Scenic
highlights: Rhineland, French Riviera, Châteaux Country
GUIDES:
Local guides for city sightseeing in Venice, Rome, Florence, Barcelona,
Madrid, Paris; host service in London; on the Continent, professional tour
director while touring
TRANSPORTATION:
Scheduled
transatlantic flights and airport transfers in London and Paris if Cosmos
issues the tickets
Round-trip transportation between
London and the Channel ports; on the Continent, private first-class air-conditioned
motorcoach
Cross-Channel ferry; canal transfer
boat in Venice
HOTELS:
Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes,
porterage, tips, and service charges
COSMOS HOTELS LONDON Thistle
Euston (ST), AMSTERDAM AREA Ibis (ST) at Schiphol, RHINELAND Holiday Inn
(ST) at Cologne-Bonn Airport or Mercure (ST) at Aachen, LAKE LUCERNE Pilatusblick
(ST) at Kriens, VENICE AREA Poppi (ST) at Mira, ROME Ibis Tor Vergata (ST),
FLORENCE AREA Europa (ST) at Signa, FRENCH RIVIERA Holiday Inn (ST) at
Cannes Le Cannet or Park Inn (ST) at Nice, CARCASSONNE Des 3 Couronnes
(ST), BARCELONA Amray (ST), MADRID Praga (ST), BILBAO Nervion (ST), POITIERS
Ibis Centre (ST), PARIS Ibis Paris Berthier (ST)
MEALS:
22
buffet breakfasts (B); 7 dinners (D)
OPTIONALS: Choice of optional excursions
at reasonable prices to customize your own experience. Please find a detailed
list in your travel documents
ITINERARY
Day
1 , Tue. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.
Day 2
Wed. ARRIVAL INLONDON, ENGLAND.
Check into your hotel. In the afternoon you may want to start exploring
the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make
the most of your stay.
Day 3
Thu.LONDON. A full day
to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour
of London’s landmarks; visit the Tower of choose an excursion to Windsor
Castle; tonight maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames? (B)
Day 4
Fri.LONDON-AMSTERDAM AREA, HOLLAND.
Leave London in the early morning and head through the lush English countryside
to the Channel port, where you embark on your ferry for the Continent.
Meet your Tour Director and board your luxury coach for the drive to the
Amsterdam area. (B)
Day 5
Sat.AMSTERDAM AREA-THE RHINELAND,
GERMANY. A morning to enjoy Holland’s busy metropolis. After
your included visit to a famous diamond center, it’s time for morning sightseeing
with a local guide pointing out the city highlights; finally a canal cruise
to see Amsterdam at water level. In the afternoon travel southward to the
Rhineland area for overnight. (B,D)
Day 6
Sun. THE RHINELAND-HEIDELBERG-LAKE LUCERNE,
SWITZERLAND. Take the optional Rhine River cruise this morning
and enjoy splendid scenery including the Lorelei Rock. Next drive into
Germany’s oldest university town, Heidelberg, nicely located at the confluence
of the Rivers Necker and Rhine, for a short visit. In the afternoon travel
by way of the fast autobahn into Switzerland for an overnight around Lake
Lucerne. (B,D)
Day 7
Mon.LUCERNE. One of Switzerland’s
finest cities nestled amid its snow-capped Alps, surrounded by its lake,
and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your sightseeing
takes in the impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician
houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument—a masterful stone
sculpture in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. A grand selection
of optional activities completes the day: a cable car ride to the 10,000-foot
summit of Mount Titlis; a cruise on the fjord-like lake. (B)
Day 8
Tue.LAKE LUCERNE-LUGANO, VERONA, ITALY-VENICE
AREA. More wonderful Alpine scenery as you drive into the mountain
ranges that surround the massive St. Gotthard. Once through its great tunnel,
you’ll start your scenic descent into the warmer and sunnier ambiance of
the Canton Ticino. Stop in beautiful Lugano and take a stroll along the
lakeside promenade. In the afternoon, cross into Italy and drive across
the Po valley to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
See Juliet’s House and Balcony and stroll around the picturesque market
square. Tonight you are in the Venice area. (B)
Day 9
Wed.VENICE. It’s really
more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing
canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces and quiet little
piazzas. The included tour starts with a boat ride and is followed by a
visit to St. Mark’s Basilica and a chance to watch Venetian glass blowers
fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don’t miss out
on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with
a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)
Day 10
Thu.VENICE AREA-ASSISI-ROME.
