16 Can’t Miss Sights on the Danube

There is so much to see while cruising along the magnificent Danube River that you likely do not know where to begin or how to fit it all in. To narrow it down a little, here are 16 “can’t miss” stops.

1. Regensburg
   As the Danube Leaves the cover of Germany’s Black Forest, it trolls through the pristinely-preserved medieval town of Regensburg. This bustling university town boasts ancient treasures like the Porta Praetoria – the north gate to the ancient Roman fortress, Castra Regina, built in 179 A.D. During the holidays, Regensburg shines bright with its Christmas market lighting up the historic market square.
2. Passau
   Farther downstream, Passau, Austria, is a gem of a city located at the confluence of the rivers Inn, Ilz, and Danube. Cobblestone streets lead the way to St. Stephen’s Cathedral which houses the world’s largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes.
3. Grein
   Continuing along, the village of Grein offers excellent photo opportunities, with its turreted houses lining the main square in the shadow of its idyllic castle perched high on a bluff.
4. Melk
   Situated in the rolling green hills of the Wachau Valley, Melk is home to the magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe’s largest and most intriguing monasteries. Step out onto the monastic terrace to look out over the Danube and take in the mesmerizing view of the sweeping countryside.
5. Dürnstein
   Float through the Wachau wine region to Dürnstein, known for the magnificent baroque Stiftskirche with its blue façade. Above town are the ruins of the castle where England’s King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192.
6. Vienna
   Vienna, Austria’s capital, is next. The “City of Music” inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, the city has much to offer–the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, and the majestic Ring Boulevard, to name just a few. Visitors can waltz their way down shop-lined streets, savor the sounds of an orchestral concert, or delight in a Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighborhood café.

Diane on the Danube

My husband and I joined Mayflower Tours on The Legendary Blue Danube River Cruise on October 3, 2011 for a one week river cruise.  The deluxe escorted tour began in Budapest, Hungary and cruised up the Danube River and ended its voyage in Passau, Germany.  

Although small in size, carrying just over 100 passengers, the ship was very classy and service was excellent.  The cuisine on board was outstanding and featured many local dishes.  Meals included a full breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine, beer and soda, afternoon tea and pastry, as well as an evening snack.  The entertainment onboard was also very enjoyable.  There was an on-board pianist, some folkloric performances, and a funny crew show as well.  The “Bells of Rome” performance was the best!

The well-run tours included some motorcoach tours and some walking tours in the small towns along the river.  We preferred the walking tours through the smaller towns because they were less crowded and had beautiful scenery and architecture.  While we were there we also did some geocaching which took us to some interesting places.

Since Mayflower Tours charters the boat for their clients only, most passengers were U.S. based.  Of the approximately 100 passengers, my husband and I were among the youngest of our very mature fellow travelers.  We enjoyed listening to stories of their many past vacations to Antarctica, Galapagos and more.  They also told us some of their secrets to success and how they have been able to travel around the world.  It was a great experience to be surrounded by these successful, well-educated world travelers since we share the same future goals.

We enjoyed touring so many cities in a relaxed mode.  We would awake to a new city almost daily with no early wake-up to rush to another airport or drive for many hours a day.  Daily, we fed our stomachs with excellent cuisine and fed our minds with history dating back thousands of years.  We hope we learned enough from our fellow passengers so we can continue to travel the world.

If you enjoy great culture and cuisine while slowly cruising, then this may be the tour for you too!

For more information on this tour and other great cruising options, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.

