29 Oct 10 European Christmas Market Breaks from £150 per person
Europe’s Christmas Markets offer an authentic way to get into the festive spirit, and specialist tour operator, DERTOUR, has a range of packages to Christmas market destinations, including Cologne and Düsseldorf in Germany, Vienna in Austria, and Prague in the Czech Republic, with prices from just £150 per person for a two night trip to Prague.
Prague – from £150pp – Visitors to the Prague Christmas Markets have the opportunity to experience these traditional markets right at the centre of this historic city, which runs from 27th November 2010 to 2nd January 2011. Christmas Market packages for two nights are priced from £150 per person which includes bed and breakfast accommodation in a four star hotel, and return flights from Gatwick. Based on two people sharing.
Düsseldorf – from £160pp – Christmas Markets in Düsseldorf run from 18th November to 23rd December featuring more than 250 individually decorated stalls including many different artists such as glass blowers and wood carvers. DERTOUR’s weekend packages include return flights from Gatwick to Düsseldorf and accommodation for two nights on a bed and breakfast basis at the four stars Madison Hotel situated in the heart of the city. Based on two people sharing
Cologne – from £190pp – The vibrant city of Cologne on the River Rhine is a never to be missed opportunity for celebration. The twin spires of the city’s Gothic Cathedral tower over the heart of the Old Town with its many colourful Christmas Markets. DERTOUR’s weekend packages include return flights from Gatwick to Cologne and two nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis in the four star Best Western Premier Hotel Regent. Based on two people sharing. Christmas market runs from 22nd November to 23rd December.
Vienna from £190pp – Romantic Vienna comes to life in the season of Advent with the traditional Christmas Market in City Hall Square, featuring up to 150 decorated stalls selling anything from Christmas decorations and traditional handicrafts to gingerbread hearts and berry punch. Children will be entertained by the Christmas Express and inside City Hall, they can craft their own gifts, bake cookies and even meet Father Christmas. Prices start at £190 per person, and include return flights from Gatwick, as well as two nights bed and breakfast accommodation in a four star hotel. Based on two people sharing. Vienna’s Christmas Market runs from 16th November to 23rd December.
Media Contact:
Charlotte Wray
tours@dertour.co.uk
+44 (0)207 290 1111
About DERTOUR:
DERTOUR is a UK based travel agency with nearly 50 years of experience specialising in holidays to Europe including to the popular German Christmas Markets; an opportunity for travellers from around the world to indulge in the spirit of Christmas. DERTOUR caters for a wide range of budgets, ensuring that anyone can experience the true culture of these Christmas Markets in Germany and in other popular Christmas destinations within Europe.
For more information visit www.dertour.co.uk
Tags: Christmas Markets, German Christmas Markets, travel packages
14 Oct 10 Christmas Markets around the World
Christmas is a time for rejoicing and celebrating the birth of Jesus as well as eating too much and swapping gifts! The beginning of December welcomes the opening of countless Christmas markets around the world and they are a fun and traditional way to shop for seasonal gifts and decorations. Christmas markets originated in Germany and Alsace and they are now held on the streets for the four weeks of Advent in countries all over the world including Romania, Argentina and Spain.
A History of Christmas Markets
Christmas markets boast a long and interesting history and one of the oldest of its kind is the Dresden Christmas Market that was first held in 1434. However the Bautzen Christmas Market has been running since 1384 and German Christmas markets remain some of the most popular markets in the world although many countries have since adopted the seasonal market spirit. Food and drink as well as singing and dancing are commonplace at Christmas markets. Various seasonal items are for sale that range from handmade jewellery through to arts and crafts and these traditional offerings have been part of the Christmas market scene since their inception.
Attractions and Gifts
The stalls found in Christmas markets usually sell a range of Christmas decorations and souvenirs that are often handmade by local businesses, children and charities. A firework display may mark the opening of the markets along with nativity plays and copious amounts of dancing and Christmas carol singing. As the markets are usually held on the streets, the stalls are temporary and range from basic tables to wooden huts and shacks. A tall Christmas tree will often boast centre stage at Christmas markets and decorations will be for sale at the various stands. Christmas cookies and seasonal gifts are usually on sale as opposed to gifts that don’t have a Christmas theme found in shops and stores. Warm drinks accompanied by hot snacks are often found in these traditional markets.
Here are a few of the more common features found in worldwide Christmas markets:
- Central location
- Music and dancing
- Plays and nativity decorations
- A novelty Santa dishing out presents
- An ice rink
German Christmas Markets
Around two million keen Christmas shoppers flock to Dresden every year for its market and it has more than 60 stalls to explore. Many of the German Christmas markets and others around the world have popular opening nights that will welcome various plays and scenes often performed by local school children. Fireworks, Christmas lights and decorations can be seen for miles around. Glühwein is a mulled wine that can be drunk with or without an additional shot of brandy in the German Christmas markets and this can be found with ease along with some tasty German treats such as bratwurst and stollen.
Christmas Markets around the Globe
Countries such as the US and the UK soon took onto the idea of hosting Christmas markets, even though the German Christmas markets remain the oldest and the most popular. Cities such as New York and London also attract millions of avid Christmas shoppers with Manchester and Strasbourg proving to be extremely popular. The only noticeable difference between the markets held in different areas around the world is generally found in the food and drink offerings, although these only change slightly between countries. Mulled wine is easy to find throughout all Christmas markets and this can be altered with additional shots of alcohol depending where you are in the world, while snacks will also vary from London’s roasted chestnuts through to America’s toasted pretzels.
DERTOUR has nearly 50 years of experience specialising in holidays to Europe including the popular German Christmas Markets, an opportunity for travellers from around the world to indulge in the spirit of Christmas. DERTOUR caters for a large range of budgets, ensuring that anyone can experience the true culture of these Christmas Markets in Germany and in other popular Christmas destinations within Europe.
Tags: Christmas Markets, family holidays, German Christmas Markets
