Insight > European Breakaway

European Breakaway
11 Days starting from $2,499

Countries Visited:
England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, France

 

Length: 11 Days
Type: First Class Tour
Category: European Discovery
Operator: Insight
Tour Code: E920
   
 
About This Tour


This is a well paced tour with two-night stays in Amsterdam, Lucerne and Paris, allowing plenty of time for in-depth sightseeing. The only one-night stay is in the delightful Hessische Bergstrasse region of Germany.

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

Insight's First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director (hosted by Insight staff in London)
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  • Airport arrival transfer Day 2 and departure transfer in Paris on Day 11

Quality Dining

  • Highlight Dinner aboard a floating restaurant on Amsterdam Harbour (HD)
  • 1 Continental (CB), 1 Full Breakfast (B) & 7 enhanced or Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 2 three-course table d’hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

11 Days ~ England ~ Belgium ~ Holland ~ Germany ~ Switzerland ~ France

Tour Pace
This is a well paced tour with two-night stays in Amsterdam, Lucerne and Paris, allowing plenty of time for in-depth sightseeing. The only one-night stay is in the delightful Hessische Bergstrasse region of Germany. The driving days are comfortable with frequent stops.

DAY 1 – THU – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to London.

DAY 2 – FRI – ARRIVE LONDON
Welcome to London! On arrival you are transferred to your London tour hotel.
Hotel: Thistle Marble Arch.

DAY 3 – SAT – LONDON SIGHTSEEING
Your half day sightseeing tour shows you Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The afternoon is free to explore or shop. (B)

DAY 4 – SUN – LONDON – AMSTERDAM
Meet your Tour Director and drive to Dover for the short English Channel crossing to Calais. Pass historic Dunkirk, famous for its Second World War evacuations, and follow the coast north into Belgium. Enter your fourth country, the Netherlands, passing windmills on the way to the cultural capital of Amsterdam, ‘City of Canals’. In the evening, enjoy a Welcome Drink with the Tour Director before boarding a canal cruise. Glide past high gabled houses and under low bridges to alight at a floating restaurant on Amsterdam’s magnificent harbour. Here, you will share a Highlight Dinner with your tour companions.
Hotel: Moevenpick City Centre. (CB,HD)

DAY 5 – MON – AMSTERDAM SIGHTSEEING
An orientation tour reveals the Mint Tower, Dam Square and Royal Palace. Then drive through the Dutch countryside, with its windmills and canals, to the old, traditional village of Volendam, situated on what was once the Zuider Zee. Later, make a photo-stop beside one of the picturesque windmills and then visit a cheese farm and a ‘Klompenhuis’, where wooden clogs are made. Return to Amsterdam for a visit to a diamond cutting factory, whose industry dates back to the 16th century. This evening, consider a visit to the famous Sailors’ Quarter. (BB)

DAY 6 – TUE – AMSTERDAM – RHINELAND
Today you pass the border town of Arnhem, renowned for its ‘Bridge Too Far’ (the Rhine bridge which was the object of bitter fighting at the end of the Second World War), then cross the extensive Ruhr Basin to Cologne. This city was also badly damaged in the war, but its superb Gothic Cathedral survived. Take time to marvel at the soaring vaults and spires, and to stroll in the bustling pedestrian mall. Then it’s on to Bonn, birthplace of Beethoven and capital of West Germany for more than 40 years until Berlin was reinstated as capital of a reunified Germany after the fall of the wall. Travel to the picturesque Rhine Gorge to board a Highlight Cruise at Boppard, and glide past medieval hill-top castles and steep leafy vineyards to the legendary Loreley Rock. Rejoin the coach at St Goar and continue to Bensheim, the ‘town of flowers and wine’ on the Bergstrassse (literally ‘Mountain Road’).
Hotel: Clarion Collection Parkhotel Krone. (BB,D)

DAY 7 – WED – RHINELAND – LUCERNE
Visit Heidelberg, city of the ‘Student Prince’, on the banks of the River Neckar and view the ruined clifftop castle. Take the scenic route along the Rhine Valley to the ancient city of Freiburg, before climbing into the heart of the Black Forest, home of the cuckoo clock industry. After stopping to see how these clocks are made, continue past Lake Titisee and across the Swiss border to Schaffhausen. Admire the Rhine River thundering over the Rhine Falls before driving, via Zurich, to lakeside Lucerne. After checking into your hotel, shop for chocolate or a special timepiece, and consider joining an optional Swiss Fondue Party in the evening.
Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 8 – THU – LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING
See Lucerne’s proud Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff and dedicated to the Swiss Guards massacred defending the King during the French Revolution. Take time to stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and see the baroque Jesuit church. Enjoy an exciting Premium Highlight – an exhilarating ride by cog-wheel train and cable-car to the summit of Mount Pilatus. Admire the stunning panorama of snow-capped peaks – including the Eiger and Jungfrau – before descending over mountain crags and pine forests back to terra firma. (BB,D)