A long but interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then
joining the expressway which skirts the Adriatic coast. After crossing
the Apennines, stop in Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit
the Basilica, then head for Rome. (B)
Day 11
Fri.ROME. Included sightseeing with local
guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum
and the mighty Colosseum. (B)
Day 12
Sat.ROME-PISA-FLORENCE AREA.
Vistas of undulating hills, rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards,
olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through
beautiful Tuscany. Take a break in Pisa to see the Square of Miracles and
the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to the Florence area. (B)
Day 13
Sun.FLORENCE. This Renaissance
gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Traffic
is banned in part of the historic center so visitors can wander at leisure
and admire the city’s timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don’t
miss out on the included walking tour with a local guide that features
most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful
Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei
Lanzi; and, to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with
the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry known
as the “Gate to Paradise.” End the day by joining the optional Tuscan dinner
in a typical restaurant. (B,D)
Day 14
Mon.FLORENCE AREA-ITALIAN & FRENCH
RIVIERAS, FRANCE. An early start this morning for the journey
northwest with views of the Italian and French Rivieras, then into France
well in time to enjoy some time at leisure in this lovely area. (B)
Day 15
Tue.FRENCH RIVIERA-AVIGNON-CARCASSONNE.
Today’s journey will take you through some of France’s loveliest scenery,
sun-drenched landscapes right out of Van Gogh’s paintings, on the way through
Provence. Stop for a visit in historic Avignon. Continue westwards to the
impressive walled city of Carcassonne for overnight. (B,D)
Day 16
Wed.CARCASSONNE-BARCELONA, SPAIN.
Enjoy a visit of this almost untouched piece of military fortified architecture
still standing in all its walled glory, with fortifications, drawbridges,
towers, battlements, watch turrets, ramparts and even arrow-slits to repel
the enemy. Later drive by way of Perpignan across the border into Spain,
skirting the Costa Brava to arrive in Barcelona for overnight. (B)
Day 17
Thu.BARCELONA. This morning’s
sightseeing with a local guide includes a drive around Monjuich to see
the Olympic Stadium and a panoramic view of the port and city. The drive
continues to the city center to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia to
admire the greatness and eccentricity of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces
in the Houses Batilo and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fee not
included). (B)
Day 18
Fri. BARCELONA-SARAGOSSA-MADRID.
See more of Catalonia as you drive northwest to Sarragossa on the banks
of the River Ebro. Next travel into the very heart of new Castille for
overnight in Spain’s capital, Madrid. (B)
Day 19
Sat.MADRID. Not only because
it’s the capital of Spain, but also because it is situated 2,180 feet above
sea level, the Spaniards say Madrid is the nearest thing to heaven. Enjoy
the main highlights on the included sightseeing excursion. The optional
trip to Toledo is most rewarding, too. The splendid setting is like a great
open-air museum of Spanish history and art. (B)
Day 20
Sun.MADRID-BURGOS-BILBAO.
Climb the Somosierra Pass, the boundary between Old and New Castile, to
the walled city of Aranda de Duero, before stopping in Burgos. On through
Basque Country to Bilbao, now famous for four living architects, Norman
Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Cesar Pelli, and Frank Gehry. (B,D)
Day 21
Mon.BILBAO-BORDEAUX, FRANCE-POITIERS.
