|
 The Jewels of Central Europe gay tour. 10 days/9 nights in gay friendly 5-star hotels. Unwrap the "jewels" of Central Europe: Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Travel between these three exquisite, fairytale-like cities by 1st class train.
Start in Budapest & End in Prague
Optional extension to Poland: Warsaw & Krakow, June 17 - 21, 2016
Day 0 - Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Depart the USA on any regularly scheduled flight to for Budapest, Hungary.
Day 1 - Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Upon arrival transfer to the luxury Corinthia Hotel Budapest. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax after your journey or to introduce yourself to this lovely city. This evening, join fellow travelers for dinner at a trendy restaurant.
Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Corinthia Hotel, Budapest, 5*
Room: Standard Room
Day 2 - Thursday, June 9, 2016
 Following breakfast, A morning sightseeing tour is through Pest, sprawling along the eastern banks of the river. See the impressive State Opera, the city's embassy district and Andrassy Avenue; walk through historic Heroes' Square.
The afternoon is free for further explorations on your own. Visit the local covered market to find paprika and embroidery, or stroll along nearby Vaci Street to window shop and sample the delights of a local coffeehouse. Lunch & dinner at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Corinthia Hotel, Budapest, 5*
Room: Standard Room
Day 3 - Friday, June 10, 2016
 The Castle District of Buda, with cobblestone streets and lanes, sits on a hilltop overlooking the Danube's western bank. Visit Gothic Matthias Church, where the final two Hungarian kings were crowned. See Fisherman's Bastion, an amazing assemblage of architectural styles. Enjoy a magnificent bird's-eye view of the city including the magnificent Parliament Building, from the heights of Gellert Hill. The afternoon is at leisure. Visit the famous Gellert Thermal Baths, hot springs that have supplied curative baths for nearly 2000 years or stroll through the Ludwig Museum in the Palace of Arts, where paintings from Picasso to Lichtenstein are on display. Lunch & dinner at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Corinthia Hotel, Budapest, 5*
Room: Standard Room
Day 4 - Saturday, June 11, 2016
 Depart Budapest on a 1st Class train to Vienna. Arrive Vienna and transfer to the Altstadt Hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax after your journey or to introduce yourself to this lovely city. Your hotel is conveniently located to the main commercial district of Vienna. Stroll Kärnterstrasse and watch the daily routine of the Viennese. Stop for coffee at the Naschmarkt, a lively market located in the gay neighborhood where there are many nice cafés & shops. Enjoy dinner at a popular restaurant this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Altstadt Hotel, Vienna, 5*
Room: Matteo Design Room
Day 5 - Sunday, June 12, 2016
 After breakfast, depart for a walking tour of the Inner Ring of Vienna.
The afternoon is at leisure to visit the Imperial Apartments & Treasury of the Hofburg or one of the many superb museums of the city.
At cocktail hour, take a tram to the gay-owned Café Savoy, 6, Linke Wienzeile, with its ornate ceilings, fringed lamps and huge mirror (rumored to be the largest in Central Europe). It is mixed gay-straight by day, mostly gay at night. Lunch & dinner at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Altstadt Hotel, Vienna, 5*
Room: Matteo Design Room
Day 6 - Monday, June 13, 2016
 After breakfast drive outside the city to Schönbrunn Palace, the sumptuous Baroque palace built in 1700 and inhabited by the Habsburg's and Napoleon from 1805 to 1809. Continue to Belvedere Palace and an interior visit of the Austrian Collection, including Klimt, Waldmueller and Spitz. The rest of the day is at leisure. Vienna is full of exciting museums. Try the new MuseumQuartier, a trendy area where some of Vienna's great museums are clustered. Check out MUMOK (Modern Art), Leopold Museum (Austrian Modern Art) or Vienna's Kunsthalle, presenting contemporary exhibitions. Suggested lunch venue in the "Museum Quarter" at the gay restaurant/bar "Halle E", a currently popular restaurant in Vienna. Lunch & dinner at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Altstadt Hotel, Vienna, 5*
Room: Matteo Design Room
Day 7 - Tueaday, June 14, 2016
 After breakfast, transfer to the train station for the train to Prague. Upon arrival, transfer to the Hotel Josef. Afternoon at leisure. This evening we will dine at Prague restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Josef Hotel, Prague, 5*
Room: Standard Room
Day 8 - Wednesday, June 15, 2016
After breakfast, visit Hradcany, the Castle Quarter, where magnificent palaces, museums and monasteries surround the 1000-year-old castle. This has been the country's center of political and religious power for centuries; the transition lives on today. Tour through the courtyards and historic halls of this impressive complex. Visit the towering St. Vitus' Cathedral, the country's largest, begun 600 years ago and not completed until 1929. Stop for lunch at popular restaurant. The evening is free to discover Prague's stimulating nightlife. Dinner at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Josef Hotel, Prague, 5*
Room: Standard Room
Day 9 - Thursday, June 16, 2016
 Take a guided walk to the fairytale-like Old Town and admire the famous astronomical clock. Continue to Prague's Jewish Quarter. Visit the weathered cemetery and the inspiring Old-New Synagogue, one of the most important Jewish sites in Europe. The ornate Charles Bridge links the Old Town to the Castle Quarter. Stroll along this pedestrian bridge where painters, artists, students and vendors create a lively scene. By special arrangement, we will see the work of a famous Czech photographer whose work highlights the male form (pending confirmation.) Tonight we dine at one of Prague's many fine restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Josef Hotel, Prague, 5*
Room: Standard Room
Day 10 - Friday, June 17, 2016
Transfer to the airport this morning for your return flight Home. Or extend your trip to Poland's Warsaw & Krakow.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional extension to Poland: Warsaw & Krakow, June 17 - 21, 2016
|
The large guest rooms of the 
A varied breakfast buffet is served in the Red Salon. In the afternoon, tea and homemade cake are provided free of charge in front of the open fireplace. In the evening, guests can relax at the bar.
Hotel Josef guestrooms are decorated in a modern style with metal hanging lamps and glass-topped desks; all have DVD players; bathrooms have rain showerheads and luxury toiletries.
