Your very own “Antiques Roadshow, European Style” -- The only buying tour to Europe ’s hot new antiques circuit this fall.  

10 glorious days of shopping and adventure along the Continent’s richest antiques trail – a stimulating blend of antiquing, history and cultural highlights .  The Fall Extravaganza Tour is a great choice for the antiques enthusiast. And it’s ideal for designers, antique dealers, buyers and adventurers who want great sources and a memorable, out-of-the-ordinary travel experience.

Our expedition 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 Fall Antiques Extravaganza Tour.  A good deal of the ground we will cover on this antique tour was off-limits to Westerners during the Cold War. 

We’ll visit retail stores, markets and auction houses.  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. 

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 wonderful place to travel in the autumn : the pace is slowing dow, the wine is flowing, the leaves are turning and the days are crisp.

The Fall 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.  We will visit the Medieval city of Bamberg and shop at its famed antique market, held only once a year.  And we’ll be trawling a host of other antiquing spots way off the beaten path for treasures of all kinds.  Ssshhh!  You’ll be shopping where few American antiquers ever set foot.  You’ll see an immense selection of antiques 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 
• 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 two 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.  Additional shipping costs apply, but being able to buy and ship in volume offsets these.  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, Japan  and other destinations .  Please contact us if you have questions.  We'll be glad to help.

(The Antiques Extravaganza Tour is also offered July 25-August 3, 2007. )

Great antiquing -- friendly prices – flexible shipping options.  Reserve your tour now.