Kiermeet 2010 Tour Program California July 17th – 25th 

Day by day schedule

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Day 1. Saturday July 17th 
Arrival at Los Angeles Airport and check-in at Hollywood Heights Hotel. Transfer from the airport to the hotel is arranged for passengers travelling together from Scandinavia. All other travellers: Please take care of you own transportation to the hotel. The rest of the day you’re on your own.

Day 2. Sunday July 18th
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a gathering to introduce you to Kiermeet 2010. Here you’ll meet all the other members of the family – many of them may have participated in previous Kiermeets. In the afternoon we take off for a sight-seeing in Los Angeles. The second biggest city in USA spreads over a huge area making it almost impossible to overview. L.A. has become the leading entertainment centre of the world especially when it comes to movies, TV and music but the city also has its fair share of amusement parks, art and culture. In L.A. your “American dream” might come true. But the chance that you end up in one of the million-dollar residents in Bel Air and Malibu is extremely small. Most fortune hunters leave “The City of Angels” without any luck. The tour takes you to the famous Chinese Theatre located at Hollywood Boulevard along the historic Walk of Fame, a sidewalk embedded with more than 2.000 five-pointed stars featuring the names of celebrities. Nearby you can compare your hand size to the handprints of Hollywood stars of all times.
We also visit Hollywood Bowl, Paramount Studios, Pretty Woman’s flat, Sunset Strip, the famous shopping street Melrose Avenue and the beaches of Santa Morica and Malibu.

Day 3. Monday July 19th
Breakfast at the hotel before departure to Universal Studios. Be ready for a fantastic experience. You’ll attend real life TV- or movie shooting, you’re invited to visit film sets and you’ll have a look at the hard and hazardous work of the studios’ daring stuntmen and -women. We have arranged transportation to the hotel late afternoon.

Day 4. Tuesday July 20th
Breakfast at the hotel before departure (with suitcases packed) for Solvang. On the way we’ll stop at Santa Barbara. California is the most populous state in the USA, yet it offers a variety of unspoiled nature. The coast of Pacific Ocean is beautiful and dramatic. Wide and white sandy beaches alternate with rough and battered rocks beaten by enormous waves – even at times when the weather looks nice and calm. Floating sea birds above the coast line. Seals and sea lions lingering on the beaches. The exotic seaside resort Santa Barbara is more influenced by Spanish culture and architecture than any other town on the coast - fashionable with a gentle touch of old colonial style. After a walk on the famous ocean pier we head for Solvang. Late afternoon we arrive at a veritable piece of Denmark with typical half-timbered houses, windmills and stork’s nests – situated thousands of miles from the “real” country. After check-in at the hotel you’ll have time to experience this unique setting of nostalgia on your own before our traditional Kiermeet family reunion dinner at the Danish restaurant Bit O’ Denmark. The menu is of course Danish with “sildebord” (herring buffet) and “frikadeller” (meatballs).

Day 5. Wednesday July 21st
Breakfast at the hotel followed by departure for Hearst Castle. Arrival after approx. two hours bus drive. Here we are divided into two groups for a sight-seeing tour to visit some of the castle’s famous attractions: The esplanade with the beautiful botanical gardens, the swimming pools, Neptun Pool and Roman Pool, as well as Casa Grande. The history of Hearst Castle begins in 1873 when William Randolph Hearst travelled in Europe with his mother, Phoebe Hearst. The ten-year-old boy was deeply inspired by all the historic castles his mother introduced him to. After careers as a politician and an art dealer he entered the media world. An empire was born. New thinking and clever strategies helped Hearst to earn a fortune on magazines, comics and newspapers. At one time every fourth newspaper in the US was owned by Hearst. William’s father, George Hearst, bought the site back in 1865. He called it Camp Hill and often invited friends to camp overnight so they could enjoy the beautiful nature. But this was a bit too uncomfortable for William. Consequently he contacted the architect Julia Morgan in 1919: ”Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something!" The rest is history for you to enjoy on this tour around one of the unbelievable yet authentic fairytales of America. Mid-afternoon arrival at the hotel in San Simeon. Time to relax and enjoy the beautiful coastline.

