SHADOW CHRISTMAS TOUR (SCHS) in 8 days
DECEMBER 14-21, 2025 - This is a private tour for Friend & Family of the SCHS Music Program
Christmas Markets pop up all over Europe during the weeks leading up to Christmas. These outdoor markets feature unique decorations, beautiful, handcrafted arts, and endless opportunities to sample great food and countless varieties of glüwein, punch, and spiced drinks, served piping hot in souvenir mugs. This route features three contrasting cultures and languages. This tour visits Salzburg, Prague, and Nürnberg.
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Salzburg – 2 nights
Prague 2 nights
Nürnberg – 2 night
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$3887= Double Occupancy
$4487 = Single Room
*prices subject to change until group airfare is confirmed
ITINERARY
Monday, December 15: Salzburg— After airport formalities, we will hop on the Autobahn and be in the heart of Sound of Music country in no time. The historic city is just a short walk from our hotel, and we will explore it together after settling in. Salzburg’s pedestrian streets, decorated with twinkling lights, are decked out for the holidays. Enjoy shopping, visiting the castle, and walking around the many market squares. Later, join the group for dinner at the famous Augustiner Braühaus, known for its traditional Austrian cuisine. Sleep for two nights in Salzburg. Dinner.
Tuesday, December 16: Salzburg—We’ll spend the morning visiting sights made famous by the movie The Sound of Music. Hellbrunn Palace, renowned for the SOM Gazebo, and Captain Von Trapp’s lakeside home are just a few of our stops. Back in town, enjoy Mirabel Gardens and more of historic Salzburg.
Wednesday, December 17: Prague—We will get an early start on our journey to Prague, making a stop or two along the way. Once in Prague, we’ll visit the historic city center, with its old-world charm and Christmas cheer. Enjoy dinner tonight at a traditional Czech pub. We will sleep for two nights in Prague. Dinner.
Thursday, December 18: Prague – After breakfast, we will divide into small groups for a guided walking tour of Prague and up the hill to the largest castle complex in Europe. Enjoy lunch and the remainder of the day and evening on your own to experience more of Prague and its Christmas Markets.
Friday, December 19: Nürnberg —The Christmas Market in the square is promoted as Germany’s oldest and largest. Walk along the decorated lanes, passing street performers, old churches, and holiday markets. Sleep for two nights in Nürnberg.
Saturday, December 20: Nürnberg —It seems every town in these parts has a castle, and Nürnberg’s castle features broad, sweeping views across the city. Enjoy the festivities and musical performances. Tonight, we will have a grand farewell dinner celebrating and remembering your travels in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Dinner.
Sunday, December 21: So, Long, Farewell – Your tour ends this morning. Enjoy your flight back home. Auf Wiedersehen and Merry Christmas!
Music performance opportunities may be possible in Salzburg, Prague, and Nürnberg—specific details will be announced later. Final Pricing is subject to changes in local taxation or increases in fuel charges up until December 2025
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
INCLUSIONS
Round-trip group flights to Munich. Sightseeing tours led by an Exploring Europe guide and local guides when appropriate; admissions to sights seen as a group; all breakfasts and many dinners or lunches as noted in the specific tour itinerary (you’ll pay for your drinks at lunch or dinner); traditional and unique dining experiences at David’s favorite restaurants; accommodations each night as noted in the tour itinerary; all transportation as indicated in the tour itinerary; all tips to guides and drivers; David McGuffin’s tour PDF handouts, PDF travel guides, and daily travel information. Anything not listed above is not included in the cost of your tour.
EXCLUSIONS
Comprehensive Trip insurance. We strongly recommend comprehensive insurance for tour.
Fee for passports.
Beer, wine, spirits, and soda during the tour.
