Globus > ESSENTIAL EUROPE

ESSENTIAL EUROPE
12 Days starting from $2,089

Countries Visited:
England, France, Italy, Switzerland

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Length: 12 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: WINTER EUROPEAN PANORAMA
Operator: Globus
Tour Code: HFW-2008
   
 
About This Tour


This 12-day trip is one of our most popular in Europe. It starts with two nights in Rome and ends with two nights in London, with stops in major cities like Florence, Venice, Lucerne, and Paris. All “must-see” features such as St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Michelangelo’s David, St. Mark’s Square in Venice, the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and St. Paul’s in London are included, with a Local Guide in most cities. From Italy, cross the border into subtropical Lugano, Switzerland, then drive through the Alps via the 10-mile St. Gotthard Tunnel and William Tell country to picture-book Lucerne where you have a relaxing 2-night stay before going to Paris. After two nights in Paris, board the Eurostar train for a smooth ride to London. This is a wonderful vacation any time if you want to see the most popular cities of Europe, but especially in the winter without the big crowds!

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing Highlights
  • SPECIALS

City Highlights
ROME
Welcome dinner in a local restaurant; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

FLORENCE
Guided sightseeing including headsets, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square

VENICE
Private boat ride; visit St. Mark’s Square; glassblowers’ demonstration

LUGANO
Lunch stop

LUCERNE
Walking tour including the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge

PARIS
Guided sightseeing, ascend Eiffel Tower

PARIS-LONDON
By Eurostar train

LONDON
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, see the Changing of the Guard (if held)

Meals
8 buffet breakfasts (BB); 2 full English breakfasts (FB); 4 three-course dinners (D), including a special welcome dinner with wine in Rome

Hotels:
ROME Starhotels Michelangelo (SF), FLORENCE Grand Hotel Majestic (F), VENICE Plaza (F) at Mestre, LUCERNE Astoria (F), PARIS Holiday Inn République (F), LONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF)
Day 1:
(Sat.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in Rome, Italy. (Sun.) Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3:
Rome. (Mon.) Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 4:
Rome–Florence. (Tue.) An easy morning drive north to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. Follow your Local Guide to visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David, the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Later take a moment to check out the enticing shops with Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. (BB,D)

Day 5:
Florence–Venice. (Wed.) Drive across the wooded Apennine Mountain range and through the lush plains of the mighty River Po to Venice. Enter the city in style by PRIVATE BOAT to ST. MARK’S SQUARE. Admire the Byzantine Basilica, the Clock Tower, lavish Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects, then time to wander at whim or join an optional gondola serenade. (BB,D)

Day 6:
Venice–Lugano, Switzerland–Lucerne. (Thu.) Through the lush Lombardian plains, past the commercial capital of Milan, into Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. Free time for lunch and to check out the chic boutiques in lakeside Lugano. Then admire the towering majesty of the Swiss Alps on the way to Lucerne via the 10-mile St. Gotthard Tunnel and William Tell country. (BB)

Day 7:
Lucerne. (Fri.) Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT and the ornate patrician houses lining the cobbled streets of the walled Old Town, then cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Afterwards shop for Swiss watches and you may want to join an optional excursion to the top of a mountain! (BB,D)

Day 8:
Lucerne–Paris, France. (Sat.) Today cross the border into France and enjoy a fast ride on the modern highway skirting the vineyards of Burgundy and Fontainebleau Forest. Tonight you are in Paris, the traditional climax of a European tour. (BB)

Day 9:
Paris. (Sun.) Discover the world capital of chic and style with a Local Guide and admire its most famous sights: the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Notre Dame Cathedral, and more. For a bird’s-eye view take the elevator to the second floor of Paris’ most famous landmark, the EIFFEL TOWER. An optional excursion to the lavish baroque Palace of Versailles is available. Tonight, a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket. (BB)

Day 10:
Paris–London, England. (Mon.) Board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to London, arriving in the afternoon. (BB)

Day 11:
London. (Tue.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. Afternoon at leisure. (FB)

Day 12:
(Wed.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)


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to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.

Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

         
Touring Date
Land Only
Land + Air
Single
(Land Only)
Single
(Land + Air)
11/1/2008 - 11/12/2008
$2,169
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11/15/2008 - 11/26/2008
$2,169
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11/29/2008 - 12/10/2008
$2,169
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12/13/2008 - 12/24/2008
$2,169
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12/20/2008 - 12/31/2008
$2,249
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1/3/2009 - 1/14/2009
$2,089
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1/17/2009 - 1/28/2009
$2,099
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1/31/2009 - 2/11/2009
$2,099
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2/28/2009 - 3/11/2009
$2,099
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3/14/2009 - 3/25/2009
$2,099
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3/28/2009 - 4/8/2009
$2,109
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4/4/2009 - 4/15/2009
$2,399
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4/11/2009 - 4/22/2009
$2,399
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5/14/2009 - 5/25/2009
$2,099
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ROME
Welcome dinner in a local restaurant; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

FLORENCE
Guided sightseeing including headsets, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square

VENICE
Private boat ride; visit St. Mark’s Square; glassblowers’ demonstration

LUGANO
Lunch stop

LUCERNE
Walking tour including the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge

PARIS
Guided sightseeing, ascend Eiffel Tower

PARIS-LONDON
By Eurostar train

LONDON
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, see the Changing of the Guard (if held)

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Book now and take $200 off per couple on any air-inclusive European Low Season Vacations.*

* Book a 2008/2009 Globus Europe Winter air-inclusive vacation on select carriers to receive the $100 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between June 4 and August 31, 2008 for travel commencing between October 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one another or any offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


Save up to $600 per stateroom on 2009 Globus River and Small Ship Cruises

Discover an entirely new way to uncover the wonders of the world with river and small ship cruises. From a wine tasting adventure through the vineyards of France to island hopping in the Galapagos Islands, you’re sure to find a Globus river or small ship cruise that speaks to your heart. There’s simply no more peaceful way to sample the charming cities and awe-inspiring sights of Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos Islands.

*Book a 2009 Globus River Cruise air-inclusive vacation to receive the $300 off per person offer. Cruise-only bookings are eligible for the $125 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between May 14 and August 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one-another or any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus

Discount for young travelers

Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.

Pay less for your second vacation

We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.

Triple room reduction

On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. 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 put in a twin-bedded room.

Avoid the single room supplement

We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!


Do you have a large party of friends or family that wants to travel?

Right now when you book between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75.* For example, book 5 passengers and receive a $375 discount, 6 passengers equals a $450 discount and 7 passengers will receive a $525 discount. With an offer like this, the world’s greatest destinations are now closer than ever!

*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


   
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