Day 6. Thursday July 22nd
After breakfast we hit the world famous Highway 1 to get to San Francisco. The road follows the coast – winding up and down as a roller coaster track – and leads us to famous San Francisco. If one should visit only one city in USA – inevitably the first choice will be San Francisco. Although San Francisco is a typical big American city with a mix of magnificent buildings, exquisite shopping malls and slum districts it has managed to keep and preserve the aura of a small provincial town. Open trams and streetcars struggle to climb the unbelievable steep streets bordered with palm trees, low buildings and amazingly light traffic. Suddenly you enter China Town, the local version of China’s huge harbour city of Shanghai although this quarter has kept the old Chinese setting with thousands of small specialized shops and restaurants decorated with an army of multi-coloured signs with Chinese characters. The early settlers in California did not want to be inferior to the fashionable East coast people, so they raised the Capitol in San Francisco as a copy-paste version of the congress building in Washington. The afternoon is time to relax and to make your own way around in this fascinating metropole.

Day 7. Friday July 23rd
The day begins with a beautiful ride over Golden Gate Bridge followed by a trip along Highway 1 to Muir Woods National Park, approx. two hours drive north of San Francisco. The park is renowned for the remarkable redwood forest with extremely large old trees. Muir Woods is the most southerly site to see these giants – the rest grows close to the Oregon state border. It’s an extraordinary experience to walk in this forest with trees dating back thousands of years. On the way home we pay a visit to the charming city Sausalito, known for a variety of art festivals and a magnet to artists from all over the world.

Day 9. Sunday July 25th
Kiermeet 2010  has come to an end and you have to split up and travel to all corners of the world carrying all the good memories in your minds. You now know each other better and the family ties are a little stronger than before. One good thing, though: You can start looking forward to the next Kiermeet – and be anxious to know where you will meet in 2014.

Day 10. Monday July 26th
After a short while in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport the flight takes off to Copenhagen. Arrival by mid-afternoon.

The hotels – where you stay…
 
Hollywood Heights Hotel, Hollywood, July 17th – 20th
Relaxed, boutique-style hotel, situated in legendary Hollywood. Airconditioning and 32” flat-panel TVs are standard in the large and bright rooms. You’ll find a bar and a restaurant in the hotel - and you’re welcome to spend your spare time in the pool or fitness center. 

More info: www.hollywoodheightshotel.com

Holiday Inn Express, Solvang, July 20th – 21st 
Centrally located in the Danish town of Solvang. All the major attractions are within walking distance:  H.C. Andersen’s Garden, Vandenberg Air Force base. The town is renowned for fine shopping, good restaurants, tempting chocolate factories and delicious wine tasting rooms. Not many people know that Solvang is located in the center of Santa Barbara County’s Wine Valley, housing renowned wineries such as Firestone, Gainey, Buttonwood and Rusack. The Hotel offers big and bright rooms, a decent restaurant and a vast pool area. 

More info: www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/SLVNG/welcome?start=1

Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront Resort, San Simeon, July 21st – 22nd
Situated at Highway 1 (California’s answer to the Danish “Marguerite-rute”) only five kilometres from Hearst Castle, this hotel is the one and only in the Cambria and Simeon area facing the waterfront. Surrounded by beautiful nature the hotel offers you stylish luxury and high service standards. From the pool terrace you might enjoy a couple of Californian sea lions. Not to mention the tasty products from the many wineries in the area. 

More info: www.cavalierresort.com

Serrano Hotel, San Francisco, Huly 22nd – 25th  
Boutique hotel situated by Taylor and O’Farrell. Only three blocks from Union Square and the Theater District makes the hotel the perfect starting point for tours to the main attractions and down town. Recently renovated in Spanish colonial style. Big bright rooms with panoramic windows.

