Program photograph
Upcoming Programs:

Alpine Mountains and Lakes: Germany & Switzerland

June 9 - 17, 2008
Faculty: Steve Cushman, Professor of English
Price: $2,545 per person, double occupancy, land only + VAT $95 per person
Air-inclusive price: $4,095 per person, double occupancy with economy-class roundtrip airfare from Washington Dulles, + VAT $95
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Registration is Open

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Overview

Nestled in the area known as the Bodensee, the waters of Lake Constance caress the shores of four countries. Our base from which to discover the allure of these scenic shores is the German town of Konstanz. We'll visit the Napoleonic Museum at Arenenberg Castle and admire the charming half-timbered houses of Stein am Rhine. We'll witness the grandeur of Europe's largest waterfall, the Rhine Falls, in Switzerland and marvel at the beauty of the flower island of Mainau and the monastic architecture on Reichenau Island. Bregenz offers us a tour and a panoramic cable car railway ride. We will see the baroque architecture of St. Gallen and tour a cheese dairy at Appenzell, then travel to Liechtenstein and its capital, Vaduz. We will also have the opportunity to visit the picturesque town of Meersburg and Birnau, known for its Cistercian basilica.

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Program Highlights

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Accommodations

Hotel Halm
Located on Lake Constance with a view of Konstanz harbor, the first-class Hotel Halm is just minutes away from the town's historic highlights and the Swiss border. All spacious guestrooms offer modern amenities including hair dryer, mini-bar, cable television, radio, and direct-dial telephone. After a day of touring, relax in the sauna, steam bath, or solarium. There are two restaurants and a gift shop offering traditional handicrafts and souvenirs.

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Meals

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Faculty

Steve Cushman – Stephen Cushman is the Robert C. Taylor Professor of English at U.Va., where he has taught since 1982. With a B.A. from Cornell and a Ph.D. from Yale, he has brought to the English Department and the American Studies Major his commitment to American literature, modern Literature, poetry, literature and the environment, and the American Civil War. His teaching has been honored with an All-University Teaching Award and the first Mayo Distinguished Teaching Professorship. A poet as well as a scholar, he has published six books, most recently Bloody Promenade: Reflections on a Civil War Battle (Virginia, 1999) and Cussing Lesson, a volume of poems (LSU, 2002). His next book of poems, Heart Island, will by published by David Robert in fall 2006. Steve and his wife Sandra have two sons, Sam, who entered U.Va. in the fall of 2006, and Simon, a high school sophmore.

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Itinerary

Day 1 - Zürich

Depart your gateway city for Zürich, Switzerland, aboard Lufthansa or similar carrier. (Provided for air-inclusive participants only.)

Day 2 - Konstanz

Upon arrival, we transfer by motor coach to Konstanz, Germany, and the Hotel Halm. (Transfer provided for air-inclusive participants only.) Today we'll see the landmark sights of Konstanz, including the Romanesque basilica, begun in 1052. We will also attend a welcome reception and dinner.

Day 3 - Arenenberg Castle and Stein am Rhine

Our excursion takes us to Arenenberg Castle and Stein am Rhine. We visit the Napoleonic museum at Arenenberg Castle, the residence of Napoleon's stepdaughter Queen Hortense de Beauharnais, whose son Louis Napoleon, later Napoleon III, spent his childhood here. Then we tour the Swiss town of Stein am Rhine with its charming half-timbered houses on the shores of the beautiful Rhine River. We lunch at a restaurant in Stein am Rhine and learn how to make traditional rösti, or fried potato cake. We will also travel to Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to see the Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall.

Day 4 - Mainau

We'll cruise to the beautiful flower island of Mainau, whose gardens offer a lovely respite for our free time. We'll also visit a fruit and vegetable farm.

Day 5 - Lindau

A walking tour showcases Lindau's storybook architecture. Then we'll have the opportunity to explore Lindau on our own. After a walking tour through the town of Bregenz, we'll ride the cable-car railway up spectacular Mt. Pfänder. We'll also enjoy a barbecue on the hotel terrace serving up bratwurst and beer.

Day 6 - St. Gallen and Appenzell

We visit the baroque monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the Swiss village of St. Gallen and then continue to Appenzell to tour a cheese dairy. We'll have time to see Appenzell's lovely painted houses and enjoy a fondue lunch at a mountaintop restaurant. We'll enjoy an excursion to the charming principality of Liechtenstein for a walking tour of its capital city, Vaduz. We'll also have a private tour of the Princely Wine Cellars.

Day 7 - Meersburg and Birnau

The morning is free for our own adventures. A spaetzle lunch of German noodles will be served. Then we travel by ferry to the picturesque town of Meersburg, built on a steep vineyard right by Lake Constance, and have time to meander through Meersburg on our own. The town owes its baroque silhouette to the prince bishops of Constance who built sumptuous castles with the help of famous baroque architect Balthasar Neumann. We'll also visit the elegant Cistercian basilica in Birnau.

Day 8 - Konstanz

The day is free for us to pursue individual interests. Tonight, we attend a farewell reception and graduation ceremony at the hotel. Our farewell dinner at the hotel features a demonstration on making spaetzle, traditional German noodles.

Day 9 - Zürich

We travel by motor coach to Zürich for the return flight to our gateway city. (Provided for air-inclusive participants only.)
NOTE: Itinerary schedule may change due to local conditions. Many excursions in this program involve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are located in areas not closely accessible by motor coach.

