Great Event Tours proudly presents...
September 8 to 17, 2007
The 2007 Switzerland / Treff trip will once again combine a week in the beautiful Alpine landscapes of Switzerland with a weekend at the premier event for Märklin enthusiasts from around the world. Several unusual and interesting stops on our journey are certain to make the hearts of railfans beat faster, while the dramatic vistas and extensive non-train schedule is the perfect alternative for the non-train-fanatical. Read on to catch a glimpse into what this wonderful tour will bring...
Saturday, September 8: Lucerne is our opening destination for the 2007 Switzerland / Messe trip, and we'll begin our tour with a champagne reception at our hotel, the Hotel Drei Könige, or Three Kings.
Afterwards you are free to take an evening walk along the banks of the Vierwaldstäter Lake, head to the train station to do some start-of-tour railfanning, or climb up to the hotel's attic to marvel at the 'King's Club Model Railway'.
Sunday, September 9: Awaken to a delicious breakfast of Swiss cheeses, meats, breads, and perhaps a warm soft-boiled egg, then down them with a cup of aromatic Swiss coffee. After breakfast, you can choose to join a wonderful private tour of Lucerne with a native 'Lucernian' as our guide. We'll visit such landmarks as the famous wooden bridge, the Lucerne cathedral, and the famed 'Lion of Lucerne' sculpture.
Bring on the trains, you say? No problem. If trains are your preference you may join renowned Swiss railway expert Jacques Vuye on a visit to the Swiss Transportation Museum, where dozens of fantastic pieces of rolling stock await. Admire the massive 'Crocodile' locomotives and see the famous 'Brotli Bahn' train. Learn about the operation of steam locomotives and Swiss railway history as you explore the penultimate collection of Swiss historic rolling stock and railroadania.
After lunch, the two groups will meet up for a ride on the world's steepest cog railway, the famous Pilatus line, running 7000 feet above Lucerne. Our adventure starts with a romantic paddle-wheel steamer trip across Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad. Then it's up to the summit, where the breathtaking view will leave you in awe! Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in the summit restaurant and take in the view before heading back. Our return trip won't be the same as the outbound trip, as we take two separate gondolas down the opposite side of the mountain face to Kriens, where a local train whisks us to Lucerne in a mere fifteen minutes.
Monday, September 10: Today our journey takes us into the heart of the Alps- the famed Jungfrau region, and our next stop is Interlaken. Situated between the lakes Thun and Brienz, this beautiful city offers magnificent views of the Alps, shopping, relaxation, and trains galore!
After checking into our hotel on the banks of the Aare river which connects the two lakes, we'll get a first-hand view of the magnificent Bernese Oberland as we travel to the highest train station in Europe via the magnificent Jungfrau line. Jungfraujoch sits 11,000 feet above sea level, and the observatory at the top of the Jungfrau offers a 360 degree panorama of the Alps. On a clear day, you can see as far as France to the west and Italy to the south!
From there we'll head back down, changing trains in Kleine Scheidegg and head to Grindelwald, another beautiful Swiss ski and hiking village. Time permitting, we'll explore this quaint and charismatic town before returning to our hotel in the evening.
Tuesday, September 11: Railfans get another unusual treat on this day, as we are given a private tour of the SBB Historic railway depot and sheds. Depending on what is out 'on duty', we may have the opportunity to see the 'Red Arrow' in two variations, or perhaps the famous Swiss version of the TEE electric. A public exhibition and large model railway round out the morning visit to SBB Historic.
Not interested in the train exhibition? No problem! As an alternative on the itinerary, Great Event Tours will escort you on a ship ride across beautiful Lake Thun this afternoon, enjoying the sun and perhaps an Espresso as we relax on deck and let the alpine breezes and gentle waters wash our cares away...
On the voyage, we'll make a stop in Oberhofen, where we'll visit the castle of the same name and spend some time on the lovely grounds.
We'll head back to Interlaken after lunch. Then it's off to Brig, our next stop as continue south.
Our hotel in Brig is the beautiful Hotel Victoria, just across the street from the train station, and directly adjacent to Brig's pedestrian shopping area. It's a beautiful hotel with a wonderful outdoor cafe, so enjoy some people watching this evening, or take a walk along the Rhone river instead...
