Introduction to Budapest

This Citiescapes City Break takes you to the delightful Hungarian capital of Budapest. During your Insiders Tour our guide will lead your exploration, showing you the well known sights, and some hidden gems that you might otherwise miss. You then have time to explore this charming city.

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from Dublin to Budapest and transfer to your hotel, the 4 Leonardo Hotel Budapest.

Day 2: Our experienced guide will lead your Insiders Walking Tour of Budapest, taking you to the main tourist sights, and to a few hidden gems that you might otherwise miss. The tour ends in the city centre, leaving the rest of the day at leisure in the city.

Day 3: Day at leisure. The delightful city of Budapest is a joy to explore,with many gems waiting to be discovered on both sides of the Danube, which flows through the heart of the city.

Day 4: Transfer from your hotel to the airport for the return flight.

Price inclusions

• Flight Dublin to Budapest
• Airport transfer to the hotel
• 3 nights accommodation in the 4 Star Leonardo Hotel Budapest, based on 2 people sharing
• Bed and Breakfast basis
• Insiders Walking Tour of Budapest
• Transfer from the Hotel to the airport
• Services of a tour manager for coach transfers and tours
• Flight Budapest to Dublin
• Taxes and charges of €90

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Non refundable or transferrable booking deposit €100 per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €17 (conditions apply)
• Single Supplement €87
• Prices are correct at time of going to press, flight supplements may apply depending on availability of negotiated airfares

Accommodation details

Leonardo Hotel Budapest 4****

Only a few minutes walking distance from the city centre and the Danube, the Leonardo Hotel Budapest is located at the flourishing business district Ferencváros. No other 4-star Budapest hotel is as close to the airport and ensures convenient travelling. The Budapest hotel is perfect for leisure and business travelers alike.

The Leonardo Hotel in Budapest offers prime contemporary facilities. To escape from daily routine, guests enjoy the free entrance to the health club with sauna and gym. Spoil yourself with sensual delights at the Courtyard Restaurant with international and traditional Hungarian cuisine. Gourmets appreciate the 42nd Street Bistro Bar for its first-class choice. Great for light fare between meals is the 24/7 Grab ’n’ go-station with a choice of tasty snacks and drinks.

With fresh energy explore the most lively entertainment Ráday utca within walking distance from the hotel. Explore the hotel’s surrounding with the imposing secessionist palace of the Museum of Applicant Art & the “TRAFÓ” House of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Holocaust in the neighbourhood. Just few minutes by public transport the famous Vörösmarty Square, the St Stefan Basilica as well as the House of Parliament are located. Discover the Castle District, the Trinity Square, the Fisherman’s Bastion or the Matthias Church in Buda and do not miss to visit some of the museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hungarian National Gallery and National Museum.

Dates and Prices

Date	Price			55Club
16 Apr 2012	€379
16 Jul 2012	€429			€399
05 Nov 2012	€349
12 Nov 2012	€349
19 Nov 2012	€349
26 Nov 2012	€349
03 Dec 2012	€379
10 Dec 2012	€379

Introduction to Bilbao

Bilbao’s cultural calendar is hard to resist; it has two of the best art galleries in Spain, six themed museums, countless contemporary art exhibitions and a continuous series of shows and performances, such as opera, symphony orchestras, theatre & dance.

Instantly hailed as the most important structure of its time, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum Bilbao recently celebrated a decade of extraordinary success on October 19, 2007. With close to ninety exhibitions and over ten million visitors to its credit, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao forever changed the way the world thinks about museums, and it continues to challenge our assumptions about the connections between art, architecture, and collecting.

Gastronomy is an art in Bilbao. The capital of the Basque Country has prestigious restaurants offering dishes ranging from traditional cuisine to the most avant-garde culinary creations. Not forgetting, of course, different areas of the city in which to savour the famous pintxos (typical appetisers).

Shopping for antiques, typical ceramics, exquisite cakes and pastries or the latest

fashions is one of the options offered by the shopping centres and shops of Bilbao. Going shopping in Bilbao is a unique occasion for enjoying the architectural heritage of the city and whilst out you can enjoy the popular pintxos in one of the many taverns or cafés lining the streets.

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Bilbao and transfer to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 2: Half day Insiders Walking tour of Bilbao, taking in all the beautiful sights. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 3: Day at leisure.

