Christmas markets – now’s the time to plan
THE Christmas
markets in
Germany
and Austria,
which start in late
November and run
up to December
24, lengthen the
festive season
and give tourists a
chance to sample
the European
celebration at a
slightly reduced
rate (when
compared with visits that
coincide with Christmas Day).
Trade members draw
enticing descriptions of the
events. Says Inge Dobihal,
owner of Austria Connection:
“The smell of the Christmas
biscuits, gluhwein (mulled
wine) and other delicacies in
the surrounding of beautiful
illuminated Christmas
decorations, Christmas music
and the children’s faces in
anticipation of Christmas
Eve and the presents they
hope to get, give it a unique
atmosphere.”
Lufthansa’s GM for Southern
Africa, Dr André Schulz
says similarly: “There are
few things as immersive
as the Christmas markets
in Germany. The country
goes beyond light displays
to make the season bright
with festivities ranging from
musicals to markets, fireworks,
skiing, and sleigh rides. You’re
guaranteed to secure yourself
an unforgettable experience.”
John Ridler, PR and media
manager of Thompsons
Holidays, says the most
popular Christmas markets are
those around Strasbourg and
Munich. Inge points out that
Vienna, Salzburg and Munich
have not only one but a
number of Christmas markets
in various parts of the town.
Cologne transforms into a
land of Christmas markets,
traditional to new, each with
its own special character,
says André, and suggests the
Cathedral Christmas Market
as one of the
top to visit in
that city. Other
recommendations
include Frankfurt
Christmas Market,
one of Germany’s
oldest and largest,
as well as the one
at Charlottenburg
Castle in Berlin.
For its charm and
winter wonderland
atmosphere, the
famed Nuremberg
Christkindlesmarkt is also
a must.
“Christmas markets are
open to the public, there
is no entrance and no
booking involved. But hotel
accommodation must be
booked,” cautions Inge.
“Generally, in comparison
with other months of the year,
this period is not really high
season and accommodation
not too difficult to get.” A
possible exception is over
weekends, as many Europeans
tend to make a weekend of
Christmas markets, taking
short breaks in market cities.
Most hotels have at this
stage not published their
winter prices. These will be
available toward the end of
April, says Inge.
But André warns that air
routes are busy as Europeans
swap white winters for warmer
climates and locals do the
same in reverse. “These
routes are incredibly popular,
which means travellers should
not leave bookings to the last
minute if they are planning
their travels around Christmas
markets.
“Over the festive season,
Lufthansa offers its
passengers several small
surprises, like the Christmas
goose that business-class
passengers will be treated to
when flying out of Germany.
This quintessential dish is
offered during November and
December, and is traditionally
served with dumplings and red
cabbage,” he comments.
Book it!
Austrian food is getting attention
and Janine Pienaar, sales and
marketing manager of the Globus
Family of Brands, which includes
Avalon Waterways, says the river
cruise line offers a special-interest
culinary cruise on the Danube
Symphony. It includes a visit to
Vienna for a culinary walk to learn
about the culture and history
of Austrian food, as well as the
opportunity to participate in a
cooking class and learn more about
Austrian wines in a special foodand-wine-pairing
dinner. This fivenight
cruise starts in Vienna with
three nights’ land arrangement in
Munich. It departs on July 17.
Packages by rail, coach and water
Christmas Market
Experience by
train from Austria
Connection
Start in Vienna (two
nights), explore the
City Hall Christmas
market and the
Schoenbrunn Palace
market. Continue by
train to Salzburg (two
nights) with its special
Old Town Christmas
markets. Then on to
Innsbruck (one night)
and Munich (two
nights), where the main
market on Marienplatz
dates back to the
14th century.
Dates: mid-November
to December 24.
Price: from €590pps
(R8 510) includes
seven nights with
breakfast in threestar
hotels, and train
tickets with seat
reservations.
Cosmos Coach
Tours incorporating
Christmas markets:
Prague, Vienna and
Budapest: includes
Christmas markets
in Prague, Vienna,
Nuremburg, Budapest
and Salzburg.
