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Europe Archives - EzTravelPad

Wine themed River Cruise on Danube

By | Blog, Cruise, Europe, Uncategorized | No Comments

Wine, wine and more wine!

As I write this I am sailing down the Danube river through Austria on AmaWaterways gorgeous ship AmaCerto enjoying a 7 night wine themed river cruise.

If you know anything about a river cruise with AmaWaterways you probably know that they include wine and beer for both lunch and dinner (and champagne for breakfast!) – but what you might not know is that on a wine themed cruise there are so many more opportunities to discover new favorites during several tastings that are included, such as the tour and tasting at Castle Gobelsburg pictured below.

I can’t speak for every single wine themed cruise, but on this one there is a vineyard from California named Graveyard Vineyards that is hosting even MORE wine tastings.
So what does that look like? Well here’s our experience during a week on AmaCerto

  • Monday – board ship – lunch (with wine)  – Dinner at Chef’s Table with several courses and wine pairings – late night City Illuminations tour (outstanding cruise along Budapest waterfront with buildings lighted)
  • Tuesday – Morning excursion consisting of Budapest city walk, city market then back to the ship for lunch and an afternoon wine tasting courtesy Graveyard Vineyards and a terrific dinner in the main dining room
  • Wednesday – Breakfast (with Champagne), Lunch (with wine), Dinner (with wine) then an evening of traditional Viennese fun with lots of wine, dancing & song at Winery & Heuriger Christ
  • Thursday – Breakfast (forgot the champagne) then excursion -Bike ride in Vienna then lunch (with wine). Mid-afternoon wine tasting and aroma sampling courtesy Graveyard Vineyards then an after dinner excursion to Castle Gobelsburg for wine tastings
  • Friday – Hike to Durnstein castle then wine and apricot tasting in Durnstein, Austria. Back to the ship for lunch with wine then late afternoon excursion to Castle Clam for a wine tasting before dinner (with wine)
  • Saturday – Most people with full day excursions so late breakfast (champagne if desired) then late dinner in private dining with plenty of wine!
  • Sunday – Breakfast (champagne again??) – lunch (wine again??) – pre-dinner champagne toast to the week that has been – pre-dinner Oktoberfest celebration in port of Passau (lots of beer) – dinner (with wine)
  • Monday – Time to leave, but friends made and experiences shared will last a lifetime….

Oh – and it is TOTALLY not just about the wine…this was an outstanding cruise with terrific tours included – much more on the highlight destinations of Budapest, Vienna, Durnstein, Linz & more coming up on future blog posts

Oh…and the cuisine!

To learn more about AmaWaterways, River Cruising, or all sorts of other vacation planning just get in touch with “Your friends….in the travel business” at EZTravelPad

4 Days in Paris…So Many Possibilities!

By | Europe, Romance | No Comments

Is a Visit to Paris on YOUR Bucket List?

There are few people for which a visit ti Paris is not near the top of their travel wish list.Why? There are as many reasons as there are visitors, but some of the top reasons millions visit the City of Lights are to experience the:

  • History
  • Culture
  • Culinary Experiences
  • Shopping
  • Architecture
  • Wine

It doesn’t have to cost arm and a leg to go either…Imagine a package for a 4 day/3 night getaway including round trip transfers from the airport to your centrally located hotel  such as Mercure Paris Montmartre Sacre Coeur priced from just $771 per person –

Arrive on Day 1 early in the day to wander, shop, sip and stroll the gorgeous streets of Paris

Day 2 includes a terrific array of organized sightseeing including

Morning guided sightseeing at NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, the Latin Quarter, Les Invalides, the Opéra, Place de la Concorde, and Arc de Triomphe. Drive by the Seine River with its beautiful bridges, and stop to take photos of the iconic Eiffel Tower from one of the best panoramic viewing points. Also enter the world’s most visited museum, THE LOUVRE with its modern glass pyramid, to see Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and other treasures (Louvre replaced with Seine cruise on Tuesdays)

Day 3 is completely free to enjoy the city at you own pace or add on one of the several options shown below-

Dinner and Cabaret Show at the Famous Lido
Price Range: $$$$

Enjoy dinner and the new cabaret show at the Famous Lido, located on the famous Champs-Elysees. Its revues have added sparkle to the City of Light since 1946. The Lido boasts a panoramic theater without columns, to ensure perfect visibility for the entire audience.

