Practical details & PRICES — terms and conditions.

How much does the tour cost and when is the amount due?

The standard price per person is $6,980, based on double room occupancy. Please note: for participants living in Europe, we accept direct SEPA payments in Pounds or Euros to our Sterling and Euro accounts.

The price for a participant wishing to stay in a single room is $7,980.

Important remark: upon request, we can attempt to pair a single participant with a fellow single traveler — in which case the standard price will apply.

In both cases, 30 % of the total price is due at booking time, payable by Zelle, check or wire transfer upon receipt of our invoice. The remaining amount is due 90 days prior to the tour’s beginning, i.e. by September 3rd, 2025.

Special conditions for Pre-Booking participants: the participants who will take advantage of our Pre-Booking offer until April 15th, 2025 and make an advance payment of $400 per person will be granted a $400 discount per person on the total price of the tour. Please note that while this advance payment secures the participant’s spot on the tour, the $400 amount is non-refundable.

This brings the total price down to $6,580 per person (double occupancy) or $7,580 per person (single room). Of this reduced amount, 30 % are due no later than June 3rd, 2025.

The remaining amount—minus the $400 discount—will be due by September 3rd, 2025, 90 days prior to the tour’s beginning. 

What is included in the price of the tour?

As a rule, all expenses directly related to the program and to the activities of the group are included in the price per person. This applies in particular to the hotel room, the breakfasts, the 5 o’clock at Pâtisserie Christian in Strasbourg and the desserts at Café Decker in Staufen, all lunches and dinners taken in common, the three wine tastings, all forms of transportation during the tour itself, as well as entrance fees to museums and other sightseeing sites. 

The price per person is based on double occupancy of a room with a queen bed or twin beds. Upon request, we will do our best to allow for specific arrangements. Please note that king-size beds are very uncommon in Europe, and almost impossible to find even at high-end hotels.

Accommodation in a single room is possible at an additional cost for the participant (see Prices & Options).

Please note that in Europe, all taxes are always included—by law—in all goods and services purchased for private purposes.

What isn’t included in the price of the tour

The following expenses are not part of the package:

• Round-trip travel from and back to the US, and any form of transfer to our hotel in Strasbourg on the day of arrival and to any airport, or railway/bus station on the day of depar­ture. 

• Additional beverages ordered during meals taken in common (please note that two glasses of local wine or beer as well as non-alcoholic beverages will always be included, as are the wine pairings at ** Michelin JY’s in Colmar). This restriction regarding additional beverages applies, too, to beverages and drinks ordered or consumed at the hotel.

• The lunch on the last day in Colmar, and possible transportation costs (taxi, Uber) during the afternoon, as participants will be free to explore the city at their own pace or visit the Staub outlet.

• Any additional fee incurred as part of the hotel stay (room and laundry services, phone calls, etc.). Please note that hotels in Europe are strictly non-smoking environments. Possible cleaning fees related to smoking in the hotel room will be the sole responsibility of the participant.

• Tips and gratuities to waitresses/waiters, room service and cleaning team, as well as drivers, if applicable. These tips will be entirely at your discretion — more on this on arrival.

• All personal purchases, including souvenirs.

Preparing for the trip

Please note: these are general recommendations. We will be happy to provide you with more detailed information, based on our own extensive experience of transatlantic travel. As seasoned travelers ourselves, we can advise you to only buy so-called ‘flexible’ tickets. This keeps all options open with no penalties — experience shows it’s often worth it.

Upon request, we are very happy to offer a concierge service that will assist you and help you book transportation, additional services  as well as rooms and/or meals for the participants who would like to extend their trip before or after the tour. Please do not hesitate to get in touch at tour-info@delices-decouvertes.com

Where to fly to?

• Frankfurt Airport. The most convenient major airport, Frankfurt is located just 150 miles to the north. Most large cities in the US have non-stop flights to Frankfurt. From there, there is a choice of either a convenient direct bus shuttle to Strasbourg or a comfortable ICE bullet train (the airport has its own railway station underneath the main terminal) offering departures almost every hour. In both cases, traveling time is ± 3.5 hours. 

