Itinerary

Day 1 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Depart U.S./Fly overnight to Berlin

Depart the U.S. for Germany. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Arrive in Berlin/Begin your Trip Extension

Upon arrival at Tegel Brandenburg airport in Berlin, Germany, claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill out a PIR form before leaving the customs area: VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Make certain your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so that your VBT representative can identify you. After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign. The VBT representative helps you transfer (approximately one hour) to your centrally located hotel in Berlin. At this time, please verify with your airport representative the time of your return transfer to the airport at the end of your Berlin extension.

Later tonight, our local Representative is available at the hotel to answer questions and give inside tips on what to do in Berlin. If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk. You are free to do as you wish today.

Day 3 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Berlin.

Discover this amazing capital of culture and art. An optional walking city tour will be available. This 2½-hour program may be booked with your VBT representative upon arrival in Berlin (it may not be booked in advance of travel). The approximate price is 20 euros ($28 USD) per person (with a minimum of two people required) and includes the services of our local English-speaking guide. We will pass through Berlin's historical heart, walk toward the famous Museum Island (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), see Germany's Parliament House and the Reichstag, then pass through the Holocaust Memorial Area. Past the New Potsdam Square, we'll stop at the Topography of Terror to see an original piece of the Berlin Wall. The tour ends at the legendary Checkpoint Charlie. You may then wish to continue on your own to the nearby Jewish Museum, or return to the hotel and take a riverboat tour, which departs twice daily from a spot near the hotel.

Day 1 of AIR PACKAGE Depart the U.S. and fly overnight to Frankfurt

Depart the U.S. for Frankfurt, Germany. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 4 of Pre Trip Independent exploration of Berlin

Continue to discover this amazing capital of culture. You may wish to take one of the hop-on-hop-off bus tours. There are several companies offering these tours; your VBT representative will give you more information.

Day 2 of AIR PACKAGE Arrive in Frankfurt and transfer to Koblenz

Upon arrival at the Frankfurt airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill out a PIR form before leaving the customs area: VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Make certain your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so that your VBT representative can identify you. After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign. The representative helps you transfer via taxi or minibus (approximately 90 minutes) to your hotel in Koblenz. If you cannot find the VBT representative, or have been delayed in customs or because of lost luggage, please go to the airport Meeting Point and wait there for a few minutes. If nobody arrives, you may wish to telephone the transportation company, Garske Touristik, at 0261 92 24 727.

Your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk if you arrive before that time. At 4:00 p.m., our local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for a 1.5-hour walking tour around the historic old town of Koblenz. It will be about a 15-minute walk before we begin the tour, so we recommend you leave the hotel with everything you'll need to have dinner on your own in the Old Town once our tour has ended.

Day 5 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Berlin/ Join VBT Air Package guests

This morning, verify your scheduled transfer time on the “Transfer Reminder” which you received from your VBT representative upon arrival at the Berlin airport. Transfer from your hotel to the Berlin airport for your flight to Frankfurt.

Upon arrival at the Frankfurt airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. If your luggage is lost, fill out a PIR form before leaving the customs area—VBT representatives are not allowed into the customs area. Make certain your VBT luggage tags are affixed to your bag so that your VBT representative can identify you. After exiting customs, enter the arrival hall and look for your VBT representative, who will be holding a VBT sign. The representative helps you transfer via taxi or minibus (approximately 90 minutes) to your hotel in Koblenz. If you cannot find the VBT representative, or have been delayed in customs or because of lost luggage, please go to the airport Meeting Point and wait there for a few minutes. If nobody arrives, you may wish to telephone the transportation company, Garske Touristik, at 0261 92 24 727.

Your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk if you arrive before that time. At 4:00 p.m., our local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for a 1.5-hour walking tour around the historic Old Town of Koblenz. It will be about a 15-minute walk before we begin the tour, so we recommend you leave the hotel with everything you'll need to have dinner on your own in the Old Town once our tour has ended.

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR Cochem/Embark barge/Warm-up ride

VBT No-Air Package guests: You are responsible for making your own way to Cochem to meet our barge, the Sailing Home, so please arrive between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. Please note that you cannot arrive before this time. If you are late, you must contact the barge as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements, because the barge will sail shortly after this time.

