B-K Eurotours, LTD.
Call Us: 828-719-0195
Member: Boone (NC) Area Chamber of Commerce
Your European Adventure Specialists
"Don't just dream about it - come to Europe with us!"
HomeThe 2012 Greater Europe Tour (19-days)
Proposed 2012 Program Itinerary
Tuesday, 4 September - Travel day. Leave Charlotte on US Airways flight #704 at 4:20pm for our overnight flight to Frankfurt. This is a suggested flight - you are free to make your own flight arrangements. However, we must ensure that all guests are in Frankfurt early on Day 2 in order to travel to our first destination together on our coach.
Flight arrangements can be made through our partner agency, Appalachian Travel, who can also handle insurance (trip and baggage) issues.
Wednesday, 5 September - Arrival in Frankfurt where our coach will take us to Trier and our hotel. Lunch at Zum Domstein and hotel check-in. The rest of the day is free to explore or to just rest up from the flight. Dinner and overnight in Trier.
Thursday, 6 September - After a hearty breakfast at 9am, we will have a walking tour of Trier’s antiquities (St. Paulinus, the Dom and the Church of Our Lady, the Basilika, the Electoral Palace and gardens, the Amphitheater, and the Kaiserthermen Baths). The afternoon is free to shop, relax with a coffee in the pedestrian zone, etc. Dinner and overnight in Trier.
Friday, 7 September - Breakfast at 8, then we will board our coach for the ride along the Rhine River to Cologne. We will tour the great Cathedral, and even climb the 509 steps to the top of the steeple, if you are game! We will then proceed to the chocolate museum/factory, a pleasant walk along the Rhine River from the Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Trier.
Saturday, 8 September - After breakfast we board our coach for a day trip along the Mosel River to visit the Castles Eltz, Cochem and the town of Bernkastel. The Mosel valley is famous for its beautiful scenery and the excellent wine produced there. Dinner and overnight in Trier.
Sunday, 9 September - After breakfast, leave for our trip to Luxembourg. We will visit the US & German WWII Cemeteries, then it’s on to the City, the underground fortifications, a look at the Ducal Palace, the residence of the rulers of this tiny country, and then lunch. After lunch and a bit of shopping in Luxembourg City, we will proceed to Castle Beaufort, which dates from the 11th century. Then we return to Trier for the last time. Dinner and overnight in Trier.
Monday, 10 September - After breakfast we will board the coach and leave Trier for France and the beautiful city of Strasbourg. We will have time to visit Strasbourg and perhaps take a canal boat ride or visit the world-famous Cathedral with a local guide. Strasbourg Cathedral is widely considered to be among the finest examples of high, or late, Gothic architecture. At 142 meters, it was the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874, when it was surpassed by St. Nikolai's Church, Hamburg. Then it is on to Freiburg, where we will check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Freiburg.
Tuesday, 11 September - Good morning! We will take our coach after breakfast to Lake Titisee in the Black Forest. At the lake, you will have the opportunity to shop, take a boat tour of the lake, shop, hike around the lake, shop, etc. Afterwards, we will motor on to Schonachbach for shopping in the home of cuckoo clocks. They will ship them home for you so you don’t have to worry about packing them! Dinner and overnight in Freiburg.
Wednesday, 12 September - Today our Black Forest Tour (Schwarzwaldrundfahrt) continues in the spa town of Baden-Baden, as we take the Schwarzwaldhöhenstraße (the Black Forest highway) to Mummelsee and Freudenstadt. The springs of Baden-Baden have been known for more than 2,000 years, and their composition resembles that of the Roman baths of the 3rd century. Dinner and overnight in Freiburg.
Thursday, 13 September - Today we depart Freiburg for Switzerland. We will tour Basel, Berne, then we are on to Interlaken. The structure of Switzerland’s capital city, Berne, is largely medieval and has been recognized by UNESCO as a Cultural World Heritage Site. Dinner and overnight in Interlaken.
Friday, 14 September - We will visit Grindelwald today by motoring on the Junfraujochbahn past the Eiger North Face to the Jungfraujoch at 4158m (13,641ft). Spectacular!!! Seeing the ever-present ice and snow on the glacier in summer is stunning. Then we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Interlaken.
