificent Stadtpark and the Danube River. This charming hotel shares space with a dazzling array of shops, taverns and restaurants. Guests step off the cobblestoned street into the lobby, where marble floors, honey-colored woodwork mark the reception area. The cafe and its vine-covered terrace charm with upbeat decor.
The à la carte Wintergarten restaurant offers a fine-dining experience, while the basement wine cellar proffers hearty Austrian dishes in cozy Heurige style.
Simple Biedermeier styling predominates in the air-conditioned guest rooms which feature good carpeting, TVs, work desks with lamps, direct-dial phones with voice mail, safes, duvets covering firm beds, minibars, and a trouser press. The attractively-tiled baths come equipped with hair dryer. The English-speaking staff is courteous and energetic.
Prague and Vienna includes:
3 nights at the Grand Hotel Bohemia in the heart of Prague
4 nights at the Biedermeier in Vienna
Daily breakfast buffet
First-class rail travel between Prague and Vienna
Rail departure and arrival transfers
City tours of both Prague and Vienna
Free entrance to Prague’s Loretto Church and Hradçany Castle
Escorted by New Departures’ Jerry Kelley & Brian Nystedt
Personalized baggage tags
Pre-trip social gathering
$350.00 deposit per person due at sign-up; space is not held without a deposit.
Final payment due 17 January 2007.
Cost includes only listed features; gratuities and items of a personal nature are additional.
Minimum number of group participants is required to operate this tour. If number is not met we reserve the right to increase the cost or cancel the tour, in which case all money will be refunded.
Cancellation fees:
Due to the special nature of this tour all payments are non-refundable.
Trip insurance is highly recommended
(A brochure will be sent at deposit).
Sign me up for “The Heart of Europe”
Double Occupancy, per person $1685.00
Single Supplement $1245.00
Contact us about air
Start with London Jubilee 24-31 March 2007
Special $125 per person discount applies to purchase of both weeks.
Phone 612.305.0025 or 1-800-853-1880
