Including the Passion Play! Tauck’s 12-day Alpine Interlude – Including The Passion Play showcases authentic, engaging experiences in the Austrian, Italian, Swiss and Bavarian Alps – and features a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the alpine village of Oberammergau – the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play, which you'll watch from Tauck's premier seating, in the best category available! Journey along the Yellow Roads, like the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse, through some of the most inspiring scenery on earth; climb to the highest railway station in Europe aboard a cogwheel train; and take in a sweeping panorama of alpine splendor from a cable car. Explore the exciting cities of Zurich, Berne, Vaduz, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna. Savor a real taste of the Alps in a Swiss Gasthof, a famous Viennese café, an authentic Bavarian restaurant, and a 900-year-old monastery winery. Let the land of The Sound of Music, the music of Mozart, and a world-famous performance event that occurs once every ten years – the Oberammergau Passion Play (or Passionsspiele) – inspire you. Your spirits will soar as high as the mountains as you discover the Alps and the Passionsspiele with Tauck!
 

 

Day-by-Day Itinerary
 

2010 Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to the Swiss Alps
Tauck’s Swiss Alps tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. A transfer is included from Zurich Airport to the Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. With its splendid views of the Swiss Alps, Zurich is the perfect place to begin your 12-day Alpine Interlude – Including The Passion Play. Please join us this evening for our welcome reception and dinner, where you’ll meet your Tauck Director and your fellow travelers.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich, Switzerland

Day 2 – Toward the Swiss Alps
Journey to Berne, Switzerland’s charming capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this morning. Discover the highlights of Berne with your Tauck Director before enjoying lunch at a 17-century Gasthof with great views of such peaks as the Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau. Your Alps and Passion Play tour continues to Interlaken for a two-night stay at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, one of Europe’s most famous "grand" hotels offering stunning vistas of the Swiss Alps.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland

Day 3 – A day of high adventure in the Swiss Alps
After a scenic drive to Grindelwald this morning, board a cogwheel train and climb to Klein Scheidegg; take a minute to admire the incredible views as you change trains, and continue your upward journey to the highest railway station in Europe at the Jungfraujoch, reaching an altitude of 10,500 feet. Here at “the top of Europe,” the spectacular views of the surrounding Swiss Alps will take your breath away. Then descend through beautiful alpine meadows to the village of Lauterbrunnen; return to Interlaken to spend the rest of the day and evening as you please.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland

Day 4 – Lovely little Liechtenstein to Bavaria
Spectacular scenery abounds as you travel from the Swiss Alps through the heart of Switzerland from Interlaken to Liechtenstein. Set amidst the Alps, the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein has much to offer. You’ll have some free time in the capital city, Vaduz, to make your own discoveries. Continue on through the Austrian Alps and into southern Germany. Arrive in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a two-night stay at a hotel that’s been family-owned for nearly 500 years – and get set for tomorrow’s performance of Oberammergau’s legendary Passion Play!
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Obermuehle, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Day 5 – Oberammergau's Passion Play – in Tauck's premier seats
Today, Tauck’s alpine odyssey takes you to the Bavarian village of Oberammergau to attend one of Europe’s most beloved and venerable traditions – a performance of the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play, or Passionsspiele, depicting the Passion of Christ. In the 1630s, the people of Oberammergau vowed to perform a play about the life of Jesus every ten years if they were spared from the devastating plague then sweeping across Europe... and they kept their promise. First produced in 1634, the Passion Play now involves the talents of over 2,000 actors, musicians and technicians – all of them Oberammergau residents – and includes dramatic scenes of the Passion (in German), as well as musical performances and tableaux vivants of Old Testament scenes. Enjoy Tauck’s premier seating – in the best category available – for the Passion Play performance, which begins in the afternoon, and continues into the evening after a break for dinner. An English libretto is provided to enhance your enjoyment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Obermuehle, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Day 6 – Inspiring Innsbruck
Your Alps and Passion Play travel experience continues to Innsbruck today, twice the host city for the Winter Olympics. Discover the Gothic Old Town, one of the most beautiful medieval city centers in Austria, and impressive imperial architecture that dates back to Innsbruck's days as the capital of late 15th-century Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I. Arrive in Strassen late afternoon for a two-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Strasserwirt, Strassen, Austria