Wednesday, September 12: It's the middle of the tour, and a good time to take a day off from our schedule to explore on your own. Brig offers many amusements, so take your pick! Tour the magnificent Stockalper Palace, or head to the nearby town of Brigerbad to enjoy the hot springs and water park. Perhaps a hike to the Simplon tunnel (with a stop at the BLS repair shops and roundhouse) or along the famous Biestchtal Bridge is more to your liking. We'll be happy to help you plan your day off, or you can take the day to rest, browse the shops, or head out on your own for an impromptu adventure.
Thursday, September 13: The famous ski resort of Zermatt beckons, and we'll be taking the train after breakfast to this international playground of the rich and famous. With its dozens of designer boutiques and magnificent vistas, there is plenty to see in town. Still, if you yearn for a little altitude, come with the group as we take the Gornergrat railway up the mountainside for a magnificent view of Zermatt's most famous landmark, the Matterhorn.
Friday, September 14: It's time to leave Switzerland and the majesty of the Alps, but we'll do it in style aboard the 'Slowest Express Train in the World', the famous Glacier Express. From Brig we'll ride in magnificent panorama coaches across Switzerland, past such famous locales as the Furka Oberalp and Andermatt. At Chur we'll switch to an SBB train, and heading to Göppingen. It's a day full of unique trains and magnificent scenery, and we'll arrive in Göppingen late in the evening.
For those of you who are determined to ride across the famous Landwasser viaduct, you'll stay aboard the Glacier Express at Chur. Jacques Vuye will be taking a special group to Göppingen via Filisur, offering a trip across the famous structure. Note that you will be arriving quite late in Göppingen, but your "extra excursion" will have been well worth the extra travel time!
Our hotel in Göppingen is the Hotel International, located within walking distance to the Treff shuttle bus and one of the many Treff venues. The hotel features ISDN Internet access, and if you'd rather relax than catch up on business, relax in the hotel's sauna or Jacuzzi.
Saturday, September 15: Göppingen awaits, with steam locomotives and special excursion trains in the station, and layouts, modules and vendors in halls around the city. Free shuttle service will get you from point to point, and the location of the hotel makes enjoying the festivities a breeze! Spend some time enjoying the collection of trains from the Märklin Museum, or watch the 1-scale high-speed races as team after team attempts to break the world record, set at this venue in 2005. One hall is entirely dedicated to HO scale, and features dozens of accessory and train manufacturers. Pick up the latest Koll's from the author himself, or admire Märklin's latest factory layout. Don't forget to stop in at the auction, or pick up one of the exclusive Treff collector's cars, either! The day is yours to explore and enjoy, and all venues are included in your two-day ticket.
Since not everyone is a die-hard train enthusiast, Göppingen rolls out the red carpet for you as well. Shops are open for extended hours on this Saturday, and bargains are plentiful! The large pedestrian shopping area makes for a pleasant day of window (or more!) shopping and browsing.
Sunday, September 16: It's the second day of the Treff, and the last day of the tour. We'll have more time to enjoy the collection of rolling stock at the station, or the activities in the halls around Göppingen. Climb aboard the cab of a BR01 steam locomotive for a ride around Göppingen station, or admire the world's largest Z-scale layout in the Göppingen city building. In the afternoon we'll hop aboard a steam train on an excursion to Bad Cannstadt outside of Stuttgart and back.
Not being a train enthusiast doesn't mean a wasted day for you! As an alternate, Great Event Tours is sponsoring a tour of the nearby city of Stuttgart. A bus will take you from location to location, and you'll enjoy stops at the city museum, the Stuttgart Opera House, and enjoy lunch in the Stuttgart observation tower with a beautiful view of the Neckar river valley below. Afterwards you'll head to Geigen, to the museum of Steiff, the world-renowned manufacturer of teddy bears and stuffed animals. Be sure to pick up something soft and cuddly to go with that Märklin BR44 your husband just picked up at the Treff before you leave!
We'll meet up in Göppingen in the evening for our farewell dinner which is, like all tours, 'on the house' (beverages not included). We'll toast the trip with a glass of local schnapps and head to bed, dreaming of Alpine meadows, rustic mountain streams, and massive steam locomotives!
