Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut
Glorious Gardens in Holland and Belgium
April 24-May 2 2012
Featuring: Floriade 2012




Join the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut on the annual spring tour, and travel through Holland and Belgium. The trip is planned so that you can spend the day at Floriade, the premier Horticultural Expo staged once every ten years in Holland and enjoy the annual tulip spectacle at famed Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam.  



Spring flowers will dazzle you as you explore private and public gardens, in Holland and Belgium.  At Floriade,  dozens of countries participate and there are  more than 100 exhibitors.  JFK transportation, international flights, 7 nights accommodations, most meals, tours of private and public gardens  are included in  our special spring custom tour.    
 
There is alot of interest in the tour, so we suggest you register early.  For a brochure and registration form, call Joan Cox, FGCCT Tour coordinator at 203. 262. 9809 or email tours@carewtravel.com.






1.  Tuesday, April 24     Depart to Amsterdam
The trip begins in Connecticut with private motor coach pick ups in Hartford, New Haven and Westport. We depart from JFK at 4:05pm, flying non-stop on Delta airlines to Amsterdam airport.  Dinner on board.



2.  Wednesday, April 25     Amsterdam and Aalsmeer Flower Auction
When you arrive at Amsterdam’s Schiplol airport your guide and coach await you.  An early   visit to the bustling Aalsmeer Flower Auction, the world's largest flower auction,  is your introduction to Holland. See how 20 million flowers and plants are auctioned and transported to all over the world, arriving the same day. Continue to nearby Amsterdam, which has 160 canals and 1000 bridges. Experience the city from the water on a relaxing, guided scenic canal boat tour.  While gliding through the old centre of the city you see elegant merchant’s mansions, carillon-crowned churches and the warehouses with their rich history from Holland’s Golden Age. After lunch check into the Hotel Carlton, close to the famous floating Flower Market, where flower stalls selling tulips, narcissus and other flowers stand on the houseboats. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight.  (l/d)



3.  Thursday, April 26     Amsterdam Canal Gardens
A  morning walking garden tour takes you to private 17th century canal house gardens. Lunch is served in one of the canal houses.  After lunch you are free to explore Amsterdam.  Why not visit the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, or Anne Frank House?  Your guide will help you plan sightseeing and dinner. (b/l)



4.  Friday, April 27     Keukenhof, Appletern and Maastricht
Check out of the hotel and visit the famous Keukenhof Gardens where you will be dazzled by the annual tulip spectacular. More than seven million flowers form a glorious setting for the most beautiful photos. Keukenhof presents a permanent floral abundance of unprecedented beauty. This year there are about sixteen permanent and varying indoor shows. They promise visitors a genuine ‘spring experience’, with thousands of delightful flowers and colors in classic, contemporary and futuristic arrangements. In the afternoon we visit  the Gardens of Appeltern', which has more than 200 model gardens and the largest collection of plants in the Netherlands . You continue to Maastricht ,  on the river Maas , and spend 2 nights at the Hotel Beaumont.  Considered by some to be the oldest city in The Netherlands Maastricht has been inhabited since pre-historic times and is known for its historic buildings.  Dinner included. (b/d)



5.  Saturday, April 28     Full Day at Floriade/Maastricht
After breakfast it’s just a short drive to Floriade 2012 where you have the entire day to explore the extensive sight built specifically for the event. The participating countries and horticultural companies present visitors  with the opportunity to enjoy the world's most exquisite and exceptional flowers, plants, trees and fruit and vegetables. But Floriade 2012 offers much more. There is a cultural program of music, dance, literature, theatre and visual art from all over the world.  With countless exciting, innovative and educational attractions and activities, Floriade 2012 is a spectacular voyage of discovery. You return to Maastricht for dinner on your own. (b)



6.  Sunday, April 29     Gardens and Bruges
After breakfast travel from Holland to the village of Lembeke, in Belgium, near Bruges where you have  lunch. Next, visit De Bosrand, formerly a wilderness,  completely hidden behind row houses, where the owners do  everything themselves.  The garden rooms are filled with a rich assortment of perennials and ornamental grasses. A shrub border provides beautiful spring colors. You continue to Bruges, the pearl of the Low Countries, where you check into  the Novotel Bruges, located in the heart of the city.  Tonight a dinner in a local restaurant is planned.  (b/l/d)



7.  Monday, April 30     Bruges and Gardens
You explore Bruges, the  Venice of the North' , on a walking tour and a canal boat ride.  You feel you have stepped back in time in this almost perfectly preserved city. From its 13th-century origins as a cloth-manufacturing town, Bruges seems to have changed little. It’s architecture spans from Medieval Gothic and Art Nouveau to  Art Deco.    
 
After lunch  visit  the private estate of 'Beervelde Park', situated near the city of Ghent. This estate was designed in 1873 in the English landscape style for the Counts de Kerchove de Deghem. Today, 135 years later, it is remarkable to note that the de Kerchove de Denterghem name is still linked to the promotion of horticulture. Count André is chairman of the Royal Society for Agriculture and Botany.  Subject to his schedule, Count André will guide the group around his own domain.  Dinner on your own.   (b/l)  



8.  Tuesday, May 1     A Day in Brussels
You spend the day in nearby Brussels, the vibrant, cosmopolitan hub of Europe where you’ll relish its beautiful architecture and landmarks on a city tour. The 1000-plus year old city of Brussels is home to the European Union (EU).  You have free time for lunch and  personal exploration around the Grand Place. Surrounded by its splendid Baroque guild houses, this jewel box square is heralded as the most impressive square in Europe,  Many people consider Brussels the chocolate capital of the world,  so why not sample this delicious Belgian confection?   Tonight a boat takes you from Bruges along the canal to the medieval city of Damme  for a memorable farewell dinner. (b/d)



9.  Wednesday, May 1     Connecticut Return
This morning you depart from Brussels airport, for your nonstop Delta flight to JFK. Your flight is scheduled to arrive JFK at 135p.  A private motor coach will return travelers to Westport, New Haven and Hartford locations. (b)  
 
Note: unexpected circumstances may cause changes to the events outlined in the itinerary.





This engaging experience includes:

  • Round-trip airport transportation
  • Round-trip airport group transportation
  • Airfare JFK/Amsterdam/Brussels/JFK
  • 7 nights hotel accommodations
  • Daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
  • Local and garden specialist guides
  • Entrances/transportation
PRICING  
(Per person – Double occupancy)  
 
$3200.   per person (share)*                                    
$500.  single supplement  
* based on a minimum of 20 persons  
 
$500 Deposit per person  due by  Nov. 1.  
  BALANCE:  due  by February 1  2012  
Trip insurance is strongly recommended.    
  $100. fee for all cancellations .    
Nov. 1 – Feb. 1 - Additional $400.  
No refund after February 1 2012  
 
Responsibility:  Federated Garden Clubs of CT. Inc./Carew Travel Consultants Inc. act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and hotels, and exercise every care possible.  However we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity in connection with the services of any airplane, train, auto motor coach or other conveyance used in carrying out these tours, or for acts of defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying  the passengers or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour.  We can not accept responsibility for losses of additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other causes beyond our control.  All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated.  We reserve the right to make alterations to the itinerary as may be deemed necessary for carrying out the tour. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our parts.  The right is reserved to decline,  accept, or retain any person as a member of the tour.  Baggage is at the owners risk entirely.  It is understood that the air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the air company .