Saturday, 15 September - We leave Interlaken for Lucerne today. Lucerne rests on the shores of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) and is a haven for tourists and shoppers. Lucerne is traditionally considered first and foremost as a tourist destination. One of the city's famous landmarks is Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), a wooden bridge first built in the 14th century. Then we’re off to Lake Constance (Bodensee) and the village of Friedrichshafen tonight. Dinner and overnight in Friedrichshafen.
Sunday, 16 September - Today we will experience the Bodensee, Germany’s largest lake. We will visit Meersburg, which is home to two castles. Then we’ll board a boat for Mainau, one of the main tourist attractions of Lake Constance. Mainau is a "flowering island" notable for its parks and gardens. Finally, we’ll return over Überlingen, Unteruhldingen to Friedrichshafen. Dinner and overnight in Friedrichshafen.
Monday, 17 September - We head east today, leaving Constance for Munich. Travelling through Lindau, upon arrival in Munich we will have a short guided city tour and then check into our hotel. Then we will find our way to the Hofbrauhaus for a buffet dinner and an evening’s entertainment. Overnight in Munich.
Tuesday, 18 September - Breakfast at 8:00 AM, then we depart for Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest and Koenigsee. During Hitler’s rule, his army constructed a compound atop one of the highest peaks at Berchtesgaden. We will take a breathtaking bus journey up the Kehlstein road and a luxurious brass elevator up through the rock into Kehlsteinhaus, known in English as the Eagle’s Nest. Enjoy its impressive views and its excellent cuisine. The site combines a unique example of historic architecture and a stunning alpine setting. You will need your swimsuits for the Koenigsee, Germany’s highest lake, where you can swim, boat, take a cruise and shop. Dinner and overnight in Munich.
Wednesday, 19 September - Breakfast at 7:00 AM, then it is on the coach for our day trip to Neuschwanstein, the “Magic Castle” of Ludwig II, the King of Bavaria (1863-1886). The model for Disney’s Cinderella Castle in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, this icon is probably the most photographed building in the world. We will also visit King Ludwig’s favorite castle, Linderhof. Then it’s back to Munich for dinner. Ovenight in Munich.
Thursday, 20 September - We leave Munich this morning for Würzburg, with a stop at the medieval city of Rothenburg ob. d. Tauber. Rothenburg is a medieval walled city founded in the 12th century, and is a favorite of tourists from all over the world. We’ll start our visit at St. Jakobus’ Church (Jakobkirche), with its 46-foot stained-glass windows dating from 1350-1400, the Altar of the Twelve Apostles, and the very impressive Altar of the Holy Blood. We’ll then spread out and let you experience the hidden treasures of this most beautiful town. We’ll meet at the coach park for the short trip to Würzburg, where we will take a wine tour of this home of Franconian wines. After dinner at our hotel, we might check out Kilianifest – a celebration of Würzburg’s patron saint (July trip only). Overnight in Würzburg.
Friday, 21 September - Breakfast at the hotel, then a walk to the Residenz for an 11:00am guided tour (in English) of this World Heritage Site. When this palace was first designed and constructed in the 1700s, it was the home of the Electors (Prince Bishops), the ecclesiastical and temporal rulers of their dioceses. We will also give you a tour of the private chapel of these powerful men, as well as the palace gardens, which are beautiful. After lunch, we will take a guided wine tour of this home of Franconian wines. Dinner and overnight in Würzburg.
Saturday, 22 September - Our final day in Europe! We will leave Würzburg and travel to Frankfurt by coach to catch flight #705 back to Charlotte at 11:45am. We hope your experience has been memorable and that you will tell your friends about your experiences with B-K EuroTours.
(Note: This itinerary may be altered due to weather or other considerations while in Europe.)
Price: $4,399* -includes airfare, hotels, transportation and most meals
$1,200 allowance for airfare if you book your own flight.
*may vary due to exchange rate fluctuations
Deadline to register for the September trip: 1 April 2012
GERMANY!!! FRANCE!!! AUSTRIA!!! SWITZERLAND!!! LUXEMBOURG!!!
This is our premier tour – 19 days in Europe, visiting five beautiful countries, with expert guides, luxurious motor coaches, and a leisurely pace with time to savor the beauty that is Europe. The trip is scheduled for September 4-22, 2012.
We have the opportunity to actually get to know some of the places we will visit. We feel that this is touring at its best – really getting a feel for the places we visit and the things we see. Note also that there will be a maximum of 20 guests on each of our tours, affording maximum personal attention to their needs.
You will be treated to the best in touring experiences, yet our tours are surprisingly affordable and are exceptional values. Our planned itinerary is listed below:
Terms and Conditions
Introduction: Thank you for considering B-K EuroTours for your next getaway. We are excited that you are considering traveling with us on our Greater Europe tour. Over the past 25 years we have led educational trips to Europe. We know Europe and Germany especially, love to travel, and enjoy meeting new people and sharing our experience with them. Our main goal is to have a safe, enjoyable, enlightening tour. We want you to join us again and again. We've tried to cover the main points of concern; however, we encourage your questions or comments. You can reach us via email by going to the "Contact Us" link at the top of this page and entering your query, by phone at 828-719-0195, or by snail mail at 352 Seven Oaks Road, Boone, NC 28607.
Your Tour Guides: I am Bob Goddard, Owner and Chief Fun Officer of B-K EuroTours. I am retired from university teaching after 32 years, and have visited over 30 countries around the world as Director of the International Business Major. I will personally meet you at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and be your tour guide.
Deposit and Final Payment: A deposit of $2,000.00 per person is required to guarantee space on the Greater Europe tour. Deposit is due at the time the reservation is made. Checks and money orders, are accepted. Full payment must be made upon receipt of final invoice approximately 60 days prior to departure. Payments are payable to B-K EuroTours, 352 Seven Oaks Road, Boone, NC 28607.
Hotel Accommodations: We will stay at 3/4-Star hotels. Some hotels might not have an elevator so be prepared to use the stairs. All the accommodations will be clean, have a TV, internet capability, and will have private bath facilities. Unfortunately, not many hotels in Europe have air conditioning. You will be furnished with a list of accommodations and phone numbers before departure. While alternative hotels may be used, all hotel changes are of equal or higher quality to those advertised.
Baggage Handling: Baggage will be loaded and unloaded from the motor coach for you. All other baggage handling will be the responsibility of the tour participant. B-K EuroTours will not be responsible for lost or misplaced baggage.
Meals: A hearty breakfast is included in the price of the tour. Some dinners are included in the price of the tours. Some lunches are also included, and lunches can be obtained at any of the locations we visit at very reasonable prices from local establishments.
Transportation: All ground transportation in Europe is included in the price of the tour. We will travel by luxury motor coach in small groups of 20 or fewer guests. We want this to be fun, not a challenge. We will have a professional driver, as well as a local guide in each of the cities we visit.
Tour Cost: The price of tours described herein includes accommodations with breakfast buffet, dinners, ground transportation in Europe, admissions to all of the sites visited, and guide services. The price of the tour also includes airfare from Charlotte (CLT) to Frankfurt (FRA) and return. Appalachian Travel can make your travel and insurance arrangements; however insurance charges are not included in the price of the tour. If you make your own air reservations, you must be in Frankfurt by 9am on the designated day the tour begins its Germany phase (when we are scheduled to land). Those guests making their own flight arrangements will receive a $1,200 credit on the advertised tour price.
Insurance: B-K EuroTours strongly recommends that you purchase travel insurance. When you book your flight with our travel partner, Appalachian Travel, you may also purchase baggage insurance and trip cancellation insurance.
Health Insurance: If you have a health insurance carrier in the US, please call your carrier and confirm that your coverage is good in Germany and how to file claims. Medicare, however, is only good in the US so a limited term healthcare insurance policy might be a good investment. Health care could be very expensive in Europe. We hope there is no need for any type of health insurance, but accidents and illnesses can happen. It’s always a good idea to have an ample supply of your prescription medications with you in the proper containers.
