Cosmos Europes Highlights
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Europe's Highlights
 
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Cosmos European Tours
Europe's Highlights
Duration: 14 Days
Globus Discounts
Land Tour w/deluxe motorcoach

THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND, ITALY and FRANCE

Cosmos Europe
Specially-priced Air Rates Available: YES

From its exciting cities to its spectacular scenery, Europe has it all, and on this affordable European tour, you'll see the main highlights. Start in Amsterdam with a scenic canal cruise and end in Paris with a guided tour and time on your own. In between, you’ll discover Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.

In Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, and Paris, local experts will bring the cities alive, and among other famous sights, you’ll see the Eiffel Tower in Paris; Piazza Signoria in Florence, renowned for its ornate and famous statues; and St. Peter’s Square in Rome, the heart of the Vatican. Other interesting experiences include a boat ride to Venice’s St. Mark’s Square; a visit to Assisi’s Basilica, burial site of St. Francis and home to frescoes by Giotto and a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig II’s fairy-tale castle nestled in the beautiful Bavarian Alps.

It is not just the cities you’ll see on this European tour; you’ll also see some of Europe's beautiful scenery. A fascinating drive along the Rhine River features quaint towns, castles from the Middle Ages, and villages lining the countryside. Marvel at the gorgeous Swiss Alps. Enjoy the beautiful Tuscany countryside, with its rolling hills, and journey through France’s famous vineyards. Overnight in romantic Lake Como, regarded as one of Europe's most picturesque lakes; spend time in Lucerne, nestled between the Alps and the fjord-like lake; and stop in Interlaken, nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and surrounded by three mighty mountains.

Europe’s highlights—including historic monuments, must-see attractions, and scenery—are all available on this splendid, value-minded Europe tour!


TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

AMSTERDAM Canal cruise, guided sightseeing
RHINELAND Scenic drive
NEUSCHWANSTEIN Visit King Ludwig’s castle
VENICE Canal boat ride, glassblowing workshop
ASSISI Visit St. Francis Basilica
ROME Guided sightseeing
FLORENCE Guided walking tour
MONTECATINI Visit
PISA See the Leaning Tower
LAKE COMO
LUGANO, LUCERNE & BEAUNE Visit
PARIS Guided sightseeing



UNESCO World Heritage Sites The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:
  • 17th Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam
  • Assisi (the Basilica of San Francesco)
  • Historic Centre of Florence
  • Historic Centre of Rome - various properties Vatican City
  • Paris Banks of the Seine
  • Piazza del Duomo Pisa
  • Venice and Its Lagoon

Inside visits and special features:
Shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where applicable.

OPTIONALS:
Choice of optional excursions at reasonable prices to customize your own experience. Please find a detailed list in your travel documents

HEADSETS throughout the tour
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements.

FOR A SLIGHTLY LONGER VERSION OF THIS TOUR PLEASE SEE
Europe's Highlights from Amsterdam to London (15 Days)


 Cosmos Quality Hotels
AMSTERDAM Hotel Ibis Styles Amsterdam Airport (ST)
KARLSRUHE
Ibis Styles Karlsruhe Ettlingen (ST)
INNSBRUCK
Alphotel (ST)
VENICE Poppi (ST)
ROME Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia (F)
MONTECATINI Settentrionale Esplanade (F)
LAKE COMO Lario Mezzegra (ST)
LUCERNE
Ibis Kriens (TC)
LAUSANNE
Ibis Lausanne Crissier (F)
PARIS Hotel Ibis Styles Paris Porte D'Orleans (ST)



HOTELS - (SF) Superior First-Class (F)
First-Class (MF) Moderate First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist Class (T) Tourist Class
Arthur Fromer Europe on a Budget
DINING HIGHLIGHTS
Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 dinners


TRANSPORTATION
Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; canal transfer boat in Venice, Pisa mini-train ride

GUIDES

Local Guides for city sightseeing in Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Paris; professional Tour Director while touring


AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements.


