PILGRIMAGE TO SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY & AUSTRIA

Itinerary

Day 1 Sep 18 Depart Toronto for Zurich.

Day 2 Sep 19 Upon arrival, we enjoy a panoramic tour of Zurich. Mass. Dinner and overnight in Einsiedeln area.

Day 3 Sep 20 After breakfast, a tour of the city of Lucerne takes us to the Lion Monument, the Cathedral and the Old Bridge. Afternoon, depart for Einsiedeln. You will visit the Shrine of Einsiedeln, a Benedictine Monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary that was established in the 10 th-Century. Mass. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Sep 21 This morning we are going to visit Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale castle commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as homage to composer Richard Wagner. (photo stop only, unless time permits otherwise). Afternoon, travel to Munich. Panoramic tour of Munich, including Marienplaz, the old and the new City Hall, the Bavarian Opera House and the Frauenkirche Cathedral. Mass. Dinner and overnight in Munich area.

Day 5 Sep 22 After breakfast, excursion to Altötting, one of Germany’s most celebrated shrines. Upon arrival, we will visit the center of the pilgrimage complex, the Chapel of Mercy. The chapel houses a 13 th-century statue of the Blessed Virgin to which numerous miraculous cures are credited. Continue to Salzburg. Upon arrival, half day tour in Salzburg begins with Mass at St. Peter’s Churchyard. Salzburg is compact and best explored on foot. Narrow, winding lanes and secluded passageways are evidence of its medieval roots. The heritage of the Catholic Church is evident in the Archbishop’s Residence and the decoration of the State Rooms, available for viewing. Visit the mighty Romanesque Cathedral, the Nonnberg Abbey of Benedictine nuns, and the Fortress Hohensalzburg. Dinner and overnight in Salzburg area.

Day 6 Sep 23 Morning, travel to Prague. En route, stop in Ceske Budejovice. Dinner and overnight in Prague.

Day 7 Sep 24 After breakfast, enjoy a highlight tour of Prague, including Hradčany, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, and Mala Strana. We start our tour of the city with the Castle District, where we tour the 14th-century Gothic style St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George Basilica and Golden Way, a picturesque street lined with tiny, colourful houses. These houses were built into the castle’s fortifications around the end of the 16th-century. Mass in one of Prague’s churches. We also stop at Wenceslas Square, which is the city’s main square and the setting of many historical events. Dinner and overnight in Prague.

Day 8 Sep 25 After breakfast, we celebrate Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Victory and see the renowned statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. After mass we continue our tour to Lesser Town – we see St. Nicholas Church and we cross the medieval Charles Bridge. We See landmarks of Prague’s Old Town – the elegant tower of the Town Hall with the world famous Astronomical Clock and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, Late afternoon, continue to Brno for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 Sep 26 Morning, tour the city of Brno. Then, travel to Budapest. Upon arrival, celebrating Mass at the 13th-century Cathedral of St. Matthew, we will see the Citadel on Mount Gellert. Dinner and overnight in Budapest.

Day 10 Sep 27 Full day in Budapest. We visit the Royal Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Parliament, Heroes’ Square, and the Church of St. Stephen. Mass. Some free time in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Budapest.

Day 11 Sep 28 After breakfast, drive through the Danube Valley to Melk Abbey, the baroque Benedictine monastery overlooking the Danube. Celebrate Mass at the abbey. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.

Day 12 Sep 29 After breakfast we will enjoy a sightseeing of Vienna, home of Strauss and Mozart and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We see the spectacular St. Stephen’s cathedral, where we celebrate Mass. At St. Stephen’s, we’ll see the miraculous image of Our Lady of Mariapocs, tour the Cathedral and its catacombs. Visit of the Schonbrunn Royal palace and summer house with 1,441 rooms including a Hall of Mirrors where Mozart performed at the age of six before a young Marie Antoinette. View of the Belvedere palace well known by its beautiful gardens. Back in the city center, we go to Karlsplatz with its Church of St. Charles Borromeo and Otto Wagner’s Stadtbahn pavilions. Somewhere along the way we will have a little coffee break to enjoy the famous Vienna pastries such as Sacher cake. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.

Day 13 Sep 30 Today, we have a full-day excursion to the main Marian Shrine of Mariazell, where we celebrate Mass. The shrine is the most important pilgrimage destination in Austria and one of the most visited in Europe known for the miraculous image of Our Lady. The miraculous image receives an elaborately designed merciful dress every year. The more than 150 dresses can be viewed in the treasury or carefully conserved. Many clothes were donated as offerings of gratitude to Our Lady. The design of a mercy dress is still considered a great honor today. Dinner and overnight in Vienna.

Day 14 Oct 01 Morning, transfer to the airport in Vienna for our return flight back home.
 
 

TOUR COST CAD$5,590.00 INCLUDES:

– Air transportation – hotel accommodation first class or superior tourist class based on double occupancy
– All taxes and tips
– 2 meals breakfast and dinner daily
– All sightseeing as per itinerary with English speaking guide

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR:
– Single supplement $1,150.
– Meals not specified, insurance, documentation

HOW TO BOOK:
A non refundable deposit of $300.00 per person is required at time of booking. Insurance with premium(if desired) must be purchased at the time of booking.

BALANCE OF PAYMENT
Balance due is payable 105 days prior to departure
For late bookings /within 105 days/ full payment is due immediately.

CANCELLATION:
If cancellation is necessary, please advise QS Travel & Tours immediately in writing. Cancellation charges are as follows:
105 days before departure ………………………………………………..$300.00 per person
Between 105 and 61 days before departure …………………… 40% of the total cost
Between 60 and 46 days before departure ……..………………. 60% of the total cost
45 days or less ……………………………………………………………….. 100% of the total cost

IF YOU CHANGE YOUR BOOKING:
A $25 administration charge will be applied for changes you make to your booking outside the 90 days to departure period. Please note name changes are not allowed and such will be treated as cancellations.

IF QS TRAVEL & TOURS CHANGES YOUR BOOKING:
QS Travel & Tours will advise you of any change we feel significantly alters the holiday which you have purchased from us. Occasionally, changes might occur close to departure time. In such cases, you will be notified as early as possible. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the local tour operator may have to make last minute changes in hotel or schedule. In case the standard of the accommodation is changed, QS Travel & Tours will offer the choice of a full and immediate refund or comparable alternate travel services acceptable to you.

UNUSED SERVICES:
No refund or adjustment can be made for any portion of holiday not used.

GOOD VALUE AND EXPECTATIONS:
The Ministry of Consumer Relations requires that Ontarians traveling abroad be advised that they may encounter different living standards and practices than those at home.

FLIGHT CONNECTIONS:
In the event of a change in our flight times, with or without notice, we cannot accept responsibility for any special connecting fares which you might purchase and which cannot be changed without penalty.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION:
A valid Canadian passport is required for all visits outside of Canada. It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to ensure proper and valid documentation. Failure to provide valid documentation may result in denied boarding of the aircraft and cancellation of your flight arrangements without refund. If you are holding a passport other than Canadian, please contact QS Travel & Tours to determine whether or not a visa is required for entry into the country you will be visiting.

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
One piece of luggage of 23kg per person plus a carry-on-bag /weighting not more than 5 kg/

FLIGHT TIMES
All flight times are subject to change with or without prior notice to the passengers or his/her agent. QS Travel & Tours does not accept liability for missed connection or any expenses resulting from an off-schedule, rescheduled or late flight operations.

PRICES
Prices in this brochure are given in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Prices are correct at the time of going to press. In the event of any change beyond QS Travel & Tours control, including but not limited to increase in the price of fuel, currency fluctuations affecting our costs, or increases in government taxes or levies. QS Travel & Tours reserves the right to surcharge the passenger/s up to 7% of a tour cost.

LIABILITY
QS Travel & Tours Inc. is a tour operator and has made the advertised holiday arrangements with the airline/s/, hotel/s/, cruiseship/s/, other operator/s/ and other. Each of these organizations has its own specific terms and conditions for doing business and you will be bound by them. QS Travel & Tours accepts no responsibility for /A/ the acts or omissions of any party/ies/ other than QS Travel & Tours employees./B/failure by the passenger to be properly documented; /C/ failure by the passenger to comply with departure or joining or baggage requirements;/D/ aircraft delays, government actions, priests change their commitments as spiritual directors, etc, act/s/ of God or any factor beyond our direct control; /E/ cancellation or delay to any tour or holiday or change to the itinerary; /F/ expenses resulting from lost or damaged baggage. QS Travel & Tours accepts no responsibility for additional expenses due to delays or changes in air, rail, road, sea or other service, quarantine, sickness, war, weather or other causes All such expenses will have to be borne by the passengers. QS Travel & Tours reserves the right to refuse any person as a member of these tours at its sole discretion. QS Travel & Tours reserves the right to cancel any or all departure/s/ with or without prior notice and QS Travel & Tours sole responsibility shall be to refund all monies paid for such cancelled departures. The laws and courts which govern this contract are those of the Province of Ontario.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
When you book you QS Travel & Tours, an agreement is made between you and QS Travel & Tours and others who will provide services. Please read carefully the information on this page for it sets out the conditions governing the provision of these holidays.

TRAVEL INSURANCE 
Please contact our agents for insurance quote.
Insurance rates subject to change any time.
Once purchased insurance premiums are not refundable.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:
Tel. 905.412.2242; 1.800.565.3619
Email: group@qstours.com