Heart of Europe Tours
ANTIQUING ADVENTURES & GRAND GETAWAYS
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*** Space on our Fall 2010 Antiques
and Design Tour is going fast. See the description below and email or call to see if a spot is available... ***
ANTIQUING IN THE
HEART OF
EUROPE
 Affordable Antique Tours
Set your sights on great
outdoor markets, special trade sources,
under-the-radar dealers, shops and warehouses --
we'll be traveling oh-so-far off the beaten path...
Our antique tours are popular and space is
limited. Reserve early. Pre-register to get on the list and contact us
for details below (no obligation).
Upcoming Feature Tours...September 24-October 3, 2010
Fall
Antiques and Design Discovery Tour
Celebrate the Strong Dollar and Save...
Central
Europe is the continent's hottest new antiques circuit -- it's a
great alternative to higher-priced France, Belgium, Italy and the
U.K. You'll be enjoying all the advantages of small-group
travel and lots of bargains. As the dollar gains on the euro, you'll save even more.
This is a brisk, fun tour! We'll be visiting Eastern Germany
and the Czech Republic -- two imperial cities, two
UNESCO World Heritage sites and all the nooks and crannies in
between. Includes Dresden, Prague and Bamberg as well as Saxon
hill towns and hideouts in Central Bohemia and Moravia. Two of the very best markets with hundreds of dealers. Also tons of shops, warehouses,
farmsteads, wholesalers and galleries. Antiques and design are
very affordable in this part of Europe. Container shipping available. Pre-register and request more
information...
December
1-9, 2010
Germany's
Enchanted Christmas Markets
Visit
Christmas markets in Dresden, Lauscha, the home of blown glass
Christmas ornaments, and the Erzgebirge, traditional home of wooden
Christmas decorations and toys. A wonderful dealer-led small-group tour, different than anything on the market. For details, see
the description at the bottom of the right-hand column and
follow the link. Some space available -- reserve soon. Pre-register and request more
information...
May, 2011
Dealers' and Pickers' Trip
A brisk, no-holds-barred trip for the inveterate
antiquer with a long shopping list and not much time. Restored and
unrestored furniture from all periods, art, smalls, decor, lighting,
architecturals and more. All-day markets, wholesalers, shops,
warehouses and other stops. Germany and the Czech Republic,
including Prague and Leipzig. Great buying opportunities
-- don't miss it! We will be scheduling exact dates
in the fall of 2010 and finalizing the details. Get on the list. This is a
popular trip. Pre-register and request more
information...
February 2011
Belgium Antiques Break
Belgium is the flea market capitol of western
Europe! Comb the famed flea markets of Brussels and then
roll up your sleeves and forage for treasures at Tongeren, Belgium's
biggest antiques market. Finish the week, scouring antique
shops and wholesalers in eastern and central Flanders for estate finds,
furniture, smalls and decor. A great shopping
adventure. We will be finalizing this trip in the fall of
2010. Email or call to get on the list. Pre-register and request more
information...
June 2011
Summer Antiques Extravaganza
Two of the biggest and best antique and flea markets in
Germany plus dealers and warehouses in Franconia, eastern Germany
and up-country Bohemia. High-style and country furniture, Art Deco,
Art Nouveau and Modernist. Plents of small antiques, too.
Enjoy the splendors of the imperial cities of Leipzig and Prague, "City of a Thousand Spires." An adventure like no
other with lots of shopping opportunities. Pre-register and request more
information...
Why
Heart of Europe Tours?
Are
you looking for a new kind of
antique tour?
Are you hoping to
find treasures for your own home, or inventory for your shop?
Looking for a few special pieces for a
favorite client? Are you open to
a one-of-a-kind travel experience? If so, we think
we have the kind of European antique tour you've been looking
for...
There are still things in life that inspire and amaze
you...
You're capable of being awed and
can can spot beauty and charm under dust and
dirt.
You live with and love antiques.
You delight in the hunt.
You have a good eye and know what you like. You're
a savvy shopper.
You're an
adventurer...
You love new travel experiences and are
ready for the road.
We hope you'll like what we
offer...
Experience one of
our insider antique shopping tours -- you'll love the fun and
appreciate the depth and insight that go into our trips.
Veer off the beaten path and shop for antiques in places few
outsiders have ever heard of. Immerse yourself in
remarkable European antiques, design and
decor in all styles and price ranges. Experience
Europe's nooks and crannies as never before and stay in
historic hotels most tourists only see from a bus window.
And when you're done shopping, we'll ship your treasures
home!
Plan your getaway now.
Demand is high and our tours fill up -- Reserve now for
the best selection.
IN A NUTSHELL...
ANTIQUE BUYING
TOURS
 Many of our trips focus on Central Europe
which is fast becoming the hottest new antiquing spot on the
Continent. The selection is huge, ranging from
unrestored jewels in the rough to high-end Biedermeier and
Baroque. Prices are friendly, despite the strong Euro.
And best of all: Your purchases are exempt from the local
value-added tax since you will be exporting them.
Whether it's Germany, the Czech
Republic, France or Belgium, our goal is to help you access great
sources. And since we don't believe in cookie cutter
travel, we offer a range of antique buying tours with various
features. For example, you can choose among expeditions of
varying lengths. You might opt for a tour featuring one or
another antiques
market. Or a different trip, offering additional
options such as museum visits and
historical attractions that may appeal to
you. You're bound to find an antique buying tour that fits
your needs and interests.
 Are you traveling with someone who is not an antiques
buff? Boredom is verboten on a Heart of Europe
tour. We'll be happy to help your travelmate find other local
attractions or cultural activities.