A change of scenery as you travel into France across Gascoigne for a stop
in Bordeaux, the wine capital of France. Travel further north by way of
the Cognac area to Poiters of Black Prince fame for overnight. (B,D)
Day 22
Tue.POITIERS-CHÂTEAUX COUNTRY-ORLEANS-PARIS.
The fast and comfortable autoroute L’Aquitaine will take you directly to
Tours and along the Loire and the castles of Amboise and Chaumont. Stop
in Orleans before reaching Paris in time to enjoy an optional cabaret show.
(B)
Day 23
Wed.PARIS. One full day
to explore the city that’s known throughout the world for its fashions,
art and museums, delicious food, and joie de vivre. Included sightseeing
with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne,
Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid
near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées… (Itinerary and
sights maybe altered due to newly enforced traffic and parking regulations).
Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles
and, to celebrate the success of your tour, a French farewell dinner might
be just the ticket. (B)
Day 24
Thu. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY.
(B)
COSMOS
TOURS The Grand European 23 Day Tour
From $2370USD (Less Discount)
Prices are
per person, based on double occupancy.
Offer subject
to availability and change without notice.
PLEASE CLICK
Certain
restrictions may apply. Airfares are based on departure from New York. Actual
rate quotes may vary however IN MOST CASES our rates will be
below
the listed published rates.
For
year 2008, departures are subject to itinerary and price modifications.
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will check your requested tour program and accommodations for the
date range that you may specify in the boxes below and reply back to you
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us, the closer we will be in matching your exact request(s). We will not
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We are available to answer
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for your email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon
the availability of onsite resourses and those of the tour companies and
resorts/lodging establishments, as well as, any variations you may request
from our listed programs. For those inquirers requesting a trip within
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immediate plan. At any rate, we will respond to your requests as quickly
as possible and as soon as we have all components of your package confirmable.
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specified.
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How We Will Handle Your Request and Your Privacy:
Your
request will be handled by a responsible and knowledgeable tour specialist
that can not only check availability for this particular tour but can further
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valuable information that you may need before making a reservation. We
are a full service travel company and we have always catered to the individual
traveler and his/her specific needs. We want to get to know you as a valued
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may feel free to call upon us if you have an immediate request at 1-817-481-9887.
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A Smart Way to Go
More
than three decades ago Cosmos pioneered the idea of quality value travel
to Europe. Since then we've developed and refined the concept of vacation
packages. Over a million people have come back to us for a second or third
vacation...or more!
Our clients'
repeat business is the best testimony to the incredible value and experience
we offer.
If you've never
taken a package vacation, consider this: Traveling with Cosmos is less
expensive, more comfortable, and far easier than going it alone. Our volume
contracting for hotels and services provides you with travel at wholesale
prices. A Cosmos package is carefully planned to make the best possible
use of your time.
Our team of
experts has refined our itineraries to combine the must-see sights with
significant time on your own, offering more choice and flexibility. You
can travel relaxed and hassle-free, knowing that we've taken care of all
the details.
Once you've
discovered the special advantages of traveling with Cosmos, you'll never
want to travel any other way again. Cosmos is "A Smart Way To Go."
Cosmos Takes Care of Your
Hotels
Where
you stay makes all the difference
After a day's
traveling you want to relax at a comfortable, clean, and attractive hotel.
We have chosen hotels with the best rooms, service, and food for the money.
Of course, they vary as different countries have different standards. However,
we ensure that everywhere you get the best available in cleanliness and
comfort.
Cosmos hotels
are always located in good neighborhoods, some more centrally and others
in residential areas. Especially in large cities we sometimes prefer good
hotels in residential areas on the outskirts to less desirable or overpriced
downtown hotels.
Rooms at all
our hotels include private facilities: private bath or shower and a toilet.
Triple rooms
are usually no larger than twin rooms and the third bed is often a roll-away
bed put into a twin-bedded room just for the night.