The barge will be moored in Cochem at Uferstrasse, on the right bank just downstream from the bridge. Contact telephone number is ++31 650 12 18 11. Please refer to the information listed in the tour handbook.

VBT Air Package and Pre-Trip Extension guests: At 9:00 a.m., meet a VBT representative in the hotel lobby for your transfer by coach (approximately 1 hour 40 mins) to the city of Cochem. Please ensure that all luggage you will not require during the morning are loaded onto the luggage minibus. This will go directly to the barge and your bags awaiting your arrival in your cabin.
On arrival, meet one of our VBT Trip Leaders, who will help acquaint you with this characteristic Moselle town with wooded hills, medieval buildings and a picturesque center with beautiful, timber-framed houses. Hike or shuttle to Reichsburg castle with your local guide for spectacular views of the Moselle Valley and its vineyards. The fairy-tale castle includes seven rooms of fine furniture and objects from different periods and styles.

After your visit, walk back into town, where you may shop and eat lunch on your own before boarding the barge at 2:00 p.m. Meet the crew and your second VBT Trip Leader, then settle in before a bike-safety session and a short warm-up ride along quiet bike paths along the Moselle. Return to the Sailing Home afterward and gather for a welcome dinner on board. The barge moors in Beilstein tonight.

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Bike to Zell/Traben-Trarbach/Cruise to Bernkastel-Kues

Today, follow the Moselle upstream and bike to Zell and Traben-Trarbach on an easy cycling path. Zell is beautifully situated on the Moselle, where the river meanders through the hills in many bends. Zell is one of the largest wine-producing communities on the river. One of the best wines made here, Zeller Schwartze Katz (Black Cat), is produced with grapes from 16 different locations. A sculpture on the market-square fountain shows a snarling cat on top of a wine barrel.

Another interesting stop today is the village of Traben-Trarbach, an architectural jewel of Jugendstil surrounded by woods and extensive vineyards. Traben-Trarbach was at one time the world's second-largest wine-trading center. At the turn of the century, the city's wine merchants built a number of fine Art Nouveau buildings, many of which are carefully preserved and continue to operate as wineries. An entire range of Belle Époque splendor was attracted to Traben-Trarbach, making the city a favorite destination for lovers of the baroque and classical styles.

Board the barge in Traben-Trarbach, and then cruise along the river into Bernkastel-Kues. Bernkastel and Kues, united in 1905, were once two small cities divided by the Moselle. The pride of this small city is the market square, with its picturesque timber-framed houses and decorated fountains, some dating to the 17th century.

Dinner is on board tonight. Afterward, the captain speaks about navigation and our planned route.

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR Shuttle and cycle to Daun/The “maars”/Bernkastel-Kues

This morning, we shuttle (approximately 45 minutes) through the Eifel Valley to the city of Daun. From there, we take an exhilarating bike ride along a former railway track that is now a cycling path. The ride includes stretches through tunnels, over bridges and by small lakes formed from volcano craters. We'll pedal past castles, vineyards and green forests before cycling through quiet villages.

On the way, you can stop in Strohn for a visit to a small volcano museum. The region is scattered with “young” volcanoes about 12,000 years old. The typical craters found here, called maars, are actually volcano cones collapsed inside the earth. In Strohn, stop to share a simple home-cooked lunch with a local family.

Later, continue cycling to Bernkastel, where you can relax before dinner on board.

After dinner, we stroll to the fascinating cellar of Josef Zimmermann via an elegant district of fine Jugendstill villas, many of which display winegut, or winery signs. The simple, fourth-generation Zimmermann operation contains a century-old cellar, wine barrels and an inviting tasting hall, where we taste four different wines.

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR Cycle to Piesport/Trittenheim/Trier

After breakfast, we cycle toward Trier, the oldest town in Germany, passing Piesport and Trittenheim along the way. Both of these winemaking villages lie in scenic hairpin turns on the Moselle. See a reconstructed Roman winepress house in Piesport. We stop for lunch in Neumagen, where there are signs of the ancient Romans.