More info: www.serranohotel.com

Flight schedules
AF1751 July 17th Copenhagen - Paris, Charles de Gaulle 10:10-12:10
AF0072 July 17th Paris, Charles de Gaulle - Los Angeles 13:30-16:00

AF0083 July 25th San Francisco - Paris, Charles de Gaulle 15:30-11:00(July 26th)
AF2350 July 26th Paris, Charles de Gaulle-Copenhagen 12:55-14:45

Day-by-day
Day 1 Departure from Copenhagen, arrival in Los Angeles
Day 2 L.A. tour in the afternoon
Day 3 Universal Studios
Day 4 Santa Barbara, Solvang and reunion dinner
Day 5 Hearst Castle, San Simeon
Day 6 Highway A1 via Monterey to San Francisco
Day 7 Muir Woods and Sausalito
Day 8 Farewell dinner
Day 9 Travelling home
Day 10 Arrival in Copenhagen 

Price overview

All inclusive from Scandinavia/Copenhagen,
Price per person in double room                                                      USD --------   /   DKK 15,990

California only,
* Price per person in double room                                                      USD 1,545 /   DKK  8,390
* Extra for single room                                                                      USD    855 /   DKK  4,490
* Reunion dinner buffet, Bit O’ Denmark, July 20th                               USD     55 /   DKK     300
* Holiday Inn Express, Solvang, room per night                                   USD    110 /   DKK     600 
   (Breakfast and taxes included)                                                          
* Compulsory Tote bags, per person                                                  USD      50 /    DKK    270

* Prices given in USD is only for residents outside Europe.

"All inclusive from Scandinavia/Copenhagen” covers:
• Flight Copenhagen-Paris-Los Angeles/San Francisco-Paris-Copenhagen with Air France, economy class (limited number of seats to above price)
• All existing duties, taxes and oil charges (p.t. 2,200,- per person)
• Transfers from airport to hotel and back.
• Stays at the listed hotels
• Breakfast at these hotels
• City tour in Los Angeles
• Admission fee to Universal Studio
• Reunion dinner buffet, Bit O’ Denmark
• Admission fee and tour, Hearst Castle
• One day tour to Muir Wood og Sausalito
• 3-course dinner at Pres A Vi, San Francisco
• Transportation in modern air conditioned busses with toilet. Each bus has a capacity of 50 persons.
• English speaking local guides on all tours inclusive the tour from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

“California only” covers:
• Stays at the listed hotels
• Breakfast at these hotels
• Admission fee to Universal Studio
• Reunion dinner buffet, Bit O’ Denmark
• Admission fee and tour, Hearst Castle
• One day tour to Muir Wood og Sausalito
• 3-course dinner at Pres A Vi, San Francisco
• Transportation in modern air conditioned busses with toilet. Each bus has a capacity of 50 persons.
• English speaking local guides on all tours inclusive the tour from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

“Reunion dinner buffet”, Bit O’ Denmark, July 20th covers:
• Cold and hot Danish dinner buffet
• Free sodas, ice tea and coffee

Extra nights connected with Reunion dinner at Holiday Inn Express, Solvang
• Breakfast
• All known taxes and charges

The prices do not include:
• Drinks and beverages
• Tips
• ”Gouda Årsrejseforsikring VERDEN” incl. coverage of baggage charge kr. 850,- per person or kr. 2,050,- for all persons in a household
   (Danish citizens only). Prices for other nationalities by request.
• Tour cancellation insurance, 6 % of travel price
    - Tour incl. flights, per person    DKK 935
    - Tour excl. flights                    DKK 528

Appendix to general conditions
Deposit: At the time of reservations, a deposit of DKK 3,000,- per person must be paid for the all-inclusive package, DKK 2,000,- for the California Only package. For all other combinations full payment is required.

Pre and/or post arrangements:
This can be arranged individually against a surcharge of DKK 500,- per booking, plus the additional expenses for services needed. Please specify your needs below in the remarks box.

General conditions:
On reservation, you accept the general conditions by Albatros Travel. You are welcome to study these conditions by clicking here:

Albatros Travel general conditions.

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