Cosmos specifies
your hotels
Our hotels
are mainly superior tourist-class (ST) and tourist-class (T) establishments,
but we also feature some first-class (F) hotels. Cosmos hotel ratings follow
standards set by the independent Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by national
tourist boards. The specific rating for each contract hotel is determined
by our quality controllers.
We reserve
the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour pages with hotels of
equivalent standard. With your Cosmos travel documents you'll receive a
list of hotel addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for your tour.
Stretch Your Vacation Dollars
Value-packed
vacations at bargain prices
With Cosmos,
a company that specializes in package travel arrangements, you'll visit
the world without spending a fortune. Because all our buying power is devoted
to package travel, our clout with suppliers is powerfully concentrated
-- and we pass the savings on to you with affordable vacation packages
for every budget.
Singles save
with "guaranteed share" rates
More than one-third
of all people traveling with Cosmos are traveling independently. We therefore
accept reservations on a "guaranteed share" basis. We charge singles the
basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded rooms.
For mutual comfort we adopt a no-smoking rule in shared rooms. "Guaranteed
shares" are not available for extra nights before or after your tour, on
tours with overnight trains, or on train or cruise extensions.
If we cannot
find a roommate for a traveler who has booked on a "guaranteed share" basis,
we'll absorb the single room supplement, and that traveler will be accommodated
in a single room at no extra charge.
Of course we
do offer single rooms when available to those who prefer to travel solo
and pay the single supplement.
Triple room
reduction
Cosmos grants
a reduction to three people who travel together and share the same accommodation.
Triple room reductions, when available, are listed in the Dates and Prices
box on the tour page.
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 bed put in a twin-bedded room for
the night.
Discount for
young tour members
Cosmos grants
a 10 percent discount on the land tour price to travelers who are under
18 years old on the tour departure date, provided they are accompanied
by an adult. We do not accept children under eight on our tours because
we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Take a vacation from
worry.
You're
planning your annual vacation, or the vacation of a lifetime. Either way
you don't want to think about canceling or interrupting your trip. Or getting
sick. Or losing your luggage.
We know these
things happen and we provide travelers peace of mind with a Travel Protection
Plan.
North America
Europe
$69 for Tours
Up to $1,000 $79 for Tours Up to $1,000
$79 for Tours
Over $1,000 $99 for Tours Over $1,000
Travel Arrangement
Protection - Part A
Trip Cancellation
and Interruption Protection up to $10,000
Should you
cancel or interrupt your Cosmos travel package due to a covered injury,
sickness, death — your own, or that of a Traveling Companion, or of a member
of the Immediate Family — or for Other Covered Events as defined, you (in
the case of your death, your estate) will be reimbursed up to $10,000:
1) for cancellation charges imposed by Cosmos and/or by any airline that
provided direct flight connections to join your Cosmos travel package,
if you cancel prior to departure; or, 2) the unused, non-refundable land
portion of your Cosmos travel package costs and the additional transport
charges paid to return home or to rejoin your original Cosmos travel package
(limited to the cost of economy one-way airfare by scheduled carrier, from
the point of destination to the point of origin shown on your original
travel tickets) if you must interrupt your trip after departure.
Delayed Arrival
and Missed Connection Coverage up to $1,000
Should you
miss a scheduled flight or your land tour departure because of delay or
a public conveyance due to inclement weather, mechanical breakdown, or
strike that affects public transportation, you will be reimbursed up to
$1,000 for the cost of the extra fare paid to join your Cosmos travel package
(limited to the cost of the most economical air or service transport available).
Airline-required legal minimum connection times must be observed and the
scheduled time between arrival at the tour departure city and the land
tour departure must be four hours or longer.
Upgrade Protection
up to $1,000
Should your
Traveling Companion cancel or interrupt a Cosmos travel package due to
a covered injury, sickness, death or for Other Covered Events, you will
be reimbursed up to $1,000 for Cosmos charges to change your hotel accommodation
for twin to single occupancy (or from triple to twin).