DAY 9 – FRI – LUCERNE – PARIS
Leaving the Alpine region, cross the Rhine at Basel and continue into France. Travel past the fortified town of Belfort, gateway to Alsace, and along the forested ridges of the Jura Mountains into Burgundy. Continue through leafy vineyards and past the forests of Fontainebleau to arrive in the glittering French capital of Paris for a two-night stay. Why not sample the fabulous local cuisine tonight?
Hotel: Marriott Rive Gauche. (BB)

DAY 10 – SAT – PARIS SIGHTSEEING
A sightseeing tour with a local guide takes you by the Île de la Cité to see Notre Dame Cathedral with its famous tale of Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame. Pass the immense facades of the Louvre and marvel at Garnier’s splendid Opera House. See the Obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and drive along the elegant Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. A Premium Highlight takes you up to the viewing platforms of the wonderful Eiffel Tower for spectacular views of the city. Visit the magnificent gilded Église du Dôme to see the imposing tomb of Napoleon. Spend the afternoon exploring Paris at your own pace. Perhaps take an optional tour to magnificent Versailles and, by night, why not join in the fun at a world famous cabaret show? (BB)

DAY 11 – SUN – RETURN TO USA
Your tour ends with a transfer to the airport. (BB)


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)
8/21/2008 - 8/31/2008
$2,535
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8/28/2008 - 9/7/2008
$2,535
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9/4/2008 - 9/14/2008
$2,535
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9/18/2008 - 9/28/2008
$2,575
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9/25/2008 - 10/5/2008
$2,575
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10/2/2008 - 10/12/2008
$2,535
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4/2/2009 - 4/12/2009
$2,750
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4/16/2009 - 4/26/2009
$2,850
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4/23/2009 - 5/3/2009
$2,890
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4/30/2009 - 5/10/2009
$2,935
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5/7/2009 - 5/17/2009
$2,999
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5/14/2009 - 5/24/2009
$2,999
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5/21/2009 - 5/31/2009
$2,999
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5/28/2009 - 6/7/2009
$2,999
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6/4/2009 - 6/14/2009
$3,050
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6/11/2009 - 6/21/2009
$2,999
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6/18/2009 - 6/28/2009
$2,999
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6/25/2009 - 7/5/2009
$2,999
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7/2/2009 - 7/12/2009
$2,950
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7/9/2009 - 7/19/2009
$2,950
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7/16/2009 - 7/26/2009
$2,950
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7/23/2009 - 8/2/2009
$2,950
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7/30/2009 - 8/9/2009
$2,950
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8/6/2009 - 8/16/2009
$2,950
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8/13/2009 - 8/23/2009
$2,950
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8/20/2009 - 8/30/2009
$2,999
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8/27/2009 - 9/6/2009
$2,999
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9/3/2009 - 9/13/2009
$2,999
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9/10/2009 - 9/20/2009
$3,290
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9/17/2009 - 9/27/2009
$3,050
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9/24/2009 - 10/4/2009
$3,050
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10/1/2009 - 10/11/2009
$2,999
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Hotels
Hotels on this tour are mostly modern and all well-appointed. They range from the Marriott Rive Gauche in Paris, located on the left bank of the river Seine, to the Astoria in the heart of Lucerne and the elegantly styled Moevenpick City Centre in Amsterdam.

Fellow Passengers
This tour attracts many first-time visitors to Europe who want to see the contrasts of the Continent in one week. This tour whets the appetite for more extensive tours in the future, and is the perfect introduction to European touring.

Highlights
The canal cruise and Highlight Dinner on a floating restaurant in Amsterdam contrasts with the scenic cruise along the Rhine; the ascent of Mount Pilatus contrasts with the ascent of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but both reveal spectacular views.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights plus these extra tour features

Excursions & Sights

  • See all the sights of London’s West End
  • Visit the pretty Dutch fishing village of Volendam
  • Enjoy demonstrations of cheese-making, clog-making and diamond cutting in Holland
  • See Amsterdam’s Dam Square, Royal Palace and Mint TowerSee the ‘Bridge too far’ in Arnhem
  • See the soaring Gothic cathedral in Cologne See Heidelberg’s red sandstone castle
  • Scenic Black Forest drive
  • Cuckoo clock making demonstration in the Black Forest
  • Visit the Rhine Falls
  • See Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument & Jesuit Church Drive past the Louvre and along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
  • See Notre Dame Cathedral, the Place de la Concorde & Opera House in Paris

Guided City Tours

  • In-depth sightseeing tours with audio headsets where appropriate in London & Paris
  • Orientation tours in Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg & Lucerne

Insight's First Class Services

  • Escorted by a professional Tour Director (hosted by Insight staff in London)
  • Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
  • Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
  • Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
  • Airport arrival transfer Day 2 and departure transfer in Paris on Day 11

Quality Dining

  • Highlight Dinner aboard a floating restaurant on Amsterdam Harbour (HD)
  • 1 Continental (CB), 1 Full Breakfast (B) & 7 enhanced or Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 2 three-course table d’hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

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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