Deal of the week: Bavaria by backroads
Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria. It is a major drawcard for tourists, though the once-private refuge was built for Germany's King Ludwig II who wished to withdraw from public life. The castle is on the itinerary of an eight-day small-group "Back-roads" tour priced from $3229pp, twin-share. Seven nights' boutique accommodation, seven breakfasts, four dinners, transport, activities and attractions are all included. The tour departs from Munich and heads to Regensburg, Bamberg, Wurzburg, Rothenburg, Ladenburg, Landau, Baden-Baden, Freiberg, Lindau, Ammergau Alps, Neuschwanstein, and Oberammergau before returning to Munich. Departures are on selected dates between May 10 and June 21 next year.
Airfares from New Zealand are additional. Book by August 31.
Contact: Travel Associates, 0800 951 655 or travel-associates.co.nz
Viva Espana
Make sure you're all set for a 2020 trip of a lifetime at 2019 prices and book by August 29, because September heralds springtime and price increases, too.
A nine-day Trafalgar coach tour through Spain is currently priced from $2303pp, twin-share. Starting in Madrid and ending in Barcelona, it loops through Toledo to Seville, Granada and Valencia; this trip is rich in history, art and culture.
Contact: your own travel agent or Trafalgar, 0800 484 333 trafalgar.com