Day 4: Collection from hotel and transfer to the airport. Return flight to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Flight Dublin to Bilbao
• Airport transfer to the hotel
• 3 nights accommodation in the 4 star  Jardines de Albia
• Bed and Breakfast basis
• Insiders Tour
• Transfer from the Hotel to the airport
• Services of a tour manager for coach transfers and tours
• Flight Bilbao to Dublin
• Taxes and charges of €86

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Includes check in of 1 standard bag per room
• Non refundable or transferable booking deposit €100 per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €17 (conditions apply)
• Single Supplement €114
• Prices are correct at time of going to press, flight supplements may apply depending on availability of negotiated airfares

Accommodation details

4 * HOTEL JARDINES DE ALBIA :

Located in the heart of Bilbao, next to the business and commercial area of the town. Within 5 minutes walk from mythical places such as The Guggenheim Museum, Euskalduna’s Congress Palace and the Old town.

The hotel offers one irresistible and exclusive services for guests: an Urban Bath SPA. Advance booking required. Other facilities include gym, snack bar, 24 hour room service, laundry service (dry cleaning and ironing), rent a bike, and the Zuria restaurant, specialized in Chef’s and traditional Basque cuisine.

ROOMS

This hotel features 138 guestrooms, all of which include air conditioning, satellite television, complimentary newspapers, safes, complimentary wireless Internet access, and minibars.

• Internet access – wireless
• Cable/satellite TV
• Air conditioning
• Complimentary newspaper
• Climate control
• Direct-dial phone
• Internet access – complimentary
• Minibar
• Wake-up calls
• Housekeeping
• Extra towels/bedding
• Hair dryer
• Bidet
• Bathroom telephone
• Electronic/magnetic keys
• In-room safe
• Welcome amenities
• Window opens

Dates and Prices

Date	Price			55Club
05 May 2012	€399			N/A
19 May 2012	€399			N/A
08 Sep 2012	€399			€379

Introduction to Krakow & Auschwitz

Krakow is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with evidence showing settlements there since 20,000 BC. Legend has it that it was built on the cave of a dragon whom the mythical King Krak had slain.

Auschwitz :

Beginning in 1940, Nazi Germany built several concentration camps and an extermination camp in the area, which at the time was under German occupation. The Auschwitz camps were a major element in the perpetration of the Holocaust; at least 1.1 million people were killed there, of whom over 90% were Jews.

The complex consisted of three main camps: Auschwitz I, the administrative center; Auschwitz II (Birkenau), an extermination camp or Vernichtungslager; and Auschwitz III (Monowitz), a work camp.

The Polish government restored Auschwitz I and turn it into a museum honouring the victims of Nazism; Auschwitz II, where buildings were prone to decay, were preserved but not restored. Today, the Auschwitz I museum site combines elements from several periods into a single complex: for example the gas chamber at Auschwitz I (which had been converted into an air-raid shelter for the SS) was restored. The museum contains very large numbers of men’s, women’s and children’s shoes taken from their victims; also suitcases, which the deportees were encouraged to bring with them, and many household utensils.

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Krakow and transfer to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 2: Morning tour to Auschwitz Camp, stopping at Birkenau camp. Return to Krakow in the afternoon.

Day 3: Day at leisure. There are a number of things to do in Krakow, including the Wieliczka Saltmines (€35 per person) and classical concerts in a number of the churches, including St. Peter & St Pauls Church, and St. Bernadins Church. These afternoon concerts are very reasonable, working out at approx. 40 PLN per person.

Day 4: Collection from hotel and transfer to the airport. Return flight to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Flight Dublin to Krakow as outlined above
• Airport transfer to your hotel
• 3 nights accommodation in the 3 star Alexander I Hotel or Pod Wawelem Hotel based on 2 or 3 sharing
• Buffet breakfast each morning
• Guided tour to Auschwitz and Birkenau
• Return transfer from your hotel to airport
• Flight Krakow to Dublin
• Services of a representative for coach transfers and tour
• Taxes and charges of €89

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Includes check in of 1 standard bag per room
• Single room supplement  €75 for the duration
• Non refundable or transferrable booking deposit €100 per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €17 (conditions apply)

Accommodation details

Hotel Alexander I

Alexander I is set right in the heart of the city, just five minutes’ walk from the market square, so all the major monuments are within easy reach.Wawel castle, Cloth Hall and St Mary’s Church are close by.

Hotel Alexander I, Accommodation

Hotel has 30 bedrooms, suitable for one, two or three people. All rooms are equipped with bathroom, shower and hair dryer, satelite TV, direct – dial telephone and internet connection. Rooms are bright and spacious.