Trip Delay
Protection up to $1,000
Should you
interrupt a Cosmos travel package due to a covered injury or sickness suffered
by you or a Traveling Companion, you will be reimbursed up to $1,000 for
accommodations and meals. Coverage begins 12 hours after the tour departs
the location where you are detained. There is a maximum limit of $100 per
day.
Travel Insurance
Benefits - Part B
Baggage and
Travel Documents up to $2,500
Pays for items
lost, stolen or broken on your trip. Includes borrowed or rented property.
Restrictions may apply; please refer to your coverage certificate.
Baggage Delay
up to $250
Pays for the
purchase of essential items if your bags are delayed for more than 24 hours.
Sickness Medical
Expense up to $10,000
Pays sickness
medical expenses with no daily limits or deductibles.
Accident Medical
Expense up to $10,000
Pays accident
medical expenses with no daily limits or deductibles.
Dental Expense
up to $1,000
Pays emergency
dental expenses with no daily limits or deductibles.
Emergency
Medical Transportation up to $15,000
Pays evacuation
and transportation expenses as directed by a doctor to the nearest adequate
medical facility or home.
Accidental
Death and Dismemberment up to $25,000
Pays for direct
accidental death or dismemberment 24 hours a day while you are on your
trip.
Repatriation
up to $15,000
Pays for reasonable
and necessary services for transportation of the insured's remains to his
or her place of residence.
Flight Accident
up to $100,000
Coverage for
accidents that occur when traveling on a regularly scheduled flight or
charter.
Travel Guard®
Assistance
Emergency assistance
for your peace of mind anywhere in the world!
• Advancement
of funds to cover emergency medical expenses on your trip.
• Telephone
interpretation in major languages.
• Assistance
with replacement of travel documents.
• Help in locating
local doctors, dentists, or medical facilities
24-hour Livetravel
Assistance New Feature!
Livetravel
— 24-hour hotline to make emergency travel changes, such as rebooking flights,
hotel reservations, tracking lost luggage and more!
Live Messaging
— relay of e-mail or phone message to family, friends or business associates.
Pre-trip Travel
Advice — around-the-clock access to passport, visa, inoculation and vaccine
requirements; travel advisories; embassy and consulate contacts; travel
health advisories; weather and currency information — all for your planned
destination.
Emergency
Cash Transfer — assistance in coordinating an emergency cash advance.
Waiver of
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
The pre-existing
medical conditions exclusion is waived if insurance is purchased within
24 hours of initial trip deposit.
Exclusions
apply. Please refer to your Certificate of Insurance for complete details.
Travel Protection
Plus
For those who
have selected the Travel Protection Plan on their booking, we will provide
the option to purchase our Travel Protection Plus Plan, at an additional
cost of only $20.00* per person. Once this coverage has been selected,
Globus and Cosmos will allow you to cancel your vacation up to 24 hours
(or the prior business day, whichever is farther out) before the scheduled
departure for any reason.
If the reason
for the cancellation is covered under the normal Travel Protection Plan
provisions, the passenger should file a claim with the plan's administrator,
Travel Guard 1-866-729-5220, for the penalty retained. In the event the
reason for the cancellation is not covered, the cancellation penalty as
retained by Globus or Cosmos will be reimbursed in the form of Travel Certificates
(less the Travel Protection Plan premium and the Plus supplement). The
certificates are non-refundable, non-transferable and will be valid for
one year from the date of the originally confirmed departure date.
The standard
Travel Protection Plan premium and the $20.00* supplement for the Plus
Plan are non-refundable. This supplement must be added and confirmed on
the booking within the original deposit period of the booking. The Travel
Protection Plus Plan does not cover penalties associated with air not purchased
through Globus and Cosmos or cancellation made within 24 hours (or the
prior business day, whichever is farther out).
GLOBUS
TOURS and COSMOS
TOURS are a member of
If
you like the above tour program, you may also want to view the following
programs for comparison: