TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 10625
RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625
Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For question regarding tour itineraries and details.
Deborah@traintrips.biz Office Manager: Accounting
1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
1-800 266-8751 FAX
(530) 836-1944
OFFICE HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
PACIFIC WEST COAST TIME


TOURIST TOUR
JULY 16-27, 2011
GERMANY-POLAND-RUSSIA
THE LEGENDARY RHEINGOLD EXPRESS RIDES THE RAILS AGAIN

OPERATED BY DIE RAIL EVENT OF GERMANY






Since its first trip in 1928 the legendary RHEINGOLD EXPRESS has been known as the most luxurious train in Europe. All compartments are first class and a unique feature is the 'dome car' which is covered in glass, offering splendid views. This legendary train ran between Hoek van Holland near Rotterdam and Basel, Switzerland, a distance of 411 miles. It ran along the Rhine River via Arnhem, Netherlands and Cologne, Germany using special luxury coaches. It was named after Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold opera, which romanticized the Rhine.

The first Rheingold Express started service on May 15, 1928. The luxurious Pullman type salon coaches had a distinct cream/blue livery The cars were the most technically advanced at that time. The interiors were designed by artists and architects of the time, and besides being very luxurious were also phenomenally spacious. In total there were 26 coaches and three luggage wagons. In these days, the trip took 11 hours. Around 1931 the name RHEINGOLD was printed on the coaches and the locomotive tender, and the DRG logo remained. In the fall of 1938, due to the start of World War II the train service was cancelled.

The service was reestablished in 1951. Most cars survived the war but nevertheless the coaches in Western Germany were painted over and rebuilt to dining coaches, long distance coaches , and short distance train coaches. The Rheingold now used skirted coaches and was pulled by the Deutsche Bundesbahn steam locomotives. In 1962 the Rheingold became established again as a link between Switzerland and the Netherlands on the pre-war route. In 1965 it became a Trans-Europe Express. First still in the cream/blue livery. The Rheingold even had a special dome car, unique on German railways. Operation of the Rheingold TEE ended on May 30, 1987, after 59 years and 15 days. The TEE 6/7 was pulled by a BR 103. It was the last train of the TEE-system in Germany.

Now under private ownership this famous train is back in service as a chartered cruise train running around Europe and visiting the cultural and historical highlights of East Prussia.







Day 1 Saturday July 16: (B-L-D) Departure in RHEINGOLD EXPRESS from Berlin shortly after midday (around 1:00pm). A meal will be served on board and we reach Poznana in the afternoon, one of the cultural highlights and most important trading locations in Poland.

Day 2 Sunday July 17: (B-D) After breakfast we visit the impressive historical old town of Poznan with its impressive Renaissance town hall. After that we continue in the RHEINGOLD EXPRESS to Torun, birthplace of the famous cleric and astronomist Nicolas Copernicus. You visit the UNESCO heritage old town dating back to the middle ages with its numerous Gothic brick buildings and the castle surroundings of the German Knights' Order. In the afternoon we continue to Inowroclaw and Olstztyn to the Masurian Lakes. Lunch will be served on board the train and a typical East Prussian welcome awaits you in Masuria.







Day 3 Monday July 18: (B-L-D) The Masurian Lake district is the largest water reservoir in Poland. Old dreamlike villages, cristal-clear water and pure nature lend this area a special charm. You visit the village Heilige Linde with its impressive baroque convents and abbeys and the famous pilgrimage church. After that we continue to Wolfsschanze, where a memorial was built in memory of the failed assasination attempt of Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg against Hitler. The next stop is Rastenburg with the castle of the order and St. George's church, the only Gothic tiled church in Masuria. Around midday enjoy a boat tour on the Masurian lakes with a typical polish lunch served on board. Transfer to the hotels for dinner.



Day 4 Tuesday July 19: (B-D) Tour to Johanissburger Heide and Krityna. You can choose between a punting tour or a romantic horse and cart ride. Enjoy local specialities and an exciting talk about the publisher Countess Marion Dönhoff and everyday life in Poland. In the afternoon visit the Phillipone convent and travel to Mikolajki to stroll along Lake Spirding.

