From Vienna's palaces and boulevards we travel east to Budapest's citadel and fortified castle district. Enjoy an unforgettable night out at Prague's trendy and bohemian bars and clubs. Visit the modern vibrant city of Berlin and Checkpoint Charlie or the Brandenburg Gate locked for the duration of the Communist rule. Stroll around Amsterdam's notorious red light district, gaze at 17th Century gabled houses overhanging the numerous canals the Van Gogh and Rembrandt galleries - a perfect trip to experience the essence and variety of Europe.

Vienna - Coach Free Day. You have today free to explore Vienna. You can visit the Hofburg Imperial Palace, Schonbrunn Summer Palace, St. Stephens Cathedral and the Catacombs among many other sights.  Perhaps you might like to venture off to the Prater fun park and enjoy some of the rides including the giant Ferris wheel.

Ever since Austria played host to the golden age of music 250 years ago, the Viennese love to listen to beautiful music in sumptuous surroundings, and tonight you will have the chance to do just that. Your tour leader can organize an evening of Strauss and Mozart, ballet and opera, held in one of Vienna’s palaces or grand halls. A glass of bubbly will be served at intermission as you gaze upon sparkling chandeliers and live the high life in this sophisticated city.  Concert and glass of champagne 40 € per person.

Dinner is not included this evening.

Budapest.  Today is a free day, so you may wish to backtrack to some of the sites we saw on the tour yesterday. Other options include a dip in one of the local thermal baths, a visit to the Statue Momento Park with remnants from the communist days, a visit to Margaret Island or shop at the central market hall to find authentic Hungarian souvenirs.

To relax after a hard day of site seeing, maybe take a cruise down the Danube to se the city lights after dark.

Dinner is not included today.

Prague - Coach Free Day.  Today is a free day for you to explore Prague.  Perhaps visit Wencelas Square, the Estates Theatre (Mozart’s Theatre), the Old Town (including the unique Astronomical Clock), the Jewish Quarter and the famous Charles Bridge. Visit the many Bohemian Crystal shops, or stroll across the Charles Bridge and up Mala Strana (‘the little street’) to Hradcany Castle. With its huge student population and live music scene, Prague’s a perfect place to enjoy a few cheap beers.

Dinner is not included this evening. If you have been “saving” yourself for a big night, Prague is the place to do it! There is definitely an abundance of bars and clubs here. Or you might want to check out the Opera, Black Light Theatre, or one of the many live music venues that Prague has to offer.

Berlin - Coach Free Day. Today is yours to explore, why not visit some of Berlin’s famous museums including Check Point Charlie, Story of Berlin or the Topography of Terror. There’s Museum Island with everything from the original bust of Nefertiti (regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world), to amazing treasures and artwork from ancient times. For a great view of Berlin we recommend heading to Alexanderplatz and taking the lift to the top of the Fernsehturm (TV) Tower.

In the evening, why not make your way to Hackersher Market and check out the interesting array of cafes, bars and restaurants where you can meet locals and other travelers.

 Dinner is not included this evening.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs smoothly.As you will have read there are coach free days written into the itinerary. The reason for this is that EU law dictates that coach drivers are restricted to the number of hours they can drive in any one day and that they must have at least one day off in seven. Due to this and also for your convenience we try to get hotels that are close to public transport and centrally located. Public transport in Europe is of a good standard.

All optional excursions, visas and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Europe however you may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information.

We also recommend:

• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
• That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.          

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

Your tour leader has a well-equipped medical kit that by law must remain sealed and can only be used in an emergency. We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

We recommend an average of €40-50 per day. This of course depends on your own spending habits, the number of optional excursions you wish to take and the amount of additional snacks, souvenirs and drinks you wish to buy along the way. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

• We advise that you carry a mixture of cash mainly Euros and credit/debit cards with you on your trip. 
• Credit cards are accepted virtually everywhere in Europe. They can also be used to obtain money from ATMs. You should make sure you know your PIN number.
• ATM cards can be used widely in Europe. Again, you will need your PIN. Your bank will provide you with more details.
• Euro cheques are now valid for all EU countries except the UK, Switzerland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The Euro has come into effect as a cash currency from 2002
• Travellers cheques are difficult to cash and always have a transaction fee applied..

Kumuka cannot be held liable for any left luggage whilst on tour and due to high admin and postage costs no left items will be returned.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible.

Personal Effects:

Camera, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music CDs/Ipod, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a very high standard. All accommodation is in superior tourist class hotel. We guarantee accommodation in a twin room for every passenger on mainland European departures.

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for however in some countries the type of food may be limited and repetitive. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so that we can do all possible to assist your needs, but please note that special meals may incur an extra cost which is payable at the restaurant.

The level of food provided on our European coach tours is aimed at a 'group environment' and specific allergies cannot be catered to generally due to the number and variety of countries visited within Europe, although our Tour Leaders will always do their best to cater for such needs where possible.

We provide hearty meals but the variety of food will differ, as you will be visiting a number of different countries. We try to ensure that you get the most experience from your Kumuka Europe coach trip and one of the ways to do this is by trying the local cuisine. Dinners are generally 3 course with drinks extra.

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

For detailed information see www.timezoneconverter.com