Senior Tours to Europe

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24 November - 16 December 2018

Do you remember what it felt like to be thrilled by Christmas, the wonder of the lights and the decorations? Then come with us on a journey to four of Europe’s most magnificent cities, Vienna, Budapest, Prague and Salzburg, whose beautiful surroundings have inspired some of the world’s greatest composers, artists, architects and musicians.

$16,650 NZD

Single Room Supplement

- ADD $3,410 NZD

Initial Deposit On Booking

$2,000 NZD

Second Deposit Due 7 June 2018

$3,500 NZD

Final Balance Due 16 August 2018

Musical Gems of Europe at Christmas

Advent is a big part of the culture of Europe so we experience those magical weeks leading up to Christmas with all the music, the splendour and the wonder of fairytale lights. This is the busiest time of the year for their opera houses and concert halls with an amazing array of events, so we enjoy numerous concerts and operas in these magnificent cities, other special Christmas events and wander through Christmas markets, what a way to do your Christmas shopping.

If you have lost any of the joyous anticipation of Christmas that we all remember as children, rekindle it with Sue and John in this amazing musical and Christmas fantasy!
(4 nights - stopovers return including early check in)~ Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel

We begin and end our tour with flights to and from Dubai on Emirates.

As we arrive into Dubai early in the morning we have arranged another night’s accommodation so we can go to our rooms immediately. On return we arrive into Dubai late at night so we will again have access to our rooms immediately.
(4 nights) ~ Budapest Boscolo Hotel

Situated on the east and west banks of the Danube River, Budapest is one of the largest and most beautiful cities of Eastern Europe. Budapest consists of two principal parts, which were merged in 1873: Buda, located on three hills and overlooking the west bank of the Danube River, and Pest, located on the opposite side.

HIGHLIGHTS in Budapest include:

Welcome dinner cruise on the Blue Danube.

A half day city tour of Buda including the Fisherman’s Bastion, Citadel Hill and Mathias Church.

Private Dinner and concert at the magnificent Academy of Sciences building with harp and flute duo.

A walk around the famous Christmas markets.

A half-day guided city sightseeing tour of Pest including tour of opera house, Heroes Square and the Parliament Buildings.

Excursion to Godollo, visit to Castle Godollo, horse show Domonyvolgy.

Opera at one of the most beautiful opera house in Europe, Hungary State Opera House.

Advent or Christmas concert as available.
(4 nights) ~ Boscolo Prague Hotel

Prague is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and is among the most visited cities on the continent. Though it suffered one large bombing raid during the Second World War, it largely escaped the utter destruction which befell so many European cities during that period and emerged largely intact. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

We travel to Prague via Bratislava, through the countryside in our private coach which we will enjoy for the duration of our European odyssey. Bratislava’s location on the banks of the River Danube is at the crossroads of ancient trading routes right at the heart of Europe which predestined it to become a meeting point of various cultures. It was the home of the Celts, the Romans, and the Slavs. The reign of Maria Theresa is regarded as a golden era in the city’s history.

HIGHLIGHTS in Prague include:

Confirmed tickets to both Carmen and La Traviata

A full-day guided city sightseeing including the Old Town Square, Astronomical Clock, Hradcany, Strahov Monastery, St Vitus’ Cathedral, the Charles Bridge and the Golden Lane.

Concert or opera this evening in one of the many incredible theatres here including The Estates Theatre where Mozart’s premiere performances of many of his operas were held.

A guided tour of Prague Castle and Saint Vitus Cathedral (Prague’s most recognisable landmark).

Day trip to Kutna Hora, visiting St Barbara’s and the Ossuary.

An evening to explore the Christmas markets at your leisure.

Advent or Christmas concert as available.

Opera at Prague State Opera House or similar.

Full day of leisure to shop and enjoy the Christmas decorations and lights in the shops and around this beautiful city.
(4 nights) ~ Radisson Blu Hotel Altstadt

Salzburg’s “Old Town” with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres in the German-speaking world, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. It is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music, which features famous landmarks in Austria.

On route to Salzburg, a guided visit to Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

HIGHLIGHTS in Salzburg include:

Shiftskiller with entrance to their famous Advent Christmas concert, including a gourmet Mozart dinner.

A guided city sightseeing tour including the Hohensalzburg (Castle), the Cathedral, Mozart’s Birthplace and Mirabell Palace and Gardens.