Monday, September 17: Check-out this morning and head to your flight, or spend an extra day in Göppingen. There's still much to see in this region, including the amazing model train store of Eisenbahn Treffpunkt Schweickhardt near Stuttgart, and the Mercedes Museum nearby. Whether you head straight home or spend a few extra days, we're sure that the Switzerland / Treff Great Event will have left you with memories to last a lifetime!
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Your
own tour guide for most activities, 9 nights
in Europe at three-star or better hotels, a 6-day SwissRail Pass, admission to all listed museums and
venues, all train travel first class (where available), transfer from Zurich (or
any Swiss border city) to Luzern, transfers to all hotels
located more than 100 meters from the train station, 9 delicious breakfasts,
lunch on the Glacier Express, the farewell dinner, the champagne reception,
baggage handling between all cities, and all gratuities for included events. The total
cost of this tour including everything mentioned above is as follows:
Total
cost not including airfare or transfer to Switzerland:
$1995.00 per person, based on double occupancy
Supplement
for single room accommodations: $270.00
Persons
traveling with children, please contact
Great Event Tours for special family rates.
Three- and four-bed rooms are available at most of our hotels.
NOTE: A minimum number of 20 persons is required for the 2007 Switzerland trip.
If a minimum of 20 deposits are not received by May 1 2007, Great Event Tours reserves the
right to cancel the tour and refund all monies paid.
Terms
and Conditions:
Deposit and Payment: An initial deposit of $500 per person is required by May 1, 2007 to secure reservation of one or more of the limited spaces. Final payment must be made by July 1, 2007. Checks should be made payable to Great Event Tours, Inc. and sent to 163 Oakwood, Saline, MI 48176 USA along with your application. Those wishing to pay by credit card may do so using our secure server by following the link.
Departure
from Standard Itinerary: Should you wish to join us for a
portion of the trip, or if circumstances require that you deviate from the group
for a portion of the tour, every effort will be made to accommodate you.
If possible, a portion of the trip cost will be deducted from the total based on
your requirement / request. Great Event Tours prides itself on our
flexibility. This is your vacation. Anything we can do to
make it as enjoyable as possible will be done, period. Please let us know
what your desires are and we will put full effort into making it happen.
Cancellations:
Any cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations made after
May 1, 2007 will result in forfeit of the deposit. Cancellations made
after July 1, 2007 will be refunded with a 50% penalty, while cancellations made after
August 15, 2007 cannot be refunded.
Proof
of Citizenship: All U.S. citizens are responsible for having proper proof of
citizenship. Married women traveling with documentation in their maiden
name must supply a marriage license. All trip participants, regardless of
age, must possess a valid passport. No refund will be issued because you
forgot your passport! For non-U.S. citizens, it is your responsibility to
be sure you have proper travel documents. No refunds will be issued if you
are denied admission to the flight or the E.U.
Itinerary:
Every effort will be made to follow the itinerary as written on this page.
However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we may be required to revise
this itinerary without prior notice. Great Event Tours, Inc. reserves the
right to make any changes to this itinerary or the locations listed
herein.
Legal
Mumbo-Jumbo: Great Event Tours, Inc. is responsible for arranging the
tours, travel arrangements, and accommodations listed herein. Great Event
Tours is not responsible for any act, error, omission, injury to person or
property, inconvenience, accident, delay, disappointment, or behavior of any
company and/or their employees, agents, servants, or facilities in connection to
or in service of Great Event Tours, Inc. during this tour. It is expressly
understood that Great Event Tours is not responsible for any delays or
cancellations of airline flights due to reasons beyond our control, including
acts of terror, work stoppages, labor strikes, or Forces Majeure and shall have
no liability whatsoever relating to flight, train, or other transportation
delays, including but not limited to liability for damage related to shortened
vacation time, inconvenience or hardship, additional expenses, or any form of
damage. By accepting this contract, you hereby relieve Great Event Tours,
Inc. of all such liability.
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HERE TO ACCESS THE APPLICATION FORM
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HERE TO ACCESS THE SECURE
ON-LINE APPLICATION FORM
If you have any questions regarding this or any other tour, please
feel free to give us a call at (734) 846-2433 or email us here
Thank you for stopping by! We hope to have you along in April and May
for this amazing
trip through the top of Europe!
Best Regards,
Carsten Ramcke
Great Event Tours
