GERMANY & FRANCE
Rhine Christmas Markets
Rhine Christmas Markets
The Details
Strasbourg, France
Colmar, France
Baden Baden, Germany
Gengenbach, Germany
The renovated palace that is our homebase for the week.
Your Rhine Christmas Markets Experience
On this 8 day / 7 night immersive tour you will find that is the perfect time of year to visit the fairytale towns on both sides of the Rhine River in France and Germany. With each home and business decked out in holiday finery, we will soak up the magic of the season and share cups of gluhwein/vin chaud as we visit the Christmas capital(s) of the world!
We will base ourselves for the week in a beautifully renovated palace situated in a town on the edge of the Black Forest in Germany. From here we will visit cities as well as small rural towns in both the Black Forest and the Alsace region of France.
We will visit Strasbourg, France the self-proclaimed Capital of Christmas. For four centuries, the Christkindelsmärik has been working its magic here. Over 300 wooden chalets, spread around different squares in the city, invite you to make some mesmerizing discoveries in a fairytale atmosphere!
Also in France, the town of Colmar with its plethora of half-timbered houses will set the perfect fairytale backdrop. As you stroll around the Christmas stalls and wooden chalets, the lights and decorations will carry you away into a real Christmas wonderland. This is the center of Alsatian wines, so make sure to try the vin chaud!
On the German side of the Rhine, we will visit Gengenbach to witness the largest Advent calendar in the world. Set amongst the market stalls, this small town transforms the town hall into a glowing reminder of the countdown to Christmas. The anticipation is palpable!
We will also visit the Christmas festivities in the Black Forest cities of bustling university city Freiburg and the gorgeous spa town of Baden-Baden.
There may also be several very small towns having their annual 2-to-3-day Christmas markets/festivals during the week that we are in residence. These can be quite the experience and we will make sure to share them with you!
In each town and city, we will find the best of the best things to visit in addition to our market visits. For instance, in Strasbourg, we will visit the magnificent Cathedral which was built in the Middle Ages and is the highest structure still standing from this time period. In Baden-Baden, we will visit the grand and glitzy grounds of the Kurhaus, a historic spa resort.
Every market is full of the most delicious regional dishes and seasonal delicacies! You will get your fill of everything from bratwurst and raclette to the most delicious homemade candies and gingerbread.
A storybook setting awaits you in Alsace, France and the Black Forest of Germany. Rekindle the anticipation and sheer joy of the Christmas season as Hub & Spoke takes you to the true center of NOEL!
Germany & France
Rhine Christmas Markets
The Details
What's Included
Seven (7) nights accommodation {double occupancy} apartment-style suites in a renovated palace situated in a small town on the western edge of the German Black Forest.
Please note that single occupancy carries an additional fee. Please contact us for more details.
Transportation, parking, and tolls to/from daily destinations
Seven (7) breakfasts
Seven (7) dinners
Museum tickets and admission fees on guided tours and experiences
All gratuities
Personalized support from Melissa and Hub & Spoke team members
Detailed itinerary, pre-trip notes & relevant reading material, and travel guidelines
Travel planning advice for pre/post-trip stays
Your Financial Responsibilities
You are responsible for airfare and transportation to and from the initial designated tour meeting location, passport fees, meals other than those described above, personal items, single-occupancy supplement, and any additional lodging nights. Unscheduled (and often spontaneous) optional activities may also be offered at an additional cost, such as tour extensions in lieu of leisure time, bike rentals, stops at specialty shops, and additional wine and liquor purchases.
If so desired, you are responsible for choosing and purchasing a travel insurance policy that best suits your particular coverage needs. Hub & Spoke highly recommends travel insurance.
Itinerary
The order of experiences listed and specific activities in the itinerary may change for any given tour, based on the availability of our preferred guides, the weather, and the exclusive nature of the experiences.
Payment
A deposit of $750 USD per person is due upon booking. The final balance is due no later than 120 days prior to tour commencement. Payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Installments may be arranged directly with Hub & Spoke.
Registration deposit and final balance are non-refundable. Travel insurance is strongly recommended and should include Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Baggage, and Accident and Medical Insurance. There are also insurance options that allow you to "Cancel for any Reason". Travel insurance options can be found at insuremytrip.com.
Pricing Adjustments
Pricing may be adjusted in the future due to inflation and currency fluctuations. Your price is guaranteed only at the time of your deposit.
Cancellation Policy
You will receive a full refund of your deposit if Hub & Spoke must cancel your tour.
Should you need to cancel up to 120 days prior to your tour commencement date, your full deposit may be applied to a future tour commencing within 12 months of your canceled tour.
If you cancel your tour between 119 and zero days prior to tour commencement, there will be no credits or refunds by Hub & Spoke, LLC. You will need to follow the conditions set forth in your travel insurance policy.
Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer
Hub & Spoke LLC and its owners and team members do not own or operate any entity which provides, or is to provide, goods or services to any Hub & Spoke tour, including accommodations, vehicles, meals, activities, or other services. Because Hub & Spoke does not exercise any control over the personnel, equipment, or operations of these suppliers, Hub & Spoke is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such third person, or of any other third party.
Hub & Spoke is not responsible for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to illness, pandemics, endemics, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws, or other such causes.
Hub & Spoke is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in any Hub & Spoke tour.
If in the unlikely event that Hub & Spoke must cancel a tour, the entire amount paid by the traveler will be refundable or carried as a credit toward another Hub & Spoke tour within 12 months of the canceled tour. Hub & Spoke will have no additional obligations, including costs or fees related to the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or other travel reservations. This includes delays, cancellations, and any non-refundable expenses.
Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy that will cover certain trip cancellations and interruptions, emergency medical evacuation, loss of luggage or personal effects, and other such coverage. Hub & Spoke strongly encourages our guests to purchase travel insurance.