Heart of Europe Tours
ANTIQUING ADVENTURES & GRAND GETAWAYS
Antique Tours >> Summer Antiques Extravaganza
  Summer Antiques Extravaganza
July 24 - August 2, 2007

(Extend your stay two days and take part in the Porzellinerfest, Germany's biggest porcelain antiques market -- optional.)
 
Your Very Own “Antiques Roadshow – European Style” -- The Only Comprehensive Buying Trip to Europe’s Hottest New Antiques Circuit This Summer 
 
10 glorious days of adventure along the Continent’s richest antiques circuit – a stimulating blend of antiquing, history and cultural highlights . This trip is a great choice for the seasoned antiquer or those newer to antiques. It’s ideal for designers, dealers, buyers, history buffs and adventurers, who want a distinctive, out-of-the-ordinary travel experience.
 
Your antiques tour includes the regions of Bohemia, the jewel of the Habsburg hinterlands; Saxony (in the former East Germany); and northern Bavaria.  We can’t imagine a richer backdrop for the blend of antiques, history and culture we offer to you as part of the Summer Antiques Extravaganza Tour. 

A good deal of the ground we will cover on this Central European antique buying trip was off-limits to Westerners during the Cold War .  We’ll shop in old Stalinist-era factories that have morphed into antiques warehouses, and we’ll meet some of the young dealers who have created a new antiques industry out of whole cloth since the Cold War ended and the borders between East and West were opened.  
 
Objects of Desire
 
You’ll see delectable furniture from five centuries and in many styles -– Baroque, Biedermeier, other 19th century styles, Art Nouveau, Deco, Country, Mid-Century up to the 70s. You will have access to an immense selection of small antiques, decorative accessories, art, glass, porcelain, country items, jewelry, folk art, linens and textiles, specialty items, clocks, dolls, toys, lighting, Christmas, architectural treasures, Black Forest and more – all price ranges -- all periods -- high style and vernacular. And you’ll be able to scour two of the best antique markets on the Continent for antiques, estate finds, collectibles, art and treasures of all kinds.
 
Think of your trip as an individual discovery tour with antiques front and center stage and opportunities to sample the culture, history and cuisine of the cities and towns we visit along the way.  Central Europe is glorious in the summer: the days are long, the wine and beer are flowing and you can dine al fresco until late at night.
 
The Summer Antiques Extravaganza offers some great extras: We’ve extended our stays in Prague and Leipzig, two of Central Europe’s star cities. We’re including an excellent walking tour of both cities. We’ve added an optional excursion to the Moser Glass Works in the Czech Republic. And we’ll be visiting other antiquing spots off the beaten path.  Ssshhh! You’ll be shopping where few American antiquers ever set foot.  You’ll see an immense selection of treasures in all price ranges. And remember: You can shop tax-free!
  
Highlights
  • 10 days/9 nights
  • Airport transfers
  • Professional orientation materials
  • Shared transatlantic container shipping included
  • Ground travel in comfortable, private Mercedes minibus
  • Welcome dinner
  • Delectable antiques and décor -- all price ranges, all periods, high style, vernacular and in between Tax-free shopping and insider access to our sources in Bavaria, Bohemia, and Saxony, and three all-day markets
  • Hand-picked, comfortable hotels -- charming, comfortable rooms with private bath – breakfast included
  • Opt in -- opt out. If you want to take an afternoon or a day off, we’ll help you plan other activities
  • Experienced, bilingual sherpa with you every step of the way
  • No minimum purchase – buy what you want, where you want!
  • Ongoing technical assistance and professional advice
  • Tax-exempt for antiques professionals, designers and buyers
  • $3875 per person, double occupancy (single rooms available)
  • Tour starts and ends in Frankfurt
Flights

Flights are available from several cities in the U.S. and other countries at reasonable cost.   We work closely with a non-profit travel agency that will be glad to give you a quote and help with your flight arrangements. You are also free to use your own travel agent.
 
Shipping
 
If you’ve ever shopped for antiques overseas, you know that shipping them home is expensive, complicated and time-consuming, and can be a source of endless frustration! People who hear about our antique buying trips for the first time often can’t believe that we offer such a diverse itinerary, so many venues, such great ground arrangements and include shipping all for one price . It’s a winning combination -- and it sets us apart from many other antique tours, where transatlantic shipping is an additional cost.   
 
We will work with local dealers to make sure your treasures are delivered to the place where they are to be loaded, or arrange transportation if necessary (charges may apply for local transport). We oversee loading, export documentation and get the container to the port . We handle wharfage and ocean freight as part of our service.  If you need short-term storage in Europe or the U.S. we can arrange that as well.  Extra charges apply for warehousing, customs, insurance, ground freight and additional services if required. But we will help you stay on top of these so there are no “surprises.”
 
If you intend to buy a larger quantity of antiques, we can arrange a solo container for you at additional cost. We can have your items packed, cleared, freighted to the U.S. and delivered to your door for one price. Contact us early on so we can discuss your needs and find a solution that works best.   

We also arrange container shipment to southern and west coast ports in North America, as well as the U.K. Australia, New Zealand, Korea and other destinations . Please contact us if you have questions.  We would be glad to help.

 (The Antiques Extravaganza Tour is also offered Sept. 25-October 4, 2007.)  
 
        Great Value...
  • Includes ca. 150 cubic feet of transatlantic shipping (additional space available)
  • Great selection of  antique furniture, smalls, linens and textiles, decor, art, collectibles, jewelry, architectural items and more -- in all price ranges
  • Largest flea markets in Germany and the Czech Republic
  • Professional guide
  • Time-efficient and productive - Lots of buying opportunities
  • Dealer and trade discounts
  • Tax-free shopping  
  • Comfortable ground travel
  • All of the features above plus hand-picked hotels and lots of individual attention for less than the price of many off-the-shelf  tours. 

Reserve Your Tour As Soon As You Can...

... to insure that you get your first choice.  Space is limited.  If your selection is full, we can add your name to the waiting list in case there are cancellations. 

If you’d like, we can also try to accommodate you on one of our other tours.  We take reservations on a first-come-first-served basis so if you have settled on a tour, please send us your reservation soon.


International Antiquers...

... are welcome on our tours.  We can arrange shipping to the port nearest your home and from there to your door.  Questions?  Please email or call.   

 

Have a group?

Join the Summer Extravaganza Tour and travel with a group of friends, fellow-collectors or dealers from your area.  Contact us about special rates.