Insight > European Discovery

European Discovery
24 Days starting from $3,725

Countries Visited:
England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain

 

Length: 24 Days
Type: Budget Tour
Category: SuperSaver European Essentials 2008
Operator: Insight
Tour Code: S316B
   
 
 
About This Tour


Tour highlights include: Guided tours of Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and Paris. Orientation tours of Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg, Lucerne, Vaduz, Innsbruck, Venice, Assisi, Nice, Lourdes and Bordeaux.

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

Essentials Inclusions

Superior Touring

  • Arrival & departure transfers between the airport & your Insight London hotel (see savings page).
  • Comfortable Moderate First Class & First Class hotels specially selected for each departure.
  • Luxury air-conditioned touring coach with 49 reclining seats.
  • Hotel service charges, taxes & porterage.
  • Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack.
  • Cross channel transportation by modern ferry.

Professional Service

  • Experienced services of a professional multi-lingual Tour Director.
  • Qualified local city guides on major city sightseeing tours.
  • Helpful staff on hand at our London Service Centre to assist you with sightseeing, theatre tickets etc.

More Included Meals

  • 22 Breakfasts (B)12 three course evening meals (D)

Highlights & Sightseeing

  • Guided tours of London, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and Paris;
  • Orientation tours of Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg, Lucerne, Verona, Venice, Siena, Assisi, Nice, Lourdes and Bordeaux

England

  • See the sights of London including Big Ben

Holland

  • See Amsterdam’s Dam Square and Mint Tower
  • Watch diamond cutting

Germany

  • View Cologne Cathedral
  • Relax on a Rhine cruise
  • See the legendary Loreley Rock
  • Views of Heidelberg Castle
  • Drive through the Black Forest & see Lake Titisee

Switzerland

  • See the spectacular Rhine Falls
  • View Lucerne’s Lion Monument
  • See the Chapel Bridge

Italy

  • Drive through the Italian Lake District
  • See the Roman Arena and Juliet’s balcony in Verona
  • Cruise to St. Mark’s Square by private launch, see the Bridge of Sighs & Doges’ Palace
  • Demonstration of Venetian glass-blowing
  • Highlights & Sightseeing
  • Drive along the Brenta Canal
  • Visit the vast Campo Square in Siena
  • See St Francis’ Basilica in Assisi
  • See St Mary of the Angels Basilica
  • Vatican City, visit St. Peter’s Basilica
  • In Rome see the Forum and Colosseum
  • Leatherwork demonstration Florence
  • See the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Spain

  • See Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia
  • Visit the Gothic Quarter, see the Cathedraland Columbus Monument, Barcelona
  • Drive through the Jalon Valley
  • See Puerta del Sol, Cibeles Fountain & the Royal Palace, Madrid

France

  • French Riviera drive, with views of Monaco
  • Visit a French perfume factory
  • Visit the Grotto & underground Basilica, Lourdes
  • Scenic Loire Valley drive
  • See Amboise & Blois Castles
  • In Paris see the Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe & Eiffel Tower

VISITING ENGLAND, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, ITALY, VATICAN CITY, FRANCE AND SPAIN

Day 1 – Depart USA
Overnight flight to London.

Day 2 – Arrive London
Welcome to London! On arrival you are transfered to your London tour hotel.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Kings Cross/Bloomsbury.

Day 3 – London Sightseeing
Your half day London sightseeing tour shows you all the major sights. Afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 4 – London – Amsterdam
Meet your Tour Director and head south to board your ferry to Calais. Cross Belgium’s Flanders Fields to Holland’s lively Amsterdam. See the Royal Palace in Dam Square and visit a diamond-cutting and polishing factory.
Hotel: Tulip Inn Riverside. (B)

Day 5 – Amsterdam – Rhineland
Drive to Cologne to view the Gothic cathedral before embarking on a Rhine cruise: sail past castles, vineyards and villages. Rejoin the coach to your hotel.
Hotel: Ramada Micador. (B,D)

Day 6 – Rhineland – Lake Lucerne
Visit Heidelberg and view the ruined castle before driving through the Black Forest, en route to the Swiss border. See the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen before arriving at Lake Lucerne.
Hotel: Postillon (Buochs). (B,D)