Laundry, phone, internet, and personal items
Extras and optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in the itinerary.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Our Tour Conditions and Agreement defines what David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc. will provide when you sign up for a tour. Additionally, it addresses your responsibilities. Please read this entire document carefully; it is essential. Current tour prices may be found at davidmcguffin.com or by calling us at 1-800-570-1351.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
Roundtrip group airfare to Munich. Sightseeing tours led by an Exploring Europe guide and local guides when appropriate; admissions to sights seen as a group; all breakfasts and many dinners or lunches as noted in the specific tour itinerary (you’ll pay for your drinks at lunch or dinner); traditional and unique dining experiences at David’s favorite restaurants; accommodations each night as noted in the tour itinerary; all transportation as indicated in the tour itinerary; all tips to guides and drivers; David McGuffin’s tour PDF handouts, PDF travel guides, and daily travel information. Anything not listed above is not included in the cost of your tour.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND PROCESSES
To reserve a seat on this tour, you must agree to these Tour Conditions and provide us with a deposit of $400 per person. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and PayPal for all tour deposits and payments. Additionally, we accept ACH payments, personal checks, bank drafts, and money orders made payable to David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe (in US dollars). If you sign up for a tour less than 90 days before its departure, the entire tour price must be paid and is non-refundable after 7 days.
Due to bus capacity, hotel rooms, and flights during the busy Christmas season, there are limited seats available. Consequently, the tour will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis. Making your first payment sooner is better than later. Once all seats are filled, applicants will be placed on a waiting list in the order their application and payment were received by Exploring Europe.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposit- Your Deposit ($400) is fully refundable until January 5, 2025. If you book your tour after 1/5/2025, your deposit ($400) is refundable for seven days. If you book your tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- See payment schedule below. Prices are subject to change until group airfare is confirmed.
Amount: Due Date:
$400 Sept 4, 2024
$1000 Jan 20, 2025
$500 Apr 20, 2025
$1000 July 20, 2025
Balance ~$1087 Aug 20, 2025
All payments must be submitted at your Online Account by Credit Card or ACH bank debit only.
The Last Day to Cancel for a Partial Refund is JUNE 15, 2025. Cancelling before this date entitles the passenger to a refund of all submitted payments, except the $400 deposit and any credit card/bank fees associated with payments.
We strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive enhanced travel insurance protection that covers tour cancellations, emergency medical treatment, and other unexpected events. This insurance policy is affordable and available during tour enrollment with TRIP MATE, an independent travel insurance agency.
Cancellations will be effective when the written notification is received at David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe by mail, e-mail, or fax.
SOLO TRAVELERS—There is a supplement for adult chaperones who request a single room. If you desire a single room, please select «single occupancy» when enrolling for this tour.
FLEXIBILITY is an essential aspect of our travels around Europe. You never know what opportunities will come our way in the form of festivals, special events, celebrations, etc. For this reason, tour itineraries are subject to change. Uncompleted portions of the tour itinerary are not cause for a refund.
TOUR OBLIGATIONS, REQUIRED FORMS, AND RISKS – All tour members must sign and return a Release Waiver Agreement and a Tour Member Agreement before the tour commences. Any pre-existing physical, mental, or emotional condition that may require attention or treatment must be reported before the beginning of a tour. Omitting important information or not submitting these may result in expulsion from a tour at your own expense.
If a tour for which you have paid is canceled by Exploring Europe, passengers must file for loss with their travel insurance/trip protection agency. If there is a remaining balance after your insurance reimbursement, Exploring Europe will issue a refund, less any unrecoverable expenses, such as credit card fees, incurred by Exploring Europe. Once this occurs, Exploring Europe and its representatives have no other obligations to tour members on canceled trips, including any additional costs or fees related to airline tickets or other travel reservations not made by Exploring Europe. David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe, Inc. has no protection coverage beyond the basic package included in the tour price to protect itself, the actions of its employees, or tour participants themselves, and tour members intentionally assume the many risks inherent in European travel.
FRIENDS & FAMILY SHADOW TOUR DEFINED –
Please note this tour is planned explicitly for friends and family of the Spruce Creek music students. The Shadow group will attend the student musical performances. Shadow tour members will travel a similar route and visit many of the same destinations as the student group; however, they will not necessarily do so simultaneously. The Shadow tour will visit additional destinations and activities, offering varied travel experiences more oriented to adults, not student groups. Please note that the shadow group and student group will be busy experiencing Europe and probably will not have much unstructured time to interact with one another. We’ve included group international flights with your tour. However, passengers will have little or no choice in seat assignments, class of service, and air carriers. Finally, when it comes to student group activities, on the ground or in the air, the school teacher/music director will have their own rules, assignments, and policies in place for the students.
