First snow of the season, Nov 6, 2014 south of Innsbruck, Austria
Draft 2
December 14, 2014
Suggested departure date: March 15, 2016
Suggested return date: March 28
Your 'Trip of a Lifetime' starts with arrival at Frankfurt, Germany's International Airport with excellent nonstop connections to major cities on the east coast as well as Nashville.
This itinerary includes our suggested 'Start Fresh' program. What this means is that you have an entire day and night to get adjusted to the time change (seven hours from where you live) without having to pay our day rate. We make the arrangements for you including a comfortable hotel in the city of Frankfurt, advice on what to see and do that evening and explicit instructions on how to get from the airport to your hotel (taxi, plus tips on the airport and getting from your gate to the taxi stands). That first night hotel is booked well in advance and you have the 'thumbs up or down' decision. Cost of the hotel is not included in your tour.
December 14, 2014
Suggested departure date: March 15, 2016
Suggested return date: March 28
Your 'Trip of a Lifetime' starts with arrival at Frankfurt, Germany's International Airport with excellent nonstop connections to major cities on the east coast as well as Nashville.
This itinerary includes our suggested 'Start Fresh' program. What this means is that you have an entire day and night to get adjusted to the time change (seven hours from where you live) without having to pay our day rate. We make the arrangements for you including a comfortable hotel in the city of Frankfurt, advice on what to see and do that evening and explicit instructions on how to get from the airport to your hotel (taxi, plus tips on the airport and getting from your gate to the taxi stands). That first night hotel is booked well in advance and you have the 'thumbs up or down' decision. Cost of the hotel is not included in your tour.
Day 1 of your organized and guided tour.
James Derheim, your driver and guide, meets you at the hotel at 9 a.m. and together we travel a little less than two hours via autobahn to the medieval, walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This historic town is Germany's best example of what it was like to live in the so-called 'Good old Days,' and you will be immediately captivated by its many 300 and 400-year-old houses. Stay tonight in a cozy, small family-owned and operated hotel known for its ambience (it's a 400-year-old house) and great breakfast.
James Derheim, your driver and guide, meets you at the hotel at 9 a.m. and together we travel a little less than two hours via autobahn to the medieval, walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This historic town is Germany's best example of what it was like to live in the so-called 'Good old Days,' and you will be immediately captivated by its many 300 and 400-year-old houses. Stay tonight in a cozy, small family-owned and operated hotel known for its ambience (it's a 400-year-old house) and great breakfast.
After arrival, James shows you the highlights of the town center including Rothenburg's high walls, towers and moats. We have lunch and then you have a little free time before we meet for dinner at our favorite little restaurant which is locally known for pork shoulder with red cabbage, great brats and kraut and other typical Bavarian meals.
Day 2: Date TBD
Weinsberg, Munich and on to the south
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (3)
Weinsberg, Munich and on to the south
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (3)
Adjusted to the time change now, and ready to head south for the rest of your adventure. We leave after breakfast and make a stop about an hour away in Weinsberg where your ancestors came from. James will have made arrangements in advance so that we can get into the church where they worshipped. (Church was a major thing in people's daily lives 100 and more years ago) We see what else there is to see and then move along to the south, heading for a late lunch in the historical center of Bavaria's capital, Munich. James takes you to his favorite place to eat and drink and since you have a designated driver, the beer is on James and so is the excellent food. Later, we continue on to the ski area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a stay of three nights.
Dinners provided at the hotel. In most cases the two of you dine without James except when we are on the go between places for lunch.
To give you an idea of the kinds of places we like to stay, here is the web site for the hotel I have in mind for Garmisch. We have stayed here several times and guests rate it highly:
http://www.staudacherhof.de/index-en.php
Details on other hotel choices are typically provided to the clients after a contract has been signed. This does not mean you are 'locked into' any particular hotel. If you want to make a change, we can do so, as long as the change is within the parameters of the budget set out for the trip.
Dinners provided at the hotel. In most cases the two of you dine without James except when we are on the go between places for lunch.
