TULIP BIKE & BARGE plus BELGIUM
April 18 - May 2, 2024
*****This is an active biking tour, please read through all of the information below, and if you have any questions please contact the trip leader, Ellen Parda
April 18-Overnight flight to Amsterdam
April 19- Arrive in Amsterdam; private coach transfer with English speaking guide to the 4 star Die Port Van Cleve Hotel for 2 nights, daily breakfast buffet included.
Hotel Die Port van Cleve is a famous Dutch hotel located directly behind the Royal Palace & facing Dam Square. Due to its central location, you will find many touristic and cultural sites within walking distance. Hotel Die Port van Cleve has a rich history. Heineken opened its first brewery in this building in 1864. Hulscher's restaurant is famous for its numbered steaks and Bar-Bodega ‘De Blauwe Parade’ has a unique Delft blue tile fresco dating from 1887. The rooms are decorated with references to the authentic tile fresco in the bar. In 2020 due to its 150 anniversary around 20 rooms were renovated and are now themed with one of our six memorable moments. The ground floor is entirely renovated.
April 20- 2 ½ hour morning (10:00 am) city walking tour with local guide; lunch and remainder of day to explore on your own: Canal cruise, tour Ann Frank House, Rijksmuseum, shopping, etc.
April 21- transfer from hotel to Barge via private coach
April 21 – 27 6 nights / 7 days on the Merlijn from Amsterdam return to Amsterdam including:
o Breakfast daily
o Packed lunches
o 5 x 3-course dinner
o Coffee and tea on board during breakfast and after the cycling tours, till 4 PM
o Welcome drink
o Use of bed linen and towels
o Daily cleaning of the cabin (cleaning of the cabin once a week)
o Climate-controlled cabin
o Daily briefings
o Fully guided cycling tours
o Maps and notes for cycling tours (1 set per cabin)
o GPS tracks
o Use of a waterproof pannier bag
o Fees for ferries / waterbus
o Wi-Fi
o 21-Speed Hybrid Bike
o Insurance on bike
o Bike Trail maps and more
April 27- Transfer between Amsterdam Port to Dukes Hotel Bruges via private coach with stop in Antwerp with city tour and time for lunch on your own. Arrive in Bruges late afternoon for check in.
April 27-30 Three (3) nights’ accommodations in Bruges at the 5 Star Dukes Hotel Bruges. Arrive the afternoon. Daily breakfast buffet included.
Hotel Dukes’ Palace, former residence of the Burgundian aristocracy and a unique five-star superior hotel in Flanders, is ideally located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bruges. The 110 rooms, including elegant suites, luxury rooms and spacious family rooms, are all unique and combine contemporary comfort with authentic elegance of the 15th century. The 3000 m² garden, the restaurant, the terrace, the spa and the bar are the perfect places to enjoy. The hotel also features a congress center of 632 m² as well as a spacious garage. Hotel Dukes’ Palace is part of The Swan Hotel Collection, a Bruges hotel group of charming, boutique and luxury hotels.
April 28- Half day guided city tour of Bruges
April 29- Day on your own to explore this UNESCO World Heritage City of Bruges
April 30- Transfer via private coach to Brussels, 2 night stay at the 4 star NH Collection Brussels Centre: 4* Hotel in Brussels City Center
Evening beer tasting tour (6pm) in Brussels
May 1- Day to explore Brussels
May 2- Private coach transfer to Brussels airport and head for home
Includes
· All local taxes
· Tips and gratuities for barge personnel, bus drivers and tours
· City tours, beer tour, transfers
· Daily breakfast
NOT INCLUDED:
· Drinks
· Coffee and Tea on board outside of meals
· Personal travel insurance
BIKE & BARGE TRIP INFORMATION
********DAY BY DAY BIKING ITINERARY*******
Day 1- Amsterdam - Utrecht
Merlijn will set sail for Utrecht where there is an overnight stay. We’ll present you with a welcome drink and introduce the crew. We will also provide information on the tour, the ship, and offer you a safety briefing. Dinner will be served during the cruise, and in the evening there will be time for a city walk through Utrecht.
Day 2 Utrecht – Vianen - Schoonhoven.
Bike tour: approx. 46 km (28 mi) or short tour 31 km (19 mi)
A sailing breakfast is served while we cruise to Vianen, where your bike tour to the charming silver town of Schoonhoven will start. Today’s tour takes you through one of the most picturesque parts of Holland.
Day 3 Schoonhoven – Kinderdijk - Gouda.