FITNESS AND EXPECTATIONS – To enjoy this tour, you must be relatively fit and active. Walking and standing are common and essential elements of an Exploring Europe tour. You will assume some responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following: Transport, roll, or carry your luggage on your own; Sleep in clean, safe, and centrally located European-style central hotels that may differ from those expected in the USA; Understand that air conditioning is not the norm in Europe and may only work or be available in some of our hotels; Understand that WIFI reception may be weak or even non-existent; Walk several hours on uneven streets, up and down stairs, and hop on and off public transportation; After receiving lessons and orientations from your tour guide, hop on public transportation and navigate cities and towns independently.
PACK LIGHT POLICY—We require each tour member to bring only one airline carry-on-sized piece of luggage (approximately 23x14x10 inches) plus a small backpack or over-the-shoulder bag.
SMOKING, VAPING, AND TOBACCO are not allowed while with the group.
CBD & HEMP PRODUCTS—Please note that CBD and Hemp products are illegal in most countries. The punishment, even for CBD oils, can be severe! We require leaving them at home! If you are a regular user of these products, double-check your packed items and remove them before traveling.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS – Country entry rules can change, and we will keep you updated on current requirements for your destination. However, ultimately, you are responsible for complying with all entry requirements for the destination countries on your tour itinerary.
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposit- Your Deposit ($400) is fully refundable until January 5, 2025. If you book your tour after 1/5/2025, your deposit ($400) is refundable for seven days. If you book your tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- See payment schedule below. Prices are subject to change until group airfare is confirmed.
Amount: Due Date:
$400 Sept 4, 2024
$1000 Jan 20, 2025
$500 Apr 20, 2025
$1000 July 20, 2025
Balance ~$1087 Aug 20, 2025
All payments must be submitted at your Online Account by Credit Card or ACH bank debit only.
The Last Day to Cancel for a Partial Refund is JUNE 15, 2025. Cancelling before this date entitles the passenger to a refund of all submitted payments, except the $400 deposit and any credit card/bank fees associated with payments.
We strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive enhanced travel insurance protection that covers tour cancellations, emergency medical treatment, and other unexpected events. This insurance policy is affordable and available during tour enrollment with TRIP MATE, an independent travel insurance agency.
Cancellations will be effective when the written notification is received at David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe by mail, e-mail, or fax.
DOWNLOADABLE DOCUMENTS
PRE-TOUR RESOURCES
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
DAVID’S 60 SECONDS DESTINATION VIDEOS
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in the United Kingdom. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David Explores Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
David’s TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY almost-weekly broadcast and Video Series Blog.
Every week, when David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
Each Travel Talk Tuesday session is recorded. Watch them here.
DAVID’S BLOG ARTICLES
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Just type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (it’s the gray rectangle with a small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.
Testimonials & Reviews of our Tours
My best friend and I just returned from the Best of Greece + Santorini tour in October 2024. First, it was the perfect time to go--much less crowed and we had perfect weather! Charlotte, our guide, was so kind and fun to travel with. We loved all the historical sites (and the site licensed guides were all phenomenal! We learned so much and they told great stories), and all the beaches/towns we went to were gorgeous. Delphi was unbelievable, I never would have thought to go to Nafplio on my own but it was a gem, and Hydra was adorable. The catamaran trip at the end in Santorini had to be postponed one day due to winds but when we went the next day, it was an unforgettable experience. From the local places for dinners to cute hotels, we wouldn't have wanted to travel any other way!
Best of Italy 15 days for our 50th wedding anniversary ! Our first McGuffin tour. More to plan next trip. ! We were well taken care of and teamed up with 5 folks from the Denver area, Great small group.
Our guide Ilaria was excellent, well organized and detailed. Great personality and took extra good care of us by avoiding the tourist traps, selecting great restaurants off the beaten path.