Specific trip details and itinerary are subject to change.

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Program Fees

$2,545 per person, double occupancy, land only + VAT $95 per person
A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplement of $595.

Price includes:

Price does not include:
-Fees for passports and, if applicable, visas; personal gratuities; laundry and dry cleaning; excursions not mentioned above, wines, liquors, mineral waters and meals not mentioned in this brochure under included features; travel insurance; all items of a strictly personal nature.

Air Inclusive Program:

$4,095 per person, double occupancy with economy-class roundtrip airfare from Washington Dulles, + $95 VAT

In addition to the inclusions noted in the land only program, the air inclusive program includes:


Specific trip details and itinerary are subject to change.

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How To Register

Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs.   Please call us toll free at 866-765-2646. Or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.

A deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve your spot. Final invoicing at approximately 90 days (3 months) prior to departure. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure.

Deposits can be made via Mastercard or Visa.

Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.

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General Terms & Conditions

 TRIP INSURANCE

Your tour operator will include information on obtaining trip insurance in your confirmation letter. Please note that there is a time frame for securing trip insurance. The University of Virginia will cancel its endorsement of and faculty and staff participation in any program destination for which a Travel Warning is issued by the U.S. Department of State. Vendor Terms of Agreement will specify under what circumstances the vendor will cancel a program and/or under what circumstances participants might receive some reimbursement if they cancel their travel with the vendor themselves. U.Va. strongly recommends that all participants purchase trip cancellation insurance which includes protection in the face of political unrest, natural disasters, and personal emergencies and participants should discuss this insurance directly with the vendor or other travel services with whom they deal. You will find more useful travel information by going to the Travel Resources link on this website.

NEW ULTIMATE FLEXIBILITY- The AHI International Passenger Travel Protection Plan now offers a low-cost Any Reason Cancellation feature. Book worry free!

NOT INCLUDED-Fees for passports and, if applicable, visas; personal gratuities; laundry and dry cleaning; excursions, wines, liquors, mineral waters and meals not mentioned in this brochure under included features; travel insurance; all items of a strictly personal nature.

MOBILITY AND FITNESS TO TRAVEL-The right is retained to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of this trip who, in the opinion of AHI International is unfit for travel or whose physical or mental condition may constitute a danger to themselves or to others on the trip, subject only to the requirement that the portion of the total amount paid which corresponds to the unused services and accommodations be refunded.  Passengers requiring special assistance, including without limitation those who permanently or periodically use a wheelchair, must be accompanied by someone who is fit and able to assist them, and who will be totally responsible for providing all required assistance.

AIR TRANSPORTATION-The price of this trip is based on an Advance Purchase Excursion fare. After tickets are issued, penalties up to 100% of the ticket price may be levied. If connecting flights are requested, special promotional fares may be used, in which case penalties of as much as 100% may be assessed by the airlines if reservations are changed or cancelled after ticketing. After departure, if the reservations are changed, you will be charged the higher, all year Economy class fare. VARIATIONS TO THE GROUP ITINERARY MUST BE REQUESTED NO LATER THAN 60 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

CANCELLATION-In addition to airline cancellation penalties, all cancellations for any reason whatsoever will be subject to a $150 per person cancellation fee. Cancellation from 90-61 days prior to departure will result in forfeiture of 10% of the entire cost of the trip per person; 60-31 days, 30%; 30-15 days, 50%. Cancellation from 14 days up to the time of departure will result in forfeiture of the entire cost of the trip. TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE IS AVAILABLE. AN APPLICATION WILL BE SENT AFTER YOU RESERVE. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to AHI International Corporation.

BAGGAGE-General airline regulations allow two checked pieces per passenger. The sum total of the linear dimensions for each checked piece must not exceed 62 inches (height + length + width), and each bag should not weigh more than 50 pounds. One piece of carry-on luggage is allowed per passenger for which the sum total must not exceed 45 inches (height + length + width), the bag must weigh less than 18 pounds and must fit completely under the aircraft seat. More restrictive baggage allowances may apply, depending on program carrier. Baggage allowances are subject to change by the carrier without notice. For additional or oversized/overweight pieces, excess baggage charges are expensive and not included in your trip price, so you should plan your wardrobe accordingly. Liability is clearly stated on the passenger contract. In no event shall liability exceed the actual loss incurred, subject to proof of the amount lost.

RESPONSIBILITY-AHI International and U.Va. Cavalier Travels act only as the agent for the suppliers of travel conveyance, transport, accommodations or other service and has no responsibility for any delays, delayed departure or arrival, missed carrier connections, loss, death, damage or injury to person or property or accident, mechanical defect, failure or negligence of any nature howsoever caused in connection with any accommodations, transportation or other services or for any substitution of hotels or of common carrier equipment, with or without notice, or for any additional expenses occasioned thereby. Dates, Program Details and Tour costs, although given in good faith and based on tariffs, exchange rates and other information current at the time of printing, are subject to change at or before the time of departure. No revisions of the printed itinerary or its included features are anticipated; however, the right is reserved to make any changes, with or without notice, that might become necessary, with the mutual understanding that any additional expenses will be paid by the individual passenger. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. If the entire program is cancelled for any reason, participants shall have no claim other than for a full refund. By forwarding the deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she has no physical, mental or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for himself/herself or other passengers and accepts the terms of this contract. The airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event, during  the time passengers are not on board their conveyances. The passage contract in use, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the company(ies) and the passenger and/or purchaser of this trip.

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