Pod Wawelem Hotel

We are pleased to invite you to stay in this modern and comfortable hotel, where contemporary elegance and luxury is combined with history and tradition. Our hotel is located in the city center, in the heart of historic Krakow, just aside Wawel Royal Castle and 10 minutes walk from the Main Square.

Hotel Pod Wawelem facilities:

• wireless Internet (password available at the reception)
• ironing board, iron
• wake up service
• tourist Information
• information about current cultural events in Krakow
• folders of Krakow and its cultural attractions
• extra pillows
• luggage
• safe at reception
• tickets, tours and taxi bookings
• mineral water in room

Dates and Prices

Date	Price			55Club
01 Mar 2012*	€359			N/A
15 Mar 2012	€359			N/A
05 Jul 2012	€469			€439
23 Aug 2012	€469			N/A

* Pod Wawelem Hotel

Introduction to the Prague Insiders Tour

What is an insiders tour?

It’s more than just a name – our information is dynamic engaging and far beyond the pedestrian.

On our Citiescapes tour a friendly, knowledgeable guide takes us on a fascinating journey through the sightseeing highlights of this enchanting city, discovering the people, places and events that have shaped Prague the past 1000 years.

The Citiescapes tour starts in the medieval centre of Prague, exploring the area around the Old Town Square, before strolling onto the Jewish Quarter (Josefov), once the largest Jewish ghetto in Europe. Along the way we learn about the dramatic history, traditions and legends linked to this area of the city.

Next, we cross Charles Bridge, one of Europe’s oldest stone bridges, to reach ancient Mala Strana. Here we take a short tram ride up the hill, where upon a spectacular vista of the whole city opens up before us.

As we walk through the cobbled streets of Hradcany, we arrive at the grandest sight of all, Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle complex in Europe.

Your guide will bring the dramatic history of Prague Castle to life, as we explore St. Vitus Cathedral, where kings were once crowned, before paying a visit to charming Golden Lane, home of alchemists and goldsmiths.

Finally, we descend the Prague Castle steps to return to the historical centre.

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Prague and transfer to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 2: Morning Insiders Tour of Prague. The tour ends in the city centre, leaving the rest of the day at leisure in the city.

Day 3: Day at leisure.

Day 4: Collection from hotel and transfer to the airport. Return flight to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Flight Dublin to Prague as outlined above
• Airport transfer to your hotel
• 3 nights accommodation in the 4 Star Best Western Premier Majestic Plaza Hotel or 4 Star Elysee Hotel based on 2 sharing
• Buffet breakfast each morning
• Insiders walking tour of Prague
• Return transfer from your hotel to airport
• Flight Prague to Dublin
• Services of a representative for coach transfers and tour
• Taxes and charges of €100

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Includes check in of 1 standard bag per room
• Single room supplement €60 (€120 Apr – Sep) for the duration
• Non refundable or transferrable booking deposit €100 per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €17 (conditions apply)

Accommodation details

Best Western Premier Majestic Plaza 4 ****

Best Western Premier Hotel Majestic Plaza is located in one of the most desirable localities, in the touristic and business centre of Prague, just few steps from the famous Wenceslas Square.

4* deluxe Best Western Premier Majestic Plaza opened on the 1st June 2007 provides 181 unique rooms in two interior styles: 50 rooms in the Biedermeier style, and 131 rooms in the Art Deco style.

Rooms are equipped with individually adjustable air-conditioning, internet connection, LCD TV-SAT, radio, alarm clock, minibar, coffee & tea making facilities, safe deposit box, writing desk and chair.

Hotel Majestic also offer:

• Lobby bar service with free Wi-Fi internet
• Asmera and Victoria Restaurants service
• Latino-American Club Havana
• Majestic Panorama Club- top floor with extraordinary view of Prague Castle
• Thai massage
• Sauna & Whirpool

Dates and Prices

Date	Price		…….	55Club
12 Mar 2012	€349			N/A
19 Mar 2012	€349			N/A
26 Mar 2012	€349			N/A
27 Mar 2012	€349			N/A
23 Apr 2012	€399			N/A
28 May 2012	€429			N/A
18 Jun 2012	€449			€419
17 Sep 2012	€449			N/A