Crazy Cheap European Vacations

A little while back, I posted about “10 Overseas Vacations Under $1,000” and just wanted to give an update to this. I was really excited about the insanely cheap prices of these trips, but the deal just got even sweeter. Now for all 2011 Cosmos Vacations bookings made by May 3rd, Boscov’s Travel is giving an extra $50 off per person, or $100 off per couple. Ridiculous! Amazing! Stupendous! Call it what you want, but I call it a steal! Call your significant other, pack your bags and stop in to your local Boscov’s Travel to book now. Here’s the recap:

British Panorama – 9 days, starting at $929 ($879 after discount)

Greek Odyssey – 8 days, starting at $939 ($889 after discount)

Jewels of Spain & Portugal – 9 days, starting at $959 ($909 after discount)

Jewels of France – 8 days, starting at $929 ($879 after discount)

Prague, Vienna & Budapest – 9 days, starting at $899 ($849 after discount)

Irish Explorer – 9 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)

Jewels of Morocco – 10 days, starting at $789 ($739 after discount)

Grand Tour of Turkey – 13 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)

Jewels of Slovenia & Croatia – 8 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)

Jewels of Poland – 8 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)

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Air is not included. Book a 2011 Cosmos vacation through Boscov’s Travel to receive the $50 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied by May 3, 2011 for travel commencing by December 31, 2011. Combinable with the Journeys Club $50 Cosmos coupon. Applies to new 2011 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

10 Overseas Vacations Under $1,000

Occasionally I will see a deal come through that is just way too good not to pass along. The following deal officially falls into that classification. As a young woman with a long bucket list, most of it involving traveling, it is always exciting to see trips abroad that are within my range financially. Yes, we are experiencing recession, yes, the market is unstable, and yes, you are only young once, so some things you have to push ahead with pursuing regardless of the economic climate.

So, when I heard about a Cosmos offer for 10 vacations under $1,000, I knew I had to share the deals with you, our lovely readers! Below is an outline of the vacations, their prices, and some info about the trips. All trips allow for a considerable amount of free time, and offer optional excursions for an extra cost. Please note that prices are land only, valid as of the time they were published, and subject to change.

Prague, Vienna & Budapest – 9 days from $899

The main feature of this trip is to see the rediscovered jewels of Imperial Europe, but the tour also is a great way to check out all of the exciting things to do in Eastern Europe.  The package includes visits to Nuremberg, Vienna, Salzburg, Bohemia, Moravia, and the Danube River. Get ready for the buzz of the city as you take the Autobahn to Nuremberg,  tour both sides of Budapest (the Buda side is old world and the Pest side is new world), and enjoy culinary delights created from scratch with unique spices and herbs.  From Alpine scenery to city lights, this tour is a great balance of city and country.

Greek Odyssey – 8 days from $939

Greece has always been a country that preserves instead of destroys its history. Enjoy landscapes full of unique ruins, gorgeous flora and fauna, and buzzing metropolitan cities. This tour includes trips to Epidaurus, Meteora, Kalambaka, Peloponnese, Mount Parnassus, the Arcadian Mountains, the Corinth Canal, Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae, and the Rion-Antirion Bridge. From roaming around the stomping grounds of famous philosophers to eating lamb gyros with french fries piled high on them to having a race with your travel companions at the home of the Original Olympic Games, this trip will be full of adventure, intrigue, and breathtaking scenery.

Irish Explorer – 9 days from $999

Whether you are Irish or not this tour will make you want to grab a draft Guinness, swap tall tales with the locals, and then roll down one of the hundreds of green hills at your disposal! This is a superb trip for photographers, as it will take you to some of the most stunning destinations with saturated colors, vivid skies, and visual textures like no other place on Earth. Stops include Downpatrick, Giant’s Causeway, Derry, Donegal town, Knock, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Adare, Killarney, Blarney, Tramore, handweaving mill at Avoca, Glendalough,  Boyne Valley, Mountains of Mourne, Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast, Donegal Bay, The Burren, Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry and Lakes of Killarney, and Wicklow Mountains.  A truly one-stop-shop for Ireland tours, and for under $1,000, a real steal.

Jewels of Morocco – 10 days from $789

A great destination for travelers who have seen the standard destinations, Morocco affords visitors with exceptional culture, intriguing history and architecture, and a sense that you traveled back in time.  In a place where storytelling is truly a means of record keeping as well as entertainment, Morocco will give you an abundance of stories you will be telling your children and your childrens children for years to come.  Tour stops include visits to Fez, Ifrane, Erfoud, Rissani, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, Rabat, Meknes, Marrakesh, Casablanca, the Atlas Mountains, Ziz Gorges and Oasis, Road of 1000 Kasbahs, Dades Valley, and Todra Gorge. Everywhere you travel in Moroco is scenic, and the landscape changes from volcanic mountains, to verdant cedar forests, to deserts, to craggy mountains.  This is truly an eye-candy tour, from the narrow streets of colorful cities to the natural beauties of the world.