Day 5 Wednesday July 20: (B-D Free day to relax and enjoy the countryside , swimming, strolling around or cycling through the alleyways.

Day 6 Thursday July 21: (B-D) Today we travel through the Ermland to Braniewo and then via Mamonowo to the Russian border in Kaliningrad. This was an architectural gem until 1945. After the second world war it became the capital of what is today a Russian exclave city tour of Kaliningrad. After dinner we visit the Königsberg cathedral and enjoy an organ concert with soloists playing Russian potpourri..





Day 7 Friday July 22: (B-D) Travel along the amber coast to Jantarny and visit to the amber museum , then continue to Swetlogorsk , a popular beach resort on the East Sea coast. Free time to swim, stroll around and observe Russian customs. After dinner enjoy an exclusive Balalaika concert.

Day 8 Saturday July 23: (B-D) Courland Spit to Rositten and Nida.

Organise your day and choose from the following options:

  1. tour to the national park to visit the unique Courland Spit
  2. visit the national park
  3. visit Rositten, the village on the dunes
  4. visit Thomas Mann's former holiday home, now a museum
  5. return to Kaliningrad for dinner at the hotels

Day 9 Sunday July 24: (B-D) Departure in the morning by bus to Poland. First stop after the border is Frombork, where Copernicus lived and worked. Enjoy an organ concert on a magnificent organ. View of the Frischer Haff and arrival at the your hotels in Danzig late afternoon.

Day 10 Monday July 25: (B-D) Tour of Danzig in the morning. This was the only Hanseatic city to be conquered by the Red Army in 1945. The old town and numerous memorial monuments were rebuilt with a lot of care and attention. Afternoon tour to Oliwa and Zoppot and Westerplatte, where the first shots marked the beginning of the first world war, the cathedral of Oliwa and the sea village Zoppot. Dinner in a typical restaurant.

Day 11 Tuesday July 26: (B-L-D) This extension option takes you to two attractions. Experience a boat trip over dry land on the Oberländer canal where ships literally drive over mountains at a height of 100 metres. The ships are propelled across two pairs of slanted parallel rails by water power. Lunch on board. In Marienburg you can see the impressive UNESCO heritage castle of the German knights.









Day 12 Wednesday July 27: (B-D) Transfer and return with the RHEINGOLD EXPRESS from Gdansk station via Hohensalza, Posen and Frankfurt or Berlin. Arrival approx. 16.00.

PRICES                           ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON 

COMFORT PLUS CLASS 
DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY ...............................$2698
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...............................$ 438

1st. class on the train -  Room prices based on 2 persons sharing 
HOTEL LODGING: 
Poznana:  Novotel, Masuria, Hotel Mazuria, Kaliningrad: Hotel Moskva
or Kaliningrad; Danzig: Hotel Aureus, Holland House or other hotels
in the same category

PREMIUM CLASS 
DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY................................$2898
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...............................$ 598

Train 1st class 
HOTEL LODGING 
Poznana: Hotel Mercure, Centrum or Hotel Sheraton standard room;
Masuria: Hotel Mercure Mrongovia; Kaliningrad: Hotel Kaiserhof;
Gdansk: Hotel Scandic or Hotel Heveliusz 

PRESTIGE CLASS 
DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY................................$4698
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...............................$ 548

1st. class on the  train (4 pers. max. in air-conditioned  compartment)

HOTEL LODGING 
Posen: Hotel Sheraton superior rooms; Masuria: Hotel Mazurski Dworek;
Kaliningrad: Hotel Radisson; Danzig: Hotel Radisson Blu or Hilton.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS 

*26 Meals 
*Fully escorted 
*The River Krutyna
*Taste Polish specialities 
*Amber coast on the East Sea
*Boat trip to the Masurian Lakes 
*Oberland Canal boat trip on rails 
*Dreamlike countryside in Masuria 
*Organ concerts in East Prussian cathedrals
*Desert-like dunelands  on the Courland Spit
*Experience the legendary 'RHEINGOLD EXPRESS' 
*Imposing  Baroque and Renaissance architecture in Poznan
*Balalaika concert by the Kaliningrad philharmonic orchestra 
*German knight orders-castles and historical experience in East Prussia.