A slogan for Trier, a lively tourist and university town, claims that it is possible to see “2,000 years of history in 2,000 paces.” The Romans established their local capital here. In the Middle Ages, Frankish kings and the archbishops of Trier reigned. A local guide conducts a walking tour of the city center, where we learn about the Porta Nigra (“Black Gate”), a city landmark and largest city gate of the ancient world. Then, visit the Amphitheater, the medieval Main Market and Church of Our Lady (where you can see the throne of Constantine the Great), the rococo Electoral Palace, the Imperial Baths and extensive subterranean service passages. Trier's monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tonight, the barge moors in Trier. We enjoy dinner together in a centrally located restaurant.

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR Cycle to Saarburg

Today, we cycle on the Moselle's easy bike path from Trier to Konz, at the confluence of the Moselle and Saar rivers. Then, continue into the Saarland along the more intimate Saar River. Wooded mountains, wide meadows, farmsteads and villages alternate in harmony along the two rivers. Later this afternoon, we reach Saarburg, a medieval jewel at the foot of a castle that towers above the river. The town center boasts a roaring 65-foot-high waterfall.

Enjoy a picnic lunch, then walk to the nearby bell foundry and museum, Mabilon, which produced bells until 2002. From there, choose between a scenic ride along the Saar River or time on your own in Saarburg.

This evening is free, so you may dine on your own in a romantic restaurant on the Leuk River. Savor the hearty food and viez, or apple wine, typical of this region. The barge moors in Saarburg.

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR Wasserbilling/Grevenmacher/Nennig/ Remich

This morning we cycle along the banks of the Saar River to Konz. In Konz, find the Moselle, which forms a natural border between Luxembourg and Germany, and continue pedaling on its easy biking path. Soon you arrive in Wasserbillig, where you cross the border into Luxembourg.

We rejoin the barge near Grevenmacher, where lunch is on board. You then can opt to continue riding or cruise into Remich.

You are now on the Route du Vin, famous for its vineyards and outstanding wines, including Riesling and Cremant. Approaching Remich, take a short detour to Nennig and admire Europe's largest Roman mosaic (remarkably, 90% of it is original and perfectly restored). Dinner tonight is on our barge, moored in Remich.

Day 7 of BIKE TOUR Picnic at Rodemack, France

On a very quiet bike path, we cycle along the Moselle River. Then, turn inland and cycle along a pleasant rolling route through small villages to Rodemack, known as Little Carcassonne Lorraine. This charming little village offers marvels of construction and fortifications, erected over centuries. Impressive ramparts and walls encircle the village, with a labyrinth of back streets and cobbled alleys to explore, as well as an impressive fortress.

After a picnic lunch, we'll have free time to wander through the village.

An optional ride takes you back to Keoningsmacher, from where the barge cruises into France. Dinner is on the barge tonight.

Day 8 of BIKE TOUR Metz/Luxembourg/VBT No-Air Package ends

VBT No-Air Package guests: After breakfast, your tour ends. It is important that you leave the barge no later than 9:00 a.m. Please refer to the information listed in the tour handbook.

VBT Air Package guests: After a final breakfast on our barge, bid farewell to the crew and VBT Trip Leaders and say hello to our local Metz guide before disembarking the barge. Then, take a pleasant walk with our guide into the city center via charming bridges and romantic corners. Pass the elegant 18th-century city theater and the Palais de la Prefecture in the Place de la Comedie. Soon you see the imposing Cathedral of St. Etienne, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals of France, built around 1250. Admire the fine stained-glass windows, including a modern one by Marc Chagall.

Take the time to stroll the city and the Saturday morning local market, shopping or sightseeing on the lively Place St. Louis and Place Saint-Jacques. Lunch is on your own.

After your visit, board a private motorcoach to transfer to another great destination, Luxembourg City. Your hotel here is a stroll away from the main square and the Vieille Ville (old city).

Check into Hotel Le Royal Luxembourg and use the rest of your day to discover Luxembourg City, then have dinner on your own. The city boasts more Michelin stars per square mile than any other city in the world and has a lively atmosphere in its many cafés, pubs and pizzerias. The biggest ethnic community here is from Portugal, adding a Latin flair.

Day 9 of AIR PACKAGE Luxembourg City

Continue exploring the city after breakfast today.

