Vacation Overview
TFor those who wish to visit the Benelux countries at a leisurely pace, this is the perfect vacation. Enjoy three nights in Amsterdam and Brussels and a 2-night stay in Luxembourg. Special highlights have been included, like the bulb fields of South Holland and Keukenhof Flower Park during springtime (departures 0402-0514; departures 0528-1001 visit the Anne Frank House instead), an Amsterdam canal cruise, and visits to the Rijksmuseum to see Rembrandt’s masterpieces and the Aalsmeer Flower Auction. Also enjoy stops in quaint Maastricht, at the American Memorial in Bastogne, General Patton’s grave, and in Waterloo, where your special Lion Museum Pass gives you access to various sites. An excursion to Bruges features guided sightseeing, a canal cruise, and a traditional lace demonstration. In Brussels, visit Grand’Place, enjoy a full day at leisure with the possibility to visit Antwerp, and celebrate your vacation with an included farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Vacation Highlights
INCLUDED FEATURES
Amsterdam: Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, canal cruise, visit Rembrandt’s masterpieces in the Rijksmuseum; visit a major diamond center; visit Anne Frank House (departures 0528-1001)
Aalsmeer: Visit the Flower Auction
Delft: Visit the Royal Pottery factory
The Hague: Orientation drive
Keukenhof: Visit the Flower Park (departures 0402-0514)
Maastricht: Walk through the Old Town
Bastogne: Take pictures of the American Memorial
Luxembourg: Guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral, General Patton’s grave
Waterloo: Visit the site with included Lion Hamlet Pass
Brussels: Walking tour including the Grand’Place and a picture stop at Manneken Pis; farewell dinner
Bruges: Canal cruise; guided walking tour, visit the Church of Our Lady and the market square; enjoy a traditional lace demonstration
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.
Itinerary
DAY 1 (Fri.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
DAY 2 Arrive in Amsterdam, Holland
(Sat.) The day is free to rest or to start exploring the Dutch capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (Dinner)
DAY 3 Amsterdam
(Sun.) Start your discovery of Holland with a morning sightseeing tour of the capital with a Local Guide. Enjoy a CANAL CRUISE along gabled merchant houses and arched drawbridges reminiscent of the Golden Age, and the strikingly modern buildings of a young-at-heart city. Next, visit the fabulous RIJKSMUSEUM with priceless paintings by Rembrandt and other Dutch masters. Then, time to explore Dam Square and the city center on your own, or join your Tour Director for an included visit to a major DIAMOND CENTER to appreciate how a rough mineral is transformed into a sparkling jewel. Afternoon at leisure. You may want to join an optional excursion to the fishing village of Volendam at the former Zuiderzee. (Breakfast)
DAY 4 Amsterdam. Excursion to Aalsmeer, Delft, The Hague & Keukenhof
(Mon.) A scenic day. Start with an early visit to the impressive AALSMEER FLOWER AUCTION, where more than 17 million flowers and two million plants are sold each day. Next, continue to the world-renowned ROYAL DELFT POTTERY FACTORY with its magnificent collection of hand-painted earthenware pieces, and see skilled craftsmen at work. After an orientation drive of The Hague, seat of the Dutch government and the International Court of Justice, continue to the famous bulbfields of South Holland and visit the extraordinary flower park of KEUKENHOF (departures 0403-0508) before returning to Amsterdam. Departures 0515-1002 visit ANNE FRANK HOUSE instead. (Breakfast)
DAY 5 Amsterdam–Maastricht–Bastogne, Belgium–Luxembourg
(Tue.) This morning, drive south to Maastricht, where the famous treaty for a stronger unified Europe was signed. Learn more about the European Union as you stroll around this delightful city and enjoy time for lunch in one of the quaint cafés flanking Vrijthof Square. Cross the Belgium border and stop in Bastogne at the AMERICAN MEMORIAL of the Battle of the Bulge. Late-afternoon arrival in Luxembourg, the homonymous capital of one of Europe's smallest sovereign states. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 6 Luxembourg
(Wed.) Morning sightseeing with your Local Guide covers the city's past and present, from the fortifications and the Old Town, perched high atop a sandstone outcrop with striking views on the Alzette and Pétrusse Gorges, to the modern administrative center of European Institutions. Visit the CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY, see the turreted Grand Ducal Palace, take a stroll along the panoramic cliff path known as "the most beautiful balcony in Europe," and see the GRAVE OF GENERAL PATTON. An optional excursion to Trier in Germany can be arranged. (Breakfast)
DAY 7 Luxembourg–Waterloo, Belgium–Brussels
