The 2018 Amateur Traveler trip will be a bit different. We will be using JayWay Travel to arrange this trip to Central Europe. Because we are traveling to 3 different countries we will have different guides, one in each of the countries giving us an overview of the cities. There will be time with the group and time on your own.

No Whining

As with all Amateur Traveler trips our rule is bring your sense of humor and bring your flexibility. If you are someone who needs to be waited on hand and foot this is not your trip. If you plan on complaining that “we don’t do it that way at home”, this is not your trip. Things may go wrong, so remember:
“Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things”.

Dates

September 1-10,  2018

Saturday, September 1st – Prague

Our representative will then meet with you at the hotel to answer any questions you have and to get you settled for the rest of your trip. Pick up from airport available to an additional cost.
Included : Welcome Dinner hosted by JayWay Prague Team, Tour led by Chris Christensen

A little about Prague

“The Golden City,” “The City of 100 Spires,” “The Mother of Cities”… Prague has no shortage of nicknames, and they all pay homage to the city’s charm and beauty. Prague’s winding cobblestone streets, its gorgeous architecture and its atmospheric bridges are fabled, and with good reason: this is a city like no other. From exploring the history and modern culture on foot, to traveling farther afield to take in the picturesque countryside and fairytale villages, you’ll have an itinerary full of adventure and relaxation. This is a very walkable city surrounded by easy-to-reach destinations in the surrounding regions. Besides the city’s history, which is evident on every street, including the beautifully preserved former Jewish Quarter, a rich program awaits. There will be plenty of time to sample the famous Bohemian beer, as we can offer several delightful gastronomic experiences, including a romantic dinner cruise on the Vltava river, and a relaxing afternoon at an actual beer spa! Day-trip destinations include scenic castles, the perfect spa town, and the Renaissance village of Cesky Krumlov. Prague is a city of history that comes to life for every visitor. No matter what your interests, you’ll find yourself intrigued by the inviting magic of the Czech capital in the heart of Europe.

Sunday, September 2nd – Prague

Get to Know Prague on a City Walking Tour
Prague’s main historic sights are situated on the so-called Royal Route between the Old Town and Prague Castle, crossing the river on the Charles Bridge. To make the most of your visit, we will book a private walking tour to put you in touch with all the history and romanticism of this wonderful city. As the tour ends in the courtyard of Prague Castle, you might want to continue the day by following one of the tour routes in the castle.

Prague Private Walking Tour
Duration : 3 hours
Activity level : Light
Included : Prague Private Walking Tour, FoodParade Food Festival Tickets & Transport

Monday, September 3rd – Kutna Hora

Explore Bohemia on a Day Trip from Prague

Our driver will meet you at your accommodation and take you about an hour east of Prague to the UNESCO-listed town of Kutna Hora. Once there, the driver will be at your disposal to drive you around as required. For an extra fee we can also provide a guide, but this traditional central Bohemian town’s main sights are easily explored independently, from the pretty main square to the gothic St. Barbara’s cathedral and the Italian court, which was originally a Royal Mint. No visit to Kutna Hora is complete without stopping at the Sedlec Ossuary (better known as “the bone church”), a short distance from the main town center.

Kutna Hora Private Day Trip
Duration : 5 hours
Activity level : Moderate
Included : Kutna Hora Private Day Trip

Tuesday, September 4th – Krakow

Today you’ll be leaving Prague behind as you head to Poland’s cultural and historic capital, Krakow. We’ll arrange for a driver to take you to Prague Main Station for the 8 am train and from there you’ll be whisked eastwards across the Czech countryside to Bohumin in the lap of luxury. You will be seated in Premium Class, with a steward serving you complimentary drinks and snacks. At Bohumin we will have a private driver meet you shortly before noon and take you to Krakow, stopping at Auschwitz, about 90 minutes into the journey, so you can visit this significant site and save a lot of time as you won’t be retracing your steps as would be the case if you were to take a day trip to Auschwitz from Krakow. The vehicle used for your transfer will be a standard sedan, station wagon or minivan.
Included : Prague Train Station Transfer, Prague – Bohumin Train Tickets Business Class, Bohumin – Krakow Private Transfer with a Stop in Auschwitz

A little about Krakow

Krakow may not be the largest city in Poland, but it is by far the most popular with travelers. Less industrial than Warsaw, Krakow was once Poland’s royal capital, and unlike the rest of the country, came out of World War II with its gorgeous architecture mostly unscathed. One glance at the city’s perfectly preserved and restored Old Town and it will be abundantly clear why Krakow is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This compact historical district houses the largest square in Europe, where you can stroll, shop from the market and sample some tasty Polish delicacies. And, if you’re in the mood you can also sip some of Poland’s famous vodka infused with tangy buffalo grass. Krakow’s cultural life is rich and there are more than enough classical and jazz concerts to attend during your stay. Just walk through Old Town any evening and you’ll find warmly lit cafes, restaurants and bars. Of course, not all of the city’s history is happy, and both the Jewish Heritage in Krakow as well as nearby Auschwitz concentration camp are a chilling and vivid reminder of World War II. You can also explore Poland’s natural wonders from Krakow, with visits to the atmospheric Wieliczka Salt Mine, and the Tatra Mountains all comfortable day trips. 