• Paris CDG Airport. Again, most major cities in the US have non-stop flights to Paris CDG, and the airport has its own railway station as well. There are several direct TGV bullet trains to Strasbourg every day, and they are blindingly fast (around 2 hours travel time). Depending on one’s arrival, this can be the perfect solution. But with certain flights, some waiting time in a rather boring airport has to be factored in. The alternative is a taxi or Uber to Paris Gare de l’Est (with almost constant traffic jams on the A1 freeway, allow for 90 min to be on the safer side), where Europe’s fastest, direct bullet train departs for Strasbourg almost every hour. In that case, expect the total travel time to Strasbourg to be around 4-5 hours.

• Zurich Airport. This is the main Swiss airport, with direct connections to many cities in the US. Zurich Airport is conveniently compact, with its own railway station just under the terminal. Travel time by train to Strasbourg is about 3 hours.

• Strasbourg Airport is, for a number of bad reasons, ridiculously tiny, with hardly any workable connection to any major European hub.

• Basel Airport. The only larger airport in the Upper Rhine Valley has several flights a day to most international hubs in Europe, including London with its own convenient connections to all major US airports. The direct train to Strasbourg takes just over an hour from Basel’s central station, a 15 min taxi ride from the airport away. Depending on where you live and what your plans before and after the tour are, this might be an option to consider.

How to get to Hôtel Léonor

During the Holiday Season, the city center of Strasbourg is, for security reasons, off limits for any vehicle from mid-morning to late evening. This includes taxis and Ubers — and the police will make no exception for you. The closest you can get to the Léonor is to the other side of the bridge that leads to the Old Town, about 300 yards from the hotel entrance. 

Getting to the hotel from the central station or the bus terminal. Please be aware that taxi drivers can be rude and will sometimes decline to take passengers for shorter rides. In any case, don’t get discouraged. In Strasbourg, try Taxi City (+33 3 88 27 27 00) or Taxi 13 (+33 3 88 36 13 13), two well established providers. Ubers, though, are plentiful in Strasbourg and usually more motivated… As for tramways, they are efficient, but moderately easy to navigate and often overcrowded; in addition, baggage checks by security agents during the Holiday Season make tramway rides even less enjoyable.

What to pack

• Alsace during the Holiday Season can be quite chilly. While snow is rather unlikely, some rain cannot be excluded. Accordingly, you should find space in your suitcase for a couple of warm sweaters, a reasonably wind and rain-proof coat or jacket and an umbrella. Please pack as well a pair of walking shoes or sturdy sneakers (rainproof, again, doesn’t hurt). We will walk extensively through various, mostly pedestrian-only city centers, and often on cobblestones.

• Dress codes. The following will probably be obvious, but just in case. In most places, comfy casual attire is totally OK. Yet its more extreme variations (as this is not the season for Birkenstocks, shorts and tank tops, we are talking baseball caps, leggings, cargo pants, track suits, hoodies and the like…) can come across as a bit ‘over-relaxed’ in French or German restaurants or even bistrots — and they would be fairly out of place at JY’s, the **Michelin restaurant on our last night in Colmar. The place is very upscale, and while black ties and pearl necklaces are optional, a modicum of elegance is expected.

• Electronic and electrical devices. Today’s electronic devices, be it mobile phones, tablets, e-readers or laptops, all come with universal chargers that are compatible with the European 220V standard. The plugs, though, are not. So please get, if you do not have any yet, a couple of adapters (on Amazon or elsewhere). In any case, be aware that standard 110V devices — hair straighteners, curling wands, clothes steamers, etc.  — will get fried instantly in Europe (ask Olga…). So please make sure that whatever you take with you is 110V/220V compatible. You should check it in the specs, as this is more the exception than the rule with devices bought in the US.

Further requirements—and things to know

• There is currently no visa or visa-waiver requirement for US citizens, although such a provision has been in the discussion for years at European Union level. All COVID-related restrictions were lifted early in 2023. You are not expected, though, to try entering the European Union (or Switzerland) with a passport that is about to expire. To stay on the safe side, please make sure that your passport is valid for at least another 6 months from the date of entry.

