GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Central Europe’s Past & Present: Berlin to Prague 2022 Learn how to personalize your experience on this vacation Grand Circle Travel ® Worldwide Discovery at an Extraordinary Value 1 Grand Circle Travel ® 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 Dear Traveler, At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. Soon, you’ll once again be discovering the places you’ve dreamed of. In the meantime, the enclosed Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide should help you keep those dreams vividly alive. Before you start dreaming, please let me reassure you that your health and safety is our number one priority. As such, we’re requiring that all Grand Circle travelers, Program Directors, and coach drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. Our new, updated health and safety protocols are described inside. The journey you’ve expressed interest in, Central Europe’s Past & Present: Berlin to Prague vacation, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Germany and Prague, thanks to our groups of 42 travelers (with an average of 30). Plus, our European Program Director will reveal their country’s secret treasures as only an insider can. You can also rely on the seasoned team at our regional office in Bratislava, who are ready to help 24/7 in case any unexpected circumstances arise. Throughout your explorations, you’ll meet local people and gain an intimate understanding of the regional culture. Join a German family in their home near Wittenberg for a time-honored German tradition— Kuchenzeit, an afternoon of cake, coffee, and friendly conversation with your hosts. You’ll also get an in-depth look at the history of Cold War Berlin, as a local expert guides you through the city and explains how the fractured alliance between the U.S. and the Soviets affected the city after World War II. Plus, a portion of our proceeds goes toward the charitable efforts of Grand Circle Foundation: inside you’ll also see how your travel dollar helps make the world a better place. We understand that no two people are the same. That’s why more than 80% of our travelers take advantage of the freedom to personalize their experience. Join the 59% of travelers who extend their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Germany: Hamburg, post-trip extension to Poland: Warsaw & Krakow, or both of these extensions to your European vacation. I hope you find this Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide helpful. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Travel Counselors at 1-800-221-2610. Warm regards, Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel P.S. For further peace of mind, please know that we are EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Learn more at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2 WHAT’S INSIDE TRIP SUMMARY It’s Included . 4 Departure Dates and Prices . 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience . 6 DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY . .7 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION . .30 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . 32 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . 35 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . 38 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 42 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 46 Climate & Average Temperatures . 52 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More . 54 Demographics & History . 67 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 73 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 79 MAP . .83 3 New! Central Europe’s Past & Present: Berlin to Prague Germany: Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden | Czech Republic: Prague Countries: 2 | Cities: 4 Tyn Church, Prague, Czech Republic IT’S INCLUDED 14 days from $3695 Including international airfare • Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, and your airport transfers, from New York government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make your own air arrangements Travel from only $264 per day • Accommodations for 12 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths • 22 meals: 12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners 13 days from $2695 Tour only • 12 included features: 11 guided tours and 1 exclusive Discovery Series event: Home-Hosted Visit Travel from only $208 per day • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no Single Supplement: FREE more than 42 travelers) • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers MAXIMIZE YOUR • Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip DISCOVERIES & VALUE • Private motorcoach land travel • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips OPTIONAL EXTENSION S • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip Hamburg, Germany 3 nights pre-trip from $895 To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, Highlights of Poland: Krakow watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/ngp2022 & Warsaw 5 nights post-trip from $1195 Central Europe’s Past & Present: Berlin to Prague 4 CENTRAL EUROPE’S PAST & RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 PRESENT: BERLIN TO PRAGUE We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. 2022 DATES & PRICES See details at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. JUNE; AUGUST- DEPART FROM: APRIL MAY; OCTOBER SEPTEMBER JULY New York $3695 $4195 $4595 $4495 Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, $3895 $4395 $4795 $4695 Miami, Newark, Philadelphia Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, $3995 $4495 $4895 $4795 San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, DC Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. APRIL MAY; OCTOBER JUNE; AUGUST JULY SEPTEMBER Land tour only $2695 $3195 $3395 $3295 $3595 NGP2022 Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.gct.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.gct.com/ngp2022pricing SAVE UP TO 10% WITH OUR FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL GOOD BUY PLAN on your main trip and extensions. New travelers you refer will instantly The earlier you reserve your departure We don’t charge you more for your save $100, and you’ll earn increasing and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up own room. rewards—up to a FREE trip! to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. Each departure has limited solo space For details, visit www.gct.com/va For details, visit www.gct.com/gbd available—call today. Publication Date: 4/6/21 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/ngp2022 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience Your Choice, Your Trip, Your Way Extending the length of your stay in a destination can improve your overall travel experience—and allow you to seek out even more eye-opening cultural interactions. Your local Program Director will help to ensure you’re getting the personalized experiences you’re looking for. In fact, 85% of our travelers are personalizing their experience in more than 85 countries. Call us at 1-800-221-2610 to discuss personalizing your vacation today or visit us online at www.gct.com/personalize-ngp2022. Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of our travelers Back-to-Back Trips: 90% of our travelers who choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension combined two vacations rated it excellent See more of the world and maximize your value by taking Consider combining this vacation with Romantic Villages of advantage of your already-included airfare. On this Alpine Europe. If you’re already overseas, why not see more vacation, you can choose between Hamburg, Germany̵Öłù of the region and avoid another international flight? Plus, Highlights of Poland: Krakow & Warsaw. you’ll save $250 per person when you reserve two trips right after one another. “Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose to arrive early or stay late in their destination Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break customize their flights away” anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring We make every effort to provide you with non-stop entirely on your own. flights and acceptable connection times to and from your destination. You also have several other ways you can Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option personalize your air itinerary, including choosing your is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own departure city and airline, upgrading your seat, and more. accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers. St. Mary’s Basilica, Krakow, Poland Central Europe’s Past & Present: 6 Central Europe’s Past & Present: Berlin to Prague 2022 14-Day Land Tour EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Hamburg, Germany POST-TRIP Highlights of Poland: Krakow & Warsaw Your Day-to-Day Itinerary 7 GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL Grand Circle Travel, founded in 1958 to serve the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), is the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans over age 50. Grand Circle vacations have been recommended by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, and others. But our most impressive reviews come from our travelers.