(Thu.) Through the Belgian Ardennes to WATERLOO, where Napoleon was defeated and European history changed course. Arrive in Brussels, the thriving capital, where your orientation features the Rue Royale, the Parliament Buildings, the Royal Palace, and Saint Michel Cathedral. Admire GRAND' PLACE with its baroque guild houses, the gothic Town Hall, and take pictures of the statue of Manneken Pis. Highlight is a visit to the CHOCOLATE MUSEUM. (Breakfast)
DAY 8 Brussels. Excursion to Bruges
(Fri.) Most of today is dedicated to Bruges, one of Western Europe's most perfectly preserved medieval cities. A CANAL CRUISE (weather permitting) will give you your first feel of this delightful town. Your Local Guide will show you the Madonna of Bruges in the CHURCH OF OUR LADY and the famous MARKET SQUARE. Then, a Globus Platinum Exclusive: you CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE. Enjoy a BELGIAN BEER with locals or a traditional LACE DEMONSTRATION. Then, time for souvenir hunting and exploring on your own before returning to Brussels. (Breakfast)
DAY 9 At Leisure in Brussels
(Sat.) Full day at leisure. You may want to join a half-day optional excursion to Antwerp, the second-largest Belgian city and one of the world's most important ancient seaports. Visit the famous Rockox House, where the art collector and friend of Rubens lived; the Plantin-Moretus Museum, a permanent exhibition dedicated to the early days of book printing in the 16th century; the Grote Markt; and the Church of Our Lady to admire two of the most important triptychs by Rubens. Tonight, an included farewell dinner is the perfect way to celebrate the success of your vacation. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 10 (Sun.) Your homebound flight from Brussels arrives the same day. (Breakfast)
SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class
Amsterdam: NH Amsterdam Centre (SF)
Luxembourg: Mercure Grans Hotel (SF)
Brussels: Radisson Blu Royal (D)
HOLLAND, LUXEMBOURG & BELGIUM AT LEISURE - 10 DAYS - Globus
Dates and Prices
Prices below do not include airfare. We will be glad to help you find the least
expensive airfare,
or you can use mileage if desired. When you Book Online,
please enter your departure city
on the "SPECIAL REQUESTS" field and we will
get back to you immediately with an air quote.
If you book your air with us, airport transfers at destination will be included.
Otherwise we can provide them for you at a fee of $50 per person round-trip,
as long as you let us know your flights in advance. Thank you.
| Departure Date |
Vacation Start date |
Return Date |
Price Without Air |
| 9/2/11 |
9/3/11 |
9/11/11 |
$1,769.00 |
| 9/16/11 |
9/17/11 |
9/25/11 |
$1,749.00 |
| 9/30/11 |
10/1/11 |
10/9/11 |
$1,739.00 |
| 3/30/12 |
3/31/12 |
4/8/12 |
$2,087.00 |
| 4/6/12 |
4/7/12 |
4/15/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 4/13/12 |
4/14/12 |
4/22/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 4/20/12 |
4/21/12 |
4/29/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 4/27/12 |
4/28/12 |
5/6/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 5/4/12 |
5/5/12 |
5/13/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 5/11/12 |
5/12/12 |
5/20/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 5/18/12 |
5/19/12 |
5/27/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 5/25/12 |
5/26/12 |
6/3/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 6/1/12 |
6/2/12 |
6/10/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 6/8/12 |
6/9/12 |
6/17/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 6/15/12 |
6/16/12 |
6/24/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 6/22/12 |
6/23/12 |
7/1/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 6/29/12 |
6/30/12 |
7/8/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 7/6/12 |
7/7/12 |
7/15/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 7/13/12 |
7/14/12 |
7/22/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 7/20/12 |
7/21/12 |
7/29/12 |
$2,075.00 |
| 7/27/12 |
7/28/12 |
8/5/12 |
$2,075.00 |
| 8/3/12 |
8/4/12 |
8/12/12 |
$2,075.00 |
| 8/10/12 |
8/11/12 |
8/19/12 |
$2,075.00 |
| 8/17/12 |
8/18/12 |
8/26/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 8/24/12 |
8/25/12 |
9/2/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 8/31/12 |
9/1/12 |
9/9/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 9/7/12 |
9/8/12 |
9/16/12 |
$2,123.00 |
| 9/14/12 |
9/15/12 |
9/23/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 9/21/12 |
9/22/12 |
9/30/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 9/28/12 |
9/29/12 |
10/7/12 |
$2,087.00 |
|
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|
|
Single room supplement: $529
Triple room reduction: $63
Extra nights per person in Amsterdam:in single room $315, in twin room $190, in triple room $158July-Aug.: in single room $265, in twin room $160, in triple room $128
Extra nights per person in Brussels:in single room $148, in twin room $85, in triple room $74 |
