Three imperial cities, two UNESCO World Heritage sites and all the nooks and crannies in between... Fall is a great time of year for a treasure hunt.  Our expedition includes the regions of  Bohemia, the jewel of the Habsburg hinterlands;Saxony , in the former East Germany; and northern Bavaria .    A good deal of the ground we  will be covering on this trip was off-limits to Westerners during the Cold War.   

You will enjoy the benefits of traveling in a small group.  Think of the trip as a safari rather than a tour.  You'll have the benefit of a custom itinerary,  insider access to great sources, and the kind of personal service and extras you would never get from a canned tour offered by a large operator.  We are antiques dealers, so you will benefit from our contacts, experience and know-how.  We accompany the expedition ourselves -- we don't outsource it to local tour groups or an incoming agency.

You'll be visiting  retail stores, markets, wholesalers, farmsteads and auction houses .  We'll shop in old Stalinist-era factories that have morphed into antiques warehouses , and we 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.   One of the highlights of the expedition is the annual Bamberg antiques market, held only once a year.  We'll also be visiting three other outstanding markets.

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, Modernist, 
Mid-Century up to the 70s .  In addition, you'll have access to an immense selection of small antiques and furnishings, collectibles, art, decorative accessories, glass, ceramics and porcelain, country items, jewelry, folk art, linens and textiles, specialty items, clocks, dolls, toys, lighting, Christmas, architectural treasures, Black Forest, eclectic, ephemera, and much more – all price ranges -- all periods -- high style and "everyday" antiques.  

Antiques are front and center stage on this trip, but along the way, you'll have opportunities to sample the culture, history and cuisine of the cities and towns we visit.  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. 

We’ll be trawling a host of antiquing spots way off the beaten path.  Ssshhh! You’ll be shopping where few American antiquers ever set foot.  You’ll see an immense selection ofantiques in all price ranges .  And remember: You can shop tax-free. 

Highlights 

The trip starts and ends in Frankfurt.  Hotel for the last night before your return is included, so you won't need to worry about scrambling to find a place on your own.  Price $ 3495.00.

• 10 nights/11 days   
• Airport transfers
• Hand-picked, comfortable hotels -- comfortable rooms with private bath – breakfast included
• Extensive orientation materials
• Ground travel in comfortable Mercedes minibus with private driver
• Bilingual tour guide for the length of the trip 
• Welcome dinner 
• Delectable antiques, design objects, collectibles, art and estate finds -- all price ranges, all periods, high style, vernacular, low-cost and in between
• Tax-free shopping and insider access to sources in Bavaria,Bohemia, and  Saxony, and 4 great markets
• Technical assistance and help negotiating your purchases as well as translation help, if needed
• Opt in -- opt out.  If you want to take an afternoon or a day off, we’ll help you plan other activities
• Help with your baggage 
• No minimum purchase or pressure – buy what you want, where you want!
• Tax-exempt for antiques professionals, designers and buyers

Hotels

Accommodations are based on double occupancy.  Single rooms are available for a surcharge.  If you are traveling solo but would like to share a room, we would be happy to try to find you a roommate.  Please let us know as early as possible.

You'll be staying in small, comfortable hotels and inns that reflect the character and charm of the region.  Whenever possible, we use hotels that are historically or architecturally significant.  This can be a 19th- century patrician house, a 300-year-old mill, a monastery or even a small castle.  Daily breakfast is included.  It usually features a buffet with a selection that will tide you over for several hours.

Flights 

The trips starts and ends in Frankfurt.  Flights are available from several cities in the U.S. and other countries at reasonable cost.  Air fares are generally lower this time of year.   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, use frequent flyer miles or book online.  Before you reserve your flights, be sure to get in touch with us so we can discuss pick-up details and times.  

International Participants

We often have bargain hunters from other countries along for our trips so we hope you will feel free to join us this fall.  Please contact us right away so we can begin to coordinate and go over any special questions you have.  We will be happy to help you with shipping options as well. 

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.  We will help you with cost-effective shipping -- via air freight or container .  

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 do not function as the shipper ourselves, but we will make sure the local forwarder overseesloading, export documentation and other key activities.  

Shipping costs depend on the volume and the shipping options you choose, so it's not feasible to provide you with an exact price in advance.  However, costs are reasonable and much lower than if you were shipping single items on your own.   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 in larger quantity, we can help you arrange a solo container.  Additional shipping costs apply, but being able to buy and ship in volume offsets these.  Our forwarder  can have your items packed, cleared, freighted to the U.S. and delivered to your door.  Contact us early on so we can discuss your needs and find a solution that works best.    

We also help arrange container shipment to the South and West Coast of the U.S. and Canbada.  Also:  other EU countries, including the  U.K. , Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and other destinations.  Please contact us if you have questions.  We'll be glad to help. 

Next Steps...

Space is limited and the tour is filling up, so please contact us right away.  The easiest way to reserve a spot is to click on the "Reserve Your Tour" button on the left side of this page.  We'll contact you promptly to let you know if space is available.  You can also email us.  We look forward to hearing from you and will be happy to go over any questions you have.

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