Luxembourg City overlooks the Petrusse and Alzette valleys and sits high on a rocky outcropping. It offers a combination of cobblestone-arched narrow streets and small, elegant palaces such as the Palais Grand-Ducal and the Chambre des Deputes. The beautiful Chemin de la Corniche is said to be Europe's most beautiful terrace, with a pleasant promenade that passes restored ancient homes. The Casemates du Bock, a defensive labyrinth excavated in 1745 in the rocks beneath the city, is partly open to visitors. Other remarkable places include the Place de la Constitution and the cozy Place du Marche, still used for weekly flower and vegetable markets. This morning, your local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby at 10:00 a.m. and lead an orientation walk to help familiarize you with the city.

Day 9 of Air Package Luxembourg City

Continue exploring the city after breakfast today.

Luxembourg City overlooks the Petrusse and Alzette valleys and sits high on a rocky outcropping. It offers a combination of cobblestone-arched narrow streets and small, elegant palaces such as the Palais Grand-Ducal and the Chambre des Deputes. The beautiful Chemin de la Corniche is said to be Europe's most beautiful terrace, with a pleasant promenade that passes restored ancient homes. The Casemates du Bock, a defensive labyrinth excavated in 1745 in the rocks beneath the city, is partly open to visitors. Other remarkable places include the Place de la Constitution and the cozy Place du Marche, still used for weekly flower and vegetable markets. This morning your local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby at 10 a.m. and lead an orientation walk to help familiarize you with the city.

Day 10 of AIR PACKAGE Depart for U.S. or begin your optional extension in Munich

VBT Air Package guests: After breakfast, meet in the hotel lobby and transfer to the Luxembourg City airport for your flight back to the U.S. Please be sure that you are waiting at the designated transfer time and location. Check your “transfer reminder” for the scheduled time.

Note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

Day 1 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Begin your Optional Extension in Munich

VBT Post-Trip Extension guests: If you have chosen the optional Post-Trip Extension, transfer to the Luxembourg Airport for your flight to Munich. Upon arrival in Munich you will be met and transferred to the hotel. At check-in, the hotel will give you a VBT City Information Packet, which includes information and recommendations on what to see and do in Munich, along with the time a taxi will meet you at the hotel's reception area on the last day of your extension to take you to the airport for your flight back to the U.S. If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m. You may store your luggage with the reception desk.

After settling in, enjoy the remainder of the morning and early afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you'll walk to the nearby Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens.

At 3:00 p.m., our local guide will meet you in the hotel and take you on a 3-hour walking tour. You will be shown how to buy tickets and take the tram into Munich's center. Then enjoy a walk through the historic streets thronged with street musicians and artists and past magnificent buildings. The guide will point out places for you to have dinner and return to during your next two days.

Day 2 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Munich

At 11:00 a.m. and noon, the Marienplatz fills with onlookers as the carillon in the Rathaus tower clangs into action. Close by is the Peterskirche, the oldest church in Munich, which is notable for its grisly relics of St Munditia, patron saint of single women, and for the view from its tower (up several hundred steps but worth it on a clear day!). The Munchener Stadtmuseum is an excellent local history museum that includes a photo-and-film exhibit and a puppet display. North of Marienplatz is the posh end of the city center. And from the fashionable Maximilianstrasse, the little Kosttor road leads straight to the Hofbrauhaus, Munich's largest and most famous drinking hall.

The English Garden is Munich's largest natural area. Located north of the city, the natural vistas draw thousands of visitors for walks and picnics. Swimming in the rivers that run through the area is also an option. The garden also houses several popular beer gardens that provide a lovely rest stop after a day of exploring.

Day 3 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Munich

Munich still has plenty of attractions to offer. The interesting BMW Automotive Museum displays the history of the company in relation to the development of the modern automobile. Car buffs will enjoy the museum's exhibits, videos, slide collections and films. Nearby, visit the neighboring Olympic Park, the site of the 1972 Olympic Games. Walk through the lovely park, visit the modern and mesmerizing stadium, and see great views from the Olympic Tower.

Or you may wish to venture out of Munich. The Dachau Concentration Camp and memorial site are on the northern edge of Munich and were the home of Germany's first concentration camp. Today, Dachau Memorial Site is a place of memory, pilgrimage and education and makes for an illuminating day trip.

For a longer excursion, join a full-day coach trip to Berchtesgaden, Hitler's mountain retreat and the southern headquarters of the Nazi party. The dictator's Eagle's Nest is a mountaintop lodge built by the Nazis. At 6,148 feet, atop Mt Kehlstein, the lodge has some of Germany's most amazing views of the Alps mountain range.

