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THE GREAT TRAINS OF SWITZERLAND

 

Featuring the world's greatest scenery:

 

THE FRENCH, SWISS, AUSTRIAN, GERMAN AND ITALIAN ALPS plus MT. BLANC

 

May 13th - May 27th, 2011

 

Including: Munich, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Geneva, Chamonix, Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Liechtenstein, and St. Moritz

 

This is a magnificent tour. Many of you heard how wonderful our last "trains" tour was and asked that we offer it again - yes! - Gladly - here it is. This tour, however, will be in the spring, which means the leaves will be turning green and the snow will be remaining on the high mountains. We will see lots of snow and travel through a great deal of it (by train). In fact, the last time we were in St Moritz in May, we sat in front of beautifully draped French windows and watched the snow peacefully drift over the town. Two days later, we were sitting on our balconies in Montreux soaking up the afternoon sun with temperatures in the upper 70's.

 

This is a trip filled with fantastic scenery and experiences. The train rides are incredible-like nothing you can imagine-we travel to 10,000 feet into a white-blanketed world, surrounded by still higher mountain peaks and glaciers. Every turn is a picture; every moment is a memory. We cruise on pristine, mountain engulfed lakes, exhilarated by the cool breezes on our faces and amazed by the beauty of the small islands and charming buildings. We stroll along beautiful boardwalks, with palm trees and tropical flowers scenting our path and the sun warming our spirits...that is what this trip has to offer...plus a thousand more moments that you will always remember.

 

THE FLIGHT:

 

The flight is easy; we will be using USAIR to fly to Munich, Germany. You will get frequent flyer miles for the entire trip.

 

THE ITINERARY:

 

We will land in Munich, but save our Munich sightseeing for the end of the trip. After meeting our guide and our coach driver, we will take the short ride to Innsbruck, Austria, where we will spend the first two nights. Innsbruck is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns of its size anywhere in the world because of its spectacular setting. It is surrounded by sheer, steep, snow-covered blue and white Alps on two sides, and on the other by the hazy, purple mountain sequences of the Tuxer and Stubai Ranges. We will have a wonderful tour of the city plus a visit to the world-famous Swavorski Crystal Factory.

 

When we leave, we will travel west to Liechtenstein, one of the smallest independent sovereign states in Europe, and visit the capitol city Vaduz. Afterward, we will start the ascent through the High Alps to Chur. This is the largest and least developed canton in Switzerland, called the Grisons. The area is very mountainous and contains 140 square miles of glaciers, with 150 valleys at altitudes between 2,963 and 6,562 feet The highest Orisons' peak is Mt. Bernina which reaches 13,285 feet. The air is clear and invigorating, and the narrow streets of Chur are flower bedecked and rimmed with elegant houses.

 

We will continue on to St. Moritz, said to be the most fashionable resort in the world, located at an altitude of 6,036 het. The next morning, we will board the Bernina Express, a train that travels over the Bernina Pass at an altitude of 7,621 feet, and through some of the world's greatest scenic views of snow-covered mountains and endless glaciers. In a little over two hours, we will arrive in Tirano, Italy, where we will have time to enjoy a leisurely lunch and explore this small Italian Alpine town, before we reboard the Bernina Express for another fantastic ride back to St. Moritz.

 

This whole trip is filled with extraordinary treats, but this next day is just spectacular as we board the Glacier Express train in St. Moritz for the 7 ½ hour ride across, around and through the heart of the Swiss Alps. It is the most famous train ride in Switzerland and one of the most breathtaking rides in the entire world. We will cross through 91 viaducts and tunnels (the longest being 8 miles) and over 291 bridges. It is absolutely incredible so be sure to bring your camera. As an added treat we will have a beautifully served lunch aboard the train, and it is a wonderful relaxing day traveling through the Alps.

 

We will leave the train in Brig and meet our coach (the driver crossed the Alps the difficult way-by road), and continue on to the Swiss Riviera-the wonderful city of Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. As a contrast to snow-covered everything-we will bask in the sunny warmth of Lake Geneva with palm trees caressing the shores. Surprising as it seems, the Alps surrounding Montreux protect the town from the ravages of the winter, and as a result, the town is a profusion of warm Mediterranean vegetation-magnolias, almond trees and especially palms. While here, we will visit the picturesquely perched on the edge of the lake Chateau of Chinon, made famous in Lord Byron's masterpiece The Prisoner of Chalon.. It is a marvelous castle with an especially interesting dungeon-as you will see.

 

When we leave Montreux, we will drive along the northern shore of Lake Geneva to the city of Geneva, where after a sightseeing tour of the city, we will have a leisurely boat cruise on Lake Geneva to see the many homes of the "rich and famous" who escape to this little paradise. Afterward, we will take the extremely lovely drive to Chamonix, France, the historic capital of alpine skiing and a former site of the winter Olympics.

