Here to Expertly Guide You Through the New Normal in Travel
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Our Experience At Exeter International we have been creating memories and crafting custom-designed journeys for 27 years. We are a team of specialists committed to providing the best travel experiences in our destinations. Each of our experts has either travelled extensively on reconnaissance trips, or has lived in their area of expertise, giving us unparalleled first-hand knowledge. Because we focus on specific parts of the globe, we return to the same destinations many times, honing our experience over the years. Knowledgeable Up-to-the-Minute Local Information We are best placed to give you advice about traveling to Europe and beyond; from logistics and new protocols in museums, hotels and restaurants in each country. We are here to expertly guide you through the new normal in travel. Original Custom Programs, Meticulously Planned Our experts speak your language both literally and culturally. Our advice and recommendations are impartial, honest, and always have the individual in mind. We save valuable time in pre-trip research and focus on developing experiences that enrich and enhance your experience. Once on your journey you will have complete peace of mind with our local 24-hour contact person who is on hand to coordinate any changes in your program or help you in the case of any emergency. Hand-Selected Guides We know that guides are one of the most important components of any travel experience. That is why we only use local experts who have a history of working with our guests and whom we know personally. We are extremely particular in selecting our guides and are confident that they will be one of the most memorable aspects of any of our trips. Flexible Deposit We prepay deposits for services so we can access the top guides, the best drivers and maintain preferred partnerships with our partner hotels. Our deposit to confirm services is 25% of the total trip cost. We want you to feel confident to book but also know that we are sensitive to current circumstances. Therefore, 15% of this deposit is refundable up to 31 days prior to departure if you are unable to travel for any reason. 10% of the deposit will be retained as a future travel credit for up to 3 years. Future travel will be priced at prevailing rates. If it is determined that you are unable to travel within 31 days of the start of services, all deposits paid will be converted to a future travel credit, less nonrefundable funds committed on your behalf and tickets such as train or theater tickets. This credit may also be applied to our sister travel companies: Almaz Journeys and Exeter Safari Company. Financial Stability We are proud to be recognized by Allianz Insurance on their list of covered travel suppliers to give you additional peace of mind. This morning you will arrive into Gdansk, where you will be met by your driver for your transfer to your hotel in the center of the city and in the heart of the historic district. A famously hospitable and friendly country, Poland reveals a wealth of reminders of its great past to those who visit. The name itself relates back to the Polainie tribe, a people inhabiting what is now Wielkopolska in the Early Middle Ages. Rich in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you will be treated to beautifully restored, medieval towns such as the Old Towns of Warsaw and Krakow, and get insights to Poland’s cultural heritage and historic political influence throughout Europe. Enjoy its picturesque landscapes, outstanding natural riches, and experience its folk traditions, which still survive today. Gdansk, or Danzig, as it was formerly called, is a city of charm and elegance, even though it is most known for its industrial shipyards and the popular movement by Lech Walesa that marked the end of Communism in Poland. While Gdansk was mostly German before WWII, the Poles expelled all remaining Germans at the end of the war and left the city to become truly Polish. Gdansk was an important city of the Hanseatic League for centuries. The remainder of your day is at leisure. We recommend heading on your own to the fantastic new WWII Museum. This fascinating and huge museum opened in 2017. September 1, 1939 was the date that WWII began and it started right here with shots fired over Westerplatte. This massive museum is divided into three areas – past, present and future. You’ll have a timed entrance ticket today and the use of an audio guide, if you like. With even a casual interest in WWII, you’ll be hard pressed to see everything in two hours here. There are over 2,000 exhibits from the road to war to effects of the war post-1945. All exhibits are in English and the audio guides give greater detail wherever you would like it. Arrival Transfer Radisson Hotel & Suites This morning meet your guide in your hotel lobby at 10AM. Today you will start with a visit to the European Solidarity Center. The permanent exhibition is dedicated to the Solidarity Movement and the opposition, which led to the overthrow of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. It’s like a walking timline of contemporary history in Gdansk and really all of Europe. It’s a fascinating look into this turbulent time leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Afterward head to Oliwa. This is a complex of Cistercian abbey buildings and the highlight is the cathedral. It’s built in the Romanesque and Gothic styles and is best known for its organ, which includes moving angels, stars and the sun. Today there is an organ concert at noon and you can attend. If you like, you can then drive to the furthest point of the “tri-city” area – Gydnia. Here, at the shipyards, is where the solidarity movement began and you’ll hear the story from your local guide who lived through this time. Continue on to Gdansk where the rest of your touring is on foot. Your guide will take you on foot Gdansk’s Royal Route. Around every corner of Old Town you’ll find an important building or historic monument and your guide will show you the most important of them. You can also step inside St. Mary’s Church, founded in 1343, and one of the largest churches in Europe and is best known for its extraordinary Gothic sculpture. At the picturesque Motlawa River bank you will see the massive, 15th century Old Crane, which is now a museum containing a wooden elevator and granaries used at the port during its heyday. Note: Some touring is on foot. Please be prepared to be outside and walking over cobblestones. Vehicle & Driver (4 Hours); Guide (8 Hours) Radisson Hotel & Suites This morning your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby at 10AM for your journey outside of Gdansk to Malbork Castle. First begun by the Order of the Teutonic Knights in the late 14th century, Malbork Castle was once the capital of one of the most powerful states on the southern Baltic coast. Malbork Castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress and is the world’s largest brick castle and certainly the most impressive in Europe. The Teutonic Knights were an order of German crusaders and their rich history dates to the 12th century. Your visit today will take you inside the castle walls, where you can visit a variety of rooms that have been restored to their former grandeur. The castle is also home to temporary exhibitions. One of the most striking features of Malbork is its existence. The castle has been under continuous reconstruction for nearly 230 years! The castle was almost completely destroyed by the end of World War II, and its restoration today is a testament to the determination of the Polish people. Vehicle, Driver & Guide (8 Hours) Radisson Hotel & Suites This morning your driver will take you directly to the station to meet your high-speed train to Warsaw. First class tickets are included and will be given to you locally. Upon your arrival in Warsaw you will be transferred to your hotel, where the remainder of your day will be at leisure. Often overlooked, Warsaw is a phoenix that has risen out of the ashes of immense carnage to emerge as a vibrant, contemporary and edgy European capital. Its eclectic architectural style reflects the different influences throughout the ages. In Old Town Warsaw, tall church steeples, colorful houses, and narrow cobble-stoned lanes give way to the newer part of the city and a larger more contemporary skyline. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings have been exquisitely restored to their former glory in the post-World War II era, while more recent construction reflects Warsaw’s cosmopolitan vibe. Station Transfers with Assistants Bristol Warsaw Today your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby at 10AM for a half-day walking tour of Warsaw’s Old Town. On the tour with your guide have a stroll through Warsaw’s renowned Castle Square. In this square, you’ll find street artists, small cafes and shops among the rebuilt gothic mansions of Warsaw’s nobility. View Zygmunt Column, built to honor King Zygmunt III Wasa, who moved Poland’s capital from Krakow to Warsaw in the 17th-century. Next, your guide will take you to the Royal Castle, which boasts one of the most magnificent art collections of the city, including famous views of Warsaw by Bellotto, the nephew and student of the famous Venetian painter Canaletto. Bellotto was the court painter of King Stanislaw August and his paintings of Warsaw were used for rebuilding the city after its near complete destruction in World War II.