“Beyond the river the hills…
behold they lead to Heaven.”
- By the early 20th-century Hungarian poet Arpaid Toth
Hungary
Hungary is situated at the heart of Europe. Surrounded by Austria, Slovakia, the Ukraine, Romania, Serbia/Yugoslavia, Croatia and Slovenia, it has absorbed the cultures of such peoples and conquerors as the Romans, Magyars, Turks and Hapsburgs. Because of its location at the crossroads of East and West, it has not always been easy for Hungarians to maintain their national integrity and preserve their rich and unique culture, but they have done so beautifully.
Hungarian wines match the quality and variety of its cuisine. Probably the best known of all Hungarian wines is the world-famous Takaj Aszu, the sweet amber-colored white wine. Louis IV of France called Takaj “the wine of kings and the king of wines.” Peter the Great, Czar of Russia, would only serve Hungarian wines!
The cosmopolitan Budapest is the most magnificent city on the Danube. With its wealth of historic monuments, unique location, attractive parks and museums, fine restaurants, and notable cultural life, it is the country’s premier attraction. But Hungary’s extraordinary cultural life is also found in the charming provincial capitals, historical towns, and spa centers where literally hundreds of festivals, contests, and fairs take place each year.
No other capital in the world boasts so many thermal springs as Budapest. In fact, the gushing springs caused the Romans to build a city called Aquincum 2,000 years ago. The spas and thermal springs are as much a part of the Hungarian social life as the Old World cafes and restaurants with Gypsy music.
Other spa facilities abound in Hungary. Balatonfured is an elegant spa town with an aristocratic air. The Nobel Prize-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore came all the way from Bengal to take a cure here in 1926. Heviz is one of the most unusual Hungarian spas, developed around Europe’s largest warm-water lake, Lake Gyogy.
The steaming lake creates an eerie impression, especially in the cold winter days. The brown-grained mud covering the bottom of the lake is especially therapeutic.
WARSAW, BUDAPEST, VIENNA & PRAGUE
14 Days20 People Maximum
Guaranteed Departures
Czestochowa, Cracow, Slovakia, Danube River, Hradcany
It's Included!
Accommodations - Deluxe Hotels: Le Royal Meridien Bristol, Hotel Fracuski, Hotel Grand Jasna, Budapest Marriott Hotel, Hotel Bristol, InterContinental Praha
Meals - 13 Dinners, 6 Lunches, 9 Dinners
- Professional Tour Guides
- Private piano recital in Warsaw spotlighting the music of Fryderyk Chopin
- Danube River Dinner Cruise
- Lunch at Vienna's Schonbrunn Palace with a demonstration of the art of preparing delectable strudel
- Nalahozeves Castle Evening with local wines and a tour of the private art collections in Prague
- Jasna Gora Monastery with the famous Black Madonna
- Visit Wawel Castle in Cracow
- Tour the Auschwitz memorial and museum
- Tour Cracow's Jewish Quarter or take a journey to the Wieliczka salt mines
- Private concert of Mozart and Strauss by the Vienna Orchestra
- City Tours
- Many other extras
SPA WEEK AT THE COUNT APPONYI CASTLE HOTEL
Land Only Independent TourThe First Class Count Apponyi Castle Hotel is located in the beautiful Hungarian countryside about a 2-hour drive from Budapest. The hotel is a perfect combination of style, comfort and elegance. The health and wellness center of the castle offers a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities under the supervision of qualified physicians and is based on the thermal waters found in the castle park. In addition, facials, massages and other cosmetic treatments are available. All rooms provide private facilities, satellite television, direct dial telephone and minibar.
- 6 Nights First Class Accommodations
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- 6 Body Massages
- 3 Aroma Baths
- 3 Underwater Massages
- 3 Sessions at the Solarium
- Unlimited use of the swimming pool, thermal baths, saunas, steam bath and fitness center
- Bathrobe for use during your stay
- Hotel taxes and service charges
BUDAPEST SPA WEEK
Land OnlyIndependent Tour, Based on double occupancy
Prices may vary due to Exchange Rate
After one week at a spa in Budapest you will surely return relaxed and refreshed. The Thermal Hotel Margitsziget is a First Class spa hotel located on Margaret Island in the center of Budapest. The island does not allow cars and has a perfect microclimate. The hotel is one of the most up to date facilities in Central Europe. All rooms provide private facilities, air conditioning, balcony, direct dial telephone, minibar, radio, television, in room coffee/tea maker and a safe.
- 7 Nights accommodation in the First Class thermal hotel
- Round trip Budapest airport transfers
- Breakfast and Dinner daily
- Budapest city tour
- Use of thermal baths, swimming pool, steam bath, sauna, whirlpool, aromatic sauna, fitness room and drinking cure
- Use of bathrobe during stay
- Hotel taxes and service charges
- Choice of Basic Baineotherapy Package or Premier Wellness Plus Package
CLASSIC BUDAPEST AND PRAGUE
8 daysPrivately-Guided Travel
It's Included!
Transportation: Round trip trans-Atlantic airfare, first class train between Budapest and Prague and all transfers and luggage handling.
Accommodations: 6 nights in your choice of first class, superior first class or deluxe hotels. Prices vary accordingly
Meals: Daily buffet breakfast
Privately-Guided tour Highlights
- Services of local hosts and guides
- Enjoy city tours of Budapest and Prague
- Walk through Budapest's colorful Central Market
- Visit Prague's Hradcany Castle Area, beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Town
- Free time in Budapest and Prague
BUDAPEST, CRACOW AND PRAGUE
11 daysPrivately-Guided Travel
It's Included!
Transportation: Round trip trans-Atlantic airfare, private vehicle Budapest-Cracow, first class train Cracow-Prague and all transfers and luggage handling
Accommodations: 9 nights in your choice of superior tourist, first class or deluxe hotels
Meals: Daily buffet breakfast
Privately-Guided Tour Highlights
- Services of local hosts and guides in each city
- Sightseeing in Budapest, Cracow and Prague with a private care and guide
- Visit the Coronation Church in Budapest
- Explore the cobbled streets of Old Cracow and visit the Wawel Castle
- Take an optional tour to the Wieliczka Salt Mines or the somber memorial at Auschwitz
- Visit Prague's Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Royal Palace
GEMS OF CENTRAL EUROPE
Budapest, Vienna and Prague11 days
Privately-Guided Travel
It's Included!
Transportation - Round trip trans-Atlantic airfare and first class train between cities and all transfers and luggage handling
Accommodations: 9 nights in your choice of first class, superior first class or deluxe hotels
Meals - Daily buffet breakfast
- Privately-Guided Tour Highlights
- Services of hosts and local guides in each city
- Enjoy city tours of Budapest, Vienna and Prague
- Visit Fisherman's bastion and Matthias Church in Budapest
- Get a panoramic view of Budapest from the citadel atop Gellert Hill
- Drive along Vienna's Ringstrasse and see the famous Vienna State Opera House
- Enjoy the many cultural delights of Vienna during free time
- Walk the cobblestone streets of Prague, the "city of a hundred spires"
- Tour Prague's Hradcany Castle area and visit St. Vitus Cathedral
- Enjoy plenty of free time to explore on you own
