2008 Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to the Swiss Alps
Tauck’s Swiss Alps tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. A transfer is included from Zurich Airport to the Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. With its splendid views of the Swiss Alps, Zurich is the perfect place to begin your 12-day Alpine Interlude. Please join us this evening for our welcome reception and dinner, where you’ll meet your Tauck Director and your fellow travelers.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich, Switzerland

Day 2 – Toward the Swiss Alps
Journey to Berne, Switzerland’s charming capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this morning. Discover the highlights of Berne with your Tauck Director before enjoying lunch at a 17-century Gasthof filled with historic gems that provide an authentic view of life in Switzerland at the time. Continue on to Interlaken for a two-night stay at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, one of Europe’s most famous hotels offering stunning vistas of the Swiss Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland

Day 3 – A day of high adventure in the Swiss Alps
After a scenic drive to Grindelwald this morning, board a cogwheel train and climb to Klein Scheidegg, take a minute admire the incredible views as you change trains, and continue your upward journey to the highest railway station in Europe, Jungfraujoch, reaching an altitude of 10,500 feet. Here at “the top of Europe,” the spectacular views of the surrounding Swiss Alps will take your breath away. If you care to, visit the Ice Palace, 30 meters below the surface of a glacier, and the Sphinx observation hall and terrace. Your time at the Jungfraujoch will be a most memorable experience during your interlude in the Swiss Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland

Day 4 – Lovely little Liechtenstein
Spectacular scenery abounds as you travel through the heart of Switzerland from Interlaken to Liechtenstein. Set amidst the Alps, the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein has much to offer. You’ll have some free time in the capital city, Vaduz, to make your own discoveries. Continue on to Austria and the splendid Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Telfs. Savor typical Tyrolean cuisine this evening as you dine at an authentic Austrian mountain Hütte surrounded by beautiful views of the Inn Valley
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol, Telfs, Austria

Day 5 – Bavarian beauty
Bavaria’s Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the three palaces constructed by King Ludwig II and the only one that he actually lived in. It’s said that Ludwig was quite a fan of French king Louis XIV and modeled Linderhof after Versailles; you may see references to the Sun King during your tour. As you view the Hall of Mirrors, try to imagine King Ludwig, who was reputed to be a night owl, reading there by the reflected light of many candles. The gardens surrounding the palace are thought to be among the most beautiful examples of historicist garden design. Continue on to Oberammergau, site of the famous Passion Play produced only once every ten years. Explore the town and the 5,000-seat theater constructed for the production at your own pace before returning to your hotel for some time at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol, Telfs, Austria

Day 6 – Inspiring Innsbruck
Travel to Innsbruck today, twice the host city for the Winter Olympics. Discover the Gothic Old Town, of one the most beautiful medieval city centers in Austria and visit the Hofkirche (Court Church). It houses one of the city’s most impressive imperial monuments, the richly adorned Cenotaph of Emperor Maximilian I. Later, visit the Schnapsbrennerei Kuenz to see the vineyards and observe the distilling process before tasting the distinctive schnapps the distillery produces. This evening, join us for a dinner featuring the traditional music of the area.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Strasserwirt, Strassen, Austria

Day 7 – Trans-border adventures
The Dolomites span Austria and Italy and your travels today take you back and forth across the border many times. Inspiring mountain vistas and peaceful pastoral scenes await around every bend. Explore the charming alpine market town of Ortisei with its lively, pedestrians-only historic center. Board a cable car to take in absolutely awe-inspiring alpine vistas.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Strasserwirt, Strassen, Austria

Day 8 – One of the world’s most scenic roads
This is what you’ve come to the Alps to experience – a seemingly endless panorama of towering alpine peaks and mighty glaciers. Opened in 1935, the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse (High Alpine Road) paved the way to one of the most impressive and incomparable natural experiences on earth. The road takes you up and up and up into the most spectacular alpine scenery you could possibly imagine. From the highest point, you’ll be able to see 37 mountains higher than 9,000 feet and 19 amazing glaciers. After descending from the heights, continue on to Salzburg for a two-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria

Day 9 – Splendid Salzburg
The Old Town of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world. A walking tour this morning reveals its Baroque charms; perhaps you’ll recognize some of the locations used in filming The Sound of Music. A visit to the birthplace of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an inspiring experience for Mozart fans. This evening, attend a classical music concert at Mirabelle Palace and let your spirit soar as extraordinary music fills the air.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria

Day 10 – See the sights of Vienna
Feel free to hum a few of your favorite waltzes during a scenic first-class train trip from Salzburg to Vienna. Upon arrival, pause to enjoy coffee and cake at one of Sigmund Freud’s favorite cafés before exploring a bit of this glittering city on foot during a guided walking tour en route to the Hotel Imperial, your home for the next two nights. The rest of the day is free to discover Vienna as you please.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria

Day 11 – Vibrant Vienna
A city tour this morning showcases the treasures of this capital city of the Habsburg Empire, to include its marvelous Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture and the famous Ringstrasse. Later, visit the extraordinary Stift Klosterneuburg, a monastery founded in 1114 by Leopold III, who later became the patron saint of Austria. Your tour will take you through the monastery church, with its numerous frescoes, and the medieval cloisters which house the Verdun Altar, a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Finally, taste some of the wines for which the monastery has been famous for 900 years. Return to Vienna and enjoy some time at leisure before joining us for a farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria

Day 12 - Homeward bound
Tour ends: Vienna, Austria. Your Alpine Interlude in the Austrian, the Italian and the Swiss Alps ends with an included transfer from the Hotel Imperial to Vienna Airport. Please allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for airport check-in formalities.
Meals: Breakfast
We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, the First Class train ride from Salzburg to Vienna, 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 Zurich Airport on the first day of the tour. Tauck will provide you with transportation to the Hotel Schweizerhof in Zurich regardless of the day and time of your arrival provided you have given us accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to your departure. Please allow sufficient time to claim your luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. If you arrive after the time you have provided, you will need to arrange and pay for your own transportation to the hotel. If you have purchased Tauck Travel Protection, you may, depending on the reason for the delay, submit your receipt for reimbursement. On the last day of the tour, Tauck will provide individual transfers from the Hotel Imperial to Vienna International Airport. We suggest you allow 2½ hours for check-in.