Click here for Travel Insurance Information

TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS

TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2010 and are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal items, meals not listed in the itinerary, laundry, phone calls, excess baggage charges, rental cars, side tours, insurance, passport fees including visas, vaccinations, gratuities, medical costs, tips to train or motor coach staff, extra tour costs due to unanticipated changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, including weather, travel conditions, or cancellations, government intervention, sickness, political disputes, and failure of transportation or other causes beyond our control.

TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is required for our international tours. In some cases a visa is also needed. Consult your health professional for the recommended immunizations and documents. Trains and Travel International , here on referred to as TTI, assumes no other responsibility if a client is refused entry into a country. Cost and cancellation fees will be paid by the client in the event they do not have valid documents.

CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control preventing the completion of such. Conditions can include weather, train schedules, equipment, motive power, revision of train consist, train delays, labor strikes, political disputes, derailments, closure of a rail line, break down of railroad or motive power equipment, railroads not honoring contracts and bus equipment problems. We will always endeavor, in each case, to provide substitutes, if any changes take place. TTI is not responsible for canceled trains, delays, hotel rooms, route changes or missed connections, for any reason whatsoever. We will not give refunds if such conditions or cancellations take place.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance is mandatory and is required, but you can opt out. The Decision to Opt-Out or Decline is Mandatory. Insurance will cover and give tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage loss, accident, life, trip cancellation, sickness, bankruptcy, strike, weather conditions, employer termination or layoff effecting you or a person sharing the room with you, terrorist incident in your departure city or city of destination, jury duty, you are subpoenaed, hijacked, or quarantined, your residence or traveling companion residence is rendered uninhabitable, emergency military duty, traffic accident, single supplement upgrade when your traveling companion cancels their trip, trip interruption, trip delay, missed connections, itinerary change,emergency medical benefits, medical evacuation, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21days of your invoice date, assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, burglary of you or your companion before departure 24 hour hotline emergency assistance, emergency cash transfer and more. We will supply you with a travel insurance brochure with rates and application when we mail you the invoice after your bookings. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments. US law allows us to offer this insurance to all persons worldwide. We will accept a "refusal of travel insurance wavier" if you do not wish to purchase any travel insurance.

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Accepting your payment represents an agreement that you understand all the conditions, to be a member of our tours. TTI gives notice that they are acting agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers, providing the transportation and all related travel services and assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engage in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disasters, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. TTI reserves the right to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, onboard accommodations, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip or train prior to departure for any reason . TTI is not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour, including non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, planning, phone calls, or any other expenses. TTI reserves the right to decline to accept, or ask to leave a tour, any person whose actions impede the daily operations of a tour, welfare or enjoyment of other tour members. TTI cannot give any refunds for any unused services. The terms contained herein shall serve as a waiver of liability to TTI. Assumption of risk on behalf of the client, their heirs, executor, administrators, successors, and assigns for any and all known persons injuries

RESERVATIONS: A deposit is due in our office within 14 days after you make your bookings. Full payment is due 90 days before departure. You will receive an invoice, reservation form and current tour bulletins with your confirmation and travel insurance forms. No notice for final payment will be sent to you. It is your responsible to make the final payment on-time.

CANCELLATIONS: TTI does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, email or fax before any refunds will be considered. Allow enough time if sending your written notice by US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to to process some refunds. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $100 per person administration fee. 99 to 61 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Cancellations received 60 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. GW Travel Ltd has their own cancellation rules and these will apply. If booking on GW Travel Ltd ask for cancellation rules.

PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on tours operated by TTI. Bulletins include travel info related to the tour. Final documents will be sent out about two to three weeks before a tour begins. We offer tours operated by other companies and they may or may not send out tour bulletins and updates and most send out final documents only one to two weeks prior to the start of their tours.

PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 per week will apply.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.

TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TTI needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that in some cases refunds can take up to 60 days to process.

PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.

MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note that TTI does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all folks that enjoy trains and Rail journeys. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour is to collect the rare mileage, you need to understand that possible route changes do happen.



02080  visits since March 8, 2011.

Last modified: Thursday, 12-Jan-2012 08:19:42 PST