>> More about our antiquing
expeditions
>> Who should go on a Heart of Europe
buying tour
>>See what USA Today has to say about
us
GERMAN CHRISTMAS
MARKETS TOUR
A lot of
people have asked us to include a German Christmas Tour to our
repertoire, so when the time came, it was easy to say
yes. We've added our own extras, which set it apart
from other Christmas trips.  For one,
we'll be experiencing the thrill of Christmas in three distinct
regions --Franconia, Thuringia and Saxony. Christmas markets
will be front and center stage. Our added touches make this
Christmas adventure even better. They include a visit to the
Erzgebirge region, a session with one of the top restorers of
antique Christmas figures in Germany, and a special trip to the
glass-blowing region of Germany. It will be an unforgettable
trip.
>> More about our Christmas
Markets Tour
INTERNATIONAL
TRAVELERS
 We
welcome international travelers on all our antique buying
expeditions. We will gladly arrange to ship your
antiques to a port in your country and have them trucked to your
door. Questions? We recommend that you get in touch with
us early so we can discuss your needs and make
arrangements. We would be happy to have you
aboard.
YOU
SHOP. WE'LL SHIP.
If you've ever shopped for
antiques overseas, you know how costly it is to have
larger pieces individually shipped (it cost upwards of
$ 1100 just to ship an armoire to the U.S. if you're sending it
alone).
And if you've ever packed smaller
antiques in your checked baggage or entrusted them to the post
office, you know how expensive and risky it is to get
even small items home safely. With new
weight restrictions on baggage and soaring postage costs, carrying your
antiques with
you on the flight home or sending them by mail
is hardly an
option any
more.
We've been at it a while. And
over time, we've tried out just every method we could
think of -- we've paid extra baggage fees, we've schlepped,
mailed, stowed and shipped our antiques home in small
quantities. And at the end of the day, we're convinced
that container shipping is the best option.
That's why we offer it in conjunction with many of our tours (shipping expenses are in
addition to the cost of the tour.)
Our goal is to make
your buying trip as cost-effective, convenient and
hassle-free as possible. This means that you can concentrate on antiquing and count on us to help
with shipping. And if you want to buy a larger quantity,
we can reserve a separate container just for you and have
it delivered to your door. Whether you're sharing space with
others or sending your own container home, ocean
freight is the most cost-conscious, efficient way of
getting your
treasures home.
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Hot Antiques. Cool Tours.
- See Exploring Europe's Heartland, a special web slideshow
about our trips on the Country Living website.
- Read about
our
shopping trip to Germany
and the Czech Republic
in
Country Living Magazine
Pictures, stories and
personal experiences from the European antiques trail by Country
Living senior editor, Monica Willis.
...Click here for a free
copy
- Read
about our antique buying tours in USA Today, Australian House & Garden and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Here are some of our tours from the recent past. (For current tours, check out the listings to the left.)  Summer Antiques Extravaganza
Think
of this trip as your very own "Antiques Roadshow, European
Style." Our summer
expedition spotlights
Europe's
hottest new antiques circuit and includes two of the best markets on the
continent -- the only antique buying trip of its kind.
You'll enjoy a
stimulating mix of antiquing, history and cultural
highlights. Shop for small antiques
and furniture, art, decor, furnishings, collectibles, glass, ceramics and
much more -- you'll enjoy the immense selection and great
prices. Includes the
Bohemian
Highlands , Saxony and
extended stays in
Leipzig and
Prague , the "
Florence of the
North." Fully escorted, with lots of extras. Optional
three-day extention available for the Porzellinermarkt, Germany's annual
porcelain flea market in Selb. More...
 Fall Antiques
Extravaganza
See the description of this year's fall tour to the
left.
11 glorious days of antiques, history and cultural attractions.Trawl shops in the Bavarian countryside, the
Bamberg antiques market and great sources in Prague. The
only buying trip to Europe's hottest new antiques circuit
available.
Includes stays in Prague and
Leipzig, two of Central Europe's jewels. Tax-free shopping and great
prices at trade sources, warehouses, shops, the best markets in the
region and auction houses. You'll see antiques in all
styles and from all eras at prices you'll like. Also: decor and
furnishings, collectibles, art, estate items and other treasures. Fully escorted. Lots of extras! More...
20th Century Antiques and
Design
Art Nouveau, Secession, Czecho-Deco, Modernism,
Mid-Century and More. The only
20th-century antiques buying trip available to Central Europe.
The immense reservoir of 20th Century Design and
Antiques on tap in Central Europe is nothing short of amazing. The
only thing more remarkable is how few Americans shop there. We show
you how to access this market, where to shop, and what to look for on this
nine-day insider's buying trip to the Czech Republic and
Germany. Shop
tax-free. Enjoy a great selection and friendly prices.
Fully escorted. Shipping available. More...
 Germany's Enchanted
Christmas Markets
Eight glorious days along the
Christmas trail in Germany, the country that "invented" Christmas.
Delight in Christmas antiques and
contemporary Christmas decor. There's no better way to
get in the Christmas spirit.
A German Christmas market
is something to experience rather than describe. Wend your
way among the stalls on a softly-lit Medieval square, enjoying music,
mulled wine, beeswax candles, toys, German Christmas ornaments and
Christmas crafts. Includes Dresden, the famed Erzgebirge
toy region and the glass-blowing village, Lauscha. Fully
escorted. More...
Would you like us to design a custom antiques
tour for you?Hit the antiques trail with
colleagues, a group of friends, dealers or designers in your
area. We provide a guide, arrange the itinerary, reserve hotels and
help with shipping. We also arrange solo buying
tours. Contact
us.
Antiquing a la carte
Packages include a
rental car, regional antiquing schedule and dealer information and a
private apartment at a castle, chateau or farm. An
unbeatable combination for solo travelers, couple or friends who want tot
travel together. Contact
us. |