Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B= Breakfast, D = Dinner

Day 1: Wednesday, December 5, 2018: Depart North America
We will depart from the USA today. Flight bookings and pre-tour arrangements can be made through Reformation Tours. Early arrivals will stay in Munich. (IF)

Day 2: Thursday, December 6, 2018: Munich
This morning we will have an orientation tour of Munich, including the Marienplatz and the town hall with its delightful Glockenspiel. We will also enjoy our first Christmas Market and sample a glass of Glühwein, which is a hot wine punch. After time to browse the market, we will check-in to our hotel near Salzburg. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (IF/D)

Day 3: Friday, December 7, 2018: Oberndorf, Salzburg
After enjoying the breakfast buffet in the hotel, a local guide will take us on a musical tour of Salzburg in the footsteps of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and many other composers and musicians. We will have time to visit the Christmas Market before heading to the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria. The original poem was written by a priest from Salzburg, called Joseph Mohr. He asked Franz Xaver Gruber to compose the music, so that it could be used for the Christmas Eve service. It’s such a popular carol that UNESCO declared “Silent Night” part of our “intangible cultural heritage.”

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NjQJw0DQrA[/embedyt]

We will return to our hotel for an early dinner, before we attend the festive “Salzburg Advent Singing” concert in the grand festival hall. More than 150 singers, musicians, and actors are involved in this moving performance of Christmas carols and Alpine music. (B/D)

Day 4: Saturday, December 8, 2018: Nuremberg, Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber
We will return to Germany this morning to visit the world-famous Christkindlmarkt in Nuremberg. While we are in Nuremberg , we’ll also visit the castle, before ending the day in an historic hotel inside the medieval town walls of picturesque Rothenburg ob der Tauber. (B/D)

Day 5: Sunday, December 9, 2018: Bamberg, Erfurt
This morning we will visit Bamberg, where we will see the world’s largest exhibition of Nativity Scenes which are displayed in local churches and at the Christmas Market. We will continue our drive through the Thuringian Forest to Erfurt, where Martin Luther spent many years in the Augustinian Monastery. The Christmas Market is on the large marketplace in front of the Cathedral, and we’ll also have time to explore the historic center. Among the things to see is the Merchant’s bridge, lined by many little houses and stores. We will overnight in Erfurt. (B/D)

Day 6: Monday, December 10, 2018: Ore Mountains
Germany has many wonderful traditional Christmas foods and crafts, and many of these originate in the Ore Mountains region. This entire area with its many little villages is a Christmas wonderland. We will visit the Christmas Market in Annaberg-Buchholz and also take a look into a local workshop to see how the local Christmas craftwork, such as candle pyramids and arches, are made. We will overnight in an historic hotel in the town square. (B/D)

Day 7: Tuesday, December 11, 2018: Ore Mountains, Prague
We will travel to Prague in the Czech Republic, which is the final stop on our Christmas tour. We will check in to our hotel after arrival in the “Golden City” and enjoy the evening in the old center of Prague. The center of town houses one huge Christmas Market.  (B/D)

Day 8: Wednesday, December 12, 2018: Prague
A local guide will take us on a sightseeing tour this morning. We will see the Hradschin castle district, make our way down over the Charles Bridge, and end at the historic astronomical clock at the town square. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the Christmas Market. Our festive farewell dinner will be in an historic restaurant tonight. (B/D)

Day 9: Thursday, December 13, 2018: Return
We will transfer  to Prague airport today for our homebound flights. (B/IF)

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

Pre-Tour Night: Munich, Germany
December 5-6, 2018
Best Western Atrium
Landwehrstraße 59
80336 Munich

Salzburg, Austria
December 6-8, 2018
Hotel Brauwirth
Lengfelden 21
5101, Bergheim bei Salzburg

Rothenburg, Germany
December 8-9, 2018
Hotel Eisenhut
Herrngasse 3-5/7
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Erfurt, Germany
December 9-10, 2018
Radisson Erfurt
Juri-Gagarin-Ring 127
99084 Erfurt

Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany
December 10-11, 2018
Traditionshotel Wilder Mann
13 Markt
09456 Annaberg-Buchholz

Prague, Czech Republic
December 11-13
EA Hotel Mánes
Myslíkova 20
120 00 Nové Město

Flight Information

Once the tour is a guaranteed departure, we can either assist you with flights, or you can book your own. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

What’s included in the tour price of $3,299?

Tour priced based on a minimum of 6 tour participants. Tour price will be reduced with more participants.

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   All transfers, as a group
•   Baggage handling when available
•   All taxes and tips except as indicated below

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation
•   Single supplement ($150)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)
•   Gratuities for tour director, and driver

Payment Schedule

•   Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Final invoices will be sent in August 2018
•   Final payment is due by September 28, 2018
•   Reservations will be accepted until November 1, 2018, subject to availability

Insurance

We offer the Professional Plan  by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. The cost of the tour insurance is the tour cost (minus $500) x 6.14%. This will be automatically added to your invoice. Insurance to cover the land and air cost will be approximately $147 per person.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.