Departures:
December 2, 3, 9, 10.
Bohemian Rhapsody:
includes Christmas
markets in Prague,
Vienna, Nuremburg and
Budapest. Departures:
December 1, 8.
Central Europe:
includes Christmas
markets in Berlin,
Budapest and
Prague. Departures:
December 2, 9.
Highlights of Germany:
includes Christmas
markets in Cologne,
Lubeck, Dresden,
Nuremburg, Rothenburg
and Munich.
Departures: November
30 and December 7.
Christmastime
Cruises with Avalon
Waterways
Christmastime in
Alsace and Germany:
Five-day cruise
starting in Zurich with
a transfer to Basel
for embarkation,
ending in Wiesbaden.
Alternatively, start in
Frankfurt and finish
in Basel. Takes in
Christmas markets in
Breisach, Strasbourg
and Heidelberg.
Departures: November
28 and December 12.
Christmas in the
Heart of Germany:
Eight-day cruise/
land combination
Frankfurt-Prague or
Prague-Wiesbaden. Five
nights’ cruising with
two nights in a superior
hotel in Prague. Takes
in Christmas markets
in Murzburg, Bamburg,
Nuremburg and Prague.
Departures:
December 2, 5.
Christmastime on
the Danube: Nineday
cruise/land
combination PragueVienna
or vice versa.
Six nights’ cruising with
two nights in a superior
hotel in Prague. Takes
in Christmas markets
in Prague, Nuremburg,
Regensburg and
Passau. Departures:
November 23,
December 1, 5, 13.
Oberammergau 2020 a huge drawcard
TAKING place once a
decade, the advent of the
Oberammergau Passion Play
in the picturesque Bavarian
village of Oberammergau is
a highlight on the European
tourism calendar. Two years
from the next event in 2020,
excitement is already building.
The play will run from May
16-October 4, 2020, and
one- and two-night packages,
including show tickets, have
been on sale since early
March. The sale of tickets
only will open next year.
The play on the life and
death of Jesus Christ dates
back to 1634 when the
area was hit by the Black
Death. “The villagers prayed
and made a vow to perform
this play every 10 years if
they would be spared from
further deaths,” explains
Inge Dobihal of Austria
Connection. “From that day
on, not one of the villagers
of Oberammergau died of the
plague and the people have
kept their vow ever since.
“From a simple play in open
air, this developed over the
centuries into a huge event at
the Festspielhaus with a seat
capacity of 4 700.”
Only the inhabitants of
Oberammergau are allowed
to participate in the play,
which is staged in two parts
and has a total running time
of six hours. Even animals
appearing on the stage must
be sourced locally. “The last
time, the organisers had to
make an exception when the
local donkey was too stubborn
and could not be used. They
had to borrow a donkey from
the next village,” says Inge.
A year ahead of the play, all
actors start growing their hair
and beards. All costumes for
the hundreds of actors are
sewn locally.
Accommodation for
visitors is provided in hotels,
guest houses and private
rooms within 30km of
Oberammergau.
Oberammergau packages
Thompsons Holidays will
package Oberammergau
with FIT packages to suit
individual travellers.
Austria Connection tailormakes
group tours to
Europe including tickets
for the passion play. The
tour operator also offers
Kompas Coach Tours,
including tickets. There are
seven different itineraries
available that also include
destinations such as
Croatia, Slovenia, Czech
Republic and Poland.
Experience Oberammergau
2020 with Avalon Danube
Dreams: Sail through
towns in Hungary, Slovakia,
Austria, and Germany
on this River Danube
cruise, taking in the
Oberammergau Passion
Play. 12 days BudapestMunich
from R73 100pps.
2020 departures: May 14,
26; June 11, 25; July 23;
August 6, 20; September
3, 17.
Globus and Cosmos Tours:
The following 2020 tours
include the Passion Play:
Munich, Salzburg and
Vienna: eight days visiting
Munich, Oberammergau,
Salzburg and Vienna.
