EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKET TOUR

We invite you on an unforgettable journey, one that will fill your heart with warmth and give you true holiday spirit.  Enjoy the feeling of an "Old World Christmas".  The European Christmas Markets have been celebrated for hundreds of years and still today, transform town squares and narrow streets into magical wonderlands.  The Christmas Markets are filled with unique decorative and edible symbols of the season, as well as wonderful cultural events.  Listen to the carolers singing in front of town hall.  Savor the smells of gingerbread, fruitcake, grilled sausages and seasonal beverages.  Visit the many special Christmas Markets of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic and Scandinavia.  See the wonderful decorations, listen to the beautiful Advent concerts and visit many special Christmas exhibits.  Take home unique gifts of handcrafted ornaments, nutcrackers, and tinsel angels.  I will share with you places where I have lived, visited and grown to love.  We will gather memories to last a lifetime. 

CHRISTMAS MARKET TOUR TO GERMANY

 Visiting Lower Saxony & North-Rhine Westphalia

(Featuring Osnabruck, Hameln, Celle, Munster & Bremen)

November 30-December 8, 2012

(Limited to 12 passengers)

Friday, November 30-Depart on your trans-Atlantic flight from Chicago O’Hare to Dusseldorf, Germany.

Saturday, December 1-Arrive Dusseldorf, Germany and transfer via our private motorcoach to the Romantik Hotel Walhalla in Osnabruck for a 7 night stay.  Situated in the heart of the old town of Osnabruck, the half-timbered Romantik Hotel Walhalla is the oldest inn in the town with a long history of offering hospitality to travelers.  Founded as a simple wine tavern in 1690, the hotel’s establishment started to offer accommodation in 1820 and has now developed into a Romantik Hotel which in the past few years has counted among its guests the Dalai Lama, 5 royal families & 9 national presidents.  Remainder of the day is free.  Dinner tonight in the hotel’s Historical Dining Room.

Sunday, December 2-Osnabruck founded by Charlemagne in 780 AD , is situated in the middle of Germany’s largest nature reserve.  It is also a city most famous for its enduring commitment to peace and conflict resolution.  Known as “The City of Peace”, Osnabruck was one of the two locations where the Peace of Westphalia treaty was signed in 1648 to end the 30 Years War.  It is the birthplace of Erich Maria Remarque , one of the best-known & widely read authors of 20th century German literature of which his most famous work, “All Quiet on the Western Front” is still highly acclaimed.   It is also the birthplace of the internationally renowned 20th century painter Felix Nussbaum who died in 1944 in the Auschwitz concentration camp.  In the morning, we will have a tour of the main historical sites in the Old Town; the Town Hall,  Hegertor, Cathedral, St. Mary’s Church , etc.  Afterwards, you will have free time to enjoy the Christmas Market.

Monday, December 3-Today we visit the beautiful & enchanting town of Hameln which lies in a charming setting on the River Weser, surrounded by a ridge of wooded hills.  The River Weser, which flows through the town, became the inspiration for the fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm, of which Hameln is primarily famous for the Legend of the Pied Piper.  With our local guide, we will see the main historical sites in the Old Town (magnificent buildings in the Weser Renaissance style), Pied Piper’s House, Backerstrasse, Minster of St. Boniface, etc.  Afterwards, you will have free time to enjoy the Christmas Market. 

Tuesday, December 4-Today we visit the beautiful & historical Old Town of Celle.  Untouched by WWII, the Old Town appears fairytale-like and contains more than 500 well preserved half-timbered houses from the 16th to 18th centuries.  Our local guide will take us on a tour to see the main sites in the Old Town.  Afterwards, we will visit the Herzog Schloss (Ducal Palace) once the residence of the mighty Duchy of Luneburg which contains the ducal state chamber in 17th century early baroque style, the oldest theatre in Germany still in use (from 1674),  a complete palace kitchen from the 18th century & a 16th century palace chapel.  Afterwards, you will have free time to enjoy the Christmas Market.      

Wednesday, December 5-We leave today for the city of Munster, whose history dates back to the 9th century.  Munster was a member of the Hanseatic League and one of the 2 places where the Peace of Westphalia treaty was signed ending the Thirty Years’ War.  We join our local guide to visit the beautiful sites in the Old Town; the Cathedral of St. Paul , St. Lambert’s Church, the Town Hall, etc.  There will be time to visit the Christmas Markets before we visit the magnificent Burg Vishering one of the finest moated castles in Germany.  The castle was founded in 1270 and extended in the 16^th and 17 centuries.  It was virtually untouched during WWII & retains its drawbridge, courtyard and chapel.  In the evening, we return to Osnabruck for dinner in a local restaurant.

Thursday, December 6-Today we travel north to the Hanseatic city of Bremen.  Our tour will take us to the Old Town to see the Cathedral, the Town Hall & Roland Statue (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), Schnoorviertal  (historic district of 15^th & 16^th century gabled houses), the Bottcherstrasse (pedestrian street zone which depicts Nouveau and Art Deco masterpieces), The Town Musicians (Brother’s Grimm statue), etc.  Later, we will enjoy a tour of the internationally famous Beck’s Brewery.  Afterwards, there is time to enjoy the atmospheric Christmas Market.

Friday, December 7-Free day to enjoy on your own.  Tonight we have our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Saturday, December 8-Our private motorcoach will transfer us to the Dusseldorf Airport for our return flight to O’Hare.

TOUR COST INCLUDES: LAND ONLY

*7 NIGHTS OF ACCOMMODATION WITH PRIVATE FACILITIES AT THE ROMANTIK HOTEL WALHALLA IN OSNABRUCK.

*TEN MEALS-7 BUFFET BREAKFASTS AND 3 SPECIAL DINNERS.

*TRANSPORTATION BY PRIVATE MOTORCOACH.

*ALL SIGHTSEEING, TRANSFERS AND EXCURSIONS.

*SERVICES OF A FRIENDLY & EXPERIENCED DRIVER.

*PORTERAGE AT HOTELS.

*ALL ROAD TAXES AND TOLLS.

*ALL OPERATIONAL AND RESERVATION COSTS.

*TOUR INFORMATION PACKET.

*ESCORTED BY PAMELA ANN DIXON, CTC, DS, ACC (Bilingual in German & English).

TOUR COST PER PERSON-LAND ONLY

$2075.00 PP BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (THE COST IS BASED ON A MINIMUM OF 10 PASSENGERS).  SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IS $475.00.

PLEASE NOTE:  DUE TO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE FOREIGN CURRENCY MARKET, DESTINATIONS BY DIXON RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJUST THE USD TO EURO RATE RATIO.

AIRFARE

PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR INFORMATION ON AIRFARE SCHEDULES AND PRICES FROM YOUR GATEWAY CITY.  IF YOU WILL USE FREQUENT FLIER MILEAGE, PLEASE CONTACT US TO MAKE SURE YOUR ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES WILL MEET OUR TRANSFER.

DESTINATIONS BY DIXON

CONTACT:  Pamela A. Dixon, CTC, DS, ACC

TEL: (815) or (877) 439-7999; EMAIL: destbydixon@comcast.net

http://www.destinationsbydixon.com

http://www.facebook.com/destinationsbydixon

http://www.twitter.com/travelvirtuoso

Contact US

Destinations By Dixon
2364 Essington Road
Suite 508
Joliet, Illinois  60435

Email:  info@destinationsbydixon.com