3 Nights in Krakow

Tuesday, September 4th – Krakow

When you arrive in Krakow, your driver will bring you straight to your centrally located accommodation.
Included : Welcome to Krakow Dinner hosted by JayWay Krakow Team

Wednesday, September 5th – Krakow

Exploring Krakow: Private City Walking Tour
Today you’ll be getting a feel for the story of the city with a private tour hosted by a local tour guide. This is the best way to discover little known historical facts and anecdotes while wandering around the heart of the Krakow. You will begin your tour by visiting the Jewish District of Kazimierz. The next stop is a short walk up to the Wawel Hill. Atop it is the Royal Castle and a 14th-century cathedral. Having descended the hill, you’ll stroll along Kanonicza and Grodzka Streets to reach Collegium Maius (Great College). The tour continues to the Main Market Square, making for the perfect place to pick up souvenirs, especially in the Cloth Hall. The tour is completed with a visit to St. Mary’s Church. Your guide knows all the secrets of the city and will give you insight into the historical events that have made Krakow the special place it is today. The guide will pick you up at your accommodation and will drop you off there after the tour, or can provide suggestions for further exploration.
Krakow Private Walking Tour
Duration : 3 hours

Activity level : LightSuggestion to explore on your own:
 Quirky Quarter: Exploring KazimierKazimierz is Krakow’s most unique neighborhood, combining its heritage as the Jewish Quarter with a more recent reinvention as the city’s bohemian headquarters, with great cafes and galleries, markets, museums and more. Today we recommend exploring the neighborhood at your leisure. The historical side of Kazimierz includes five synagogues and the New Jewish Cemetery. We definitely recommend visiting the Old Synagogue, one of the country’s oldest surviving examples of Jewish religious architecture. Beyond that, you should plan to explore the neighborhood’s hipper enclaves, especially the cafes and bars around the square called Plac Nowy, where you’ll also find numerous markets. Excellent restaurants also abound, including the kosher restaurant Olive Tree, French bistro Zazie and the delicious restaurant Szara Kazimierz.

Thursday, September 6th – Wieliczka Salt Mine

Out of Town: Salt Mine Excursion
Today you’ll be exploring the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just outside the Krakow. Prepare to be amazed at the devotion and superstition that drove miners to carve figures, monuments and altarpieces into the walls of an 800-year-old salt mine. Guided by the mine’s expert, you will walk down 360 steps into the mine, you’ll feel like you’re entering a vast underground city. You will also visit the largest of the chapels, dedicated to Saint Kinga.

Wieliczka Salt Mine Group Tour
Duration : 4 hours
Activity level : Moderate

Included : Wieliczka Salt Mine Group Tour

Friday, September 7th

This door-to-door service includes pick up from your Krakow accommodation based on your preferred departure time. Your driver will bring you directly to your accommodation in Budapest, while you enjoy viewing the splendid Slovakian countryside and Tatra mountains. The advantage of taking a private transfer is that for a small additional fee to cover waiting time you can make a stop along the way. If you just want a lunch stop then a true slice of Slovak life can be sampled at a sheep farm or for a longer stop there are plenty of UNESCO-listed sites, such as the preserved village of wooden houses at Vlkolinec or the medieval town with a silver-mining museum and not one but two castles, Banska Stiavnica. The vehicle used for your transfer will be a standard sedan, station wagon or minivan. We can arrange for an upgrade to a more luxurious class of vehicle for an extra fee. The vehicle used for your transfer will be a standard sedan, station wagon or minivan.
Included : Krakow – Budapest Private Transfer

 3 Nights in Budapest

A little about Budapest

The Paris of Central Europe, Budapest is the Queen of the Danube, a sprawling, regal city split in two halves by the mighty river. The city’s two UNESCO-listed halves, ancient Buda and modern Pest both have their charms and are linked by numerous picturesque bridges. From the Buda Castle to the Danube Embankment and the sprawling Andrassy Avenue, with its impressive architecture, there is plenty to keep you busy here, exploring and discovering this atmospheric city. It’s a little too big to explore only on foot, but the Pest side of the city is well laid out with broad avenues of the Parisian system, so it’s hard to get lost, and there is also comprehensive public transport. Budapest has all the charm of Western Europe at a fraction of the price. Here you can taste excellent wines produced throughout the region, and even enjoy Michelin-star dining. We can offer you more than enough exciting activities in the city, from a visit to the incredible Parliament building to a boat cruise with dinner, or an exploration of Budapest’s communist past. The city also has a rich Jewish heritage, so you’ll find the perfect balance of history and modern culture here. Voted Best City in Europe in 2013 by Condé Nast Traveler readers and a regular in their top 3, Budapest really is a special city with activities to cater to every interest.