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, Tauck's 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 – The 'Alpine Interlude' journey is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

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, 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 Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

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 Tauck Travel Protection 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., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

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 United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

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 printing.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Hotel Schweizerhof in Zurich on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Please allow sufficient time to claim your luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends with your arrival at Vienna International Airport on the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow at least 2½ hours for flight check-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. Only the Hotel Goldener Hirsch and the Hotel Imperial provide air-conditioning. 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 Europe do not operate their air-conditioning systems on a year round basis, but only during certain months of the year.

ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends 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 the Alps 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 Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is generally customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts to dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but by all means be comfortable.

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 the Alps:

• 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 Handi-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 traveling
  

Elevation - The highest overnight elevation is 1,870 ft (570 m) in Interlaken, Switzerland. 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 of 1,000 miles (1,609 km) through the Alps 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. Switzerland, Italy and Austria 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 Europe. No smoking is permitted on board the motor coaches or on the Austrian Railways.

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 U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy or Austria. 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 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov.

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 U.S. citizen, you will need a valid passport to enter Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy and Austria; 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.

Tauck strongly recommends that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. Also, Tauck recommends 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

Authorization for Travel
If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

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 Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy and Austria.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The official currency in Switzerland and Liechtenstein is the Swiss Franc (CHF) which is divided into 100 centimes and in Italy and Austria, it is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. Although not part of the EU, Switzerland prices are nonetheless often indicated in Euros and some merchants may accept Euros. 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.

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 – If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.

If you are a resident of another country, you should refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Currently, Switzerland levies a 7.6% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most consumer goods and services; Italy and Austria levy a 20% VAT, and Germany, a 19% Import Turnover Tax. (The tax may be higher on luxury items and lower on basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country in which the purchase is made (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union), you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop. In Switzerland, you must spend a minimum of 400 CHF in one store to be entitled to receive a VAT refund by filling out a form the retailer gives you and presenting it to Swiss Customs as you exit the country.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in Switzerland and Austria is 230 V, 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 – Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy and Austria 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.

Weather – The Alps are located in a temperate climate zone. On this journey, the average high temperatures from April through September range from 55 to 85 °F (13 to 29 °C). The average low temperatures range from 35 to 55 °F (2 to 13 °C). Rainfall is spread throughout the year with the summer months experiencing almost twice as much as the winter months. Vienna is the driest location visited with only 24 in (610 mm) per year; Salzburg is the wettest with 53 in (1,340 mm) per year.

	Average Temperature
	Bern, Switzerland		Innsbruck, Austria
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	38 / 27	3 / -3	34 / 20	1 / -7
February	43 / 29	6 / -2	40 / 24	4 / -4
March	50 / 34	6 / -2	51 / 31	11 / -1
April	54 / 37	12 / 3	60 / 39	16 / 4
May	65 / 46	18 / 8	69 / 46	21 / 8
June	70 / 50	21 / 10	75 / 52	24 / 11
July	74 / 54	23 / 12	78 / 55	26 / 13
August	74 / 54	23 / 12	76 / 54	24 / 12
September	64 / 47	18 / 8	69 / 49	21 / 9
October	57 / 42	14 / 6	58 / 40	14 / 4
November	44 / 34	7 / 1	46 / 32	8 / 0
December	39 / 29	4 / -2	36 / 24	2 / -4
	Salzburg, Austria		Vienna, Austria
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	36 / 25	2 / -4	36 / 27	2 / -3
February	37 / 27	3 / -3	39 / 28	4 / -2
March	48 / 32	9 / 0	49 / 35	9 / 2
April	55 / 37	13 / 3	57 / 41	14 / 5
May	64 / 46	18 / 8	67 / 49	19 / 9
June	70 / 50	21 / 10	72 / 55	22 / 13
July	73 / 54	23 / 12	77 / 59	25 / 15
August	72 / 54	22 / 12	77 / 59	25 / 15
September	68 / 50	20 / 10	69 / 53	21 / 12
October	55 / 41	13 / 5	57 / 43	14 / 6
November	45 / 32	7 / 0	44 / 35	7 / 2
December	36 / 27	2 / -3	39 / 30	4 / -1

	Average Rainfall
	Bern, Switzerland		Innsbruck, Austria
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	2.3	58	2.1	53
February	2.0	51	4.6	117
March	2.8	71	4.7	119
April	3.3	84	2.2	56
May	4.9	124	2.9	74
June	5.3	135	4.1	104
July	5.4	137	4.8	122
August	6.2	157	4.6	117
September	4.7	119	3.0	76
October	4.0	102	2.4	61
November	3.0	76	2.2	56
December	2.6	66	2.0	51
	Salzburg, Austria		Vienna, Austria
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	2.8	71	1.5	38
February	2.5	64	1.7	43
March	2.6	66	1.6	41
April	3.7	94	2.0	51
May	5.1	130	2.4	61
June	6.8	173	2.9	74
July	7.9	201	2.5	64
August	6.9	175	2.3	58
September	5.2	132	1.8	46
October	3.5	89	1.6	41
November	2.9	74	2.0	51
December	2.8	71	1.7	43

To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.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 Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection for more information.

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:

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.

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