Bike tour: approx. 55 km (34 mi)
This morning, the Merlijn will sail along the river Lek, while you enjoy beautiful Dutch scenery cycling from Schoonhoven to Kinderdijk. Here, an impressive row of large windmills will become visible, which were built to drain the Alblasserwaard polder. There is an opportunity to visit one of the mills. After your visit, you will cycle on to the city of Gouda, through a genuine Dutch backdrop of polder landscapes. Gouda is famous for its cheeses, candles and ‘stroopwafels’ (syrup waffles). Dinner is served on board, and we stay in Gouda overnight.
Day 4 Gouda – Leiden.
Bike tour: approx. 35 km (21.7 mi)
In the morning there’s more time to explore the city of Gouda and you can enjoy an included tour at the ‘St. Jan’ cathedral. After your visit today’s bike tour starts, and takes you through the Green Heart of Holland. Leaving Gouda, we will pass Boskoop, famous for its nurseries (horticulture), particularly woody plant and perennial nurseries, of which some 774 are situated on long stretches of land, divided by narrow canals. You will pass villages and small cities such as Alphen aan den Rijn. We end the day in Leiden. When exploring Leiden, you will notice its rich history, which is still very evident.
Leiden is where Rembrandt was born and developed his painting skills. Its identity is largely determined by the first university in Holland (1575), which has developed into a world-famous centre of science, while its many students contribute to the lively and convivial atmosphere in the city. After dinner you will have time to stroll through the charming center of this city.
Day 5 Leiden – Lisse - Keukenhof – Haarlem.
Bike tour: approx. 23 km (14 mi)
While you enjoy your breakfast, the Merlijn will sail the ‘Kager Plassen’, a beautiful series of lakes. Your bike tour will start from Lisse, which is near the Flower Exhibition Keukenhof. It is estimated that nearly 7 million flower bulbs are planted here annually to cover an area of roughly 80 acres. This makes Keukenhof, easily, the largest flower garden in the world. At this stop, you will get to admire all these beautiful tulips and other flowers that are cultivated in Holland.
After your visit, you will bike to the city of Haarlem, taking in some breath taking Dutch scenery and of course, more flowers! At night, you will enjoy a dinner at one of the many restaurants in Haarlem, taking a stroll at some point through the historical city of Haarlem, and perhaps rounding off the day by drinking the famous local “Jopen” beer in one of the many bars or in the “Jopen Church”.
Day 6 Haarlem – Zaanse Schans - Amsterdam.
Bike tour: approx. 42 km (26 mi)
Today’s bike tour will be from Haarlem to Amsterdam, along the Zaanse Schans, famous for its open-air museum and wind Mills and green wooden houses typical for this area. Your tour ends in the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. A farewell dinner on board will follow.
Day 7 (Fri): Amsterdam
Breakfast, check out and departure by private coach to Bruges
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TOUR COSTS: $ 3,498.00 p.p. Double
Air is not yet included in price as flight schedules will not be in range until May of 2023. We will be booking group air as part of the trip, airfare price TBD
E-BIKE SUPPLEMENT: ~$221.00 p.p. for the week
Payment Schedule (PER PERSON):
$800 November 15, 2022
$1,000 April 1, 2023
$1,000 September 1, 2023
Remaining balance ($698) January 1, 2024
Airfare is TBD depending upon when the flights are booked.
CANCELLATION FEE:
Between January 1, 2023 and April 17, 2023……………………………………….$350 per person*
*(If we cannot find someone to take your spot. There is expected to be a wait list for this trip)
Between April 18, 2023 and November 17, 2023………………………………… $800.00 per person**
Between November 17, 2023 and December 31, 2023………………………, $1500.00 per person**
After January 1, 2024……………………..........................................................NO REFUNDNO SHOWS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
** PLUS ANY OTHER NON-REFUNDABLE CHARGES FOR AIRLINES, HOTELS AND SUPPLIERS.
NO REFUNDS FOR UNUSED ACCOMMODATIONS OR SERVICES.
(Please see information about trip Cancellation/interruption insurance.)
NAME CHANGES: Name changes are allowed up to 60 days prior at no charge. Name changes after 60 days prior to departure may be charged anywhere from $25.00 - $350.00 depending on the airline.
TRIP CANCELLATION/INTERRUPTION INSURANCE: Trip cancellation insurance is available. The premium depends on the amount of coverage desired and is based on the tour cost as indicated and will cover all non-refundable amounts in the event of a covered cancellation or trip interruption up to the amount of coverage selected, plus the following additional coverage. In order to get a quote, please contact: myra@travelprotectors.com or http://www.travelinsured.com/agency?agency=48424 or any other source you prefer (AAA)