Marionette theatre performance of The Sound of Music or The Magic Flute (subject to availability).

An excursion to visit Schloss Hellbrunn and a photo stop at Schloss Leopoldskron (Sound of Music setting).

Visit the famous White Horse Inn and enjoy lunch there at St Wolfgang by the lake.

Time at leisure to walk around this lovely town and visit the Christmas markets.

Full day of leisure to shop and enjoy the Christmas decorations and lights in the shops and around this beautiful city.
(5 nights) ~ Imperial Riding School Hotel

On route to Vienna, visit to Melk Abbey, an Austrian Benedictine abbey, and one of the world’s most famous monastic sites. It is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river Danube.

HIGHLIGHTS in Vienna include:

A night of Strauss and Mozart music at the famous Kursalon with dinner in the Restaurant Johann.

Vienna State Opera performance (to be confirmed).

Vienna Boy’s Choir singing Mass in their resident chapel, The Royal Court Chapel which is part of the Royal Apartments, in the Hofburg Complex.

Half-day guided city sightseeing tour including the City Ringstrasse with guided tour of the State Opera House, Town Hall, House of Parliament, and also including entrance to the magnificent Saint Stephens Cathedral.

A chance to wander the Christmas markets of which there are several, some of the most famous in the world!

Guided tour of the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens.

Guided tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum,

Museum of Fine Art, part of the Hofburg Complex.

Full day of leisure to shop and enjoy the Christmas decorations and lights in the shops and around this beautiful city.

Concert at the Musikverein, with supper afterwards at Demel Cafe for Sachertorte.

Farewell Dinner at the Schönbrunn Palace and Concert in the Orangerie for an evening of Strauss and Mozart.

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Musical Gems of Europe Operatunity 2018.pdf.page 1

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This trip includes

23 day tour to Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest and Prague.
Return Airfare: Auckland/ Dubai / Budapest – Vienna/ Dubai/ Auckland with stopovers in Dubai each way including taxes.
Musical highlights include performances at: Vienna State Opera, Vienna Boys Choir singing Mass at the Royal Court Chapel, Advent Mozart Concert, Concert of Strauss and Mozart at Cafe Johann, Hungary State Opera House, Mozart Dinner and Concert at the Stiftskeller, State Opera House Prague, Salzburg Marionette Theatre and Final Dinner and concert at The Schonbrunn Palace Vienna plus Christmas concerts and private dinners with music. (All opera and concert repertoire to be confirmed).
Visit the famous Christmas markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest and Prague, a chance to absorb the beauty and magic of Christmas, the lights, store decorations, Christmas trees and Christmas markets.
5 nights Vienna: Guided tours to City Ringstrausse, St Stephen’s Cathedral, State Opera House, Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens, The Kunsthistorisches Museum, The Royal Apartments Hofburg Complex.
4 nights Budapest: Blue Danube dinner cruise, Dinner at Academy of Sciences with flute and harp concert, Guided tours of Buda and Pest, including Mathias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, Heroes Square and the Parliaments Building and horse show at Domonyvolgy.
4 nights Prague: Guided tours including the Old Town, St Vitus Cathedral, Strahov Monastery, Prague Castle, and day trip to Kutna Hora.
4 nights Salzburg: Guided tours including Salzburg Castle, Cathedral, Mozart’s birthplace, lunch at the White Horse Inn, Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Schloss Hellbrunn and Sound of Music.
All breakfasts, 8 dinners, 1 morning tea, 10 lunches and 1 supper included.
Escorted by Sue and John.
Important Information
For further information please ring our offce or visit our website.

All trips are subject to change but any changes will be of equal or greater value.

All deposits are refundable up until nal payment date minus any costs that the company has incurred.

Please refer to our terms and conditions on our booking form.

While we carefully plan our trips to be well paced, all travellers need to possess a certain level of tness. Some trips are more arduous and carry an advisory note in the itinerary that a special level of fitness is required.

Operatunity Travel requires all travellers to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. Please be sure to ring our office if you require any information or clarification about insurance or any questions regarding travelling with Operatunity Travel.

PLACES WE STAY

Boscolo Budapest Hotel, Autograph Collection is a five star hotel which occupies an elegant 19th-century building in the heart of Budapest, close to the Opera and Andrássy Boulevard. e hotel’s heart is the New York Café, with its wonderful frescoes and gilded stucco columns. With its magnificent, opulent decor and Christmas decorations we begin in a Christmas fairyland!

