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Itinerary

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Day 2: Arrive Amsterdam After arriving in the Dutch capital, there’s time to relax at our center-city hotel before this afternoon’s walking tour of the area. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. D

Day 3: Amsterdam We discover this canal-laced capital city on a morning tour, passing such highlights as the Royal Palace, Floating Flower Market, central Dam Square, the renowned Red Light District, and the historic canals lined with houseboats. Then we visit the renowned Rijksmuseum, where a guide illuminates for us the Golden Age of Dutch painting through works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and other masters. Our tour ends here; we are free to continue exploring the museum on our own; to visit the Van Gogh Museum next door; tour the famed Anne Frank House; or explore the new Hermitage Amsterdam, a Western branch of the famed Russian museum. This evening we enjoy a candlelight canal cruise with wine and cheese. Dinner tonight is on our own. B

Day 4: Amsterdam/Kinderdijk/Shoonhaven Today we travel to the village of Kinderdijk to see The Netherlands’ iconic windmills. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the 19 original windmills date to medieval times and still operate today. We continue on to Shoonhaven, renowned for its clockmakers and silver crafters and where we enjoy lunch together in a local restaurant. We return to our hotel late afternoon; this evening is at leisure. B,L

Day 5: Amsterdam/Bruges We travel today to Bruges, capital of Belgium’s West Flanders region and city of art and commerce; canals and lace-making. Our afternoon walking tour features the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site with most of its medieval buildings and cobblestone streets still intact. We take a cruise along the romantic canals then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 6: Bruges This morning we visit a chocolatier to watch the candy-making process and of course, to sample the goods.  Then the remainder of the day is ours to do as we wish in this beloved city.  Options abound:  the Bruges Musem showcases a treasure-trove of art, from Flemish primitives to contemporary;  Bequinage Convent offers tranquil respite from the city; and, the “world’s capital of chocolate” has some 50 chocolate shops and even a museum of chocolate. Our hotel, a former 17th-century monastery, sits within easy walking distance to anywhere in the city. B

Day 7: Bruges/Ghent/Brussels En route to Brussels today we stop in vibrant Ghent, capital of Belgium’s East Flanders region and the country’s “flower city.” A walking tour here includes a visit to St. Bavos Cathedral, filled with priceless artworks including a 24-panel alter piece by Jan van Eyck and works by Peter Paul Rubens. We travel on to Brussels, capital of the country and of the European Union. On arrival we pass by some of the city’s highlights then take a guided walk around Gran Place, Brussels’ central market square flanked by medieval guild houses and the beautifully-proportioned Town Hall. We dine together tonight at a local restaurant. B

Day 8: Brussels This morning we visit the splendid Royal Museums of Fine Art to tour the Museum of Ancient Art, housing an immense collection of paintings, sculpture, and drawings from the 15th to 18th centuries. Highlights here include works by Bruegel, van Dyck, and some 20 Rubens’. The remainder of the day is free to explore independently; we can remain at the Royal Museums (including the newly-opened Magritte Museum and the Museum of Modern Art), or enjoy Brussels’ many attractions at our leisure – perhaps tasting some of Belgium’s renowned beers along the way. B

Day 9: Brussels/Paris We travel this morning by motorcoach to the French capital, the celebrated “City of Light.” Upon arrival we get oriented with a sightseeing tour passing such high­lights as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and grand Champs-Elysees. Then the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore Paris as we wish; from magnificent art and stylish boutiques to storied landmarks and historic parks and gardens, Paris presents choices for every traveler. B,D

Day 10: Paris This morning we tour the fabled Louvre, the world’s most visited museum whose treasures include da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the ancient Greek sculpture of Aphrodite known as the “Venus de Milo,” and some of the 35,000 works on display, from Egyptian antiquities, Etruscan artifacts, and sculpture through Islamic art, objets d’art, and 13th to 19th-century drawings and paintings. After lunch at a local restaurant we embark on a walking tour of Montmarte, the former Right Bank neighborhood of artists and Bohemians, home of the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, and today a designated historic district. This evening is at leisure for dinner on our own in this most gastronomic of cities. B,L

Day 11: Paris A free day in Paris, and options truly abound ... from museums: Musée d’Orsay, housing Impressionist masterpieces; the Rodin Museum of sculpture; Picasso Museum; Centre Pompidou of contemporary art; intimate Sainte-Chapelle, with its extraordinary stained glass windows; Musée de Cluny, with priceless medieval tapestries; Pantheon, resting place of such national heroes as Victor Hugo … to parks and gardens:  neo-classical Jardin des Tuileries, one of the city’s most popular green spaces; English-style Parc Monceau; beloved Place des Vosges in the historic Marais neighborhood; Luxembourg Gardens, once open only to royalty ... to singular Parisean activities: boarding a bateau mouche for a cruise along the Seine; visiting Notre Dame, Les Invalides, or going to the top of the Eiffel Tower; sipping cappuccino at a Left Bank café; exploring the Catacombs or Pere Lachaise Cemetery; taking the Metro to the Palace of Versailles … Tonight we celebrate our European adventure over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.  B,D

Day 12: Depart Paris for U.S. We transfer to the airport this morning for our return flight to the United States. B

Included

Tour Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities
• 10 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class and First Class hotels
• 17 meals: 10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours)

Dates and Prices

2010 Tour Dates & Prices

	Sep 1 Sep 22 Oct 6
Boston, New York	$3,595
Baltimore, Washington, DC	$3,795
Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cinc, Cleveland, Dallas,  Detroit, Hou, Mia, Orlando, Tampa	$3,895
Denver, Los Ang, Minn, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Fran, Seattle	$3,995

Please call for prices if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Single travelers please add $1,295. Your $375 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure.  All 2010 tour prices above are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: $3,195 per person

Airline taxes and departure fees of $437 per person are subject to change and will be listed separately on your invoice.

Hotels

Hotels & Ratings

Day Itinerary Hotel Rating 1 Depart U.S. for Amsterdam 2-4 Amsterdam NH Barbizon Palace Sup. First Class 5-6 Bruges NH Brugge First Class 7-8 Brussels Conrad Brussels Deluxe 9-11 Paris Hotel Rochester Champs Elysees Sup. First Class 12 Depart Paris for U.S

Ratings are based on the Official Hotel Guide, the travel industry standard reference.