• No part of our program is strenuous, but city centers in Europe tend to be pedestrian-only, a rule that is strictly enforced. Accordingly, expect quite some walking (especially in Strasbourg), including on uneven cobblestones — see above. Specifically, to get to the top of Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle, quite a few rather steep staircases have to be negociated. All in all, you should be in fairly good shape, with no walking impairment. 

• Dietary wishes or requirements will be taken into account as far as possible, provided they are explicitly outlined at booking stage. Most religious observances can be accommodated, although strictly kosher or halal foods will not be available. Please note that while vegetarian options exist in almost all places on the program (including at JY’s in Colmar), there is hardly a way to offer vegan or gluten-free meals during our trip. Please give us advance notice about severe allergies that might affect you and be aware that in Continental Europe, allergens are not always clearly indicated on menus. We will do our best to keep you safe.

• A travel insurance that includes medical coverage while in Europe and repatriation to the US in case of emergency is mandatory for all participants without exception. Please note that almost all travel insurances are centered on trip cancellation, with medical coverage being just part of the package. This considerably increases the total insurance price without improving medical benefits. If the participants to our Private Discovery Tour are interested in an insurance that offers comprehensive medical coverage during the trip without covering the costs of cancellation, there are a few insurance companies offering such a policy—for an attractive, markedly lower price. One of them is Atlas Premium, offered by World Trips (https://www.worldtrips.com/international-travel-medical-insurance/). This policy does not include trip cancellation, but comes with a good choice of medical coverage options. As a result, it costs a fraction of  a ‘comprehensive’ travel insurance package that includes cancellation. NB: we have no affiliation whatsoever with Atlas Premium; we have included this mention solely as a possibly useful tip, since that kind of selective travel insurance is not widely available or easy to find on the Internet. Another option is to use a specialized website, like  SquareMouth, that allows you to tailor your coverage according to your needs and wishes, and then compare the prices and actual coverage options offered by a series of providers. On a different note and should the participant opt for a package that includes trip cancellation, we strongly advise to check very precisely the cancellation situations that are indeed covered—it is the best way to avoid unpleasant surprises.

The organizer, DÉLICES & DÉCOUVERTES, a Division of HOPE International Communications, declines all liability for injuries, health issues and damages of any kind, direct or indirect, that might occur or be incurred during the tour, as well as for the costs and expenses that might directly or indirectly result. See the Responsibility and Release paragraph below for more details.

• Age restrictions. This trip is not meant for children and teenagers under the age of 14, as the program is unlikely to appeal to them. Inasmuch as mobility requirements are met (see above), there is no other age limitation.

• Cell phone with European plan. To avoid any problem should somebody, at a point, lose contact with the group during one of our explorations of a busy city center, every participant must travel with a cell phone that has either a working European plan (please check with your provider in advance; avoid France only plans, as available for ex. from Verizon, as we will travel to Germany and Switzerland as well). An alternative is an unlocked  phone that can be fitted with a local prepaid SIM card. Verizon phones and most iPhones that are linked to a specific provider, for example, cannot. This said, almost all providers offer international plans—some expensive, so quite affordable.

• The currency in almost all European countries, as you probably know, is the Euro, while Switzerland has the Swiss Franc (although cash payments in Euros are widely accepted in Northern Switzerland). ATMs that accept US debit and credit cards can be found everywhere. The value of the Euro and the Swiss Franc are essentially identical, and as a rule, both are worth ± 5 -10 % more than the US dollar. Expect to pay at least 30-40 % more than in the US and most of Europe for almost anything in Switzerland… Almost all shops and restaurants, bars, etc. throughout Europe will gladly accept Mastercard, Visa or Amex. But if you intend to gorge on roasted chestnuts or get tipsy on mulled wine, be sure to have some cash at hand.

• Tipping rules are completely different in Europe, especially in restaurants and hotels. We will explain them to you on arrival.