 

Chamonix lies in an incredible setting at an altitude of 3,422 feet, at the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. Towering behind the town is the fabulous 15,780 feet high mountain-Mont Blanc. On the next day, you will have "THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME" when we ascend from the Aiguille du Midi to an altitude of 12,602 feet and stand 1110 yards from the peak of Mont Blanc. The air is crisp, cold and thin; the views are the most spectacular you will ever see. This is THE MOMENT of any mountain experience you will ever have.

 

After two marvelous days in Chamonix, we will continue to the lovely Italian resort of Stresa and stay in a fairytale setting at a wonderful hotel on the shores of Lake Maggiore surrounded by the majestic Italian Alps. While here we will visit the beautiful and charming Borromean Islands and even stop at a fun, open market on the far side of the lake. There is nothing like cruising Maggiore in a small boat with a charming Italian captain at the helm sailing us around the islands with the fresh air restoring our spirits and invigorating our bodies.

 

It is always difficult to leave the beauty of Stresa, but next, we will be heading back north through the Swiss Alps to another beautiful city on a lake-Lucerne. This is a lovely "storybook" town, with the lake to the north and eternally snow-covered mountains flanked by glaciers to the south. Lucerne has everything: narrow, cobblestoned streets, slender church spires and turrets, covered bridges, frescoed outside building walls and one of the world's most moving statues-The Dying Lion. On our last evening in town, we will experience a typical Tyrolian tradition when we are feasting on local specialties and being entertained with a great folklore show.

 

The next day, we will continue north through the Tyrolian Alps, through the Bavarian Alps and return to Munich. There will be sightseeing in Munich with panoramic views. What a fantastic way to end a fantastic trip.

 

ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEALS:

 

All the stays (except for the last night) are two nights in strictly superior first-class and deluxe hotels. It doesn't get any easier or better than that.

 

All breakfasts and dinners are included every day on the trip. Breakfasts are American breakfasts, meaning that every day there will be the whole gamut of unlimited breakfast choices: juices, cereals, meats (bacon, ham and/or sausages), eggs, fruits, yogurts, breads, pastries and sweets, as well as cheeses, cold meats and hot beverages. Enjoy to your heart's content.

 

Dinners are all included. Every day, there will be at least a three-course dinner. It is so nice to check into a hotel after a full day of sightseeing and know that you have time to relax before dinner and that dinner will be provided so you do not have to worry about "where to eat." Mange, mange, relax and enjoy!

 

THE GUIDES:

 

On the Great Trains trip, we will have a professional tour manager who will stay with us for the entire trip, as well as specific guides wherever they are needed.

 

We will be escorting you from Wilmington so that you never have to worry about anything...we take care of all the details for you. Our passion is showing you the world, and we will guide you every step of the way.

 

THE COST:

 

We always say, "Look around and see what other companies offer." They typically lure you with a low price but, as you carefully read the fine print and total everything up, you will be amazed at how quickly the "come-on" price has changed. In comparing companies, be sure that you are comparing the QUALITY OF THE TRIP AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED. You will notice that various companies offer similar trips for various prices, but no where will you find arrangements that are this fine with sightseeing that is this extensive and comprehensive as what we have outlined.

 

Also, please be sure to note that every single thing listed is included in the price-THERE ARE NO OPTIONAL TOURS OR OPTIONAL DINNERS FOR WHICH YOU MUST PAY EXTRA. EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED! The only things for which you will have to pay extra are the airline taxes, fuel surcharges, airline security charges and a VAT (Value Added Tax) over which we have no control. (Other companies also charge you this in addition to the price, but they hide the information in the fine print, usually on the last page of the brochure-we tell you up front.)

 

We have worked hard to negotiate the following price for this trip and we proudly offer you :

 

THE GREAT TRAINS OF SWITZERLAND for ONLY $3995.00 ppdo.

 

SIGN-UP INFORMATION:

 

GREAT TRAINS SIGN-UP DEADLINE IS February 8th, 2011

 

If you would like to join us on this wonderful trip, please send a $50 per person, fully refundable deposit (check made out to THE CAPE TRAVELERS) by the deadline dates, and we will gladly add your name to the travel list. Reservations are made on a first-come-first-served basis, and there are only 28 seats available for this trip. (Limiting the number of reservations to 28, makes for a very comfortable travel group with plenty of room on the bus). Please understand, however, that when you send in your deposit, we take that as a "good faith" indication that you will be traveling with us-barring any unforeseen emergencies-and we base our final arrangements on that premise.

 

MEETINGS AND PAYMENTS:

 

Once this travel group is formed, we will notify you of the time and place of the first group meeting. At the meetings, you will get the opportunity to meet us and your travel companions. The trip payments will be divided so that you pay for your airline tickets and the initial ground deposits at the first meeting, a portion at the second meeting and the balance at the third. If you cannot attend the meetings, we will send all the information to you and keep you abreast of what is happening.

 

IN CLOSING:

 

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call. Please remember that the number of reservations for each trip is limited, so do not wait until the last minute to sign-up. We always say, "Who knows what tomorrow may bring...." well, how true that is. If you ever wanted to go to these fabulous places, NOW is the time to do so.