Rome was overwhelming and breathtaking, hard to comprehend the history, we were glad to get out of the city and tour the smaller towns.
The hotels were first class and close enough to transportation but off the beaten path. Group dining was fun and educational as Ilaria explained the local cuisine and customs.
The wow moment was the Vatican and Basilica and seeing The David. So much to take in.
David's tour information prepared us well and by the time we departed we felt confident and well informed. We also had many daily PDF downloads to brief us on the days activities.
It was a lot of walking but we came home in great shape, exhausted but in a good way. Did not get to hear a lot of music which we wanted , there were opportunities on our free days but i did not plan ahead well for that,. We did find a couple of laundries which helped.
All in all we would go again in a heartbeat ! The preparation, the planning, guides, hotels, were well worth the cost and a trip of a lifetime. Booking and finding the flights was a bit challenging but we minimized our hops and traveled well with Delta. Security lines and checkpoints were numerous and lengthy at times.
One night we were booked into a penthouse suite in the LIDO ! overlooking Venice ! Many thanks for a wonderful trip and making new friends along the way. Thank you David,. ! Germany is next !
Castles, Trefriw mill, slate mine, ferries, trains, wine & cheese bar Scotland & Wales had it all and did not disappoint, plus we made a friend - Shout out to Evelyn. We had David all to ourselves for this trip, lucky us! Lets start.......
Edinburgh is a city but small and quite in the area we stayed in, loved the atmosphere of the restaurants and shops plus how many people can say the have been to a still lived in Royal Castle - Holyrood Palace.
Seeing my husbands face as he gazed upon St Andrews golf course in all it's beauty made me so happy for him, along with the cathedral to visit St Andrews is a quaint little town with very friendly people.
This tour is not only fun and entertaining but also a history lesson for all.
The little town of Pitlochery was one of my favorites, so clean, friendly, great shopping! Culloden Battlefield is historically haunting as you walk the grounds and visit the museum you get a true sense of how loyal the Jacobites were to their cause.
I never thought a giant catapult (Urquhart Castle) would hold my attention for so long but the thought of how genius it was to have built such a massive structure the way they did back in the day truly had me in awe, not to mention the castle is still so intact for the time period.
We unfortunately didn't see Nessie while on Loch Ness either but we ate and drank some fabulous seafood.
How many people can say they have walked in an 800 yr old Abbey, as a Christian I felt honored to see where the Book of Kells was written and speak with a nun who still lives in Iona. Iona was breath taking it it's self, I could have easily retreated to this island for a couple of weeks, I feel like to have to have visited here to know what that means. So remote and removed from today's world.
Our last few nights we stayed at Groes Inn in Northern Wales, while remote it doesn't disappoint in any way. Great wine selection and beautiful rooms help make this small inn fell homey and welcoming.
My husband and I both were extremely fascinated with visiting the Trefriw woolen mill seeing how they step by step make blankets, pillow covers etc....I truly appreciate the hard work that goes into making these now.
We got to travel on a steam engine train, first time for both of us and visit a slate mine. When you think your job is hard just research working in a slate mine and you will understand the hard dangerous work men put into their jobs trying to support their families.
Our last night with David we ate at an old church that had been renovated into a restuarant but they had left the pipe organs hanging, so beautiful and the food was great too. I could continue and go on and on about more but really you need to book this trip for yourself to see exactly what Scotland and Wales have to offer you. Stop hesitating and do it.
Saint Johns Festival Band UK tour, 30 June - 8 July 2024.
From Glasgow to Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands to the Lake District, and onto Liverpool (and Wales!) for our performance, this was an absolute grand tour of the UK. With a group of 51 students, parents, and band leadership, this was by all means a major event. David and his team executed with flawless precision! If you are thinking about a custom event, David McGuffin's Exploring Europe is your solution!! David puts you where you want to be, coordinates movement, lodging, food, experiences, and even schedules private events; this was an absolutely amazing turnkey experience that will never be forgotten!
Thank you to David and all the Exploring Europe staff who made this happen!!
Charlie, Carly, Grant, and Reid
Our whole family went on the trip including four of us who had never been before. We are planning another trip soon.
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