Friday, September 7th – Budapest

Once in Budapest, your private driver will bring you directly to your pre-booked centrally located accommodation.

Saturday, September 8th – Budapest

See Budapest with an Expert Guide, Get Educated and Oriented
Your private guide will meet you at your accommodation, then take you on a three-hour walking (and metro) tour to show you the highlights of both the Buda and Pest sides of the city. You’ll start by hopping on the metro to the Opera House, Heroes’ Square and City Park at the far end of Andrassy Blvd. Then you’ll return to the center, where St. Stephen’s Basilica awaits. From there you’ll get a closer look at the Buda side of the city, where your guide will point out Gellert Hill, the Citadel and the Royal Palace before leading you up through the old cobblestone streets to Fisherman’s Bastion and St. Matthias Church, where your tour will conclude.

Budapest Private Walking Tour
Duration : 3 hours
Activity level : Moderate
Suggestion to explore on your own: Mix with the Locals

It’s Budapest Castle Wine Festival Weekend and seeing as your tour ends up in the Castle district, you’ll be going straight to the festival after your tour. We’ll include entry tickets as part of your vacation package.
Included : Budapest Private Walking Tour, Budapest Castle Wine Festival Tickets

Sunday, September 9th – Budapest

Suggestion to explore on your own: Bathe with the Locals
Is there anything more quintessentially Budapest than a visit to one of the legendary baths? With more hot springs than any other capital, the city lets you take your pick of various styles, from the old school Turkish Rudas Baths to the Art Nouveau Gellert Baths on the Buda side of the city, or even the Neo-Baroque Szechenyi Baths with a large outdoor pool in Pest’s City Park. These are very much for locals, don’t expect day-spa luxury! We’ve written a handy roundup of Budapest’s best baths here.
Included : Farewell Dinner hosted by JayWay Budapest Team

Monday, September 10th – Budapest

Optional transfer to airport

Included

• 1 Sep 3 Nights Accommodation in Prague
• 1 Sep Welcome Dinner hosted by JayWay Prague Team
• 1 Sep Tour led by Chris Christensen
• 2 Sep Prague Private Walking Tour
  Duration : 3 hours
  Includes : Private English-speaking guide, Pick-up from the hotel
  Excludes : Entrance fees, Tip for the guide
• 2 Sep FoodParade Food Festival Tickets & Transport
• 3 Sep Kutna Hora Private Day Trip
  Duration : 5 hours
  Includes : English-speaking driver, Hotel pick up, Private transportation, Entrance fee to the bone church, Entrance fee to the cathedral
  Excludes : Meals&beverages, Tip for the driver
• 4 Sep  Prague Train Station Transfer
• 4 Sep  Prague – Bohumin Train Tickets Business Class
• 4 Sep Bohumin – Krakow Private Transfer with a Stop in Auschwitz
• 4 Sep3 Nights Accommodation in Krakow
• 4 Sep Welcome to Krakow Dinner hosted by JayWay Krakow Team
• 5 Sep Krakow Private Walking Tour
  Duration : 3 hours
  Includes : Private guide, Entrance fees
  Excludes : Tip for the guide

• 6 Sep Wieliczka Salt Mine Group Tour
  Duration : 4 hours
  Includes : Pick up from hotel, Bus, Guide, Admission, Lift ride
  Excludes : Tip for the guide
• 7 Sep Krakow – Budapest Private Transfer
• 7 Sep3 Nights Accommodation in Budapest
• 8 Sep Budapest Private Walking Tour
  Duration : 3 hours
  Includes : Private Guide, Hotel pick-up, Public transportation tickets
  Excludes : Entry fees to sights and museums, Tip for the guide

• 8 Sep Budapest Castle Wine Festival Tickets
• 9 Sep Farewell Dinner hosted by JayWay Budapest Team

Not included

• Flights to and from Europe.
• Tips for Tour Guides, Drivers and Local Reps.
• Meals (other than breakfast if included in room rate and meals listed as included in food tours and excursions, unless explicitly stated otherwise).
• Travel Insurance.
  see the insurance link on the JayWay website

Cost

Cost per person $1559 based on double occupancy.
The single supplement will be an additional $620.

To book contact JayWay Travel
Charles Neville
charles at jaywaytravel.com
Tel. : +1-800 344 5785