Day 7 – Trans-border adventures
Part of the Alps, the Dolomites span Austria and Italy, and your travels today take you back and forth across the border many times. Inspiring mountain vistas and peaceful pastoral scenes await around every bend. Board a cable car to take in absolutely awe-inspiring alpine vistas.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Strasserwirt, Strassen, Austria

Day 8 – One of the world’s most scenic roads
This is what you’ve come to the Austrian, Italian and Swiss Alps to experience – a seemingly endless panorama of towering alpine peaks and mighty glaciers. Opened in 1935, Austria's Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse (High Alpine Road) paved the way to one of the most impressive and incomparable natural experiences on earth. The road takes you up and up and up into the most spectacular alpine scenery you could possibly imagine. From the highest point, you’ll be able to see 37 mountains higher than 9,000 feet and 19 amazing glaciers. Have lunch in Zell am See and continue on to Salzburg for a two-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria

Day 9 – Splendid Salzburg
The Old Town of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world. A walking tour this morning reveals its Baroque charms; perhaps you’ll recognize some of the locations used in filming The Sound of Music. A visit to the birthplace of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an inspiring experience for Mozart fans. This evening, attend a classical music concert at Mirabell Palace and let your spirit soar as extraordinary music fills the air.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria

Day 10 – Take a first-class rail journey to visit Vienna
Feel free to hum a few of your favorite waltzes during a scenic first-class train trip from Salzburg to Vienna. Upon arrival, pause to enjoy coffee and cake at one of Sigmund Freud’s favorite cafés before exploring a bit of this glittering city on foot during a guided walking tour en route to the Hotel Imperial, your home for the next two nights. The rest of the afternoon is free to discover Vienna as you please.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria

Day 11 – Vibrant Vienna
A city tour this morning showcases the treasures of this former center of the old Habsburg Empire – today the capital of Austria – including its marvelous Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture and the famous Ringstrasse. Later, visit the extraordinary Stift Klosterneuburg, a monastery founded in 1114 by Leopold III, who eventually became the patron saint of Austria. Your tour will take you through the monastery church, with its numerous frescoes, and the medieval cloisters which house the Verdun Altar, a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Finally, taste some of the wines for which the monastery has been famous for 900 years. Return to Vienna and enjoy some time at leisure before joining us for a farewell reception and dinner, where your alpine and Passion Play experience concludes.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria

Day 12 - Homeward bound
Tour ends: Vienna, Austria. Fly home anytime; your Alpine Interlude – Including The Passion Play in the Austrian, Italian, Bavarian and Swiss Alps ends with an included transfer from the Hotel Imperial to Vienna International Airport. Please allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for airport check-in formalities.
Meals: Breakfast

 

 

---

Prices
12 Days from $5,690 plus airfare

 

2010 Price per Person	Double	Single	Triple
May	$5690	$7197	$5349
June – July; September	$5990	$7497	$5649
August	$5790	$7297	$5449

24 meals included.
 

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.
 

 

---

Need to Know

 

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides and drivers, and the Tauck Director are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Munich Airport on the first day of the tour. Tauck will provide you with transportation to the Bayerischer Hof in Munich regardless of the day and time of your arrival provided you have given us accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to your departure. On the last day of the tour, Tauck will provide individual transfers from the Hilton Molino Stucky to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. We suggest you allow 2½ hours for check-in.

Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed, when available, and are not recommended for comfort. Adjacent, adjoining and connecting rooms are available by request only and cannot be guaranteed.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tauck Director – A Week In… Bavaria, The Dolomites & Venice journey is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff and local guides are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

 

Not Included

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the .

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please ask us to Extend This Journey.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please ask re: Tauck Travel Protection for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral waters and soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, individual airport transfers, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tauck Director and Driver Gratuities - The customary gratuities to the Tauck Director and driver are not included. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.
 

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocket knife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items, and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the U.S. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of printing.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Bayerischer Hof in Munich on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. The tour ends at check out time at the Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice on the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow at least 2½ hours for flight check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

 

Preparing To Go

Air Conditioning – The motor coaches are air-conditioned for your comfort. European air conditioning in hotels should be considered as a climate-control system; most have three settings for the fan, plus a "cool" setting. Very few of the European systems actually have a temperature setting. In general, the amount of cool air that is produced from a European air-conditioning system may be less than what you may have in your own home. Some hotels in Europe do not operate their air-conditioning systems on a year round basis, but only during certain months of the year.

ATM and Credit Cards - We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – The weather in Germany, Austria and Italy is temperate and unpredictable. We suggest that you dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A light sweater or jacket will provide warmth on a chilly early morning walk or a late night stroll.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is generally customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts to dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but by all means be comfortable.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are not generally available due to local fire safety regulations; however, valet laundry, dry cleaning and pressing services are available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Europe:

• Sports jacket for men

• Casually-elegant outfits for ladies

• Short and long sleeve shirts

• Shorts, slacks and jeans

• Tee shirts

• Socks

• Light-weight sweater

• Light-weight jacket

• Light-weight gloves

• Comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in

• Raincoat and rain hat

• Collapsible umbrella

• Swimwear

• Gym wear

• Sunglasses and sunscreen

• Insect repellent

• Wash cloth – not all European hotels provide washcloths, so you may want to bring one along if you prefer them. A package of reusable cloth wipes is an excellent alternative

• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and plenty of film

• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

Elevation - The highest elevation for sightseeing (optional) is 11,333 ft (3,454 m) at Jungfraujoch. We ascend and descend high elevations often on this tour, and many guests react differently to these conditions. If you are not accustomed to these heights, you may at times feel dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous. We suggest that you drink plenty of water throughout the whole tour to prevent dehydration

Health – This active journey that requires you to be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. , and are home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, many centuries old. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical limitations. You will encounter cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and some steep and winding staircases. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.

We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

Guest rooms are all booked as non-smoking unless otherwise requested by guests. No-smoking sections in restaurants are rare in Europe. No smoking is permitted on board the motor coaches or on the Austrian Railways.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Germany, Austria and Italy. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the ). You may also log on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries visited on this tour to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

Luggage Restrictions —

Checked Luggage – General
While it is common that airlines allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage - General
Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not be accessible during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – If you are a citizen of the U.S., you will need a valid passport to enter Germany, Austria or Italy; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries visited on this tour to determine what travel documentation is required.

We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. We also recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Travel with Children —

Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – Tauck welcomes the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children —
 

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.
 

Destination Information

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel and group functions, as well as when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually many opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Germany, Austria and Italy.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The official currency in all three countries visited is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted and ATMs are widespread; many are equipped with the Cirrus or Maestro systems. Banks offer the best exchange rates for travelers’ checks and foreign currency, but it is also possible to exchange money at all of the hotels on the itinerary, main train stations and airports. Banks are open Monday through Friday except Holidays.

To obtain the up-to-date currency exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com.
 

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Currently, Germany levies a 19% Import Turnover tax (similar to a Value Added Tax) on most consumer goods and services; Austria and Italy each levy a 20% VAT. (The tax may be higher on luxury items and lower on basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country in which the purchase is made (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union), you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the .
If you are a resident of another country, you should refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in all three countries visited is 230V, 50 Hz, AC. If your electrical devices do not conform to this standard, you will need to bring the appropriate converters and adapters. These items can be purchased in a store that specializes in travel products.

Time Zones – Germany, Austria and Ital are 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through October, these countries switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 2 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website www.timeanddate.com.

 

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in its Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection for more information.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties waived. Inquire for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck Travel Protection, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

60 days or more before departure
$600 per person (the amount of the deposit)

59-8 days before departure
$900 per person

7-1 days before departure
$1,500 per person