Tulips and Tea A Ladies Trip to the Netherlands and Belgium April 25 - May 4, 2014 Springtime in Holland is a magical experience of walking along lush fields of tulips, having dainty tea parties, tasting delicious chocolates, cruising scenic canals and snapping pictures of windmills. Oh, this is made for a special ladies trip! I hope you will plan on joining me next spring to one of my personal favorite regions of all Europe. Martha Highlights of the Tour: Centrally located, charming hotels including the 5 Star Pulitzer Hotel in Amsterdam Keukenhof Gardens- Tulips, Tulips and more Tulips! Anne Frank House Day Trip to the Dutch Countryside Private High Tea Canal Boat Tour of Amsterdam Corrie Ten Boom s House - The Hiding Place Royal Dutch Delftware - De Porceleyne Fles High Tea party at the Le Orangerie along the most scenic canal in Bruges Guided city walking tours of Amsterdam, Delft, Bruges and more...
Our Hotel Locations Amsterdam, Netherlands April 26, 27 & 28 Hotel Pultizer www.pulitzeramsterdam.com http://www.pulitzeramsterdam.com/video? Delft, Netherlands April 29 & 30 Hotel Johannes Vermeer www.hotelvermeer.nl Bruges, Belgium May 1 & 2 Hotel Heritage Relais & Chateaux www.hotel-heritage.com Brussels, Belgium May 3 departing for USA on May 4 Hotel Amigo http://www.hotelamigo.com/
We Start inamsterdam Anne Frank Museum Keukenhof Gardens Dutch Countryside Private Amsterdam Canal Cruise- High Tea The Scenic Jordaan District Corrie Ten Boom s House The Hiding Place Fields of TULIPS! Begijnhof Free Time to Explore
Then on to Delft The markt is the heart of the historical city. It has retained the medieval rectangular shape through the centuries. When you think of Delft, you think of Delftware - and that is no surprise when you consider that Delft ceramics have been an important export product for more than 400 years. We will have a chance to tour the De Porceleyne Fles- the last remaining workshop of hand painted delftware. The shopping is fun along the canals and quaint side streets in this historic town. Here s a short video about Delft: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5krwxrysiu&feature=player_embedded#!
A Stay in Lovely Bruges Known as the Venice of the North, Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and a personal favorite of mine! It was a justified motive that prompted UNESCO in 2000 to include the entire historical city centre on the World Heritage list. Walking along the maze of winding cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you imagine yourself to be in medieval times. The wealth of museums is a striking image of this city's stirring history. With 49 chocolate boutiques, the chocolate museum, a chocolate trail and a chocolate fair, it goes without saying that Bruges is the world s capital of chocolate. The only way to discover this tasty universe is by eating and sampling chocolate, of course. This is a mandatory activity while we are in Bruges. Bruges is a true feast for those who enjoy the good things in life. You might want to join me on an easy bike ride to Damme during our free time. It s just a 30 minute scenic route each way along a canal with picturesque views of windmills, sheep and farm houses. Of course, for all you shoppers, Bruges is really fine!
Finishing in Brussels Our final day will be spent enjoying the old center of town. With boutique shopping, a royal palace, and wonderful ambience, we will end our tour in a grand way! Okay, so we may be staying in the fanciest little hotel in the city center but after several tea parties and tip toeing through tulip gardens, you are quite spoiled by now! Even though Brussels is the capital of Belgium, the center of the European Union and the headquarters of NATO, we will try to focus on it s old world charm. This afternoon we will stay in the old city center around our boutique hotel... it will be a pleasant low key afternoon to enjoy an outdoor cafe on the Grand Place, including a stop at one or maybe two of the famous chocolate shops. Oh, and we must have a Belgium waffle! I know just the place.
DAILY ITINERARY Friday, April 25, 2014 - Depart US for Amsterdam See recommended flights at the end of this itinerary. Saturday, April 26 - Arrival Day You will arrive this morning into Amsterdam s Schiphol Airport and be transported to our hotel as a group. There is a nice welcome surprise waiting for you this afternoon. Our private Salonboat will pick us up right in front of our 5 star hotel that is situated on the prettiest canal in Amsterdam- the Prinsengracht, for a High Tea at 4:00PM. We can enjoy some scones with clotted cream & marmelade while gazing upon 17th century dwellings with fancy gables. Welcome to Amsterdam! Sunday, April 27 - A Tour of The Dutch Countryside We meet this morning in the hotel lobby at 9:00 AM for a full day in the Dutch Countryside. On this day, we will discover the typical sights of Holland. First, we drive to the famous windmills area in Zaanse Schans. Then, we continue to the scenic villages of Marken, Monnickendam and Broek in Waterland. All places that represent the history of Holland in a delightful, visual display for our visit to the Netherlands.
Monday, April 28 - Amsterdam Our local guide will meet us this morning in the lobby of our hotel at 9:00 AM as we take a walking tour around the most lovely of all Amsterdam neighborhoods- The Jordaan- which is also the location of our hotel. Our guide will also take us to the Begijnhof, a lovely courtyard with a small church and gorgeous houses in the most peaceful place in the busy city center. A stop at the Anne Frank house, which was a hideout for Anne and her family during the Nazi occupation, will be included in the tour. Your afternoon is at leisure to shop and maybe visit some of Amsterdam s greatest museums: Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh. Our hotel is located in the 9 Little Streets shopping district. Yes, I planned that with you in mind! Tuesday, April 29 - Tulip Day and Corrie ten Boom House Today we will be going to one of the most beautiful spring gardens in the world. More than 7 million bulbs are planted each year in more than 1600 varieties. We will be most impressed at the spectacle of endless fields of tulips which are some of the most photographed sights in all of Europe. Get those cameras ready! We will have lunch at leisure at the Keukenhof, then drive through the tulip fields towards Amsterdam and enjoy the spectacular view of fields full of bulb flowers stretching into the distance.
