For reservations call 1-800-788-7885
or contact your local travel agent.
A Week In... Bavaria, The Dolomites & Venice
2010 – 8 Days from $4,490
NEW for 2010 - Including the Passion Play! The Oberammergau Passion Play - it only happens once every ten years... attending it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience... and, it's the centerpiece of our new A Week In… Bavaria, The Dolomites & Venice journey, traveling from Bavaria through the Austrian and Italian Alps and the spectacular Dolomite Mountains to romantic Venice! Along with the Passion Play (or Passionsspiele), Tauck's Oberammergau travel experience offers much more. Spend a night in Munich, Bavaria's capital, before continuing on to Oberammergau, where you'll spend two nights near the Passion Play performance venue at the boutique Hotel Maximilian - exclusive to Tauck guests during your stay - and watch the spectacular Passionsspiele unfold from Tauck's premier seats in the best category available. You'll also explore Austria's famous alpine playground, Innsbruck, and attend a very special evening at a grand castle in the Italian Alps. The majestic beauty of the Dolomites will enchant you as you ride in a cable car among the towering peaks and wander through the charming and historic mountain village of Ortisei. Cruise across Lago di Garda, the largest lake in Italy; explore the lovely villages along its shores, lined with tropical trees while surrounded by alpine peaks. End your unforgettable Oberammergau travel adventure with a two-night stay at a five-star former 14th-century palace right on the Grand Canal in romantic Venice. A Week In… Bavaria, The Dolomites & Venice, Tauck Style, will be one that you will always remember!
Day-by-Day Itinerary
2010 Itinerary
Don't miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
experience the Passion Play, the splendor of the
Dolomites and the joys of Venice wrapped into
one incredible Oberammergau travel adventure!
Prices
8 Days from $4,490 plus airfare
| 2010 Price per Person | Double | Single | Triple |
| May |
$4490 | $4997 | $4357 |
| June – July; September |
$4690 | $5197 | $4557 |
| August | $4590 | $5097 | $4457 |
16 meals included.
International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).
Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.
Need to Know
Inclusive Prices
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides and drivers, and the Tauck Director are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at
Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed, when available, and are not recommended for comfort. Adjacent, adjoining and connecting rooms are available by request only and cannot be guaranteed.
Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.
Tauck Director – A Week In…
Gratuities Included – All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff and local guides are included.
No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.
Not Included
Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.
Hotel Rooms Before and After
Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Tauck Protection Plan for more information.
Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral waters and soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, individual airport transfers, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
Tauck Director and Driver Gratuities - The customary gratuities to the Tauck Director and driver are not included. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.
Additional Information
Airline Security Measures – In the U.S.
If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocket knife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items, and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov
Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the U.S.
Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.
Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of publication.
Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Bayerischer Hof in
Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.
Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.
Preparing To Go
Air Conditioning – The motor coaches are air-conditioned for your comfort. European air conditioning in hotels should be considered as a climate-control system; most have three settings for the fan, plus a "cool" setting. Very few of the European systems actually have a temperature setting. In general, the amount of cool air that is produced from a European air-conditioning system may be less than what you may have in your own home. Some hotels in
ATM and Credit Cards - We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Clothing and Packing – The weather in Germany, Austria and Italy is temperate and unpredictable. We suggest that you dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A light sweater or jacket will provide warmth on a chilly early morning walk or a late night stroll.
In
You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are not generally available due to local fire safety regulations; however, valet laundry, dry cleaning and pressing services are available for a fee.
We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.
Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Europe:
- Sports jacket for men
- Casually-elegant outfits for ladies
- Short and long sleeve shirts
- Shorts, slacks and jeans
- Tee shirts
- Socks
- Light-weight sweater for summer; medium-weight for spring and fall
- Light-weight jacket for summer; medium-weight for spring and fall
- Light-weight gloves
- Comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
- Raincoat and rain hat
- Collapsible umbrella
- Swimwear
- Gym wear
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Wash cloth – not all European hotels provide washcloths, so you may want to bring one along if you prefer them. A package of reusable cloth wipes is an excellent alternative
- Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and plenty of film
- Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while
Elevation - The highest elevation for sightseeing (optional) is 11,333 ft (3,454 m) at Jungfraujoch. We ascend and descend high elevations often on this tour, and many guests react differently to these conditions. If you are not accustomed to these heights, you may at times feel dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous. We suggest that you drink plenty of water throughout the whole tour to prevent dehydration
Health – This active journey that requires you to be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. , and are home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, many centuries old. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical limitations. You will encounter cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and some steep and winding staircases. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.
We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.
Guest rooms are all booked as non-smoking unless otherwise requested by guests. No-smoking sections in restaurants are rare in
Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.
If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.
If you are a citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Germany, Austria and Italy. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in
If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries visited on this tour to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.
Luggage Restrictions —
Checked Luggage – General
While it is common that airlines allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.
In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.
Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.
Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.
Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.
Carry-on Luggage - General
Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.
For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not be accessible during daytime travel.
Travel Document Requirements – If you are a citizen of the U.S., you will need a valid passport to enter Germany, Austria or Italy; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.
If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries visited on this tour to determine what travel documentation is required.
We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. We also recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Travel with Children —
Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.
Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.
Safety and Welfare Responsibility – Tauck welcomes the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.
Special Travel Documentation for Children —
Destination Information
Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel and group functions, as well as when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.
Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Germany, Austria and Italy.
Currency and Exchange Rates - The official currency in all three countries visited is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted and ATMs are widespread; many are equipped with the Cirrus or Maestro systems. Banks offer the best exchange rates for travelers’ checks and foreign currency, but it is also possible to exchange money at all of the hotels on the itinerary, main train stations and airports. Banks are open Monday through Friday except Holidays.
To obtain the up-to-date currency exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com.
Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Each country visited has its own Customs clearing process. You should familiarize yourself with each country’s specific required declarations before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries.
Currently, Germany levies a 19% Import Turnover tax (similar to a Value Added Tax) on most consumer goods and services; Austria and Italy each levy a 20% VAT.
Electrical Current – The electrical current in all three countries visited is 230V, 50 Hz, AC. If your electrical devices do not conform to this standard, you will need to bring the appropriate converters and adapters. These items can be purchased in a store that specializes in travel products.
Time Zones – Germany, Austria and Ital are 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through October, these countries switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 2 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website www.timeanddate.com.
If You Have to Cancel
Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in its
If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties waived. Please click here for more details.
If you choose not to purchase Tauck Travel Protection, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:
60 days or more before departure
$700 per person (the amount of the deposit)
30-59 days before departure
$925 per person
29-1 days before departure
$1,500 per person