Globus Tour Itinerary

Day
1 Arrive in Amsterdam, Holland


Check into your hotel, and start exploring this exciting city with your CosmosGo app. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.
Dinner this evening! Dinner

Day 2 Amsterdam Area
Enjoy sightseeing in Amsterdam with a Local Guide pointing out the city highlights, as you discover the city from water level on an included canal cruise. Then, watch the cutting and polishing of precious stones at a diamond center. Time in the afternoon to explore on your own or join an optional excursion.
Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 3 Amsterdam–Rhineland, Germany
Traveling through Germany, choose an included scenic drive along the shores of the Rhine or, even more thrilling, the optional Rhine cruise with vistas of the Lorelei rock, hilltop castles, half-timbered wine villages, and terraced vineyards.
Today’s Distance: 336 mi/ 540 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 4 Rhineland–Innsbruck Area, Austria
Drive through Baden-Wüttenberg to the foot of the Alps to see King Ludwig’s magnificent Neuschwanstein castle, Germany’s fairytale castle. Carry on into the verdant Austrian Tyrol, where you will spend one night.
Today’s Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast  Dinner this evening! Dinner

Day 5 Innsbruck Area–Venice Area, Italy
Cross the border into Italy to the unique floating city of Venice. This afternoon’s orientation includes a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square, followed by a visit to a traditional glassblowing workshop. Don’t miss out on the romantic optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you.
Today’s Distance: 242 mi/ 390 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast  Dinner this evening! Dinner

Day 6 Venice Area–Assisi–Rome
An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then through the gentle Umbrian hills to medieval Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous St. Francis Basilicas with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto, then head for Rome. 
Today’s Distance: 345 mi/ 555 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 7 Rome
The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire.
Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 8 Rome–Pisa–Montecatini
This morning, you’ll have the opportunity to visit Vatican City and to join our optional excursion visiting the Vatican Museum and with the spectacular Sistine Chapel. Say goodbye to Rome and drive on the Highway of the Sun to Pisa. Hop on a mini train to the Square of Miracles and admire the curious Leaning Tower, a world-renowned photographic subject. Overnight in the spa town of Montecatini, recently added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Today’s Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast  Dinner this evening! Dinner

Day 9 Montecatini–Florence–Lake Como
Arrive in Florence. This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for a whole day. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide that features most of the city highlights. You will see Piazza Santa Croce; beautiful Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia dei Lanzi. To top it all, see Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile (belltower), and the magnificently carved East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate of Paradise.” Journey northward through the Tuscan hills and across the Apennines to the shores of romantic Lake Como.
Today’s Distance: 252 mi/ 405 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 10 Lake Como–Lugano, Switzerland–Lucerne Area
Leave beautiful Lake Como and cross the border into Switzerland for a stop in the Italian-speaking town of Lugano. Continue north and, once through Gotthard Tunnel, see more magnificent alpine scenery as you descend to the shores of Lake Lucerne.
Today’s Distance: 137 mi/ 220 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 11 Lucerne Area–Interlaken–Lausanne
Spend some time in beautiful Lucerne. Stroll through the old town and see the distinctive covered wooden bridge (Kapellbrücke) crossing the river Reuss. Later, stop in idyllic Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland and then follow the shoreline of deep blue Lake Thun, continuing for a few more miles to Lausanne, overlooking Lake Geneva.
Today’s Distance: 168 mi/ 270 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 12 Lausanne–Beaune, France–Paris
Enjoy vistas of the celebrated Burgundy vineyards on the way to Beaune. Visit the medieval town, known all over the world for its wine production. Take the autoroute to Paris. 
Today’s Distance: 385 mi/ 620 km Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 13 Paris
Get to know the city of romance with a local expert and see many of the Parisian sites, such as the Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysées. An optional excursion is available to the palace and gardens of Versailles.
Breakfast this morn!Breakfast

Day 14 Paris
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast this morn!Breakfast
Europe's Highlights
Cosmos Travel Specialist 14 Day Tour
From $2454USD
(Less applicable COSMOS PROMO(S) and Gardner Travel Discounts)


Unpublished Discount Rate!
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You may REQUEST information for this tour via our email response here and we will return a complete and detailed quote

 
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and we will be happy to personally assist you at every turn.

