Germany with Oktoberfest

Included Features

• Free parking with roundtrip transfers to a local international airport* (will not be offered if group flights are from Harrisburg International Airport)
• Roundtrip airfare to Berlin and return from Frankfurt, Germany
• Roundtrip transfers airport/hotel
• 8 night hotel accommodations
• Sightseeing as stated in itinerary by luxury coach with WiFi (when available)
• Services of a Professional Trafalgar Tours Travel Director, Driver and Local Experts
• Gratuities for the Trafalgar Travel Director, Driver and Local Experts
• Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
• Meals: 8 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners 
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person (may not be offered in all hotels) 
• Services of a Discoveries Journey Manager

Highlights

• Guided tour of Berlin including the Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie
• Dresden, Germany including the Semper Opera, Zwinger Palace and the fully reconstructed Frauenkirche
• Nuremberg local brewery tour
• Stroll through the medieval town of Rothenburg
• Dinner at a typical Munich “Gaststätte” beer hall
• See the Olympic Stadium built as the main venue for the 1972 Olympic Games
• Visit the most famous beer festival in the world - Oktoberfest!
• Neuschwanstein Castle
• The Black Forest including a cuckoo clock making demonstration
• View the ruins of Heidelberg Castle

Itinerary

Friday, September 20 : Depart for Berlin

Motorcoach from Central PA to a local international airport for an overnight flight to Berlin, Germany.

Saturday, September 21: Welcome to Berlin

Welcome to Germany! This afternoon explore the historic city of Berlin, whose once-turbulent history has shaped its rebirth as a charismatic capital city. Your Travel Director will show you the iconic landmarks of a unified Berlin. See the neo-Renaissance Reichstag, Tiergarten, Brandenburg gate, Unter den Linden Boulevard and Kurfürstendamm, renowned for its shopping and entertainment. This evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. Hotel: Sheraton Berlin Grand Esplanade, Berlin  (Welcome Dinner)

Sunday, September 22: Berlin Sightseeing

Ascend the iconic Berlin TV Tower for 360° views of the city and Spree River. Afterward uncover secrets of Berlin’s past with your Local Specialist on a guided tour of the city. View the Holocaust Memorial, touch a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, and see the site of Checkpoint Charlie. (Breakfast)

Monday, September 23: Dresden

A short drive south brings us to Dresden, the "Florence on the Elbe", where we’ll hear about the city’s restoration following its devastation during World War II as you admire its beautiful Baroque façades. See the Semper Opera, Zwinger Palace and fully reconstructed Frauenkirche. Hotel: Radisson Blu Park Hotel, Dresden (Breakfast)

Tuesday, September 24: Mödlareuth and Nuremberg

Visit the village of Mödlareuth, which inherited the moniker of “Little Berlin” due to its wall separating the east and the west. Gain insights into a divided Germany at its open-air museum and see a section of the original wall with its security features. This afternoon, arrive in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, once the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire and today the economic, social and cultural capital of Franconia. See the mighty castle ramparts and St. Sebald’s Cathedral on your orientation tour of the city. Enjoy a tour of a local brewery and taste one of their brews, before grabbing dinner on your own. Then head to your hotel in Bad Windsheim. Hotel: Vital Hotel an der Therme, Bad Windsheim (Breakfast)

Wednesday, September 25: Rothenburg and Munich

Stroll through the the narrow lanes of Rothenburg with its beautiful medieval center seemingly frozen in time and encircled by a fortified town wall that remains intact after centuries. See the beautiful Market Square, lined with half-timbered houses, and the Old Town Hall before following parts of the Romantic Road through villages and countryside to Munich. See the Olympic Stadium, built as the main venue for the 1972 Olympic Games, before checking into your hotel. Availability permitting, enjoy a great evening of dining in the local atmosphere of a typical Munich “Gaststätte” beer hall. Enjoy traditional Bavarian food and sample some of Munich's best beer - Prost! Hotel: Sheraton Munich Arabellapark or Marriott Hotel Munich (Breakfast, Dinner)

Thursday, September 26: Oktoberfest

Be welcomed into fun loving Munich for an orientation tour which shows you the Feldernhalle on the Odeonsplatz, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, English Garden, Hofbrauhaus, St Peters Church and the famous Marienplatz (entrances not included). Munich hosts the most famous beer festival in the world – Oktoberfest! The beer festival has been running since 1810 and now sees over 6 million visitors each year. This afternoon, enjoy the festival atmosphere, entertainment, beer and local Bavarian specialities!**  (Breakfast)

**Oktoberfest is at your leisure to enjoy this wonderful event as you wish. There will be additional costs for food, beverages, and activities that you choose to attend. 

