Honeymoon in Europe from 8 May to 23 May 2010
Our Tour Mate, Tour Manager and Driver
Day 0 Arrive at LondonSuper Cold weather in London. Check in our hotel and have a cold walk around the hotel.
Day 1 London to AmsterdamMeet up with the Contiki Crew before we hit the road and take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. Next stop: the buzzing, freewheeling city of Amsterdam.
Check out Amsterdam’s eye-opening Red Light District, where the creative and wacky come together on narrow cobbled streets.
Evening canal cruise where we got a chance to get to know the group, unwind with a few drinks and uncover Amsterdam from the water. Get some pointers on the city’s hot spots from our Tour Manager and head into town for a fun night out.
Day 2 Amsterdam to Rhine ValleyExperience Amsterdam’s coffee shops, museums and cool, quirky boutiques. In our free time, we wander along shady canals and pass gabled houses and visited Anne Frank Museum.
Chill out while the coach follows the Rhine River, weaving through valleys dotted with castles and vineyards.
Next stop - the pretty, old-world village of St Goar, complete with fairy-tale castle and even a free standing cuckoo clock! Kick back with a glass of local wine and wine tasting in a candlelit underground cellar.
Day 3 Rhine Valley to Munich
Travelling south, pull into the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest, Munich - a city that blends traditional Bavarian culture with a modern lifestyle.
Explore the heart of Munich’s Old Town with the crew, and head to Marienplatz. It’s a central gathering spot famous for the Glockenspiel - a gothic clock, complete with 32 dancing figures and 43 chiming bells.
Then head off with some friends for a taste of tradition to a typical beer hall and park ourselves at a long wooden table. We feast on hearty local food, like roasted pork knuckle, and quench our thirst with a stein of one of Germany’s 5000 brews.
Day 4 Munich to Austrian Tyrol
Roll on through the Tyrol’s massive mountains to a cute Austrian village in a region famous for adventure sports. I plunge into white-water rafting in an adrenalin-pumping activity on the river while xiao fang waited at the end point cos she can't swim. :P
With a night in Contiki’s very own Austrian Gasthof (guest inn), there’s time to do our walk in the surrounding hills. The resident crew will give us pointers on the best stuff to do in the region and make sure we get everything out of your time here. Contiki always put on different theme parties for our groups at the Gasthof bar. Tonight the theme is Cross dressing.
Day 5 Austrian Tyrol to Venice
Wind through the Central Austrian Alps via the Brenner Pass to Italy, the land of passion!
Known as the “floating city”, Venice is packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals. The group travels on the private boat through the waters through the waters of the lagoon to visit the city’s historical heart. The limestone Bridge of Sighs, the Gothic arches of Doges’ Palace and the expanse of St Mark’s Square (pigeons and all!) show Venice’s unique beauty and way of life.
We took some time to explore the floating city and lost ourself in the backstreets. We took the walking tour where we discover the labyrinth of interweaving lanes, waterways, palaces, piazzi and markets with the Local Guide. We saw historic monuments, hidden treasures and the Rialto market - a local favourite for food shopping.
We cap off the day with the gondola ride with our friends with a bottle of prosecco (Italian champagne) and toast this unforgettable experience, as we are punted through the waterways.
Day 6 Venice to Swiss Alps
Next stop: the jaw-droppingly beautiful alpine town of Lucerne
With covered wooden bridges, cobbled lanes and quaint buildings, Lucerne’s centre is perfect to explore on foot. Also to stock up on lots of genuine Swiss chocolate! Our Tour Manager give us pointers on where to pick up the best-priced watches Switzerland is so famous for.
Tonight, we head to the alpine heights of Lauterbrunnen and stay at Contiki’s very own Swiss chalet.
Day 7 Swiss Alps
It’s a change of pace among Switzerland’s massive alps. Take in the amazing views from the campsite.
We visited Jungfrau mountain, head up the sheer slopes of this UNESCO World Heritage listed site on a cog rail to Europe’s highest railway station, and step out onto the “roof” of Europe for supposed spine-tingling views. As it was snowing which is kind of strange (may be due to the volcano eruption, much of the view is blocked. But we did experience real snow together for the 1st time.
Day 8 Swiss Alps to Paris
With down-time on the coach, plug in our MP3, chill out to some music and chat with friends while travelling through the scenic wine producing region of Burgundy.
Tonight, the group kick starts Paris with the “Tour of Illuminations”, which shows off the French capital’s transformation into the “City of Lights”. Lamp-lit bridges and cool little cafes give us a real taste of Paris’ romance. Our Tour Manager will fill us in on the world’s most recognised monuments, like the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.
Our tour included the authentic escargots (snails) for the group. It’s a perfect opportunity to try out this national delicacy. We are served with champagne and local cheeses.
Day 9 Paris
Next up: Fragonard! This perfumery has an elegant interior and is a unique setting for a look into the history of perfume. Xiaofang picked up some French perfume at great prices.
This town is loaded with possibilities. Discover its many bistros, museums, tree-lined avenues and diverse quarters (neighbourhoods). Get a feel for French flair by window shopping on the Left Bank. Step into the Notre Dame and we also went up to the Eiffel tower.
We signed up for an authentic cabaret experience, complete with can-can girls and champagne. I was "chosen" up stage to perform dancing which i won and got myself a "wife and baby". Lastly, 3 kisses from the pretty lead singer. :)
Day 10 Paris toBerlin
It’s time to say farewell to our new friends. A short day trip around paris on bus and shopping before flying to brother's place in Berlin.
Day 11-14 Berlin
Stayed at Brother's place and explore Berlin by the day. Shopping is included too. :)