To give you an idea of the kinds of places we like to stay, here is the web site for the hotel I have in mind for Garmisch. We have stayed here several times and guests rate it highly:
http://www.staudacherhof.de/index-en.php
Details on other hotel choices are typically provided to the clients after a contract has been signed. This does not mean you are 'locked into' any particular hotel. If you want to make a change, we can do so, as long as the change is within the parameters of the budget set out for the trip.
Day 3:
Garmisch Ski Day
Skiing on the Zugspitz, the highest mountain in Germany. The mountain straddles the German-Austrian border.
Get a preview of this thrilling area here:
Day 4:
Ski day in the area (Added ski day)
Day 5:
Austria and the Ötztal
We drive across the border just a short distance to the Ötztal, a beautiful valley, where we stay three nights. This is the area where James learned to alpine ski in 1990.
Dinners at the hotel. A breakfast, midday snack and dinner package will be purchased for your convenience.
Dinners at the hotel. A breakfast, midday snack and dinner package will be purchased for your convenience.
Day 6:
Ski Day at Obergurgl/Hochgurgl
Check out the slopes here: http://www.obergurgl.com/en
James is your taxi to and from the slopes. You'll be provided with a cell phone so that you can communicate with him.
James is your taxi to and from the slopes. You'll be provided with a cell phone so that you can communicate with him.
Day 7: Ski Day at Obergurgl/Hochgurgl (Added ski day)
The hotel located on the slopes turns out to be exceptionally expensive at more than $800 per night just for your room. I have switched us to a four star superior down the valley.
Day 8:
The hotel located on the slopes turns out to be exceptionally expensive at more than $800 per night just for your room. I have switched us to a four star superior down the valley.
Day 8:
Moving on to Switzerland
We drive over a fantastic mountain pass with awesome scenery to the area near Interlaken, Switzerland. We stay three nights in the high town of Grindelwald, in a hotel with, what James thinks, is one of the most incredible views in the Swiss Alps. He stayed here with clients a few years ago and has the exact room in mind for you.
Dinners at the hotel. (Included with your room)
Dinners at the hotel. (Included with your room)
Day 9:
Ski day at Grindelwald. Check out the area here: http://grindelwald.ch/
Day 10:
Sightseeing in the local area. The nearby Lauterbrunnen Valley is gorgeous. If the weather is fair, there are usually professional paraglider pilots who will take you for a ride. The cave with Trummelbach Waterfalls is also incredible, with millions of years of cascading water from the glaciers high above carving out a fantasy world of tunnels, chutes and slides all filled with thundering water.
(Note: OR we flip days 9 and 10 if you need a break, OR you have two full ski days on the Jungfrau and area)
Day 11:
Zurich Airport area
Sightseeing in Lucerne and area on the way to Zurich overnight near airport. Lucerne is a beautiful small city with a couple of historic wooden bridges and a beautiful memorial featuring a wounded lion which is famous around the world. It has remnants of the medieval walls and towers plus a great shopping district.
James takes you to the hotel, gets you settled and then your tour ends by around 4:30 in the afternoon. You can use the hotel's transportation or a taxi to the airport the following day (the hotel will be on the airport property).
James takes you to the hotel, gets you settled and then your tour ends by around 4:30 in the afternoon. You can use the hotel's transportation or a taxi to the airport the following day (the hotel will be on the airport property).
Day 12:
Departure from Zurich
Home later that night
Total days away from home: 14 including your 'Start Fresh' day of arrival.
Pricing:15,280 Euro for both of you
At today's exchange rate: $19,000
Includes:
References gladly provided on request.
At today's exchange rate: $19,000
Includes:
- Lodging in fine four star superior properties all family-owned and operated with the exception of the last night at the Zurich airport
- Breakfast, lunches when we are traveling or sightseeing and all dinners with exception of your final night at the airport hotel
- Sightseeing entry fees
- Fuel
- Use of our company van
- Ride services to and from the slopes
- Assistance with purchasing lift tickets
- James' professional fee
- Tips and gratuities to those who serve us
References gladly provided on request.
Near the Zugspitz, on the Austrian side. Taken by James on Oct 25, 2014.