Itinerary variations: B-K EuroTours reserves the right to make reasonable changes or substitutions to any tour itinerary as we deem necessary, desirable or appropriate.
Passports, Visas, and Other Identification: Citizens of the United States and Canada traveling to Europe must have a valid passport. No visas are required. Citizens of other nations who are resident aliens of the United States must have a valid passport from their country and must carry with them the United States "green card" to re-enter the U.S. The name on the passport and the name on the airline tickets must be the same to avoid confusion when airlines check passports upon departures. We request that you furnish us with a photocopy of the information and picture page of your passport as soon as possible. This facilitates replacement of passports in case of loss or theft, and is necessary for verification of name, age, citizenship when traveling internationally.
Cancellations and Refunds: Any cancellations on the land portion of the tour are subject to the following cancellation charges:
• 90 days prior to departure: deposit fully refundable
• 89-51 days prior to departure: $ 1,800.00 per person fee charged
• 50-15 days prior to departure: $ 1,900.00 per person fee charged
• 14-1 days prior to departure: $ 2,000.00 per person fee charged
• Canceling after tour commences: $ 3,000.00 per person fee charged. If illness or other imperative reasons make it necessary to withdraw from the tour after land arrangements have commenced, a refund may be made for the unused balance of the tour, less cancellation expenses of $2,000.00.
B-K EuroTours Responsibility: B-K EuroTours and/or associated and/or affiliated or subsidiary companies are not responsible for and cannot be held liable for any injury, loss, damage, accident, detention, annoyance, expense or delay arising from (a) quarantine, strikes, force majeure, failure of any vehicle or means of conveyance, restrictions or regulations or through the acts or default of any company or persons engaged in conveying the tour participants or providing any tour service and other cases over which we have no control or (b) through any tardiness, misconduct or illegal acts on the part of any tour participant. Compensation for any mishap must be sought in the country the mishap occurred. B-K EuroTours reserves the right to refuse, accept or retain any person as a member of any tour at any time.
Tour Participants: There is no upper age limit, however, all tour participants must be in good health, able to walk at least 1 mile and negotiate at least 1 flight of stairs. Please consult your doctor with any medical concerns. Please let us know in advance of any specific issues so that we may try to arrange appropriate accommodation.
Luggage: It is the responsibility of the tour participant to claim his/her own luggage from baggage claim at airports and to move the luggage from the arrival area to the motor coach and from the motor coach to the airport check-in upon departure. Check with your airline for size limitations on luggage. B-K EuroTours reserves the right to limit luggage.
Meals and Drinks: Meals are included as specified in the tour itineraries. Breakfast buffet and dinner is included with every night's accommodations, with some lunches. Other lunches, snacks, alcohol, and minibar are the responsibilities of the tour participant.
Items not included in the tour price: The following items are not included in the tour price: Room service, telephone charges, alcoholic beverages, hotel snack and minibar, valet and laundry services, and taxis. Entrance fees for sites when on your own are at the participant's expense.
Smoking: Smoking is not permitted in/on the motor coach, airplanes, and some restaurants and hotels. A smoking room is usually available at most hotels. B-K EuroTours books only non-smoking rooms.
Preparation and Planning: After receipt of reservation form, deposit and copy of passport, tour participants will receive 2 separate packets by mail from B-K EuroTours. Packet 1 contains pre-tour information, emergency contact forms, insurance information, and airline tickets request form. Please complete the appropriate forms and return them to B-K EuroTours as soon as possible. Forms not returned may result in cancellation of tour participation.
Packet 2 contains additional travel information pertaining to places you will visit. It will also contain name tags, luggage tags, phone numbers and addresses of hotels.
Thank you for your interest in B-K EuroTours. We at B-K EuroTours look forward to hearing from you and meeting you on our tours. If you have any questions concerning this or any other tour offered by B-K EuroTours, please contact us at:
Dr. Bob Goddard, Chief Fun Officer
http://www.bkeurotours.com
828-719-0195
I agree to these terms and conditions: ______________________________________/____/_______
(Please print, sign, date, and return this document)
Deadline to register for the September trip is 1 April 2012
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Spaces Left