Boscolo Prague Hotel is part of the Autograph Collection of luxury private hotels managed by Marriot. This is a five star hotel in a neo classic design of the nineteenth century. It is located in the centre of Prague, about a ten minute walk from the famous Wenceslas Square, where one of the most famous Christmas markets of Europe is situated.

The Luxury Collection Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg combines all the romantic charm of a “Salzburg Inn” from the 15th century with today’s luxury of a 5-star hotel. e hotel is located directly in the centre and the heart of Salzburg’s old town, in the famous “Getreidegasse” - near the house where Mozart was born and close to the famous Festival Hall and all major sights.

The Imperial Riding School in Vienna is part of the Marriot group of hotels. This beautiful hotel reflects the imperial past of the Austrian capital as a former military riding school. History is omnipresent in this vibrant metropolis of art and music. Located in the diplomatic section of Vienna, it is a short walk to the centre of Vienna

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Private dinner and concert at the magnificent Academy of Sciences building with harp and flute duo.

Concert or Opera in one of many of the incredible theatres in Prague, including The Estates Theatre where Mozart premiere performances of many of his operas were held.

Advent or Christmas concert as available in Prague.

Opera at Prague State Opera House or similar.

Stiftskeller with entrance to their famous Advent Christmas concert, including a gourmet Mozart dinner.

Marionette theatre performance of The Sound of Music or The Magic Flute (subject to availability.)

A night of Strauss and Mozart music at the famous Kursalon with dinner in the Restaurant Johann.

Vienna State Opera performance (to be confirmed).

Vienna Boy's Choir singing mass in their resident chapel, The Royal Court Chapel, which is part of the Royal Apartments, in the Hofburg Complex.

Concert at the Musikverein, with supper afterwards at Demel Cafe for Sachertorte.

Farewell Dinner at the Schonbrunn Palace and concert in the Orangerie for an evening of Strauss and Mozart.

Travel Insurance

Every customer is required to take out insurance for all international travel when taking a trip with Operatunity Ltd.

DOMESTIC INSURANCE
Insurance for Domestic travel is currently available from many companies. Insurance for New Zealand trips is entirely at your discretion. Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice.

INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
Insurance for International travel is currently available from many companies. For our trips overseas it is a requirement that proof of cover be sent to our office some time before departure from NZ. We can not accept travellers who hold no cover for international travel as per our term and conditions.
Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice. Email travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz Phone 0508 886 489

MOBILITY

Operatunity provides group senior travel and with this in mind we plan trips to suit our target market. But not every trip is created equal in terms of mobility. We want to give you the best possible experience but that will only be achieved if you are able to enjoy everything that our trips have to offer.
Most of our long haul trips require a better level of mobility. We will look after everyone as well as we possibly can, but we cannot look after one at the expense of the rest of the group. We also cannot have one person slowing the rest of group to the point where the group is not able to enjoy every experience we are able to provide.
With this in mind we have put a mobility clause into every trip. Under each explanation here I have popped a statement. Ask yourself if this is ‘you’, when booking on a trip.

None of the following mobility clauses preclude you from ordering a wheelchair at the airport if required.

1. GENTLE TOUR This tour will suit most people, even with a stick or a walker, but sorry not someone in a wheelchair. The activity level is gently paced, but you still need to be able to get on and off buses easily. There will be walking, but not a lot. “I love travelling, but at a gentle pace. I like to avoid stairs or too much activity, but I am able to get on and off buses easily.”

2. EASY TOUR This tour will suit people with a stick, but not a walker. You will be required to walk to get from place to place and stand in museums, but it is designed to be an easy tour with lots of times to rest, travel on a coach and walk easy leisurely distances. ”Walking is fine. I can get on and off a coach. I am happy to stand for an hour or two in museums and galleries and gently stroll through places of interest. I am happy to climb the odd set of stairs.”

3. MODERATE WALKING TOUR This tour requires a better level of fitness with no wheelchairs or walkers. Generally, there may be times when we can’t get the coach close. In some of our Pacific Island tours we will need you to transfer onto a tender and walk on soft sand. We also will have much longer flights and long walks through airports. “I like walking at a moderate pace. I love to keep my days full and experience everything the tour has to offer. Stairs, tender transfers and cobblestones don’t bother me.”