• Transportation will take place either in a fully insured, privately chartered pullman bus / van or by train (1st class), depen­ding on the program and at the organizers’ discretion. The occasional use of taxis or Ubers for shorter distances might be considered at the organizers’ discretion. In larger city centers were no private transportation or taxis are allowed, we might resort to public transportation on a case-by-case basis for convenience purposes (Strasbourg, Freiburg and Basel each have an excellent, modern tramway system). 

Tour program

All provisions have been made in order for our tour to take place as described. If deemed necessary, though, the organizers reserve the right to reshuffle the program by changing the order of the day trips or some details of the day-to-day itineraries. In a similar way and should unforeseen circumstances occur, the organizers reserve the right to substitute an event or venue of similar value, interest and quality to the one mentioned in the program. This includes in particular the farewell dinner: in the unlikely case that it cannot take place a JY’s in Colmar for whatever reason, it will take place at an other **Michelin restaurant. The same applies to the dinner at *Michelin Star Restaurant Adler on Day 6.

Cancellation by a participant

This tour takes place during the high season in extremely sought-after locations where accommodation, tables in restaurants and even transportation are in very short supply. Therefore, we have, as organizers, to make and confirm arrangements many months in advance, including paying sizable and not always fully refundable deposits to secure some of the venues, events and transportation arrangements. This applies in particular to the hotel, which represents by far the highest single expense within this tour.

Accordingly, the 30 % deposit is non-refundable. 

For the same reasons and should a cancellation take place after October 3rd, 2025, the total amount will be non-refundable, regardless of reasons for the cancellation. 

Please note that in the case of cancellation, and until 3 days before the beginning of the tour, the booking will be fully transferable, by arrangement with the organizers, to other persons who meet the minimum age and the mobility requirements described above.

Cancellation by the organizer

The tour has been laid out for a group of 12 participants. It will take place even if this number hasn’t been reached — unless the total number of participants turns out to be less than 6. In that case, and should the organizer opt for cancelling the tour, the amounts invoiced to the participants will be reimbursed in full. This also applies in the unlikely event of Philippe Holtzweiler being unable to travel and to act as a guide.

Cancellation as a result of force majeure

In the unlikely event of force majeure (including natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflict, sanitary crisis, government-imposed travel restrictions, etc.) preventing the tour to take place, the organizer will reimburse to the participants all amounts that are retrievable and/or not yet spent at the time of occurrence of such an event.

Responsibility and release

DÉLICES & DÉCOUVERTES, Philippe Holtzweiler and Olga Krasnova-Holtzweiler (collectively, the ‘Contractors’) act solely as agents for the tour participants in regard to accommodation, transportation, catering and all other services provided to the tour participants. By booking the tour and accepting the booking confirmation issued by DÉLICES & DÉCOUVERTES, each participant as designated in the booking confirmation agrees that none of the Contractors shall be or become liable in any way for any injury or damage to or in respect of person or property in connection with any service provided during the tour, including, but not limited to, accommodation, transportation and catering. This disposition also applies to 

· any loss caused by any act or omission of the involved agents and service or goods providers 

· any additional expenses and other damages sustained by any tour participant as a result of the foregoing causes.

As the tour booking is fully transferable until 3 days before its beginning, all afore-mentioned dispositions as well as the ones that follow also apply to any person to whom an existing booking has been transferred.

Each tour participant declares that she/he is in good general health. Each tour participant, on behalf of herself/himself, as well as her/his heirs and legal representatives, releases the Contractors from, and agrees to indemnify and hold each of the Contractors harmless against, any and all liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal fees and litigation costs) which they may jointly or severally incur to such participant, her/his heirs and legal representatives, in respect of any claim, suit or cause of action on account of any injury or damage to or in respect of person or property alleged to have been sustained by her/him, directly or indirectly, as a result of her/his participation in the tour, including any such injury or damage connected to

· any transportation, accommodation, catering or other services,

· any loss caused by any act or omission of the involved agents and service or goods providers

· any additional expenses and other damages sustained by any tour participant as a result of the foregoing causes.