Prague trip 2007

A Leger coach tour, 5th to 13th April 2007
The brochure says 'Discover the elegance and imposing grace of the mystical cities of Eastern Europe'. Travel by Silver Service luxury coach; 9 nights’ accommodation with continental breakfast, 6 evening meals; 5 excursions and visits to: Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna, Györ and Schönbrunn Palace Gardens.

DAY 1, Thursday, 5th April:

By coach from Milton Keynes (10.30am) to Dover for the 1515 P&O ferry to arrive in Calais at 1745. On to the hotel at Mercure Brussels Airport by 2130. Dinner not included tonight.

DAY 2, Friday 6th April Good Friday: Prague

An early start to travel across Germany bypassing Charlemagne's Aachen, Nuremburg and the Czech town of Pilzen, the official capital of West Bohemia. We are due to arrive in Prague at 2030 for two night stay at the 3 star IBIS Hotel Karlin.

DAY 3, Saturday 7th April: Prague

A full day in Prague starting with:

Guided walking tour Our tour introduces the splendid architecture of Prague Old Town, the world's largest UNESCO monument, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square and old town square.

Following the tour there is an optional:

Cruise on the River Moldau.. €25 per person. The cruise, during which a commentary will be provided, will take you along the majestic Moldau River past spectacualt views of the famous sights of the city. Coffee and cake will be served and you can sit ont he sundeck and listen to the musician and admire the oustanding views of the city of a hundred spires.

In the evening there is a choice of dinner at the hotel or:

Czech Folklore Show. €30 per person. Celebrate the tradition of Czech music and dance at our optional evening folklore show with a traditional three-course Czech dinner and unlimited drinks. Your coach will take you to see the world famous Czech song and dance ensemble founded in 1947. Local men and women wearing national costume will perform traditional dances that have been passed down from generation to generation. Join in the dancing. If you take this excursion you do not have diner at the hotel - the price reflects this.

DAY 4, Sunday 8th April: Prague to Bratislava and Budapest

After breakfast to leave Prague and heaad south past Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, and cross the border into Slovakia where we may experience some delay. We head to Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, full of Habsburg Baroque architecture and a lively cosmopolitan atmosphere. We continue south, skirting Autria and cross the border into Hungary reaching our hotel in Budapest at about 1800.

We'll stay for two nights at the Hotel Budapest with its unique cylindrical-shaped architectural style towers at the foot of Castle Hill. This evening there is an option tour

Budapest by Night €20 per person. We start with a walk through the park tot he castle where we can enjoy a short organ concert inthe chapel. We continue to Heroes Square for a photo stop and see the medieval castle wall before joining the coach for an illumination drive on the Pest side of the city

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5, Monday 9th April:

Full day in Budapest. The city is composed of two historically independent communities, Buda and Pest, separated by the River Danube. Our included guided sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city's spectacular sights including the impressive Parliament Buildigns, St Stephen's Cathedral, Heroes Square (from the Revolution) and the huge Citadel. There is an optional:

Danube Lunch Cruise. €33 per person. The cruise, during which a commentary will be provided, will take you along the majextic Danube River past spectacular views of the famous sights of the city. A sumptuous lunch of traditional Hungarian dishes is provided with a complimentary drink from the bar.

The rest of the day is 'at leisure' to explore. You may wish to stroll by the river or visit the tempting stores of Vaci Utca Street.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 6, Tuesday 10th April: Györ and Schönbrunn

After breakfast we leave Budapest and drive to the beautiful town of Györ. The Roman's called it Arrabon or 'the town of rivers'. It is famous for schools and industry. There will be time 'at leisure' to explore some of the best examples of Hungarian Renaissance and Baroque architecture. This is followed by a visit to:

Schönbrunn Palace. An afternoon excursion to this UNESCO World Heritage Site which, with its gardens and park, will take you into a magnificent world of Baroque culture. Inside the Palace you'll learn all sorts of interesting facts about the imperial family (entrance to the Palace not included) while you can continue to enjoy further aspects of Baroque culture with a relaxing stroll around the gardens.

On to the Vienna Woods area for a two-night stay at the Hotel Weinerwaldhof where we should arrive at about 1630. We have dinner at the hotel which can be followed by an optional:

Vienna Palace Concert. €36 per person. Spend an evening at teh Sound of Vienna - Kursalon and enjoy amazing musicians, extraordianry opera singers and enchanting ballet dancers as they present an evening filled with Viennese charm, joyful waltzes, polkas and operetta melodies.

Day 7, Wednesday 11th April: Vienna

We have a full day in the former imperial city of Vienna. It is also the world capital of classical music, having been home to many famous composers, and has a fascinating heritage as the centre of the Hapsburg empire.
There is a lot of walking involved to see the sights but there is an optional:

Guided Sightseeing Tour by coach. €17 per person. We will be taken along the Imperial Boulevard known as the Ringstrasse. Here we will see the Hoffburg Palace, The Parliament Building, the Opera House, the National Theatre and the City Hall. During the tour we will also see the 'Giant Wheel' as we pass by the Prater amusement park. The wheel was built over 100 years ago and is one of the most well-known landmarks of the city. There will be frequest stops during the drive so we can take photographs. The guide will provide commentary throughout.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 8, Thursday 12th April: Belgium

An early start this morning. After breakfast we leave the Vienna Woods and make our way through the beautiful Wachau region of Austria before heading north into Germany. Continuing north we travel through the heart of the German countryside bypassing Passau, Nürnberg, Frankfurt and Cologne. We cross the border into Belgium and arrive at our overnight hotel, the Novotel Brussels Airport at about 2000. Dinner not included tonight.

Day 9, Friday 13th April: home

After breakfast we leave the hotel and head for Calais. If time allows we will call at a cash & carry. We are booked on the 1400 ferry and should be in Dover at 1430. We are due to arrive at Milton Keynes Coachway at 1835.

Prague, Vienna and Budapest