Our next stop will be in Haarlem just a short drive west of Amsterdam to visit the home of a very special lady, Corrie ten Boom who authored The Hiding Place along with other moving and inspirational books. We will actually have a time to sit in her living room and see the Hiding Place as I have reserved a private tour just for our group. We will then arrive in Delft for a two night stay. The rest of the evening will be at your leisure to shop and stroll in this most enjoyable little town. Wednesday, April 30 - A Day in Delightful Delft Our local guide will be waiting for us at 9:00 AM for our city walking tour through Delft. We will walk through the beautiful old center of the town along the canals and many almshouses and then visit the Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory De Porceleyne Fles (established in 1653 and is the last remaining Delftware factory from the 17th century). The world famous Royal Delfware is still entirely hand painted according to centuries old tradition. After lunch, you will have the afternoon to wander through Delft which has a quaint, small village atmosphere. Just right for the ladies to enjoy! Thursday, May 1 - Bruges We will be on our way to Belgium this morning and also, one of my favorite places in all of Europe... Lovely Bruges. Our hotel is perfectly situated near the Market Place and within a short walking distance of the city s most desirable sites.
Our local guide will be waiting for us in the hotel lobby at 1:00 PM for a walking tour through Bruges. We will walk through the historical city center and also take a boat tour along the canals. Bring your camera! This afternoon I have a very special treat for you. We have a reserved high tea party at 4:00 PM at the Le Orangerie - one of the most scenic parts of the old city along the canal. An afternoon you will remember as one of your favorites for sure. Get out tonight and explore some. It is my favorite time to walk through the city! Friday, May 2 - A Day in Beautiful Bruges with Chocolate Workshop You will have a leisurely day to enjoy in Bruges. There is wonderful shopping here along with many chocolate tasting opportunities. You might want to rent a bicycle for a ride to nearby Damme this morning. We have a private one hour chocolate workshop this afternoon. I think you are going to like this place!
Saturday, May 3 - Brussels Our bus will depart around 10:00 AM for our 1 hour bus ride to Brussels. Once we arrive and check in to our Brussels hotel near the Grand Place, you will have your final afternoon to enjoy the old city center of quaint guild houses, chocolate shops, lots of Belgium waffles and outdoor cafes. Our 5 star hotel is perfectly located for you to come and go as it is just behind the Grand Place. You may not want to go home the next day! Sunday, May 4 - Departure Day This morning you will make your own way by taxi to the airport for your departing flight home. Please see flight recommendations at the end of this itinerary document.
Recommended Flights from Houston: United (which is a STAR ALLIANCE team member) Departing Friday, April 25, 2014 at 3:35 PM Flight #UA58 Houston (George Bush Intercontinental) - Amsterdam (Schiphol) Arriving Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 8:20 AM Amsterdam Departing Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 11:00 AM Brussels - Flight #UA973 Arriving Chicago at 12:55 PM Departing Chicago at 3:25 PM - Flight #UA1662 Arriving Houston at 6:14 PM KLM (which is a SKY team member with Delta). Departing Friday, April 25, 2014 at 3:10 PM Flight #662 Houston (George Bush Intercontinental) - Amsterdam (Schiphol) Arriving Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 7:30 AM Amsterdam Departing Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 8:15 AM Brussels (Brussels National) - Houston (George Bush Intercontinental) with stop in Amsterdam. Flight #1722- Brussels to Amsterdam Flight# 661- Amsterdam to Houston Arriving 1:05 PM Houston
Terms and Conditions Tulips and Tea: A Ladies Tour April 25 - May 4, 2014 Price: 2795 Euro Costs per person sharing in Double room - twin beds available for this tour Single Supplement - 1160 per person Please note: US Dollar conversion will be sent one week prior to due date as currency prices fluctuate. Package includes: Accommodation for 8 nights with full breakfast buffet included: 5 Star Pultizer Hotel, Amsterdam - 3 nights 3 Star Hotel Johannes Vermeer, Delft- 2 nights 4 Star Hotel Heritage Relais and Chateaux, Bruges - 2 nights 5 Star Hotel Amigo, Brussels - 1 night Services of Driver and Coach Price includes transfers on arrival day but not departure day (taxi to the Brussels Airport from our hotel) Services of Tour Manager/Guide for full duration of program All taxes and charges Tips to guides, drivers and porters Private boat cruise in Amsterdam including High Tea High Tea at Le Orangerie in Bruges Private chocolate workshop in Bruges Local walking tour with private city guides in Amsterdam, Delft and Bruges Entrance fees to all places as mentioned in the itinerary: Anne Frank House Keukenhof Gardens Windmill at Zaanse Schans Private visit and guided tour of Corrie ten Boom House Porceleyne Fles Canal Boat Cruise in Bruges Whisper headsets for touring Additional: Airfare. This is a land only price. Transfer upon departure from Brussels hotel to airport Meals that are not stated as included in the itinerary Any activities such as shopping, admissions, concerts or museum visits not included in the above list of covered expenses Any charges incurred for special individual services or incidentals will be paid by the tour participant to the hotel Any transportation for the activities the client might choose during leisure time and/or not specifically included in the tour Travel insurance (if desired) to be purchased by the tour participant
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