2008: THE GRAND EUROPEAN (5210)

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Tour Operator

Cosmos

Duration

24 Days

Escorted

Escorted - Yes

Itinerary

Day	Destination	Description
Day 1	Board your overnight transatlantic flight
Day 2	London	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	London	A full day to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London's landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames? (B)
Day 4	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	AMSTERDAM AREA-THE RHINELAND, GERMANY	A morning to enjoy Holland's busy metropolis. After your 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 from water level. In the afternoon travel southward to the Rhineland area for overnight. (B,D)
Day 6	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 Neckar and Rhine, for a short visit. In the afternoon, travel by way of the autobahn into Switzerland for an overnight around Lake Lucerne. (B,D)
Day 7	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 visit 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 cruise on the fjord-like lake or a cable car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis. (B)
Day 8	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	Venice	Venice is 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 glassblowers 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	VENICE AREA-ASSISI-ROME	An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then through the gentle Umbrian hills to Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous Basilica with its beautiful frescos by Giotto, then head for Rome. (B)
Day 11	Rome	The "Eternal City"-a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter's Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)
Day 12	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	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." (B,D)
Day 14	FLORENCE AREA-ITALIAN & FRENCH RIVIERAS, FRANCE	An early start this morning for the journey northwest with views of the Italian Riviera. Continue in to France, traveling along the celebrated Cote d'Azur. An optional Monte Carlo by Night excursion with dinner is available. (B)
Day 15	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	CARCASSONNE-BARCELONA, SPAIN	Enjoy a visit of this almost untouched piece of medieval fortified architecture, still standing in all its walled glory with 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 two overnights. (B)
Day 17	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 Batllo and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fee not included). (B)
Day 18	BARCELONA-MADRID	See more of Catalonia as you drive northwest via Saragossa through the very heart of new Castille for two overnights in Spain's capital, Madrid. (B)
Day 19	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	MADRID-BURGOS-BILBAO	Climb Somosierra Pass, the boundary between Old and New Castille, to the walled city of Aranda de Duero, before stopping in Burgos. On through the Basque Country to Bilbao, now famous for four living architects: Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Cesar Pelli, and Frank Gehry. (B,D)
Day 21	BILBAO-BORDEAUX, FRANCE-POITIERS	A change of scenery as you travel into France across Gascoigne for an orientation drive of Bordeaux, the wine capital of France. Travel farther north by way of the Cognac area to Poitiers of Black Prince fame for an overnight. (B,D)
Day 22	POITIERS-CHATEAUX COUNTRY-ORLEANS-PARIS	The autoroute L'Aquitaine will take you directly to Tours and along the Loire passing the castles of Amboise and Chaumont. Stop in Orleans before reaching Paris in time to enjoy an optional French dinner. (B)
Day 23	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, Opera, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysees. Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles and, to celebrate the success of your tour, enjoy a cabaret show. (B)
Day 24	YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY (B)

Dates/Pricing

Disclaimer

US$ Price Details

*Air inclusive prices are based on departure from New York. Prices for departures from other cities will vary and can be obtained from your travel agent or by visiting www.cosmos.com. Air-inclusive prices do not include a September 11th fee of up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.40 per segment, and U.S. and International arrival and departure fees of up to $300 depending on your itinerary. Air inclusive prices are subject to change and not guaranteed until payment is made in full. Restrictions apply.

Single room supplement:
5210 $940

Guaranteed shares

No triple room reduction.

0314 Good Friday in Rome
1212 Christmas in Barcelona and New Year in Paris

Our Volume Buying Power Saves You Money!
-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
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Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-2008, 2009 & 2010 vacation itineraries and prices are subject to change.

Guaranteed Air-Inclusive Price:
Air-inclusive prices do not include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees of up to $300 depending on your itinerary. Please see the Applicable Airfare Taxes and Fee link above for more information.

Air booked in conjunction with a land vacation is considered an air-inclusive vacation. Air can only be booked by Globus in conjunction with a land package and is only available for passengers traveling from the United States. For vacation departures in 2008, your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your air schedule had been confirmed and your entire vacation package has been paid in full. For vacation departures in 2009, an additional $250 non-refundable deposit (total $500 non-refundable) is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation and your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your flight information is confirmed and Globus has received your full land and air deposit.

Not Included in the Vacation Price:
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to $10 per person, Passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure, and other government imposed fees up to $300 per person; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Globus menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); optional excursions; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; all airline imposed baggage fees (including internal flights); and all other items of a personal nature.