Trains, Planes and Boats featuring Floriade - by Eurostar
Trains, Planes and Boats featuring Floriade - by Eurostar
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Trains, Planes and Boats featuring Floriade - by Eurostar
5 Days Starting in St Pancras Station, Euston Rd, London N1C 4QL, UK and ending in London, UK
Visiting: Saint Pancras Station, Amsterdam Centraal railway station, Almere, Amsterdam, IJsselmeer, Friesland, Volendam, Floriade Expo 2022, Keukenhof
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BTBP
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Physical rating:
Low, Gentle
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Held every ten years at a different venue in The Netherlands, Floriade is one of the premier events of the horticultural world. In 2022 the spotlight falls on Almere, a new city near Amsterdam, where a purpose-built site has been created to provide a ‘living laboratory’ with inspirational and innovative exhibitions by countries, cities and businesses. There will also be a host of impressive attractions, heaps of art and culture and a unique collection of trees, shrubs and flowers. The theme of this, the seventh iteration of the event, is ‘Growing Green Cities’. With the world’s urban population expanding to 70%, cities will have to find creative, green and sustainable solutions to remain safe, healthy and attractive and these proposed solutions will be central to the exhibits at the 2022 Expo. In addition to our day at Floriade we have arranged an exciting series of transport-themed excursions. We spend a day in north Holland travelling first on a vintage steam tram and then on an elegant 1950s ferry on the Ijsselmeer, plus some free time in the popular picturesque town of Volendam. There are more trains to admire at the national Rail Museum in Utrecht followed by some ‘Queens of the Sky’ at the Aviodrome Flight Museum at Lelystad (these visits are replaced with a day at the magnificent gardens of Keukenhof in May). Finally we cruise the waterways of Amsterdam, admiring the magnificent canal-side residences. We are based at the 4-star Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, conveniently situated in the centre of Almere, with many shops, cafés and restaurants just a stone’s throw away. The hotel is close to central railway station and is a just a short drive from the Floriade site. All rooms in the hotel are spacious and fitted with a desk, coffee and tea making facilities and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Dinner supplement - £120.00
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Saint Pancras Station, Amsterdam Centraal railway station, Almere
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
Meals Included: No Meals
We depart by direct Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal and continue by coach to our hotel. We are based at the 4-star Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, conveniently situated in the centre of Almere, with many shops, cafes and restaurants just a stone’s throw away and is a just a short drive from the Floriade site. All rooms in the hotel are spacious and fitted with a desk, coffee and tea making facilities and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Dinner is available this evening in the hotel’s restaurant at a supplement. Alternatively, you may wish to dine in one of the local restaurants at leisure.
Day 2
Location: Amsterdam, IJsselmeer, Friesland, Volendam
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
Meals Included: Breakfast
An exciting day lies ahead as we skirt round Amsterdam and head north to Hoorn, the starting point for our nostalgic journey aboard a steam-hauled heritage train. The train, or steam tram as it is more correctly known, trundles at a sedate pace through the peaceful West Friesian countryside on a branch line dating from 1887, calling at the stations of Wognum, Twisk and Opperdoes before reaching the terminus at Medemblijk on the shores of the Ijsselmeer (formerly the Zuiderzee).
Here our journey continues aboard the 1956-built heritage ferry ‘Friesland’ on a 90-minute cruise on the IJsselmeer to Enkhuizen. We then return by coach to Hoorn for a visit to the tramway museum where several locomotives and coaches can be seen. On our way back to Almere we will stop for some free time in Volendam, a picture-postcard fishing port where a few residents still wear traditional costume.
Day 3
Location: Floriade Expo 2022
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we have a full day at Floriade 2022 in Almere. With its focus on ‘Green Cities of the Future’ there are four main themes: Green, Food, Energy and Health. Exhibits will demonstrate how cities can be made more attractive and resilient by creating more parks and vertical gardens; the latest ideas for sufficient, healthy and affordable food; solutions and inventions in the field of sustainable energy; and how good food, exercise, flowers, plants and trees can help with life in the city. In addition there will of course be extensive displays of horticultural excellence and we can expect a riot of colour and inventive planting.
Day 4
Location: Keukenhof
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, Almere
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we pick up the vintage transport theme once again as we head south to Utrecht, home to The Netherlands’ national Rail Museum, with an extensive collection of diesel, steam and electric locomotives; carriages, scale models, posters, paintings and other railway ephemera.
In the afternoon we swap trains for planes as we visit the Aviodrome Flight Museum at Lelystad, 20km east of Almere. There are over 100 aircraft in this impressive collection, from a tiny Fokker Triplane to a giant Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, as well as iconic machines such as the Lockheed Constellation, Junkers 52 tri-motor and the Fokker Friendship.
Day 5
Location: Amsterdam, Amsterdam Centraal railway station
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we transfer to nearby Amsterdam, where we take to the water again as we enjoy a one-hour canal cruise, a great way to see the historic buildings and sights of this unique city, including the magnificent residences from the Dutch ‘Golden Age. After some free time we will assemble at the Centraal Station in time to board our early afternoon direct Eurostar service back London.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Services of a professional tour manager
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Meals - as per the itinerary
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Entrance Fees
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.
At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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