An Evening at the Moulin Rouge
Price Range: $$$$

Enjoy an exciting evening at the world-renowned Parisian cabaret, Moulin Rouge!

 

Seine River Cruise
Price Range: $$$

There’s no better way to see the City of Light. Enjoy a cruise on the River Seine followed by a guided discovery tour to admire monuments of Paris, including the Concorde, Opera, Madeleine, and Champs Elysees.

 

Private Guided Tour
Price Range: $$$$

This private tour with a professional, certified local guide is the ideal way to discover the City of Light. Make the most of your Paris experience at your pace and in your style – after all, it is your trip!

 

Eiffel Tower Dinner and Seine Cruise
Price Range: $$$$

Combine Parisian legends in this unforgettable evening.

 

Claude Monet’s Giverny & Museum of Impressionism
Price Range: $$$

Drive along the Seine Valley to the home of Claude Monet, leader of the Impressionist movement. Visit the house, the former studio, and stroll through the garden, a famous source of inspiration for many celebrated artists. Also visit the beautiful new Musée des Impressionistes nearby.

 

Disneyland® Paris (1 day ticket, 2 parks)
Price Range: $$$$

The happiest place on earth has a European address. Come and live the magic at Disneyland ® Paris with this 1-day entrance to Disneyland ®Parks.

 

Mont St. Michel Including Lunch
Price Range: $$$$

Enjoy the landscapes of the Normandy region on a full-day guided excursion to the 11th-century Mont Saint Michel Abbey, a famous pilgrimage center in the Middle Ages. Enjoy also a lunch at a local restaurant that faces the island and spend some time to stroll around the village.

 

Guided Visit of the D-Day Landing Beaches
Price Range: $$$$

This full-day minibus excursion includes Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetery, and Omaha Beach. After an included lunch, see the ruins of Arromanches artificial harbor. The sense of history and importance of these sites is inescapable.

 

The Palace of Versailles
Price Range: $$$

Admire the historic Versailles, the beautiful, restored palace of Louis XIV, the Sun King.

 

Claude Monet’s Giverny & Palace of Versailles
Price Range: $$$$

Travel to Claude Monets Giverny with a guided visit of the wonderful gardens. Later admire the lavish 17th century Palace of Versailles.

 

1 Day Trip to Provins, Medieval city
Price Range: $$

With 58 historic monuments, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has to be seen to be believed. Preserved as a striking medieval city, the city of Provins has preserved its striking medieval appearance.

 

Loire Valley and Lunch
Price Range: $$$$

Visit 11th-century Amboise Castle, the manor house of Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked from 1515 until his death in 1519, and Chenonceau Castle, built over the River Cher.

 

Discovery of Champagne
Price Range: $$$$

Cheers! Enjoy a full-day excursion by minibus to the Champagne region. See the vineyards of the Champagne region as you travel along the country roads.

 

Guided Visit of the Somme Battlefields
Price Range: $$$$

Learn the history and discover the area which was home to some of the most terrible battles of the Great War – the Battle of the Somme.

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4 Days & 3 Nights not long enough to experience all you would like to?

No problem – stretch it to 7 days for only about $417 more per person!

Of course pricing is only a snapshot in time, varies based on specific dates of travel (this example is based on early December – excellent for some unique Christmas gifts this year!), specific hotel chosen, and does not include flights but there are some terrific deals floating around so why wait?

Go visit Paris now because…..YOU deserve it don’t you?

See much more about the why the Monograms experience is a terrific way to visit Paris and many other destinations worldwide at this link (watch the video to REALLY understand!)

Doing things yourself is so much easier when you reap the benefits of working through the travel pros at EZTravelPad (don’t go it alone…get the help you deserve!)

EZTravelPad is a travel agency helping people experience better vacations while getting the best overall value possible!