4. EXPLORING TOUR This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace. “I like to spend most of the day exploring. Whether walking historic neighbourhoods on cobblestones at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I want my days full. Stairs don’t bother me and I am keen to see and do as much as I can with the odd day off to recuperate.”

Operatunity is a company specialising in music lovers tours to the senior market. Each trip has been especially planned to include music and arts experiences and has a level of friendliness and care which cannot be found anywhere else! Our trips are packed with features not found anywhere else
Yes we have lots of people who travel on their own. We endeavour to match you up with someone who lives close to you or is close in age to you. Often you will get a chance to meet with your matchup or ring them before you leave on your trip. You also may prefer to travel solo and pay the single supplement price. We travel as a happy band so there will be lots of chances to meet people. You will find fellow music lovers and those with other similar interests. In fact those like the nicer things of life so you will travel with like-minded people. It is also important to remember that our singers are our escorts so you will see at least a couple of familiar faces as you leave.
If you live outside of Auckland, we can arrange travel and accommodation on your way to meet up with our group. We have access and can book domestic airfares in conjunction with Air New Zealand international airfares. Plus we can book your pre and post tour accommodation if required.
It is compulsory for our international trips and highly recommended for our domestic tours.
No as most airlines offer various special meals and any restaurants we visit are happy to accommodate special dietary requirements.
We seek to accommodate the needs of guests with disabilities whenever possible. However in most cases we are unable to take customers with walkers, wheelchairs or other mobility issues. Certain trips may be unsuitable due to walking or limited availability of accommodation with disabled facilities. We cannot be responsible for the care of customers suffering from significant cognitive illness (such as dementia). We ask such customers to consult with your doctor to obtain medical clearance. Guests needing assistance mustbe accompanied by an able companion who will be available to assist them and assume full responsibility for their wellbeing.
We ask that you can walk at least 100 metres unaided and be able to get on and off buses with little or no assistance. We cater for a senior market but it is important that you do not jeopardise the enjoyment of others by requiring more care and holding up the rest of the group. Talk to our office or staff at concerts and any advisory notes for individual trips to get a better idea of your suitability for each trip.
We stay at 4 and 5 star character hotels, avoiding package, tourist or big hotel chains. We choose hotels with a more personal feel often with historic content or hotels of beauty and character, centrally located or in parks, by the water, or with beautiful gardens.
Breakfast is included daily, and many dinners and lunches are also included as per our itinerary.
There are no hidden costs. Included in the trip are tips, taxes, porterage, breakfast, meals where specified, inclusions listed in the itinerary, entry fees where listed in the itinerary, concert/show tickets where listed in the itinerary, tour escorts and local specialised guides.
Some of our trips sell out very quickly and we recommend you make your booking as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
We will ask you to pay an initial deposit when making your booking. We will then follow up for a second deposit and then a final balance payment prior to travel.
All deposits up until final payment are refundable minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs the company may incur.
After final deposit refunds are unlikely and the refund becomes an insurance claim.
Our numbers vary from destination to destination, please contact our office for further information. We have a minimum number required to operate a tour. Should minimum numbers not be met, a full refund will be made.
For international trips, all guests must have a valid passport that does not expire earlier than at least 6 months beyond their intended stay.
Music is a key element in making our experiences special. There are special experiences and events every day, such as themed dinners, impromptu concerts, music, art tours with art experts and garden tours with garden experts.
Most hotels now have internet connection and all hotels have telephones in the room or at reception. If using your mobile telephone check calling and text rates, and disable data roaming before leaving New Zealand. Consider purchasing a prepaid SIM card. And you can keep in touch using social media such as Facebook. We have a copy of your next of kin details in case of emergency and we are also happy to help out with texts, phone calls and emails if you can’t get in touch with your family and need to while away. We are also happy to help out with getting your phones, ipads and cameras to work if needed while away.
We spend less time travelling between regions, allowing more time to enjoy experiences when you arrive. We avoid one night stops and “conveyor belt” travel, so you really can capture the local colour and vitality of the region. Our trips are planned so that there is a balance of included activities and free time for you to relax or do some exploring on your own.
Contact Operatunity Travel
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Mail your booking form to PO BOX 132 150, Sylvia Park, Auckland 1644
Email: travel@operatunity.co.nz
Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
Email: travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz