GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe 2021 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, Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe vacation, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Western Europe, thanks to our groups of 42 travelers (with an average of 30). Plus, our Western 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 Rome, 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. Discover Swiss bucolic life when a local family welcomes you to their farm in the Brienzerland countryside, one of the most traditional areas in central Switzerland. You’ll also sample local vintages at a winery in Liechtenstein, the sixth-smallest microstate in the world. 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 52% of travelers who extend their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Italy: Como, post-trip extension to Germany: Munich and Austria: Salzburg, 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 . .27 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . 29 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . 31 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . 34 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 38 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 41 Climate & Average Temperatures . 47 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More . 50 Demographics & History . 65 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 74 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 83 MAP . .87 3 Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe Italy: Stresa | Switzerland: Interlaken | Austria: Seefeld | Germany: Munich Countries: 4 | Cities: 4 V illage Center, Seefeld, Austria IT’S INCLUDED • Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, and your airport transfers, 16 days from $ 3995 government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make Including international airfare your own air arrangements from New York • Accommodations for 14 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths Travel from only $250 per day • 24 meals: 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 7 dinners (including 1 Home- Hosted Dinner) 15 days from $3095 • 17 included features: 9 guided tours and 8 exclusive Discovery Tour only Series events: Local produce tasting • Cross-border workers Travel from only $207 per day discussion • Switzerland Today discussion • Woodcarving museum • Swiss farm visit • Home-Hosted Dinner • Liechtenstein winery visit • Women of Single Supplement: FREE World War II discussion • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no more than 42 travelers) MAXIMIZE YOUR DISCOVERIES & VALUE • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers • Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip OPTIONAL EXTENSION S • Private motorcoach land travel Lake Como & Milan, Italy • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips 4 nights pre-trip from $995 • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip Munich, Germany & Salzburg, Austria To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, 5 nights post-trip from $1595 watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/avs2021 Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe 4 ROMANTIC VILLAGES OF RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 ALPINE EUROPE We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. 2021 DATES & PRICES See details at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. JUNE; AUGUST- DEPART FROM: APRIL MAY 1, 8MAY 22, 29 SEPTEMBER JULY OCTOBER New York $3995 $4395 $4595 $4895 $4795 $4495 Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Portland, $4095 $4495 $4695 $4995 $4895 $4595 Washington, DC Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, Orlando, $4195 $4595 $4795 $5095 $4995 $4695 San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix $4295 $4695 $4895 $5195 $5095 $4795 Minneapolis $4395 $4795 $4995 $5295 $5195 $4895 Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. APRIL MAY JUNE; AUGUST JULY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Land tour only $3095 $3495 $3795 $3695 $3995 $3595 AVS2021 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/avs2021pricing SAV FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL WITH OUR 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:12/29/20 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/avs2021 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 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-avs2021. 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 One of the most common vacations travelers combine with advantage of your already-included airfare. On this this one is Impressions of Italy: The Amalfi Coast & Tuscany. vacation, you can choose between Lake Como & Milan, If you’re already overseas, why not see more of the region Italy and Munich, Germany & Salzburg, Austria. and avoid another international flight? Plus, you’ll save $250 per person when you reserve two trips right after “Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose one another. to arrive early or stay late in their destination Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers away” anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring customize their flights entirely on your own. We make every effort to provide you with non-stop flights and acceptable connection times to and from Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your your destination. You also have several other ways you can 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. City Hall, Munich, Germany Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe 6 Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe 2021 16-Day Land Tour EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Lake Como & Milan, Italy POST-TRIP Munich, Germany & Salzburg, Austria 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.