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 Exceptional Vacations

Celebrating over 90 Years of Touring!

YOUR TOUR DIRECTOR
David Romanov - Tour DirectorDAVID ROMANOV

Escorting tours for more than 5 years

I grew up in former Czechoslovakia as a Hungarian, during the communist era in a multicultural enviroment. During those times to see the the rest of the world was just a childhood dream, now it is a reality. Before I settled down in Hungary, I lived in Vienna, Berlin and Sydney - just to mention few. Through those years, I gain lots of experience and learnt a lot about the world, and myself. I hope I will have the chance to share my passion about Europe and show you the best of it.

Prices are per person based on double occupancy and are land only. We also offer competitive group-based airfares from your home city airport that fit with this particular touring program.


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 USA and Canada

We provide an additional agency point-of-sale discount for all Globus, Cosmos and Avalon Waterways tour programs. Offer subject to availability and change without notice.

TALK TO AN EXPERIENCED
Globus Tour Specialist

Globus Travel CounselAs a full-service travel provider, we can help you in finding your perfect tour at the best price available, today. We've been representing the GLOBUS Family of Brands for over 40 years as a Premier Agency Partner - a designation only awarded to the top tier agencies that are authorized to represent the full Globus Family of Brands. We can take you all the way from your own hometown to some of the most beautiful touring experiences in Europe and then back again - all with the expertise of a seasoned COSMOS professional representative. When it is important to get it right, you can trust the services of our own professional COSMOS Certified travel specialists.

REQUESTING AVAILABILITY

We will check your requested tour program and accommodations for the date range that you may specify in the questionnaire above and reply back to you as soon as possible. Of course the more information that you can provide us, the closer we will be in matching your needs and preferences. We will not knowingly sell or pass along your information that you provide to any third party for any reason (see Liabilities and Privacy Policy). And we use SSL Technology to safeguard your information on our tour request forms that we have posted throughout our website.

We are available to answer your inquiries in person Monday - Friday (except holidays) from 8:30am until 5:30pm CST (1-877-510-4653 | 817-788-5210). We are available from time to time on the weekends via email to answer your questions. Our typical response time for your email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon the availability of onsite resources and those of the tour companies and resorts/lodging establishments, as well as any variations you may request from our listed programs. We will respond to your requests as quickly as possible and as soon as we have all components of your package confirmable. All tour program rates are based upon double occupancy unless otherwise specified.

Thank you for your interest in this quality Cosmos Tour by The GLOBUS Family of Brands!


Randy C. Gardner
President
Gardner Travel Service, Inc.




About Globus

and The Globus Family of Brands

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.


Arthur Fromer Europe on a BudgetOnce 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."


Guidance


At the heart of every great Cosmos tour are the friendly, knowledgeable folks who show you around and help you maximize your free time. We go to incredible lengths to find the most professional Tour Directors and Local Guides. They deliver commentary in English, but are multilingual so they can navigate Europe with ease and give you the richest experience possible.

Headsets
For all guided visits and included sightseeing in Europe, Cosmos will provide personal audio headsets. See tour itinerary for details.

The Right Balance
No one enjoys a vacation where every second is spent on a schedule. We build free time into every Cosmos vacation, so you can eat, shop, and explore the way you want. Your Tour Director and Local Guides can offer suggestions for things to see and do-or you can join one of our many intriguing optional excursions.

Sightseeing
Our packages include guided sightseeing and scenic highlights that reveal the best of Europe, North America, and South America. Enjoy inside visits of the must-see sites with knowledgeable Local Guides who will bring each destination to life. Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description. See individual itinerary pages to learn what is included in your vacation.

Personalize Your Vacation with MyCosmos
Cosmos lets you enhance your tour with optional excursions that are meaningful to you. Whether you enjoy art, music, food, wine, history, or whatever, we give you the freedom to truly personalize your trip. Best of all, you can make your selections-and even pre-pay-in advance online at Cosmos.com/MyCosmos.

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.

Cosmos Vacations Offer Flexibility

Joining late and leaving early*
Many Cosmos land arrangements start and end in London. If you have already spent time in the British capital, you may want to skip one or more of the included London nights or even join at the first overnight hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Agent for any reductions that apply to your vacation for joining late or leaving early. Vacations with these reductions are sold on a land-only basis.

A professional team takes care of you in London
For any help or information you might require during your London stay, please contact the Cosmos hospitality desk at your hotel. Our knowledgeable staff will serve you with a smile; give you guidance on what to do and where to go; and arrange excursions, evening entertainment, and theater outings for you.

Extra nights*
If you'd like more hotel nights than we've provided at the start or end of your tour, we can make reservations for you at the rates quoted below, provided you request them at the time you book your vacation. Rates are per person, per night, and include room with private bath, breakfast, service charges, and taxes.

Extra nights are only available immediately prior to or after your tour. Extra pre-tour nights in London are not available if you join your tour later than Day 2.

Every effort is made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your tour stays. If space at the tour hotel is not available, alternative accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. When this is the case, the transfer to and from the tour hotel is at our expense.

As hotel space is limited, we cannot reserve more than two extra nights before and/or after a tour, unless they are needed to bridge the gap between two Cosmos vacations. During particularly busy periods, hotel space in certain cities can become so tight that we may be unable to sell extra nights.

Trust & Travel Insurance
For generations, Globus has worked hard to provide the best on-trip experiences, world-class customer service, and the best consumer protection plans available in the travel industry.

DETAILS OF THIS INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR QUOTES.

 

About Globus

and The Globus Family of Brands
About Globus More than 90 years ago, Antonio Mantegazza bought a rowboat to transport commercial goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Who could know that rowboat would launch the world's leading escorted travel company? Today Globus is a global, family-owned company reaching every corner of the world. Globus is now the first choice among individuals looking for vacations with both domestic and international travel in a variety of styles to six continents and hundreds of itineraries to choose from (see Globus History video right).

Antonio's frequent trips across the scenic lake led him to consider opportunities in a different market - tourism. His entrepreneurial instinct pushed him to gradually acquire some motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area. In 1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland.


By 1950, Globus Viaggi had grown to a fleet of 33 coaches and featured overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and the French Riviera. Gradually, these became regularly scheduled tours and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio's business partner, Globus pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class European tours to North Americans. By 1961, the company launched its Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, value-priced European touring for the cost-conscious British traveler.


The coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon introduced another form of travel for the British market: air holiday packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. By 1968, Cosmos air holidays became so popular the company formed its own airline, Monarch Airlines. Monarch Airlines started out modestly with two used Britannia aircraft and eventually blossomed into one of the most successful European charter companies with a large fleet of modern jets and its own engineering division.


Under the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, current president and son of Antonio, Globus began expanding its markets beyond Great Britain and North America. Since 1974, travel packages have been sold in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently in Southeast Asia. Starting in the 70s, the company also aggressively expanded its offerings, introducing travelers to more countries than any other tour operator with packages to Africa, South and North America, Europe, the South Pacific and Asia.


Today, the Globus family of brands is marketed and operated by a network of more than 32 independent tourism and aviation businesses, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals worldwide. Combined, Globus, Cosmos, and Monograms carry over 500,000 passengers a year, making the organization the leading operator of guided vacations worldwide. Globus attributes its success to the ideals of founder Antonio Mantegazza. For three generations, his vision, hard work, love for travel, and commitment have guided the company. These values are the cornerstone on which Globus was built and will continue to grow.

 












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