Day 7 – Lucerne Sightseeing
On a tour of Lucerne, visit the Lion Monument and see the Chapel Bridge. There’s time to shop or perhaps take an excursion by cable-car up a nearby mountain for breathtaking views of the Alps. (B,D)

Day 8 – Lake Lucerne – Venice
Enjoy glorious Alpine scenery as you make your way to the Italian border and enter the Italian Lake District. At Verona, legendary home of Romeo and Juliet, see the well-preserved Roman Arena and Juliet's Balcony, before continuing to your hotel in the Veneto region.
Hotel: Relais Villa Fiorita (Monastier) (B,D)

Day 9 – Venice Sightseeing
Cruise by private launch to St Mark’s Square and Basilica, and see the Bridge of Sighs and Doges’ Palace before enjoying a demonstration of Venetian glass-blowing. Time at leisure before returning across the causeway to your hotel. (B,D)

Day 10 – Venice – Assisi
Drive along the Brenta canal this morning lined with classical villas by Palladio. Now ascend into the Appenine Mountains and soon arrive in Siena, a medieval town, second only to Florence in beauty amongst the Tuscan cities. Its cobbled streets lead to the city square where the annual horse race takes place. Stay tonight in the picturesque hillside town of Assisi, home of St. Francis.
Hotel: II Castello. (B,D)

Day 11 – Assisi – Rome
Time to see the huge cathedral this morning, built in the 13th century, after St. Francis' death. In the valley lies the famous Church of St Mary of the Angels built around the saint’s original Porziuncola chapel. Your journey continues to the ‘Eternal City’ of Rome.
Hotel: Cristoforo Colombo. (B)

Day 12 – Rome Sightseeing
Your guided tour begins with a visit to the Vatican City and St Peter’s Basilica, with its moving ‘Pieta’ by Michelangelo and its splendid dome, both highlights. There is also an optional excursion to the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, admire the Imperial Forum and the Colosseum, with time reserved for you to explore Rome on your own. (B)

Day 13 – Rome – Tuscany
Travel north to Renaissance Florence, the artistic hub of Italy. Enjoy views over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo and watch a demonstration of leatherwork. Spend the afternoon in Florence before continuing on to your hotel in the Tuscan hills near Montecatini.
Hotel: Tuscany Inn. (B,D)

Day 14 – Tuscany – French Riviera
After seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, travel along the spectacular Italian Riviera coast. Cross the French border and pass elegant Monaco. Pause to visit a French perfumery before continuing to your hotel. In the evening, be tempted by a flutter at the Monte Carlo casino.
Hotel: Novotel Centre. (B,D)

Day 15 – French Riviera
Spend a day on the French Riviera. Consider an optional excursion to St Paul de Vence, relax, swim or indulge yourself with a spot of shopping. Spend the evening enjoying local specialities over an optional dinner. (B)

Day 16 – French Riviera – Barcelona
Travel across the Camargue, famous for its wild horses, bulls and flamingos, to Catalonia’s Barcelona.
Hotel: Abba Garden. (B,D)

Day 17 – Barcelona Sightseeing
On a tour of the city, see Gaudi’s famous Sagrada Familia, the gothic cathedral and Christopher Columbus’ Monument in the historic port. The afternoon is yours: consider visiting the Pueblo Espanol with its replicas of regional Spanish villages. (B)

Day 18 – Barcelona – Madrid
Cross the River Ebro in Aragon and ascend the Morata Pass to the plains of Old Castille. Arrive in the Spanish capital, Madrid, a city virtually created from scratch by Philip II in the 16th century.
Hotel: Abba Madrid. (B,D)

Day 19 – Madrid Sightseeing
With your local guide, see the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol, the celebrated Cibeles Fountain and the Gran Via. Spend the afternoon shopping for local goods or perhaps exploring nearby Toledo. (B)

Day 20 – Madrid – Lourdes
Cross the soaring Pyrenees into France’s famous pilgrimage centre of Lourdes, where you can visit the Grotto and join the moving candlelight procession.
Hotel: Sainte Rose. (B,D)

Day 21 – Lourdes – Bordeaux
Spend the morning exploring this mountain-ringed town before continuing north to the world-famous vineyards of Bordeaux.
Hotel: Mercure Meriadeck Centre. (B,D)

Day 22 – Bordeaux – Paris
Travel across the Dordogne River to the Loire Valley and follow the lovely river Loire, pausing to view the Chateau of Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci is buried, and also the castle at Blois. Journey on to Paris, where you can tour the fabulous night-time illuminations.
Hotel: Mercure Porte D’Orleans. (B)

Day 23 – Paris Sightseeing
In this city of romance, join your local guide to see the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. Consider visiting Montmartre or the Louvre, or spend the night enjoying a typical Parisian cabaret. (B)

Day 24 – Return to USA
Your memorable tour ends after breakfast with a transfer to the airport. (B)


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)
9/4/2008 - 9/27/2008
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
9/25/2008 - 10/18/2008
$3,799
Call Us
Call Us
Call Us
         

Essentials Inclusions

Superior Touring

  • Arrival & departure transfers between the airport & your Insight London hotel (see savings page).
  • Comfortable Moderate First Class & First Class hotels specially selected for each departure.
  • Luxury air-conditioned touring coach with 49 reclining seats.
  • Hotel service charges, taxes & porterage.
  • Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack.
  • Cross channel transportation by modern ferry.

Professional Service

  • Experienced services of a professional multi-lingual Tour Director.
  • Qualified local city guides on major city sightseeing tours.
  • Helpful staff on hand at our London Service Centre to assist you with sightseeing, theatre tickets etc.

More Included Meals

  • 22 Breakfasts (B)12 three course evening meals (D)

Highlights & Sightseeing

  • Guided tours of London, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and Paris;
  • Orientation tours of Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg, Lucerne, Verona, Venice, Siena, Assisi, Nice, Lourdes and Bordeaux

England

  • See the sights of London including Big Ben

Holland

  • See Amsterdam’s Dam Square and Mint Tower
  • Watch diamond cutting

Germany

  • View Cologne Cathedral
  • Relax on a Rhine cruise
  • See the legendary Loreley Rock
  • Views of Heidelberg Castle
  • Drive through the Black Forest & see Lake Titisee

Switzerland

  • See the spectacular Rhine Falls
  • View Lucerne’s Lion Monument
  • See the Chapel Bridge

Italy

  • Drive through the Italian Lake District
  • See the Roman Arena and Juliet’s balcony in Verona
  • Cruise to St. Mark’s Square by private launch, see the Bridge of Sighs & Doges’ Palace
  • Demonstration of Venetian glass-blowing
  • Highlights & Sightseeing
  • Drive along the Brenta Canal
  • Visit the vast Campo Square in Siena
  • See St Francis’ Basilica in Assisi
  • See St Mary of the Angels Basilica
  • Vatican City, visit St. Peter’s Basilica
  • In Rome see the Forum and Colosseum
  • Leatherwork demonstration Florence
  • See the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Spain

  • See Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia
  • Visit the Gothic Quarter, see the Cathedraland Columbus Monument, Barcelona
  • Drive through the Jalon Valley
  • See Puerta del Sol, Cibeles Fountain & the Royal Palace, Madrid

France

  • French Riviera drive, with views of Monaco
  • Visit a French perfume factory
  • Visit the Grotto & underground Basilica, Lourdes
  • Scenic Loire Valley drive
  • See Amboise & Blois Castles
  • In Paris see the Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe & Eiffel Tower

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Great Savings and Discounts

EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNTS

SAVE UP TO 10%: Insight sells its tours in many countries worldwide so the most popular tours fill very quickly. Don’t be disappointed, book early! You’ll be assured of the tours you want, andthe earlier you pay, the more you SAVE!

Here’s how...

Pay 4 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 2.5%

Pay 7 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 5%

Pay 10 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 7.5%

Pay 12 months prior to tour departure date to SAVE 10%

Tours must be paid in full for this discount to apply. Discounts apply to the land-only portion of your tour. Tour prices may change in future brochures. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.

FAMILY SAVINGS

YOUNG TRAVELLERS SAVE 10% AGED 5-17 YEARS :Travel broadens the mind and enhances those special relationships. Insight offers you the opportunity of

sharing your happy holiday memories with your children or grandchildren. This discount applies to the Land Only portion of your tour. Young Travellers must be under the age of 18 years old on the tour departure date, and MUST be accompanied by an adult (limit of one Young Traveller Discount per room). On all escorted tours, children under 5 years old are NOT accepted. The Young Traveller must be the specified age at the time of travel to be eligible for this discount. This discount cannot be combined with our Groups Discount. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension,

and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.

GROUP DISCOUNTS

5 OR MORE – SAVE 5%: If a group of 5 to 8 people travel together a discount of 5% per person applies to the Land Only portion of your tour. So it pays to get together with your family and friends!

SAVE $$$ FOR 9 OR MORE : If you have a group of 9 or more people travelling together on the same scheduled tour, then you automatically qualify for big savings! Your savings will be determined by the number of people travelling so ask call for details. You may also reserve a tour departure exclusively for your group! Some restrictions apply. Please contact our Groups Department 1-866-475-7023.

These discounts cannot be combined with Frequent Traveller, Family Savings or Triple Room Discounts. To qualify, names of all passengers travelling must be advised to Insight at the time of booking. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension,

and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises.  

SINGLE TRAVELLER SAVING

SAVE UP TO $2850 PER PERSON with Insight’s Room Mate Matching service Insight believes travelling solo should not cost you more! That’s why for people travelling alone on an Insight coach tour, we'll match you with someone of the same gender, so you don't have to pay the single room supplement. If we fail to match you, we'll provide a single room at no extra cost. Please note there is a no-smoking policy in all shared rooms. Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise. 2. Does not apply to tours with River Cruises. 3. Does not apply to Irish Elegance.

TRIPLE ROOM DISCOUNTS: When three people travel together and share one room,

each of the three enjoys a discount off the tour price. See the Triple Room Reductions on the itinerary of your choice. This discount only applies to tours featuring the “Share a Triple Room” reduction on the itinerary pages. Note the third bed will, on occasions, be a foldaway.

FREQUENT TRAVELLER SAVING

SAVE 5% OFF YOUR NEXT TOUR: Most first-time travellers go on vacation with Insight again and again. In recognition of our loyal customers, Insight now extends to all clients automatic membership into our Premier Plus Club, as well as a 5% Discount off the Land portion of their next Insight trip. Insight’s Premier Plus Club & 5% Discount is not available retroactively. Only one voucher is available per person, per tour, per year and only one voucher can be redeemed against each further tour

booking. This discount cannot be combined with our Groups Discount.  Exceptions: 1. Does not apply to additional accommodation, airfares or flight supplements, Easy Pace London & Countryside, Easy Pace London & Paris, Easy Pace London, Paris & Rome, Egypt tours, Israel tours, Jordan tours, the 3 Night Greek Island Cruise & Athens Extension, and Greek tours which include a Mediterranean cruise.

EXTRA TOUR DISCOUNTS

SAVE $$$ON YOUR 2ND TOUR: Book two Insight vacations, each 7 days or longer and you will receive a reduction of 5%off the cheaper of the two tours. Both tours must be booked at the same time. This discount is per person.

COMPLIMENTARY TRANSFERS: Save up to $135 per couple on LONDON taxi fares

FREE LONDON RETURN : Passengers taking the 'Land only' option on our Discovery

tours may return to London by Insight motorcoach at NO EXTRA CHARGE, instead of departing from Paris. Offer applies to the final day of the following Discovery tours:  E920, E910, E933, E914, E912, E913, E916 & G916. Accommodations will be

required, as arrival in London is late afternoon/early evening.

SMALL GROUPS ADVANTAGE : Many tour operators fill their tours with up to 53 passengers. This means more congestion and less leg room on the coach as seats are configured more closely. At Insight we have a

maximum of only 40 guests per tour.

INSIGHT'S GUARANTEES

PRICE GUARANTEE: With Insight, you don’t need to worry about currency fluctuations. Once we receive your full deposit, your land tour price is guaranteed and protected against any increases. (Excludes pre-registration for tours in future brochures and any imposed fuel surcharges or Government Taxes.

TOUR GUARANTEE FOR LAND TRAVEL: To assist you when booking our airline offers and taking our great early payment savings, Insight has designated a large number of tours which we guarantee will operate on the scheduled date, unless circumstances occur beyond our control. Look for Tour Guarantee (TG symbol) on the itinerary of your choice indicating applicable dates. All other featured departures are planned to operate however, for operational reasons, may be subject to re- scheduling with at least 50 days notice (between May 1st & September 30th).


   
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