HOLLAND TULIP FESTIVAL
Exciting News! The Club has negotiated a 4-star hotel upgrade at no additional cost to members! Join us at the beautiful, deluxe Park Plaza Victoria Hotel for this special tour.
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As one of Europe’s top destinations, Amsterdam ranks equally high on our list of female-friendly cities, with safety and comfort being a highly desirable fringe benefit. It is wonderfully walkable, and as one of the greatest small cities in the world, Amsterdam is a sightseers dream. From its canals to world-famous museums and historical sights, our Dutch destination is even more incredible when it involves a parade or special observance . . . and what better occasion for such festivity than when the greatest flower show on earth is held each April! Our tour catches it in full bloom and you will not believe the magnificent colors and heavenly scents of the flower fields until you come along with us and see for yourself. All photos depicted here were taken by WTC club members on our tour last April (thank you, Annika and Carol, for sharing your beautiful digital memories). Exclusively for Women
Not included:
The Netherlands Entry Requirements: *** Valid passport required. U.S. citizens do not need a Visa or Inoculations***
Day 1 - Thursday, April 23: Depart the U.S. on overnight flights to Amsterdam. Day 2 - Friday, April 24: Arrive Amsterdam.
Our residence is the historic 4-star deluxe Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam Hotel, located in the heart of the city's shopping and business centers and opposite Central Station, Amsterdam's primary train station. You are within minutes from the Leidschesquare and all the famous museums such as Rembrandt, the Van Gogh, and the Rijksmuseum. Housed in a historic building, the hotel features 306 well-appointed, air-conditioned guest rooms ensuring a relaxing stay. Each room is equipped with wireless Internet, direct-dial telephones, cable TV, movie channels, mini-bars and safes. Additional amenities include access to the Victoria Active Club, an ultra-modern health club located in the garden wing of the hotel, with gym, indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, solarium and beauty salon. Enjoy a meal in one of two restaurants or refreshments in one of two bars. And just outside the hotel are numerous restaurants within walking distance that offer a variety of international cuisine. At the Park Plaza Victoria, the blend of history and modern conveniences makes this the ideal hotel choice for our Amsterdam tour. Since hotel check-in is mid afternoon, our guide will offer a walking tour of the area, with a stop at a local café for lunch on own. Dinner this evening is at a charming local restaurant. (D)
Day 3 - Saturday, April 25: Full Day of Sightseeing - Haarlem Flower Parade, Canal Cruise and Tour of Anne Frank House. Following buffet breakfast at the hotel, we set off for a full day of sightseeing in our private bus. First stop is the famous Haarlem Flower Parade. The parade of flower-decorated floats, called Bloemencorso van de Bollenstreek, makes a slow 40 km (25 mph) passage from Noordwijk to Haarlem, where the cavalcade forms an illuminated display. About 20 large floats are piled high with carefully arranged blooms in a profusion of scent and color, and more than 30 decorated luxury cars follow, interspersed with marching bands. We will watch the parade for part of it, and then return to Amsterdam for lunch on own near the canals.
This afternoon’s scenic Canal Cruise is pure delight. Throughout the one hour ride, explanations are provided in English as we slowly sail past the charming row houses and under bridges brimming with pedestrians. A stop for a tour of Anne Frank’s House is both memorable and moving. After such a full day of activity, an evening at leisure is called for. Our guide will have lots of suggestions for your dining pleasure. (B)
Day 4 - Sunday, April 26: Day at Leisure. Enjoy a free day in a city with so much to see and do. Since museums are a main attraction in Amsterdam, we suggest several which offer English speaking tours and visitor pamphlets. The famous Rijksmuseum offers the unique opportunity to view all the highlights of the Golden Age in one place, with Rembrandt and Vermeer amongst its most exquisite masterpieces. The Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of paintings, organized chronologically into five periods, each representing a different phase of the artist’s life and work. The Hermitage Museum, a satellite of the one in St. Petersburg, has gorgeous Art Nouveau objects. And the Stedelijk, is the state museum of modern art. For other ideas, check out Frommer’s lengthy list of Amsterdam Attractions. Tonight we regroup for dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)
Day 5 - Monday, April 27: Full Day of Sightseeing - The Flower Auction and Keukenhof Park. We depart early, after breakfast, and head to the Flower Auction in Aaslmeer, a short 24 km distance away. Traveling on our private coach and along with our guide, we will stop for a quick lunch before continuing to Keukenhof Park in the nearby city of Lisse. Day 6 - Tuesday, April 28: Depart Amsterdam. Enjoy breakfast at your leisure. We will offer one group transfer to the airport in the morning. Club members whose flights do not fit the transfer can share taxis to the airport. Let us know if you would like extra nights in Amsterdam. We will notify you if others are staying longer so you can make arrangements together ahead of time.
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Trips designed by women for women