Bavarian Highlights:
nine days visiting Munich,
Regensburg, Nuremburg,
Black Forest, Fussen Area
and Oberammergau.
The Best of Switzerland:
12 days visiting Zurich,
St. Moritz, Lugano,
Zermatt, Lake Geneva,
Lucerne, Munich and
Oberammergau.
Globus Catholic Central
Europe: nine days visiting
Munich, Oberammergau,
Lucerne, Rhineland,
Cologne and Frankfurt.
Globus The Reformation:
11 days visiting Berlin,
Wittenberg/Dessau,
Leipzig, Erfurt, Wiesbaden,
Nuremburg, Oberammergau
and Munich.
Cosmos Shrines of Alpine
Europe: seven-days visiting
Zurich, Oberammergau,
Salzburg and Vienna.
Between them, Trafalgar
and CostSaver are
offering nine guided
holidays that incorporate
the Passion Play.
With durations of 9-13
days, Trafalgar has the
following itineraries –
Great Italian Cities with
Oberammergau; Sound of
Music with Oberammergau;
Imperial Europe with
Oberammergau;
Best of Germany with
Oberammergau;
European Whirl with
Oberammergau and
Switzerland
and Austria with
Oberammergau.
Prices range from
R36 100pps-R52 300pps.
CostSaver holidays
include the 10-day Jewels
of Italy with Oberammergau
from R27 300pps; the
11-day Imperial Highlights
with Oberammergau from
R25 300pps and
the 12-day European
Experience with
Oberammergau from
R33 900pps.
Did you know?
Running from June 15-July 10 this year, the Vienna Jazz Festival is considered one of the world’s best.
Much of it takes place at the Vienna State Opera House. Contact Avalon Waterways for Danube cruises
that allow time to attend this festival.
Year-round skiing in Austria
THE Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000 in Austria is recognised internationally as an outstanding ski resort, one that is also suited to year-round skiing. The ski areas on the Hintertux Glacier – Eggalm, Rastkogel, Finkenberg, Penken/Mayrhofen and Ahorn – merge to form the snow-sure resort. Even in summer and autumn, it impresses with 20km of perfectly groomed slopes in both summer and autumn. Bear in mind that Lufthansa offers travellers one piece of ski or snowboarding equipment free. The maximum weight of an additional piece of ski or snowboarding equipment must be within the relevant weight limits of the respective travel class and needs to be booked at least 24 hours before travel.
Photocap: Experience Oktoberfest
Germany’s Oktoberfest, the world’s largest folk festival
and travelling fun fair is held annually in Munich,
Bavaria. The dates for 2018 are September 22-October
7. Tour operators offer programmes that include the
beer festival.
G Adventures offers in-depth insights
G ADVENTURES has 16
tours that travel to and
through Germany and
Austria, among them the
exciting Rail and National
Geographic tours, says
Elisna Bergset, key account
sales at Development
Promotions.
The advantage of the rail
tours, she says, is that
itineraries cut through
small towns and villages
that travellers don’t
always get to see. “This
falls in line with our aim
of assisting travellers to
experience their destination
as locals would,” she
points out.
“National Geographic is,
of course, in a league of
its own,” expands Elisna.
“We are the only travel
company in the world that
this prestigious brand has
partnered with and when
travellers join us, they get
to experience their
destination in-depth.
“A great example of
this is the Berlin Wall.
Our travellers aren’t just
accompanied by a tour
guide, but by a historian,
ready to teach and answer
any questions.” Vienna’s
16th century Naschmarkt
is another example, with
travellers experiencing the
market in the company of
a local chef offering insight
into the city’s food culture
and market history.
Did you know?
Le Boat makes it possible for South Africans to explore Germany
by boat on an affordable self-catering holiday. Travellers hire a
boat, with no need for a skipper’s licence, and set sail on the
many small rivers and canals at their own pace. Value for money
and access to small-town Europe make the product popular, says
Elisna Bergset at Development Promotions.