Introduction to The Berlin Insiders Tour

What is an insiders tour?
It’s more than just a name – our information is dynamic engaging and far beyond the pedestrian. You’ll get insight into what it’s like living in the New Berlin where East and West know no boundaries.
With the Insider Walking Tour we begin our adventure in the heart of Cold War west Berlin’s showcase of capitalism with the looming bombed out spire of the Memorial Church before us. Stroll into the history of the Teutonic Knights and Prussian Kings, through the Royal Hunting Grounds and stand before the Victory Column – marking the birth of the German nation and Europe as we know it today – unbridled Prussian military arrogance at its best!
Then follow the route of the Soviet attack up to the final battle ground of the Reichstag Parliament – crowned with Norman Foster’s glass dome, and by the futuristically charged Government Quarter and Federal Chancellory … then comes the East!
Pass over the line of the Death Strip, under the Brandenburg Gate, by the Holocaust Memorial, Hitler’s Bunker, Checkpoint Charlie, and finish with an account of the momentous events which led to the fall of the Wall while standing amongst the heart of the East German Government Quarter and the New Berlin.

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Berlin and transfer to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 2: Morning Insiders Tour of Berlin. The tour ends in the city centre, leaving the rest of the day at leisure in the city.

Day 3: Day at leisure.

Day 4: Collection from hotel and transfer to the airport. Return flight to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Flight Dublin to Berlin as outlined above
• Airport transfer to your hotel
• 3 nights accommodation in the 4 star Park Inn Hotel or Scandic Hotel based on 2 sharing
• Buffet breakfast each morning
• Insiders walking tour of Berlin
• Return transfer from your hotel to airport
• Flight Berlin to Dublin
• Services of a representative for coach transfers and tour
• Taxes and charges of €95

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Includes check in of 1 standard bag per room
• Single room supplement €99 for the duration
• Non refundable or transferrable booking deposit €100 per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €17 (conditions apply)

Accommodation details

Park Inn Hotel Berlin – Alexanderplatz
Located in the historical heart of Berlin at the legendary Alexanderplatz, the Park Inn Berlin-Alexanderplatz is right next to the 368-meter TV Tower and close to the parliamentary district. A firm favourite with Citiescapes clients this hotel offers an excellent location for all your shopping and sightseeing.

• Modern, comfortable and functional hotel
• 1,006 rooms,
• Largest hotel in the city of Berlin
• Three restaurants, two bars and a beer garden
• Panorama Salon on the 37th floor offers fabulous views over Berlin
• Free access to fitness area with state-of-the-art equipment
• Wellness area with sauna, solarium, massage, fitness facilities and health bar (entrance fee)
• Wireless Internet access
• Casino on the 37th floor
• Concierge service
• Numerous shops next to the hotel

Rooms
All rooms have a functional and elegant design and include Non-smoking rooms and rooms for disabled guests available upon request. All rooms come with the following amenities:

• Comfortable work desk
• Individual climate control
• Satellite and pay-tv
• Minibar
• Trouser press
• Hairdryer

Scandic Hotel Berlin – Potsdamer Platz
Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz is a Scandic hotel in a class of its own: it brings you to the very heart of Berlin. Inside you find Scandinavia in design and atmosphere in a warm and welcoming way. As you enter the lobby you encounter a crisp winter atmosphere with colours and shapes that remind of Nordic mountains.
The restaurant takes you to the Scandinavian summer reminding of a meadow with intense greenery. You hear the humming of bees and birds whistling. The lounge bar reflects autumn with earth colours and materials – a relaxing living room to be used both for hanging out or working. The hotel gets more intimate and homelike as you enter the rooms with the four seasons as a theme: choose between a Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter room.
The hotel is located in the central part of Berlin, at Potsdamer Platz, which is one of the most popular attractions of the New Berlin. With its mix of restaurants, shopping opportunities, theatre and cinemas, both Berliners and tourists are drawn in to pass the time. The area is also rich in history, the former wall almost in front of the hotel, Brandenburger Tor, The memorial of the jews and the German Parliament. The underground station (U2 line) is directly outside the hotel and you can easily reach the main train station by foot in just a few minutes.

Dates and Prices

Date	Price	Hotel		…….	55Club
26 Mar 2012	€399	Scandic			N/A
23 Apr 2012	€419	Scandic			N/A
09 Jul 2012	€459	Park Inn			N/A
20 Aug 2012	€449	Scandic			€419
05 Nov 2012	€399	Scandic			N/A
12 Nov 2012	€399	Scandic			N/A
26 Nov 2012	€399	Scandic			N/A
03 Dec 2012	€399	Scandic			N/A
10 Dec 2012	€399	Scandic			N/A