Or visit the enchanting Old World town of Fussen, in the foothills of the Alps and surrounded by one of the most breathtaking natural settings in the world. You'll see the ethereal Neuschwanstein Castle, the nearby lake and a postcard-perfect aerial view of the equally beautiful Hohenschwangau Castle and the waterfall gorge.

You can reserve all these tours through your hotel in Munich.

Day 4 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Munich extension concludes/Depart for home

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Please be sure that you are waiting at the designated transfer time and in the lobby of the hotel.

VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder.” The transfer is prearranged by VBT and is prepaid. VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests.

Note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

Heart of Europe: Bike & Barge Cochem to Metz 2012

Pre and Post Trip Extensions

Pre-Trip Extension

Berlin 2012 - 3 nights for only $395

Explore one of Europe’s most influential centers of politics, culture, science and art. Visit the Brandenburg Gate, which served as the gate to East Berlin until 1989. See Rathaus Schoneberg, where John F. Kennedy made his famous speech, “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Journey to The Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 150 museums. Or simply spend time in the city, peeking into trendy boutiques, art studios, cafés and gourmet restaurants in this UNESCO City of Design.

Available only with the Air Inclusive Package.

Note: Single supplement for this extension is $185.

Post-Trip Extension

Munich 2012 - 3 nights for only $395

Founded in 1158, Munich has been the capital of Bavaria since 1503. Next to Berlin, it’s Germany’s most popular city, yet it’s small enough to be digested in one visit. It enjoys the added advantage of a great setting, with the mountains and the alpine lakes just an hour’s drive away. The best time to visit is from June through October, when the beer gardens, street cafes and bars are in full swing. The famous Oktoberfest is held on the Theresienwiese fairground starting on the second-to-last Saturday in September and lasting for the next 16 days (September 22 – October 7, 2012).


Available only with the Air Inclusive Package.

Note: Single supplement for this extension is $185.

Accommodations

Art 'Otel Berlin Mitte

Art’Otel Berlin Mitte is a boutique hotel, combining traditional building décor and modern design and architecture. You just might think this fine hotel -- in the heart of Berlin’s Fischerinsel district on the Spree River -- is an Art Gallery, with artworks from Georg Baselitz, one of Germany’s most famous contemporary artists. The outstanding hall is covered with a glass roof and joins the modern wing of the hotel with its 17th century wing. Behind the hotel, the Spree River flows quietly, far from traffic and hustle. Riverside, you’ll find cafés and restaurants. Art’Otel’s boat, moored nearby, transforms into a restaurant for hotel guests in summertime.

Hotel Brenner

Located in the Koblenz city center, this family-run property welcomes you with warm hospitality. Rooms are comfortably sized, and most overlook a small, well-maintained garden where you may eat breakfast. Hotel Brenner is stylishly decorated with hand-painted flowers on the ceilings and walls, and antique furnishings.

Barge Sailing Home

The Sailing Home is a comfortable, two-deck motor passenger ship featuring 12 twin-bedded cabins, each with private shower and toilet. In service since April 2001, the barge is fully air-conditioned and heated throughout. Inside, the salon and bar are decorated in a modern Victorian style and have a relaxed atmosphere. There is a sundeck available for guests at the bow. Smoking is only permitted outside on the sundeck. The barge moors each night.

Drinks of all types are available for purchase at the bar on board the Sailing Home. It is not customary for guests to bring their own drinks and use the facilities of the barge (including ice, glasses and crew services); your understanding is appreciated. Onboard meal menus are set, though the chef is happy to accommodate vegetarians and those on restricted diets for health reasons.

Hotel Le Royal

This luxury property, centrally located in Luxembourg City, has a beautiful garden and is only a few steps from the Old Town and shops. All rooms are spacious, elegant, fully air-conditioned and Internet-ready.

Hotel Laimer Hof

Hotel Laimer Hof, a New Renaissance Villa from the end of the 19th century, is located in a quiet residential area just a few minutes walk from the Nymphenburg Palace and gardens. It is owned and managed by Alexandra and Sebastian Rosch, who also live in the property, and has a very homey feel.

Rating Level

Easy

This tour offers easy terrain through the trip. Our VBT support shuttle is available every day at designated waypoints for those who need assistance.