Jewels of Poland – 8 days from $999

A romantic, friendly, and fascinating town, Poland is a great place to go for culture, religion, and history buffs. From busy cities to quiet country landscapes, this tour is a great mix of town and country. The tour includes visits to Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Poznan, Jasna Góra, Krakow, and Auschwitz.  If you like free time, this is a great tour to take. With unique optional excursions, and a slew of things to discover on your own, Poland will undoubtedly charm you with its quaint yet bustling existence.

Jewels of Spain & Portugal – 9 days from $949

This is a great tour for the adventurous at heart, revelers, and anyone who appreciates a place that breathes its essence into every fiber of your being. From visiting a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to traveling through landscapes of windmills and castles, you will be bustling with excitement on every day of your tour. This tour includes visits to Avila, Salamanca, Coimbra, Fatima, Obidos, Seville, Sierra da Estrela, Andalusia, Libson, Madrid, and La Mancha. Spain boasts colorful cities, quaint countrysides, and a range of scenery that will knock your socks off.

Jewels of Slovania & Croatia – 8 days from $999

From the Adriatic Sea along the Croatian coast line to the flourishing forests of Slovenia, this is a lovely trip for decompressing and remembering all of the beauty in the world. Whether touring Europe’s most extensive caves or meandering through Plitvice, one of Europe’s most famous National Parks, this trip acts as a communion with nature. And for all of you urban landscapers,  you will be visiting the cities of this area too. The tour includes visits to Postojna Caves, Plitvice National Park, Neretva Gorges, Dalmatian Coast, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Ljubljana. A steal of a deal for a life changing experience like this.

British Panorama – 9 days from $869

Enjoy the plush history and culture that England, Scotland, and Wales have to offer. Take advantage of plenty of free time to explore each place, and enjoy scheduled visits to major attractions along the way! Stop on this tour include visits to Hadrian’s Wall, Jedburgh, Melrose, Edinburgh Castle, tickets for Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Aug 6, Aug 13, Aug 20 departures), Gretna Green, Grasmere, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Broadway, Bath, Salisbury; orientation drive in Cardiff; walking tours in Cambridge, York, & Chester. This is a great tour for literary folk and history buffs alike, or for the person who just wants to see a lot of classic attractions in Europe in a short amount of time.

Jewels of France – 9 days from $919

Travel to the “City of Light” where you will fall in love with the gourmet cuisine, wonderful wines, and incredible architecture. Tour includes visits to Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, Deauville, Normandy Landing Beaches and American Cemetery, Bayeux and its tapestry, Mont St. Michel, St. Malo, Rennes, Tours, Orléans, Chartres, and Chateaux Country. From seeing classic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe to touring the famous water garden that inspired Monet, this tour will show you the romantic, unique, classic, and picturesque beauty of France.

Grand Tour of Turkey – 13 days from $999

Turkey is a beautiful place to go to witness a “unique crossroads between Europe and Asia.”  Full of friendly locals, incredible food, gorgeous views, and one-of-a-kind shopping at bazaars and markets, Turkey will give you a cultural experience like none other. This tour includes visits to Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Izmir, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Agzikarahan Caravanserai, Konya, Rock Chapels in Göreme, Ankara, King Midas’ Tomb in Gordion, Bursa, and Pamukkale’s Cotton Castle. From striking architecture to lush forests, Turkey is beautiful at all times of the day, and boasts some of the most dramatic twilight moments you will ever experience. If you are looking for something exotic and non-typical, book this trip now.

Our Travel Specialists would be happy to help book any of the above trips, or any other adventures you may have planned. Click here to get connected with a Specialist.