CHRISTMAS MARKETS #1

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER: TravelMaven offers a special rate at Holiday Inn that includes one night's stay, free shuttle service and 10 days parking. Given that our return flight arrives in the evening, it might make sense for those from out of Toronto to leave their car and stay at the Holiday Inn upon their return.

This TravelMaven tour features Christmas markets, castles, churches and beautiful German countryside. In addition to charming hotels, walking tours and meals with the group, guests will also have lots of free time to explore five Christmas Markets, sampling tasty treats & beverages, and picking up Yuletide gifts & keepsakes.

German Christmas Markets is a ‘small group tour’ limited to 12 guests. This brings many advantages, including more flexibility and less time waiting for others. It is also designated a ‘walking tour’, meaning participants should be able to be on their feet several hours each day, climb some stairs, and manage their own baggage.

Another feature of TravelMaven tours is the flexibility that can only be found with very small groups and when the Tour Director owns the company. Barry can adjust the schedule based on weather, add a stop if someone has a special interest, or make unscheduled visits to cafés and restaurants. None of these things are possible when Tour Directors must keep a strict schedule with groups of 20 or 30 guests.

Come spend a long week with us exploring the quaint cities and towns of northern Bavaria. We’ll see historic sights, experience the regional culture, and hang out with the locals. Most importantly, we will visit Christmas markets in Bamberg, Wurzburg, Nuremberg, Coburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Germans have a word for which there really isn’t any good translation to English. Gemuetlichkeit refers to a place or occasion that is cozy, comfortable and inviting. Imagine a party or meal so wonderful that nobody wants to leave. That’s gemuetlichkeit!

On this tour, our goal is to discover and experience gemuetlichkeit - to savour what we see, hear, eat and drink. We will stay in historic hotels and pretend we’ve gone back to the fairytale days we read about in childhood. No global fusion cuisine. No rushing around - just lots of old fashioned, slow paced warmth, charm and tasty treats.

While most TravelMaven trips depart and return on weekends, this one travels midweek. That's because we recognize the Christmas season is busy for everyone, and this schedule means we are only only away from home for one weekend.

Our recommended flight plan will depart Toronto November 30 and return December 8. After arriving at Frankfurt Airport, we will travel immediately to the beautiful small city of Bamberg, famous for its beer hops and 11 breweries, and home to a charming Christmas market.  Bamberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its abundance of medieval architecture. We'll stay at the perfectly located Hotel Brudermuhl for 5 nights and make day trips to Wurzburg, Nuremberg and Coburg.

Our final stop will be Rothenburg ob der Tauber, probably the most famous and photographed town in Germany. Over the years, Rothenburg has inspired the villages in Pinocchio, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Brothers Grimm, and Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. It is also home to the largest Christmas retailer in the world, Kathe Wohlfahrt.

On this trip, your biggest worry will probably be too much gingerbread, sausage, mulled wine or beer. After a week, we will return home ready to create our own amazing Christmas memories, armed with new ideas, decorations, treats and traditions from Bavaria, the most Christmasy place on earth! Hope you will join us.