Friday, September 27: Neuschwanstein Castle and the Black Forest

Snap your fingers and be transported to a land of fables and folklore. This morning, we tread in the footsteps of shy King Ludwig II visiting his Neuschwanstein Castle, built as a retreat for the king to withdraw from public life (subject to availability). We continue through the magical countryside to the Black Forest, whose mystical landscape inspired fantasy and fiction from the famous Brothers Grimm. Witness the centuries-old craft of cuckoo clock making as you "Dive Into Culture" in the Black Forest. This evening, we'll dine at a local brewery.  Hotel: Best Western Premier Hotel Victoria, Freiburg (Breakfast, Dinner) 

Saturday, September 28: Heidelberg Castle, Miltenberg and Frankfurt

Today view the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, as well as the Baroque-style Old Town with its bustling market squares and colorful façades. There is time for last-minute shopping before continuing on to Miltenberg to visit a brewery and enjoy a couple of their local beers and a pretzel. We'll will then head to Frankfurt and enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travelers, reminiscing over the iconic and unexpected highlights of our trip. Hotel: Novotel Frankfurt City or similar, Frankfurt (Breakfast, Farewell Dinner)

Sunday, September 29: Depart for Home

Today we say a fond farewell to the treasures of Germany after an unforgettable journey. Transfer to the airport for your flight and transportation back to Central, PA. (Breakfast)

*Hotels and itinerary are subject to change at any time without notification and/or compensation.

Activity Level : 3

This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, up stairs, or on uneven walking surfaces, should be expected.

General Information

Travel Documents

Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, and with at least one blank visa page for visa stamp(s). As of the printing of this brochure all guests are required to obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) travel authorization for travel to Europe’s Schengen zone (not included in the price of the trip). Please see your Travel Advisor for additional information.

As travel policies are rapidly changing as a result of Covid-19, final requirements will be communicated prior to departure. Please see your Travel Advisor for additional information. 

Payment

A deposit of $200 per person will confirm your reservation. Final Payment is due to AAA by  June 3, 2024. 

Cancellation/Penalties

Deposit date to day of departure $25 per person, plus...

From September 1, 2023 -  June 3, 2024 -  $200 per person, plus any additional supplier’s fees
From June 4  - August 15, 2024 - 30% per person, plus any additional suppliers fees
From August 16  - September 12, 2024 - 50% per person, plus any additional suppliers fees
After September 12, 2024 - NON-REFUNDABLE

*Airfare is non-refundable after final payment.

Flight

Air arrangements are handled by the tour operator, seat assignments cannot be confirmed until the tour operator releases names to the airline(s) 30 days prior to departure. Specific seat requests cannot be guaranteed; seats are assigned at the discretion of the airline at airport check-in only. Some flight schedules may contain code share agreements.

Insurance

For your protection AAA recommends travel insurance. Pre-existing medical conditions may be waived with proper coverage if travel insurance is purchased within 14 days of initial deposit only. Other conditions may apply; ask your travel agent. AAA recommends Allianz.

Clothing/Climate

Temperatures for September in Germany average in the mid to high 60s with cooler mornings and evenings in the low 50s. Casual clothing, comfortable walking shoes and a small umbrella are recommended. 

Baggage

One suitcase per person will be allowed. You may also bring a carry-on bag small enough to fit under your seat. Baggage fees are not included in the price of the trip. Baggage fees and other charges may be directly assessed by airlines or airport. 

Travel Assistance

For personal comfort, group participants who need assistance are required to have a traveling companion who is capable of and totally responsible for providing the needed assistance.

GRP3024

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